BTE World FootBrake Challenge XVI Thursday Collides with a Clash of the Titans
Bristol, TN – Thursday marked the beginning of the sixteenth installment of the BTE World Footbrake Challenge, where the competition has 
obviously been preparing to show off on the big stage. Track temperatures started warming up with the Test n’ Tune session followed by a Gamblers Race featuring the increased $5,000 payout.
Co-promoter, Jared Pennington said, “Steve and I are very appreciative of the large number of racers [263 pre-entries] that are choosing to attend the WFC, and we want to start the week right by increasing the gamblers purse, with no added entry fee.”
Thursday’s Gamblers Race began with a healthy 221 entries, but with no doubles or buybacks allowed, drivers had an all-or-nothing mentality. Within the first four rounds of competition, two drivers laid down perfect runs: Dennis Coffey and Dean Harmon.
By sixth round, only seven drivers remained for the quarterfinal quarrel: Brad Plourd, Tim Griffith, @Morgan Carroll, Nathan Sexton, Michael Beard, Daniel Johnson, and Dean Harmon.
Carroll had the starting line advantage, but breaks out 8 thousandths more than Plourd, who advances into the semifinal. Griffith turns it .004 red while Beard is .011 green to take the win. Johnson has a perfect reaction time takes the .013 margin of victory over Sexton, while Harmon earns the bye run down to four cars.
In the semifinal, Both Harmon and Johnson illuminate the red light by .002 and .008, respectively, which sets up Beard and Plourd to battle for the first win of the weekend.
The pair of champion competitors are dialed 6.96 and only one thousandth separates the reaction times, therefore leaving all the magic to happen on the finish line. Plourd breaks out .014 but Beard is only .007 under the dial to earn Thursday’s $5,000 Gamblers Race win. That final win light brings Michael Beard’s BTE World Footbrake Challenge record to three wins and one runner up.
All the action at the BTE World Footbrake Challenge XVI has just begun! Friday, Saturday, and Sunday each feature their own $15,000 to win main events as well as a Friday $3,000 Gamblers Race, time permitting.
Gates open at 8am tomorrow and everyone will receive one time trial per entry starting at 8:30am. Gate entries are welcomed, and you can compete in the triple 15s for only $600.
Stuck at home? Thankfully you can still see what’s happening live on www.MotorManiaTV.com courtesy of JEGS Performance. For more information on the BTE World Footbrake Challenge XVI, head to www.worldfootbrakechallenge.com.
