Bracket Racing
Mike Barber Secures ATI Performance Products $30,000 Thursday Victory at the Fall Fling
Bristol, TN — The weather proved to work in the racers’ favor during ATI Performance Products $30,000 Thursday at the RAD Torque 
Systems Fall Fling presented by Optima Batteries at Bristol Dragway. Exactly 425 drivers staged up for Round 1 to chase after the first main event big check of the weekend.
In the quarterfinals six racers remained – half door cars and half dragsters including Michael Paschal, Mike Barber, Chris Ferguson, Josh Baker, Matthew Holmes, and Michael Jackson. Ferguson was .008 and took .003 at the stripe to move past Baker, while Barber was .005 with a substantial advantage on the tree for the win over Holmes. Paschal continued a dominating streak as he was .009 and dead-on eight against Jackson to earn a spot in the semifinals.
At three cars, Ferguson ended Paschal’s streak by laying down .010 total for the win. Barber took a solo trip down the track with a .012 light.
In a final where either competitor would be a first time Fling event winner, Barber won by way of a double breakout after running just three-thousandths under. Ferguson, who had the advantage off the starting line with a .009 light, ran five-thousandths under. Not only did Barber collect the $30,000 payday, but he will start the Fall Fling Points chase off in the lead.
Fall Fling Advanced Product Design $15,000 Wednesday Paused Due to Weather
Bristol, TN — Advanced Product Design $15,000 Wednesday at the RAD Torque Systems Fall Fling presented by Optima Batteries at Bristol 
Dragway began with a time run session for all racers on property to get their equipment dialed in for the rest of the weekend.
In the afternoon during the second round, a storm with heavy rain and lightning overtook the track and by the time it passed the sun had set. As the Bristol Dragway track staff made an effort to clear off the track with jet dryers, the dew point increased which would create unsafe conditions by the time the track was projected to be fully prepped.
The Fling Team made the decision to begin ATI Performance $30,000 Thursday as scheduled with a new entry time trial in the morning before going straight into first round. “Our racers pre-entered this race for the 30K, 100K, and 30K main events,” said promoter Peter Biondo. “We want to deliver as promised, and we’ll see how the week progresses as far as coming back to continue eliminations of the 15K event.”
2023 RAD Torque Systems Fall Fling Presented by Optima Batteries Pre-Race
Bristol, TN — The final stop on the 2023 Fling Race Series Tour is happening this week at the RAD Torque Systems Fall Fling presented by Optima Batteries. Bristol Dragway will host 425 of the best bracket racers in the country at this unique single entry event.
“With 677 entries at our 2022 Bristol event, we felt we needed to cap the field in order to deliver the experience our racers have come to expect,” said promoter Peter Biondo. “We decided to only accept 425 single entries to allow us to finish before the track gets too cold or humid at night. Our goal is to provide a safe racing surface and end each day at a reasonable hour.”
Rob’s Automotive Tuesday will host a track-operated test and tune run in conjunction with the American Race Cars/Race Tech 32-Car Dragster Shootout where the finalists will each win a chassis with the winner having choice of builder.
HUNTER PATTON PICKS UP SUMMIT $50K PAYDAY ON SATURDAY OF THE 28th ANNUAL MILLION DOLLAR DRAG RACE
ST. LOUIS – After four days of massive car counts, incredible victories, intense competition, and unmatched excitement, Saturday’s sunrise 
would provide the last opportunity for racers to profit during the 28th Annual Mickey Thompson Million Dollar Drag Race.
Following the new entry time trial session, No Box competitors were called to the staging lanes for the final Summit $50K race of the weekend. A healthy field of 626 door cars and dragsters made their way towards the finish line during first round and without a buyback, no second chances would be available.
The fifth round featured a case of déjà vu as Nick Hastings and John Ratulowski faced off as the final bottom bulb racers. Ratulowski puts together an .019 total package but gets .013 change when Hastings is .004 up front and runs dead on with a two for the win. Hastings adds another $1,000 No Box bonus to his bank balance and moves into the door car side where he is eliminated the next round on a breakout.
HAGAR MAKES HISTORY BY CONQUERING 28th ANNUAL MILLION DOLLAR DRAG RACE WITHOUT DELAY BOX
Donnie Hagar is crowned the 28th Annual Million Dollar Drag Race champion at World Wide Technology Raceway
ST. LOUIS – The line lock is off, and we are rolling out of the water box for the day everyone has been patiently waiting for…Friday at the 
28th Annual Mickey Thompson Million Dollar Drag Race. The largest payout of the event is awarded on Friday as someone is guaranteed to leave with six figures.
Before deciding who will make their way toward the winner’s circle, all drivers receive a time trial to get dialed in for the day. The more lucrative purse calls for a higher entry fee that always lowers the car count from the surrounding $50K races. Since World Wide Technology Raceway is packed with eager racers, the decrease benefits drivers by providing time for a re-entry round if they fail to turn on the win light in round one.
The atmosphere changes on Million dollar Friday which creates an amplified excitement as the stakes continue to rise. Drivers and families not participating in Friday’s race stay to watch alongside the return road or in the grandstands, because everyone wants to know who will win it all. After the playing of the National Anthem, invocation, and moment of silence for the Million Dollar Drag Race creator, George Howard, the first pair of No Box racers make their way through the tunnel and onto the racing surface.
