DALLAS – Any team will tell you that nothing sets the tone for a professional drag racing season, like a strong start at the Gatornationals. Drag Race Bracket Bonanza (DRBB), the first dynamic bracket competition for drag racing fans, is no different. In its inaugural event for its first ever full season of game play, DRBB set new records for sign-ups and brackets completed and launched many new features. The most talked about being league play.

“I am so fired up to see all the different Drag Race Bracket Bonanza leagues forming around the world,” said DRBB creator, Elon Werner. “The number one request we received from our players last year was they wanted leagues. We listened to them, and I am thrilled with the response. Drag Race Bracket Bonanza is about fan engagement and community. Seeing all the leagues form just shows how massive our drag racing community is.”

By the time that brackets closed at the start of Top Fuel eliminations during the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Florida, 115 leagues had been created by DRBB players across the world. Leagues ranged in source and size, from groups of friends who bonded over being drag racing fans in Australia, to coworkers – like the Texas Motorplex staff league, to larger leagues such as the CompetititonPlus.com league and WFO Radio Podcast league, created by Joe Castello.

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DALLAS – The 2023 professional drag racing season ended on a high note at In-N-Out Pomona Dragstrip and Drag Race Bracket Bonanza (DRBB) players were right in the middle of the championship action. The six-race playoffs, on and off the track, came down to the final day and two DRBB players rose to the top with Nitrostalgic (Terry I.) and AlkeyAlex (Alex Owens) taking the top spots in the DRBB Overall Series, earning the most points over the six playoff races. The Overall Series winners each received a championship belt signed by the 2023 NHRA world champions Doug Kalitta, Matt Hagan, Erica Enders and Gaige Herrera. Five winners also won for their World Finals picks including the first Canadian and European winners.

DRBB creator Elon Werner and Overall Series runner-up Alex Owens pose with signed DRBB runner-up belt in In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip pressroom, photo courtesy of Werner Communications.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better end to the first Drag Race Bracket Bonanza season,” said Elon Werner, Drag Race Bracket Bonanza creator. “Over the course of the seven races we grew every race. We saw great momentum over the final three races with record signups and completed brackets race over race. The interest and participants exceeded my expectations. I can’t wait to get started in 2024 and we will for sure be back better than ever.”

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DALLAS – Heading into the finale of the NHRA season there are world championships on the line as well as serious bragging rights for NHRA fans. At the conclusion of the race, Drag Race Bracket Bonanza (DRBB), the first dynamic free bracket competition for drag racing fans, will crown its inaugural overall playoff champion and recognize the overall runner-up with one-of-a-kind DRBB championship belts signed by the newly crowned NHRA world champions. To add to the growing excitement DRBB will award double points during the World Finals. The final race of the season is slated for this weekend at In-N-Out Burger Dragstrip in Pomona, November 10-12, and based on the continued growth of the DRBB, thousands of fans are enjoying the free and fun bracket-style online game experience.

Currently the top five in the overall standings include Flusher (393.862), J (389.575), Payto (387.785), DENSY (386.333) and Nitrostalgic (383.702). Payto was the overall winner and DENSY was the Pro Stock winner at the Reading Nationals. The remaining top five players have held their positions through consistent top five finishes throughout the playoff races. The final race of the season will be a nail-biter with players picking all four categories with world championship implications and bracket busters looming.

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DALLAS – With two Countdown playoff races left in the 2023 season Drag Race Bracket Bonanza (DRBB), the first dynamic bracket competition for drag racing fans, will build on a record setting participation following the Texas Fall Nationals. With the Nevada Nationals on tap this weekend October 27-29 and then the World Finals slated for In-N-Out Burgers Dragstrip in Pomona, November 10-12, thousands of fans are enjoying the free and fun bracket-style online game experience.

Five new winners from the Texas Fall Nationals added their names to the DRBB record books with Tim I., of Fort Mohave, Arizona, posting a record setting win for the overall Texas Fall Nationals title earning 111.92 points, the most points ever for one player. Dee S. from Geneva, Illinois, took Top Fuel honors and Doug L. from Lake Alfred, Florida, won in Funny Car. The Pro Stock titles went to Ray W., of Hanover Township, Penn., and Noah C., from Indianapolis, Ind., in Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle respectively. Through five events, the U.S. Nationals and four Countdown playoff races, DRBB has awarded driver-signed plaques to 24 different fans from across the country.

“The Texas Fall Nationals saw another big jump in players signing up and filling out brackets on Saturday night and Sunday morning,” said Elon Werner, Drag Race Bracket Bonanza creator. “We got great support from track owners Christie Meyer Johnson and her husband Barry with multiple locations promoting Drag Race Bracket Bonanza. We also had our DRBB logos on several race cars including Justin Ashley, Josh Hart, Buddy Hull and Camrie Caruso.”

