RAIN DELAYS DON’T DAMPEN COMPETITION AT NHRA JR. DRAG RACING LEAGUE EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS

RAIN DELAYS DON’T DAMPEN COMPETITION AT NHRA JR. DRAG RACING LEAGUE EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS

BRISTOL, Tenn. (July 10, 2009) – Racing continued today at Bristol Dragway as more than 600 racers compete at the NHRA Jr. Drag Racing League Eastern Conference Finals. Despite a rain delay early in the day, eliminations got underway and will culminate Saturday by crowning one team champion and individual champs in eight age categories. Racers, aged 8 to 17 years wheeling half-scale dragsters-some of which reach speeds up to 70 mph, are vying for a share of the purse worth nearly $100,000.

One aspect of the event that the rain did not affect was the naming of special awards recipients. Robbie Hamilton, Severn, Md., (racing for Capitol Raceway) has the Best Overall Appearing Car; the award for the Best Appearing Theme Car went to Carrie Wilson, Powerhaton, Va., (Virginia Motorsports Park); and Anthony Cable, Waldorf, Md., (Virginia Motorsports Park) officially has the Coolest Car at the event. The team from Bradenton (Fla.) Motorsports Park earned the Best Appearing Track award.

In first round competition, three racers ran exactly on their dial-ins. Eleven-year-old Nichole Medeisis and 12-year-old Joshua Kelly both ran 8.900 on their 8.90 dials and Trevor Wood, running in the 13-year-old class, ran 8.550 (8.55 dial). Hunter May, 14, made an 8.291-second pass (8.29); Mikal Kile, 16-17, ran 7.902 seconds (7.90); 8-year-old Devin Kiser ran 12.903 seconds (12.90); and Dillan Kyle (10) made a 5.939-second lap (8.93).

At the starting line, three racers had perfect .000 reaction times (RT) and two had nearly perfect .001 reactions. Jimmy Barnett and Mark Stalnaker, both 14, and 15-year-old Ashely Bowles were perfect on the Christmas Tree. Drew Hostetter, 10, Scott Chitty, 13, and Lyndsey Butler, 16-17, were just a tick off at .001. Garrett Borchar, 11, had a .005-second RT; Wesley Mayfield, 12, started off with a .008 RT; and Hollie Ray-Bausher, 8-9, left with a .009 RT.

Gates at Bristol Dragway open at 8 a.m. each day. Participants in each category will get two time trial runs on Thursday starting at 8 a.m. Eliminations in all age categories continue on Saturday at 8 a.m.

General admission tickets are $15 each day. Children 6 and under are admitted free. Bristol Dragway is located in Bristol, Tenn., at exit 69 off Interstate 81. For more information call the track, (423) 764-DRAG, or visit www.BristolDragway.com.