Perfect runs highlight DER Racing Series at Bristol

Weather once again played havoc with the DER Bracket Racing Series at Bristol Dragway on April 16, but a couple perfect runs and several drivers in Victory Lane made for a much better day on Sunday.

Chris Johnson of Maryville used an almost-perfect .001 reaction time to dispose of Denver Maltba from Newland, N.C., in the final round of Super Pro action on Sunday afternoon. Johnson flashed through the line in 4.956 seconds (4.90 dial-in) at 125.87 mph. Maltba had a stellar .008 R.T. and a 4.982 elapsed time (4.90 dial-in) at 135.61 mph on his final round pass.

Gray’s Ryan Arnold pulled off the rare perfect run in Sunday’s Super Pro by combining a .000 R.T. with a dead-on 6.130 E.T. at 115.31 mph.

Sunday’s Pro division action went to Kingsport’s Alan Nelson when Justin Horton from Rogersville turned on the red light in the final by leaving the line too soon. Nelson still ran hard on his last run of the day, leaving the line with a .005 R.T. and completing his run with a 7.162 E.T. at 95.24 mph.  

Rogersville’s Cody Spears defeated Brandon Bailey of Glade Springs, Va. in the final round of Sportsman action. Not to be outdone by Arnold, Richlands’ Darrel McGlothlin had a perfect run during the second round of Sportsman racing. McGlothlin turned in a perfect .000 RT and ran 12.630 seconds on a 12.63 dial.

Chester Lay from Corryton defeated Katie Street in the final round of Trophy. Street, from Cedar Bluff, Va., had the better light, an .037 RT to a .101 RT, but Lay ran closer to his dial, a 16.642 on a 16.64 dial-in, to earn the win light. Street completed her run in 17.373 seconds (17.24 dial-in).

Jason Haynes of Mt. Carmel rode to the Motorcycle win over Sevierville’s Dakota Wells after Wells broke out. Haynes’ winning run consisted of a .216 R.T. and 5.921 E.T. (5.85 dial-in) at 118.68 mph.

Corryton’s Dylan Howard claimed Junior Dragster Division I over Gracie Freeman from Roan Mountain. Howard’s winning pass combined a .271 R.T. with a 9.467-second pass (8.90 dial-in) at 56.08 mph. Ben Denton from Bristol, Va., defeated Kayla Long of Clinton in the final round of Junior Dragster Division II. Denton left the line with a .095 R.T. and finished his run with a 7.938 E.T. (7.91 dial-in) at 81.43 mph. [4/19/2011]

Byron springs a Leek

After owning all or part of iconic Midwest dragstrip Byron Dragway for decades, Ron Leek reportedly has sold the track to B.J. Vangsness.

Leek originated big-bucks drag racing when he started having the U.S. Bracket Nationals at Byron at the same time that the U.S. Nationals at Indy was held. Byron also hosted an annual Funny Car event, the Manufacturers Meet, and is the host of the World Wheelstand Nationals. 

Mr. Vangsness has long worked with Mr. Leek so the track operation should stay pretty much stable.(Michael Fischbeck photo) [4/19/2011]