BRAINERD, Minn. - Last year, Scott Dugdale stood between Ben Line and his quest for a "four-peat" as champion in the Stock/Super Stock Class in Brainerd International Raceway's Bracket Drag Racing Series. But Line returned to his winning ways this year and started a new streak by claiming the class title - his fourth in five years.
Although Line finished well ahead of second-place finisher Terry Johnson, the two drivers were locked into a battle royal through the first three races of the five-race series, with Johnson holding a slight edge in points going into the fourth race. But car problems sidelined Johnson in Race 4, and Line won the class that weekend, giving him a points lead that would eventually earn him the title. Again.
Line's series championship was one of 11 titles that BIR announced following the final race in the series Oct. 1-2. The champs will be honored with trophies and jackets at BIR's Annual Banquet next month.
Keith Allen Larson was the only racer to repeat as series champion. He won the Comp Trophy Class last year after finishing second to Darren Arnold the previous two years. He had his 1978 Buick Century Wagon dialed in again this year and held off Arnold, who has finished in second to Larson the last two years. Like the battle taking place in Stock/Super Stock, the Comp Trophy series was, for the most part, a two-horse race all season, with Larson and Arnold sitting atop the standings for most of the season.
In the Pro ET Class, Steve Roehrs had his sights set on a three-peat, after winning the class the last two years. But with 64 drivers in the points race and another 30 to 40 competing during each event, Roehrs found out how difficult it is to win three years in a row. He finished in sixth place. At the top of the standings was Dave Engler, who was in ninth place going into the final race. Engler won the final race, which launched him to first place, 102 points ahead of second-place finisher Brett Speer.
The series points system rewards drivers with 100 points for competing at the race, another 100 points or so for winning each elimination round and bonus points for winners, runners-up and semifinalists.
With 69 drivers battling for points, the Super Pro Class was a tough place to win as well. Terry Pease didn't win a race all season but had back-to-back second-place finishes and was in first place going into the final weekend, where he lost in the second round. But he had just enough points to beat Dave Ulhorn, who finished only 16 points behind Pease.
The Sportsman Class was up for grabs before the final race. Only 16 points separated the top three racers in the standings, with Brad Mickle sitting in fourth place less than 100 points out of first. Mickle lost in the quarterfinals but earned enough points to leapfrog the logjam at the top of the standings and claim the series title. Vernon Murphy, who was sitting in second place before the final race, stayed there. By winning the final race, Charles Giddings moved up from 15th place to third.
Going into the final race, defending Pro Bike/Sled series champ Mike Voss was sitting in good position to repeat this year. He had a 400-point lead over second-place Jeff Arpin and appeared to be headed for another title. But Voss raced in Georgia during the final race and couldn't make it back to BIR in time for Sunday's elimination rounds. Arpin took advantage of the situation and won the race, beating out Voss in the standings by 20 points. Richard Tadych snuck into third place with his runner-up finish.
In Street Trophy, Sandy Luberda claimed the top spot in the points standings after winning the second race and stayed there all season, barely holding off Kayla Noyes at the end of the season to claim the series championship. Noyes was less than 100 points behind Luberda, and Nick Arnold, the defending series champ, finished 107 points behind Noyes.
In Junior Dragster Advanced, Haley Heintzman tried to repeat as series champion but couldn't get by Max Gust, who won the title. Gust's younger brother, Zach, won the Junior Dragster Intermediate title. And Garrett Lindquist won three of the five races and added a runner up finish to claim the series championship in Junior Dragster Novice.
Congratulations to all the racers!
Below are the top three finishers in each class:
SUPER PRO
First - Terry Pease, Blaine
Second - Dave Ulhorn, Minneapolis
Third - Rodney Thompson, Nowthen
PRO ET
First - Dave Engler, Ramsey
Second - Brett Speer, Ottertail
Third - Mike Casteel, Thief River Falls
SPORTSMAN
First - Brad Mickle, Lino Lakes
Second - Vernon Murphy, W. Fargo, N.D.
Third - Charles Giddings, Ramsey
PRO BIKE/SLED
First - Jeff Arpin, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Second - Mike Voss, Maplewood
Third - Richard Tadych, Fertile
STOCK/SUPER STOCK
First - Ben Line, Cromwell
Second - Terry Johnson, Maple Grove
Third - Glen DeMenge, McGregor
COMP TROPHY
First - Keith Allen Larson, Brainerd
Second - Darren Arnold, Hopkins
Third - Chris Henry, Sauk Rapids
STREET TROPHY
First - Sandy Luberda, Sauk Rapids
Second - Kayla Noyes, Andover
Third - Nick Arnold, St. Louis Park
STREET BIKE
First - Mike Voss, Maplewood
Second - Ken Doble, Clearwater
Third - None
JR DRAGSTER ADVANCED
First - Max Gust, Isanti
Second - Haley Heintzman, Fargo
Third - Nick Gust, Isanti
JR DRAGSTER INTERMEDIATE
First - Zach Gust, Isanti
Second - Abby Haben, Hibbing
Third - Sydney Haben, Hibbing
JR DRAGSTER NOVICE
First - Garrett Lindquist, Winsted
Second - Trevor Jelinski, Little Falls
Third - Camryn Takacs, Thunder Bay, Ontario
