News Article

Scott, Gierten, and Heaney Earn Wallies at GIR for NHRA Jr Dragster Challenge

July 1, 2010
Sam Martin

Gateway International Raceway hosted the Jr. Dragster Challenge alongside the Championship Bracket Racing Series on Saturday, June 26th. Winners of the Jr. Dragster Challenge: Brad Scott (13+), Grant Gierten (10-12) and Meg Heaney (8-9), left GIR with miniature “Wally” trophies. Also collecting wins on Saturday were: Rick McCarter (Pro Bike), Mark Vallow (Street), Ron Hendrixson (Pro), Brian Gardner (Super Pro) and in the 1/8th mile Dash for cash, Dave Schutte.

In the Jr. Dragster 8-9 year old category, Heaney defeated Josh Hanson with a brilliant .006 reaction time which forced Hanson to get to the finish line first and break out. The win pulls Heaney within striking distance in the point championship, just six points behind point leader Kameron Keyser.

In the 10-12 year old class, it was Gierten defeating Morgan Keyser, 2009 GIR track Champion, in the semi-final with a breakout victory to advance to the final. In the final round Gierten defeated Brittany Scotty. Gierten posted a better reaction time and beat Scott to the finish line for the win. Dylan Sutton still leads the class point standings with 122. Keyser is in second with 104 and Gierten pushed to third with his event with 80 points.

In the 13+ age category Brad Scott took the win with consistency on the tree. In four rounds of competition Scott’s worst reaction time was in the first round, a .054. However, in the final round Scott’s .036 reaction time did not give him the starting line advantage. Kelsey Beimfohr’s .028 was the better time, but Beimfohr was unable to get to the finish line first and Scott Found victory. The final round appearance bumped Beimfohr into the second position in the point standings with 119. However, Alyssa Enloe still has the lead with a staggering 213 points.

McCarter captured victory in the Pro Bike class over Denny Slusser in the final round. Slusser’s ’05 Hayabusa ran into problems and was over a second off of his dial-in. McCarter lifted to easily pick up the win. Dusty Katich, even with his first round exit, still leads the points with 144. Bob Pannell is in second with 110, and Denny Slusser moved into third with 99 points.

Vallow defeated Kevin Goss in the final round of action in Street Eliminator. Vallow posted an .053 reaction time while Goss was much later. Goss ran nearly dead on his dial in, but Vallow’s starting line advantage got him to the finish line first for the win. Goss still leads the point standings with 223 with Nick Brem trailing in second with 209 points. Pat Taff and Ted Lipka are tied in the third position with 191 points.

Hendrixson defeated Frankie Radake in the final round of Pro in a pair of late ‘60s Chevrolet’s. Hendrixson had the starting line advantage by just over a hundredth of a second, and then ran nearly dead on his dial-in to defeat Radake. Hendrixson took the point lead with his victory to take him to 276 points. Jason Mallinckrodt sits in second with 264. Trailing in third is Mike Vishino with 188.

Kaleb Redmond took on Gardener in the Super Pro final round. Redmond had the starting line advantage after posting a .004 reaction time, but at the finish line Redmond broke out and handed the win over to Gardner. Redmond also received a runner up finish in the Dash for Cash eight mile class. In the Super Pro Point standings Greg Sesti is at the top of the list with 233, followed closely by Mike Eggleston with 210. In the third position is Gardener with 170.