LAWRENCE LEAVES WITH SUMMIT $50K CHECK ON THURSDAY OF THE 28th ANNUAL MILLION DOLLAR DRAG RACE
ST. LOUIS – One day removed from Nick Hastings proving that you don’t need a delay box to collect a $50,000 prize, drivers had another 
opportunity to cash in during Thursday’s installment of the Summit Triple 50’s.
The 28th Annual Mickey Thompson Million Dollar Drag Race witnessed even more racers roll through the gates of World Wide Technology Raceway as the new entrants received a time trial prior to eliminations. Buybacks were canceled to compensate for the crowd which soared to a staggering 774 entries during the first round of competition. The support from racers produced the highest car count during the 28-year history of the Million Dollar Drag Race.
As a gesture of appreciation, the Folk family has announced a $28K Giveaway that will take place during the Million main event. On Friday, 28 tech cards will be randomly selected, followed by a live contest on the starting line where various cash prizes will be distributed via sealed envelopes with a combined value of $28,000 as a nod to the 28th Annual Million Dollar Drag Race.
HASTINGS FOOTBRAKES TO SUMMIT $50K VICTORY WEDNESDAY AT THE 28TH ANNUAL MILLION DOLLAR DRAG RACE
ST. LOUIS – Approximately five hours after Wes May claimed the first big check of the 28th Annual Mickey Thompson Million Dollar Drag 
Race, the rumble of racecars returned to World Wide Technology Raceway for Wednesday’s Summit Racing Equipment $50K.
Drivers who rolled in the gates later than the rest of the competition were given a new entry time trial to get dialed in for a daunting day of drag racing. Another increase in car count resulted in the second day without forgiveness from a buyback round to crown a winner at a reasonable time.
A mix of no box, door cars, and dragsters totaled an impressive 680 entries launching off the starting line in round one of Summit $50K Wednesday. In the fifth round, the last two bottom bulb racers staged up to see who would claim the $1,000 No Box bonus. John Ratulowski leaves first with his 6.26 dial, but Nick Hastings has the reaction time advantage and chases him down taking a .006 margin of victory.
MAY TRIUMPHS TBM BRAKES TUESDAY $20K DURING THE 28TH ANNUAL MILLION DOLLAR DRAG RACE
Wes May conquers day one of the 28th Annual Mickey Thompson Million Dollar Drag Race at World Wide Technology Raceway
ST. LOUIS – As one of the most well-known big money bracket races in history, The Million Dollar Drag Race is etched on the bucket list for 
most and circled on the calendar of many racers year after year. For the 28th installment of The Mickey Thompson Million, Folk Promotions swapped the long-standing southern staple for a Midwest venue just east of the Mississippi River as they relocated to World Wide Technology Raceway.
Racers were not only welcomed with views of the nearby Gateway Arch but also the hospitality that only The Million can provide. From complimentary snacks and beverages in the staging lanes, one free event t-shirt per competitor, zero spectator or crew fees, and the Laris Motorsports Insurance Racer Appreciation dinner on Friday, The Million’s attention to detail makes each participant feel valued, which explains why the pits were packed full on a Tuesday.
Five days of competition would kick off on TBM Brakes Tuesday where a top prize valued at $20,000 was ready for the taking. An overnight rain shower delayed the start time but eventually, each car would make a test pass prior to the first round of eliminations.
Randy Krause Wins Final $30,000 Race at the Summer Fling on American Race Cars Sunday
Hebron, OH — The final day at the JEGS Performance Summer Fling presented by Optima Batteries at National Trail Raceway brought 
sunny skies and another $30,000 big check courtesy of American Race Cars.
The morning fired up with the Summer Fling Reaction Time Challenge, where 25 racers were randomly selected to take a hit at the tree for cash. Five drivers earned $100 for ‘double-O’ reaction times.
Roughly 400 entries made for an action-packed day, but the cooperation of the racers allowed the rounds to go by swiftly. As the sun began to set nine racers remained including Kenny Underwood in two entries, Pro bonus winner Matt Obertanec, Randy Krause, Mike Rogers, Dennis Meade, Jim Glenn, Nick Folk, and Tim Wurtz.
In the quarterfinals, Glenn was .018 and dead-on one to the .015 red of Wurtz, while Obertanec had an eight thousandths reaction time advantage on Underwood and got to the stripe by .009 to run dead-on two to advance. Krause made a solo pass down the track on the bye.
Jeremy York Secures FuelTech $30,000 Saturday at the Summer Fling
Hebron, OH — FuelTech $30,000 Saturday at the JEGS Performance Summer Fling presented by Optima Batteries brought sunny, clear 
skies for the 431 entries on property at National Trail Raceway. The count was a record-high since the beginning of the Summer Fling in 2021.
The best door car and best dragster package of the weekend throughout eliminations from Thursday to third round Saturday met in a match race for a set of Brodix cylinder heads. Ben Haight qualified on the door car side with perfect package (off the bottom) while Johnny Ezell was the representative on the dragster side after being .002 total (.001 and dead-on 1). Ezell was .008 and took a thousandth at the finish line to be .011 above against the .016, dead-on four against Haight to pick up the brand new set of SR20 heads.
The quarterfinals included Jeremy York, Caraline McCarty, Preston Pennington in two entries, Todd Piper, Kyle Cultrera. Pennington let go perfect to the .001 of Piper, and Piper took three thousandths to breakout by seven thousandths, advancing Pennington who was only .003 under the dial. McCarty turned it four thousandths red and ran dead-on eight against the .024 package of York, allowing York to advance to the semifinals. In the last pair, Cultrera was .003 but gave it back two thousandths to Pennington, who still laid down .012 total.
