𝗝𝗘𝗙𝗙 𝗝𝗔𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗦𝗛 𝗦𝗘𝗖𝗨𝗥𝗘𝗦 𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗨𝗚𝗨𝗥𝗔𝗟 𝗪𝗗𝗥𝗔 𝗦𝗨𝗠𝗠𝗜𝗧 𝗠𝗢𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗖𝗬𝗖𝗟𝗘 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗟𝗗 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗠𝗣𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗣

When it comes to bracket racing, especially in the hotter climates, snowmobiles aren’t typically the first drag racing machine to come to mind. Although, for Jeff Jaquish, they have been his ride of choice for more than twenty-five years. Taking the path less traveled comes with a few more curves, but in the end, it’s made the victory that much sweeter for the inaugural WDRA Summit Motorcycle World Champion presented by SunCoast Performance.

After getting his start behind the wheel of a slow street car, Jaquish was introduced to a mentor-of-sorts who showed him how to combine his family’s winter pastime of riding snowmobiles with his newfound passion for bracket racing. At 19 years old, Jaquish claimed the Bracket Racer of the Year within the snowmobile organization he was part of before competing in the bike classes at local racetracks. Throughout the years, he has won several championships in bike classes and snowmobile series and is the only six-time winner of Woody’s Super Sled Shootout. But according to Jaquish, there was still one lingering dream.

“When WDRA announced the addition of the Motorcycle/Sled class, I knew it was a chance to do what I tried to do ages ago,” explained Jaquish. “Becoming a World Champion’s always been a goal, but it was hard to chase points and commit when life and other things got in the way. We do a lot of racing, and my wife is already the greatest person in the world to deal with all the traveling and events we do, so I didn’t want to add another series at first. That’s when Mike Ledford [of Mid Michigan Motorplex] told me to tell her, ‘There’s only ever one inaugural champion.’ Which then became our running joke all year.”

EVAN MUCHLER MAKES HISTORY AS THE 2024 WDRA SUMMIT JUNIOR DRAGSTER WORLD CHAMPION

Evan Muchler claims the 2024 WDRA Summit Junior Dragster World Championship presented by SunCoast Performance.

NORWALK, OH: For three hundred and seventy-one days, Evan Muchler could only think about one ten-thousandth of a second. That was his reaction time in the final round of the 2023 WDRA Summit World Championships presented by SunCoast Performance, but it was a heartbreaking red light that earned him second place in the national standings.

Muchler channeled that defeat into motivation and dominated the US 131 Motorsports Park competition to earn his sixth Junior Dragster Track Championship and another chance at the WDRA World Championship title. This season was all or nothing for the newly eighteen-year-old Michigan native who will age out of the junior ranks this December, but he handled the pressure flawlessly.

“I knew I was going to come back to the World Championships the day after I got second,” explained Muchler. “It wasn’t guaranteed, but I set my mind on it. I didn’t want to end on that note.”

DREW BUCHNER BECOMES 2024 WDRA SUMMIT NO BOX WORLD CHAMPION

The Canadian competitor clinched his title during the 2024 WDRA Summit World Championships presented by SunCoast Performance.

NORWALK, OH: Canada can celebrate being on top of the world again, thanks to Ontario native Drew Buchner, who surfaced as the 2024 WDRA Summit No Box World Champion after a storybook season.

Buchner was first introduced to the sport through his wife, Vicki, who grew up in a racing family centered around St. Thomas Dragway. After spectating for a couple of seasons, he raced a friend’s car a few times in 2001 before diving headfirst into the Street class in 2002, where he finished second in the points standings and claimed the Rookie of the Year honors. By then, Buchner knew he was hooked, so he purchased his 1985 Camaro, where his winning ways skyrocketed with a 2003 Modified (No Box) Track Championship during his first attempt. Fast forward twenty-two years, and he has accumulated six track championships and at least seven second place finishes in the points at St. Thomas Dragway.

Buchner chuckles when he admits, “My wife says I’m a little crazy that way. When I start something, I put one hundred and ten percent focus into it. The first couple of years, I ran No Box only, but after that, I started racing Box and No Box, but I’ve never had a box in the car.”

KYLE WANAMAKER WINS 2024 WDRA SUMMIT SPORTSMAN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Kyle Wanamaker is named the 2024 WDRA Summit Sportsman World Champion presented by SunCoast Performance.

NORWALK, OH: Michigan may soon become known for being the birthplace of champions as another Great Lakes State native returns, yielding a WDRA Summit World Championship. Kyle Wanamaker, the thirty-seven-year-old father of four, conquered the Sportsman ranks during the WDRA Summit World Championships presented by SunCoast Performance at Montgomery International Dragway.

Like many bracket racers, his father introduced Wanamaker to the sport at a young age. Now, that passion has grown to include his children. Each points race at US 131 Motorsports Park features nine Wanamakers looking for a celebration in the winner’s circle, including three of his children, his father, brother, nephew, and nieces.

The second-generation racer first got behind the wheel of his ’79 Plymouth Volare in 2010, and it continues to be the only car he has competed in full-time. The partnership has resulted in three track championships, several high-ranking points finishes, and a bracket finals victory over fifteen seasons. Nonetheless, the highest merit was ever elusive until October 26^th.

TOM THOMPSON EARNS 2024 WDRA SUMMIT BOX WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE

Tom Thompson becomes the 2024 WDRA Summit Box World Champion presented by SunCoast Performance.

NORWALK, OH: The second set of WDRA Summit World Champions presented by SunCoast Performance have been officially crowned. The invitation-only event occurred at Montgomery International Dragway and featured a select field of tough competitors from the WDRA member track network. The 2024 WDRA Summit Box World Champion, Tom Thompson, is the first man of the hour.

