Nitro Motorsports Park Tops Leaderboard During WDRA Summit Northwest Bracket Finals
WDRA member tracks in Northwest Canada enjoyed their first Summit Bracket Finals experience contested at Nitro Motorsports Park earlier this month.
In years past, racers north of the border had to travel into the United States to participate in the end-of-season sanctioning body activities, but this season the World Drag Racing Alliance (WDRA) brought the action to them. The WDRA Summit Racing Northwest Bracket Finals presented by Laris Motorsports Insurance took place September 5-8, 2024, at Nitro Motorsports Park.
The home team came out on top earning 24 points over Northen Lights Raceway with 23 points, followed by Napa Auto Parts Raceway with 20 and Northwest Regional Raceway with 8 points.
THE FUEL FACTORY RACE OF CHAMPIONS
Northern Lights Raceway competitors took home the Fuel Factory Race of Champions titles in three of the five classes: Dereck Patterson (Box), Kevin Noehring (No Box), and Connor Svisdahl (Junior Dragster). Steve Closkey won the Sportsman Race of Champions representing Nitro Motorsports Park and Darren Gavin earned the Motorcycle win for Napa Auto Parts Raceway.
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Amber Rutherford – WDRA 2024 No Box Champion
Riley Hills – WDRA 2024 Box Sportsman Champion
SATURDAY MAIN EVENT
Racers were eager to compete in the Main Event on Saturday where winners earned cash prizes, a WDRA Rod Trophy, and Champion card.
In the Main Event Box class, Blair Iles lets go .005 red beside Clint Dalla Vecchia who is .006 green to take the win while representing Northwest Regional Raceway. Amber Rutherford (Northern Lights) is .014 on the tree and runs two above to take the No Box win over Tim Jones from Nitro.
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Clint Dalla Vecchia – WDRA 2024 Box Champion
Darren Gavin – WDRA 2024 Motorcycle Champion
In the Main Event Sportsman Class, Riley Hillis is in full control at the starting line with a .025 bulb to earn the win for Napa as Colin Gessner (Northern Lights) is forced to settle for runner up honors. Both drivers in the Main Event Junior Dragster final round are used to staging up at Nitro Motorsports Park as locals. Rebecca Standeven is a little behind on the tree beside Josh Closkey who takes home the main event win. In the Main Event Motorcycle final, Michael Karpes (Nitro) turns on the dreaded red bulb while Darren Gavin is green to earn his second win of the weekend.
Josh Klosky – WDRA 2024 Junior Dragster Champion
Foji Danshaw – WDRA Best Appearing Open Bodied Car
SPECIAL AWARDS
Northern Lights Raceway was awarded the Best Team Spirit award and Napa Auto Parts Raceway can brag about being the Best Appearing Team. Speaking of looking great, Tyler Springman was recognized for having the Best Appearing Full Bodied Car while Foji Danshaw earned the Best Appearing Open Bodied Car, and Preslie Magnant won the Best Appearing Junior Dragster prize.
The WDRA Summit Bracket Finals has two more stops where the Southern racers get one more opportunity to punch their ticket to this year’s grand finale. The WDRA Summit World Championships, presented by SunCoast Performance, will take place October 24-26, 2024, at Montgomery International Dragway.
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Preslie Magnant – WDRA 2024 Best Appearing Junior Dragster
Tyler Springman – WDRA Best Appearing Full Bodied Car
