ELIMINATIONS UNDERWAY AT THE NHRA JR. DRAG RACING LEAGUE WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS
MORRISON, Colo. (July 9, 2010) – Day two for the NHRA Jr. Drag Racing League Western Conference Finals presented by Lucas Oil and JR Race Car began with a final time trail for all competitors followed by round one of eliminations at Bandimere Speedway. Hundreds of kids, ages 8 to 17, from NHRA member track across the western United States and Canada, made the trip to thunder mountain and are battling for individual and team honors, and a share of the purse worth nearly $100,000 in savings bonds. The event kicked off Thursday with initial time trials and will conclude on Saturday with the crowning of winners in eight age brackets and Jr. Comp, as well a champion team.
Defending Champions from the 2009 event that advanced through the first round to race on Saturday were Bailey Jones, Mikayla Greene, Travis Thorsten, Taryn Greene (no relation to Mikayla), Dalton Dorsett, and Chaysse Trimp.
A number of special awards were given out today including some from on track action as well as off track. Lauren Turner, Verndale, Minn., and running for Brainerd International Raceway was awarded the Best Overall Appearing Car while Travis Steffens of Sherrill, Iowa, and Tri-State Raceway took honors for the Best Appearing Theme Car. The Team from Kearney Raceway Park, Kearney, Neb., won the Best Appearing Track award and a local racer from Bandimere Speedway, Julia Ware, Loveland Colo., was voted the Coolest Car of the event.
The on track awards for Closet to the Dial went to Caleb Criss in the 8-9 year old class, Baily Jones (10 year old) who was last year’s 8-9 year old Champion , Ashley Kosmerl (11), Jordan Pratt (12), Christopher Dodd (13), Dakota Allison (14), Lindsie Woolley (15), and Trevor Ruge (16-17). In the Best Reaction Time awards, Mackenzie Mock took the 8-9 year old class; Nicholas Contreras was on top for the 10 year olds, 11 year old honors went to Mitchell Pennetta, Blaine Flanscha in the 12 year old class, Whitely Bettis for 13, Emily Durenberger and Elizabeth Halley took the 14 and 15 year old classes respectively, and Jordan Stewart and Hailey Combs tied for the best reaction in the 16-17 year old class.
Gates at Bandimere Speedway open at 8 a.m. on Sunday with round two of eliminations set to begin at 8:30 a.m. Bandimere Speedway is located at 3051 S. Rooney Road; west of Denver off Interstate 70 in Morrison. For more information call the track (303) 697-6001, or visit www.bandimere.com. Additional event coverage can be found at http://jrdragster.nhra.com/