The fifty-two-year-old born and raised in South Carolina, “Lil” Tom Thompson, learned all about drag racing from his father, Tom, who continues to be crew chief at the racetrack when he can attend. Starting at fourteen, this year marks Thompson’s 38^th season, with most of his races occurring behind the wheel of his Foxbody Mustang, built in 1992 by Maddox Race Cars. He earned his first track championship at Ware Shoals Dragway in 2000 and after seven near misses over the years, he finally secured his second track championship this year at Greer Dragway.

MOORESVILLE DRAGWAY MAKES THE MOST OUT OF THE WDRA SUMMIT SOUTHEAST BRACKET FINALS

Team Mooresville Dragway left the WDRA Summit Southeast Bracket Finals with the coveted WDRA Team Championship Rod Trophy.

UNION, SC: Rosters full of racers from tracks across the Southeast gathered at Union County Dragway for the WDRA Summit Southeast Bracket Finals presented by Laris Motorsports Insurance. The competing tracks were Union County Dragway, Greer Dragway, Farmington Dragway, Mooresville Dragway, Ware Shoals Dragway, Cherokee Race Park, Kinston Drag Strip and Coastal Plains Dragway.

Five races were completed over the four-day event, with winners emerging in everything from Zuma scooters and street cars to full-size dragsters. The first winner’s circle celebrations took place on Thursday night, with Parker Dotson winning the Pit Vehicle Race and the host track’s Tony Brown claiming the Track Operator Race victory.

Friday began with a time trial for all competitors before diving into eliminations for the Fuel Factory Race of Champions. In the Box class, Scottie Watts, representing Union, was .008 on the tree and ran one above his dial to earn the win over Kale Hoffman from Coastal Plains. Mooresville’s Jerry Cline won the No Box class when Tommy Duff from Kinston broke out one-thousandth at the finish line. Calla Varner from Farmington had a better reaction time and claimed the double-breakout win over Will Dotson from Greer in the Junior Dragster final. Mark Dudley Jr from Mooresville earned the automatic win in Sportsman when Greer’s Cody Spears turned on the red bulb. In the Teen Racing division, Jordan Philbeck from Union took the win over Caleb Dix representing Greer.

BRAINERD MOTORSPORTS PARK BRINGS WDRA SUMMIT SOUTHERN BRACKET FINALS CHAMPIONSHIP BACK TO GEORGIA

Brainerd Motorsports Park earned first and third points in the Team Standings during the WDRA Summit Southern Bracket Finals presented by Laris Motorsports Insurance.

MONTGOMERY, AL: Eleven teams of racers gathered at Montgomery International Dragway over the weekend for the WDRA Summit Southern Bracket Finals presented by Laris Motorsports Insurance. Weather surrounding the event created a couple of schedule changes and the omission of one gamblers race, but eventually winners emerged in all classes during three separate races.

The Fuel Factory Race of Champions was contested on Friday where track operators and drivers could brag about which track champion was superior to the rest in their region. Brainerd Motorsports Park and Montgomery International Dragway each claimed two wins while Gulfport Dragway celebrated one winner. In the Junior Dragster final, both drivers were .028 on the tree, but CJ Handy ran dead on his 7.96 dial to get the win at his home track over Ryan Alexander from Atmore Dragstrip.

In the Box class, Rob Major from London Dragway had a .009 reaction time but breaks out by nine-thousandths while David Taylor (Montgomery) runs dead on his 4.56 dial in for the win. Brainerd’s Chad Brewer is .011 on the tree and runs two above his dial for the No Box win while leaving Chris Hester from I-22 Dragway mathematically ineligible.

MARYLAND INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY NEARLY SWEEPS COMPETITION TO CLAIM WDRA SUMMIT EASTERN BRACKET FINALS CHAMPIONSHIP

NEW ALEXANDRIA, PA: The WDRA crew traveled to the northeast for the next stop on the WDRA Summit Bracket Finals presented by Laris Motorsports Insurance tour. Keystone Raceway Park hosted the event for the second year and welcomed teams of racers from Sumerduck Dragway, Beaver Springs Dragway, Maryland International Raceway, Empire Dragway, US 13 Dragway, and Lancaster Dragway.

Maryland took the top spot in the Team Standings with 73.5 points, followed by Beaver Springs (56), Keystone (44), Empire (39), Lancaster (37), US 13 (35), and finally Sumerduck with 18 points.

Early arriving racers could participate in Thursday’s test and tune session for extra passes before entering the always-fun pit vehicle race. It was an all-Keystone final round, with Matt Brehm earning the first winner’s circle celebration after defeating Levi Lear.

GEN-Y HITCH OFFERS EXCLUSIVE WDRA DISCOUNT

GEN-Y Hitch, a leader in high-quality products, excellent customer support, and comprehensive warranties, will be offering exclusive product discounts to World Drag Racing Alliance (WDRA) racers as they join or renew their WDRA license for 2025.

“GEN-Y Hitch is excited to partner with WDRA and we are confident that racers across America will appreciate the ride benefits that our products provide” said Gen-Y Marketing Director Donna Schmucker.  “Our patented TORSION-FLEX Technology was designed to create the smoothest ride on the market, while protecting your valuable assets. We look forward to seeing our American Made products in the hands of more racers!”

Team WDRA will also be towing their official WDRA trailer to all events sporting The BOSS GEN-Y Torsion Flex hitch to all race markets in the USA & Canada.

“Our rig, although small and relatively light, has a larger percentage of tongue weight than we can manage with weight distribution alone. Adding the BOSS to our setup has dramatically improved the ride and lessened the stress on our truck, our cargo and our backs,” said Jon O’Neal of the WDRA. “The fact that the racers of the WDRA get an exclusive deal on such a high caliber piece that’s made here in the USA is point of pride for us.”