Bracket Racing
TIM MARKOGLU WINS AMERICAN/RACE TECH SUPER TUESDAY SHOOTOUT
BRISTOL, TN — The sun rose above the iconic hills of Thunder Valley to greet racers rolling through the gates of the final Fling event of the 
year. The RAD Torque Fall Fling presented by Optima Batteries fired to life with the Rob’s Automotive and Collision Center Test and Tune after racers got settled into their pit spots during the early half of the day.
Between sessions of testing would be the American Race Cars/Race Tech 32-Car Super Tuesday Dragster Shootout in which the two finalists would earn a dragster chassis valued at $16,000 — with the winner having their choice of builder.
As the afternoon shade crept over the racing surface, the shootout had dwindled down to eight competitors matched up on a ladder third round. Robert DiMino and Robert Hindman staged up as the first pairing, and Hindman quickly bowed out by way of a .007 redlight. Buddy Fleenor and Duston Wurtz were just two-thousandths apart on the tree and Fleenor used a .002 stripe to be dead-on nine for the win. Tim Markoglu advanced to the semifinals on a double breakout after being .001 and just one-thousandth under the dial against Shane Thompson, while Jim Glenn’s sixth-thousandths breakout awarded Scotty Richardson the win.
2021 RAD TORQUE FALL FLING PRESENTED BY OPTIMA BATTERIES PRE-RACE
BRISTOL, TN — For the twelfth straight year, the Fling bracket racing franchise returns to its birthplace at Bristol Dragway. The RAD 
Torque Systems Fall Fling presented by Optima Batteries will feature the best bracket racers in the country battling it out for over $400,000 in purse and prizes. With a beautiful week of weather in store, along with a gate entry/no cap format, Bristol Dragway is set to be packed with great racing action.
It all begins on Tuesday with Rob’s Automotive and Collision Center Test and Tune followed by the American/Race Tech 32-Car Shootout in the afternoon. FST Carburetors Wednesday Warm-Up will pay $15,000, followed by Moser Engineering $25,000-to-win on Thursday. ATI Performance Friday will feature the $100,000 main event and the Mullis Race Cars Racer Appreciation evening BBQ.
The 5-day event will be capped off with JEGS Performance $25,000 Saturday where all round money ?— including third round winners through the semi-finalists ?— will be doubled, as chosen by the racers during a weeklong voting period on social media.
10th ANNUAL JEGS SUMMER DOOR CAR SHOOTOUT SHATTERS RECORDS AT I57 DRAGSTRIP
The bar was significantly raised at I57 Dragstrip as racers packed the pits during the 10th Annual JEGS Summer Door Car Shootout presented by BTE
BENTON, IL – After a one-year hiatus, racers were ready and willing to get back on track for the 10th Annual JEGS Summer Door Car 
Shootout presented by BTE, as evidenced by the impressive turnout. Saturday’s BRODIX $10,000 main event boasted 220 entrants to create the largest car count in I57 Dragstrip history. Furthermore, over 1,500 fans flocked to the facility throughout the weekend which set a new spectator record.
Event promoter, Luke Bogacki, reflects by saying, “Our door car family never ceases to amaze me and turned out in record numbers. What’s even more incredible is the atmosphere in the pits, year after year. It’s such a brotherhood; this event is truly all about family and fun.”
He continues, “When you put it all together- an upgraded facility, a dedicated, hard-working staff, and loyal, enthusiastic racers- you get something really special. And that’s what the JEGS Summer Door Car Shootout is.”
JOSH BAKER WINS FUELTECH 25K SATURDAY
HEBRON, OH – The final day had arrived for the JEGS Performance Summer Fling presented by Optima Batteries at National Trail 
Raceway. FuelTech 25K Saturday would crown the last winner, the Kyle Seipel Never Give Up Award and the Todd Barton Best Appearing Car.
The night prior, Jeff Serra made history as the first driver to carry two entries into the final round at a Fling event during ATI Performance Products 100K Friday. The staff awarded him the Todd’s Extreme Paint MVP Award in the winner’s circle and he was presented with a custom-painted Impact Vapor helmet and $1,000.
The Kyle Seipel Never Give Up Award was also presented in Friday night’s victory lane to a racer who was on the Fling Team’s radar early in the week. Jon Talmadge (better known as Vega Jon) suffered issues with his motorhome on the way to the track and mechanical problems between rounds. He overcame adversity from several past accidents to partially regain the mobility to race his green ‘70 Nova. “The ‘never quit thing’ is a goal for me,” Talmadge said. “I wasn’t going to make it to Columbus. I wasn’t going to make it. So I made it.” His appearance in sixth round of the 100K event solidified the Fling Team’s decision to present him with the honor of receiving the first award in memory of the late Fling promoter Kyle Seipel.
JEFF SERRA MAKES HISTORY AT THE INAUGURAL SUMMER FLING
HEBRON, OH – A fast-paced slate of racing was in store for ATI Performance Products 100K Friday at the JEGS Performance Summer Fling 
presented by Optima Batteries at National Trail Raceway. After an unexpected cell moved through and rained out on-track activities Thursday evening, a revised schedule was released postponing the quarterfinals of the SERVPRO 10K Shootout and semifinals of the American Race Cars 25K Thursday event to Friday morning.