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DALLAS – After two Countdown races in the NHRA playoff series ten different fans from across the country have taken home one-of-a-kind Drag Race Bracket Bonanza (DRBB) winner plaques. Drag Race Bracket Bonanza, the first dynamic bracket competition for drag racing fans, will open the brackets tonight following qualifying at the NHRA Midwest Nationals from World Wide Technology Raceway outside St. Louis.

Following the rain delayed Reading Nationals overall winner Payton P. of Castle Rock, Wash., took the overall win with the most combined points from Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle. Scott W. of Mogadore, Ohio, won Top Fuel, David L., of Marlton, New Jersey won Funny Car and Dave D. of Elgin, Texas, and Abe H. of Cleveland, Ohio, took Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle honors respectively. Last weekend at the Carolina Nationals Dujeanna B. of Valdosta, Ga., won the overall title with Mike H. of West Hills, Calif., and Zhen B. from Tuscaloosa, Ala., winning in Top Fuel and Funny Car. Mike C. from Mooresville, NC won Pro Stock and Cori M. from Elkhart, Ind. Won Pro Stock Motorcycle.

Throughout the current Midwest Nationals fans have had the opportunity to sign up for Drag Race Bracket Bonanza online, in table topper located in the World Wide Technology Raceway suites and in the Budweiser Pavilion.

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DALLAS – Following the first race of the NHRA Countdown at Maple Grove Raceway Drag Race Bracket Bonanza (DRBB), the first dynamic bracket competition for drag racing fans, will be turning its attention and fan interest to the NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMax Dragway, September 22-24. As part of the growing interest and excitement around the first free online fantasy drag racing bracket competition, DRBB is pleased to announce that Michael Waltrip Taproom will be the “Official Place for Beer” during the multi-day drag racing event.

Throughout the Carolina Nationals fans will have the opportunity to sign up for Drag Race Bracket Bonanza and on Saturday night after the professional fields are set, can make their picks while they enjoy an ice cold Talladega Light or any of the other delicious Michael Waltrip Brewing Co. brands. The DRBB marketing team will also be on-site on Thursday and Saturday interacting with fans and promoting the online site.

“I am excited to provide drag racing fans the chance to sign up for Drag Race Bracket Bonanza through on-site branding at Michael Waltrip Taproom during the Carolina Nationals,” said Elon Werner, Drag Race Bracket Bonanza creator. “I am even more excited about having fans on Saturday night make their picks for all four professional classes from the Michael Waltrip Taproom while enjoying a Michael Waltrip Brewing Co. beer. Our goal is to introduce as many fans as possible to Drag Race Bracket Bonanza and working with Michael Waltrip Taproom makes perfect sense.”

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DALLAS, TX – After a successful launch during the 69th U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway Park in Indianapolis Drag Race Bracket Bonanza, the first dynamic bracket competition for drag racing fans, will be back in action this weekend during the Reading Nationals from Maple Grove Raceway. Fans will once again be able to fill out the complete competition brackets for Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle when qualifying concludes on Saturday evening. Brackets can be filled out until the first pair of Top Fuel dragsters fire up for the first round of eliminations at 10:30 a.m. ET.

“We had hundreds of drag racing fans fill out brackets for the U.S. Nationals from across the country and around the world. We had people playing in Europe and Australia showing how broad the interest and passion is for drag racing and the competition at the U.S. Nationals,” said Elon Werner, creator of Drag Race Bracket Bonanza. “It was great to see people talking about and sharing their brackets on social media before and during the race. Drag Race Bracket Bonanza brought another level of fan engagement to one of the most exciting and fan-friendly motorsports.”

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DALLAS – The excitement and madness of predicting who will win the U.S. Nationals is being placed into the hands and keyboards of NHRA fans starting this weekend with the launch of Drag Race Bracket Bonanza (DRBB), the first dynamic bracket competition for drag racing fans. When the fields are set on Sunday night for the 69th U.S. Nationals fans can head to the Drag Race Bracket Bonanza website on either their phone or laptop and make their picks round by round for all four professional classes. Points will be earned with every correct pick until there is one overall event winner at the conclusion of the race on Monday. Category winners for Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle will also be recognized.

“This was an idea I have been thinking about and talking to people within the sport for a couple years. Drag Racing has the excitement and drama of the college men’s basketball tournament every national event and we should be capitalizing on that excitement to give our fans more chances to root for their favorite drivers,” said Elon Werner, Creator of Drag Race Bracket Bonanza and Founder of Werner Communications. “My goal is for Drag Racing fans to fill out their brackets and encourage their non-drag racing friends to try their luck. Drag Racing is unpredictable and the excitement of seeing your favorite driver win rounds should be recognized and celebrated.”

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