The 2024 WDRA Summit Bracket Finals, presented by Laris Motorsports Insurance, kicked off with the Midwest event contested at Eddyville Raceway Park.
OSKALOOSA, IA: After competing all season long at their respective racetracks, WDRA members converge regionally to compete against neighboring facilities in hopes of clinching victory as a team and/or a coveted invitation to the WDRA Summit World Championships presented by SunCoast Performance. WDRA member tracks Cordova Dragway, Mid America Dragway, I-29 Dragway, and Mo-Kan Dragway competed alongside the host facility, Eddyville Raceway Park, to kick off these end-of-year festivities during the WDRA Summit Midwest Bracket Finals, presented by Laris Motorsports Insurance over the weekend.
On-track action kicked off on Friday with a Gamblers Race for the Box, No Box, and Junior Dragster classes. Eddyville racers nearly swept the competition with five of the six finalists hailing from the home track. Mark Lambert defeated Gary Smiley in the top bulb class, while the lone Cordova Dragway representative, Ryan Robinson, earned the No Box win over Donnie Ellison. A nearly heads-up final in Junior Dragster ended with Jailin Breeding winning over Ty Ratcliff.
Saturday’s Gamblers Races featured the support of several companies that would sponsor the winning racer in each class with a free 2025 WDRA membership. In the Outlaw Trailers Box class, Steve Lohrer from Eddyville earned the win over a red-lighting Brandon Phillips. Another all-Eddyville final saw Camden Baarda win over Kyle Vogel in the TechnoCraft Trailer Cabinets No Box class. The Junior Dragster class was sponsored by Funny Bone Embroidery & Screen Printing, where Trey Ratcliffe was .004 on the tree to defeat Frankie McGlynn. A Teen Racing Gamblers Race was also contested, where Jaleigh Lightsey from Mid America won over Elizabeth Wehling, representing I-29 Dragway.
Naturally, the most crucial race of the weekend was the Main Event, where not only would eligible winners punch their ticket to the WDRA Summit World Championships, but every driver would earn one point per round win for the track they were representing to see who really has the best racers in 2024.
The Box Main Event final came down to Russell Laffoon II from I-29 Dragway versus Pat McGlynn from Cordova Dragway. McGlynn had the starting line advantage with a .007 reaction time but ran six-thousandths too quick beside Laffoon, who ran two above his 4.39 dial-in for the win.
Cordova Dragway secured a win in the No Box Main Event when Tyler Brooks used a .011 starting line advantage to take the .012 margin of victory over Mike Zoellner from Eddyville Raceway Park.
The Sportsman Main Event turned into a family affair with three generations of the Randall family making it into the semifinals. The grandfather’s night ended that round to set up a father-son finale with both representatives from Mid America Dragway. Mason Randall turns on the red light while his father, Rocky, is green and coasts across the finish line for the win.
Two Cordova Dragway racers met in the Junior Dragster Main Event final round, where Alexa Berlett runs dead on her 7.92 dial-in for the win over Chloe McGlynn, who breaks out in an attempt to take the finish line.
A Motorcycle Main Event was contested with Eddyville’s Austin Easter leaving .005 too soon to send Scott Parker from Cordova into the winner’s circle with his .037 reaction time.
Teen Racers also had an opportunity to celebrate on the big stage with the local Eddyville racer, Jett Stock, earning the win over Jaleigh Lightsey from Mid America.
All Main Event winners received a WDRA Rod Trophy, WDRA Champion Card, and cash prizes. Thanks to their diligence in obtaining a WDRA Summit Sportsman Drag Racing Series membership before the July 1st deadline, Russell Laffoon II, Tyler Brooks, Rocky Randall, and Alexa Berlett’s victories qualify them to compete in their respective classes for a World Championship title.
Once the final points were tallied, Cordova Dragway stood on top of the Team Standings with 56 points, followed by Eddyville Raceway Park (38), Mid America Dragway (31), I-29 Dragway (23), and Mo-Kan Dragway with 10 points.
Special awards during the event were distributed with Brian Dorsett claiming Best Appearing Open Bodied Car, Chrissy Deters with Best Appearing Full Bodied Car, Patrick Roetto earning Best Appearing Motorcycle, and Mason Acosta wheeling the Best Appearing Junior Dragster. I-29 Dragway was awarded Best Team Spirit, but Mo-Kan Dragway can brag about being the Best Appearing Team, while Eddyville Raceway Park had the Best Decorated Grandstand.
Kara Pitzer crushed the competition during the Track Operator Race while representing I-29 Dragway. Gary Smiley picked up the Laris Motorsports Insurance Best Package of the Main Event in the First Round with his .013 winning run.
Four more WDRA Summit Bracket Finals events will be contested before the team gathers for the race to crown champions. The WDRA Summit World Championships, presented by SunCoast Performance, will take place October 24-26, 2024, at Montgomery International Dragway.