The remaining racers in Thursday’s main event were the match-ups of Joe Barush and Bob Kolibsky Jr., and Pete D’Agnolo versus Tim Kelley. Kolibsky Jr. and Barush staged up first in the semifinals and by way of the lesser double breakout Kolibsky Jr. secured an opportunity to take the American Race Cars 25K big check home. D’Agnolo used a .005 light against Kelly to move his ‘79 Malibu into the second door car versus dragster final of the weekend.
With the 100K event still on deck, it was a “gas and go” situation for the finalists. D’Agnolo ran it down to be “dead-on” eight against the two-thousandths breakout of Kolibsky Jr. to become the second door car winner of the weekend, earning himself $25,000 on his birthday.
WEATHER DELAYS SEMIFINALS OF AMERICAN RACE CARS 25K THURSDAY
HEBRON, OH – The action and racer appreciation prizes continued into American Race Cars Thursday at the JEGS Performance Summer 
Fling presented by Optima Batteries at National Trail Raceway with a $25,000 check awaiting the last driver standing.
The previous days saw Sean Parker win the American dragster in the Super Tuesday Shootout over Jeff Serra and Garrett Griffith securing $15,000 on Fuel Systems Technology Wednesday after defeating Bailey Ferraro in the final.
With the pace of the Thursday event Peter Biondo and the Fling team determined that time would allow them to put on a race for those out of competition after the second round. The SERVPRO 48-Car 10K Shootout filled up within 30 minutes and soon after the 24 door cars and 24 dragsters were called to roll into the lanes in conjunction with the 25K American Race Cars event.
GARRETT GRIFFITH WINS FST CARBURETORS WEDNESDAY 15K WARM-UP
HEBRON, OH – Blue skies greeted racers for Fuel Systems Technology Wednesday on the second day of the JEGS Performance Summer 
Fling presented by Optima Batteries at National Trail Raceway. A “warm-up” purse of $15,000 would be up for contention, and every driver on property received a time run beginning at 8:15 a.m.
An even 230 racers staged up for the first round, exactly 115 door cars and 115 dragsters. The Fling Fun Zone was ready for water balloon action complete with a water slide, bounce house, and tent for racers and their families to escape the heat. The weather also had plans for water activities as a rain cell passed through during the buyback round, delaying racing for much of the afternoon.
Late into the day the dark clouds passed overhead to clear the way for the setting sun. The returning cars had several rounds to work through into the night before they were set on a ladder. Just past 9 a.m., the 10 remaining drivers were Bailey Ferraro, Michael Shoop, Tracy Sons, Brandon Prest, Jeff Serra, Garrett Griffith, William Roberts, Michael Needham, and Cory Gulitti in two entries.
SEAN PARKER WINS AMERICAN/RACE TECH SUPER TUESDAY SHOOTOUT
HEBRON, OH – The sun rose above National Trail Raceway on the first day of the inaugural Summer Fling, illuminating the prominent 
black and yellow of JEGS Performance branding across the facility. The air was thick with both humidity and excitement for an installment of the Fling franchise in a new region of the country.
The early half of the day saw Bob Brockmeyer of Compulink giving the timing system a “freshen up” to be sure the Fling Racers would get an even playing field for this week’s racing. TruStart, his “Worst Red” invention, would also be implemented during the event as is at all Fling events. Once Brockmeyer’s work was complete and the National Trail Raceway staff concluded their track prep, racers were given the opportunity to make as many runs as time allowed during the Law Chevrolet and Buick Test and Tune between rounds of the American/Race Tech Super Tuesday Dragster Shootout.
As is tradition with this shootout format at the Fling events, the two finalists would earn a dragster chassis valued at $16,000 — with the winner having their choice of builder. The randomly selected 32-car field consisted of a balance of past event winners, Fling regulars, and local racers.
TEAM DRAGCHAMP HITS THE TRACK WITH BRODIX PARTNERSHIP
Gary Don Free and his Team DragChamp dragster return to racing with Brodix partnership
KATY, TX – Gary Don Free, owner and founder of DragChamp.com, returns to active competition with Brodix Cylinder Heads partnership. 
After a 10-month hiatus from competition, Gary Don hit the track recently with newfound horsepower from his Sherman Racing Engines prepared big block Chevy.
After struggling with cylinder head issues for the better part of 2020, Free partnered with Brodix Cylinder Heads for the 2021 season. The move was made in order to produce more power and provide the consistency needed to compete in the ultra-competitive world of bracket racing.
“After a tough 2020 season where our brand X heads failed us consistently,” Free explained. “We couldn’t be more excited to have Brodix Cylinder Heads on our race car this season. In our first outing there was a noticeable difference in power and consistency. After sitting on the sidelines for 10 months, our dragster laid down six-straight 4.77 laps at Houston Raceway,” Free continued.
MUTT & JEFF PROMOTIONS – DAY LAST RESULTS
Beaver Springs, PA – As has been told several times, it was seven years ago when good friends Paul Burrus and Dylan Griffey began Mutt & 
Jeff Promotions with a rather small big dollar bracket race. That dream has now led to where they are today, with this weekend’s event held at Beaver Springs Dragway in Pennsylvania.
The three-day race came to a close today with $10,000 awarded to one last winner, except…
After two days of gorgeous weather with low humidity, Mother Nature may have said, “Enough is enough.”
Halfway through the third round of eliminations, the rains came essentially completing the event. Even if the rain stopped, it would take hours to re-prep the track. With Sunday as Father’s Day and most wanting to be home with their families, the executive decision was to go back to all second round winners, as if third round never began. The purse was then split amongst those second round winners.
