Kyle Wanamaker is named the 2024 WDRA Summit Sportsman World Champion presented by SunCoast Performance

NORWALK, OH – Michigan may soon become known for being the birthplace of champions as another Great Lakes State native returns, yielding a WDRA Summit World Championship. Kyle Wanamaker, the thirty-seven-year-old father of four, conquered the Sportsman ranks during the WDRA Summit World Championships presented by SunCoast Performance at Montgomery International Dragway.

Like many bracket racers, his father introduced Wanamaker to the sport at a young age. Now, that passion has grown to include his children. Each points race at US 131 Motorsports Park features nine Wanamakers looking for a celebration in the winner’s circle, including three of his children, his father, brother, nephew, and nieces.

The second-generation racer first got behind the wheel of his ’79 Plymouth Volare in 2010, and it continues to be the only car he has competed in full-time. The partnership has resulted in three track championships, several high-ranking points finishes, and a bracket finals victory over fifteen seasons. Nonetheless, the highest merit was ever elusive until October 26th.

In Wanamaker’s case, the third time is the charm, as he walked away with a world title after qualifying for the third time in his racing career. On his road to the championship, Wanamaker eliminated Brantley Duncan from Ware Shoals Dragway, Cody Spears from Greer Dragway, Joe Fox from Keystone Raceway Park, and Chris Mesbergen from Mid-Michigan Motorplex, before facing off with Brainerd Motorsports Park’s champion, David Bigham. Continue reading →

Tom Thompson becomes the 2024 WDRA Summit Box World Champion presented by SunCoast Performance

NORWALK, OH – The second set of WDRA Summit World Champions presented by SunCoast Performance have been officially crowned. The invitation-only event occurred at Montgomery International Dragway and featured a select field of tough competitors from the WDRA member track network. The 2024 WDRA Summit Box World Champion, Tom Thompson, is the first man of the hour.

The fifty-two-year-old born and raised in South Carolina, “Lil” Tom Thompson, learned all about drag racing from his father, Tom, who continues to be crew chief at the racetrack when he can attend. Starting at fourteen, this year marks Thompson’s 38th season, with most of his races occurring behind the wheel of his Foxbody Mustang, built in 1992 by Maddox Race Cars. He earned his first track championship at Ware Shoals Dragway in 2000 and after seven near misses over the years, he finally secured his second track championship this year at Greer Dragway.

This was Thompson’s first attempt at a World Championship, and he left with a perfect score as he crushed the competition on Saturday. He defeated fellow track champions Dereck Patterson from Nitro Motorsports Park, Aaron Shriver from I-29 Dragway, Scott Sanders from Cherokee Race Park, and Jared Pennington from I-22 Motorsports Park before earning a bye run into the final round.

It was a door car versus dragster $20,000 final, with Thompson turning his .007 reaction time into a .035 margin of victory over Ian Woods, who was representing London Dragway. You could hear vocalizations within the racecar as Thompson rolled into the winner’s circle and emerged as the 2024 WDRA Summit Box World Champion. Continue reading →

Five new drivers are celebrated as victors during the WDRA Summit World Championships presented by SunCoast Performance

MONTGOMERY, AL – The World Drag Racing Alliance (WDRA) sophomore season came to an exciting close at Montgomery International Dragway during the Summit World Championships presented by SunCoast Performance. Racers from across North America converged at the southern facility to compete in the Box, No Box, Sportsman, Junior Dragster, and inaugural Motorcycle class. The Summit Sportsman Drag Racing Series (SSDRS) includes $250,000 worth of payouts and prizes, including $300 cash given to every participant in an effort to offset travel expenses.

A select field of only the best racers from across the WDRA member track network were invited to compete for this prestigious event which boasts cash payouts, the WDRA Rod trophy, WDRA Champion Card, and lifetime achievement of being a World Champion. Every participant was thoroughly vetted to ensure only qualified individuals would be in attendance – that meant either Track Champions, the highest finishing SSDRS competitor, or Main Event winners from the regional Bracket Finals races.

The level of competition on World Championship Saturday was as hot as the Alabama temperature as each win light seemingly burned brighter than the last. There were no buybacks and thus no second chances to try again. Round by round the field whittled until only a few remained with hopes of entering their names in the record books. Continue reading →

Sanders, Morris, Dixon, Schultz, and Halas each earned $5,000 during the first day of competition at the WDRA Summit World Championships presented by SunCoast Performance

MONTGOMERY, AL – To crown the second set of WDRA World Champions, the event moved to Montgomery International Dragway to provide more of a centralized location for the increasing number of WDRA racetracks. The WDRA Summit World Championships, presented by SunCoast Performance, featured two days for qualified racers to get familiar with the facility before diving into the most crucial race of the season.

Thursday opened with a Test and Tune session, followed by a Pit Vehicle Race in which Trey Goodson cashed in on day one. Friday featured $5,000-to-win races in each of the five classes with zero entry fee for competitors thanks to contributions from various sponsors.

The FuelTech Box class was an all-door car semifinal where Cody Field staged up beside Ernie Humes while Scott Sanders earned the last bye run of the race. Humes ran dead on his 5.84 dial, but Field was in control at the tree to advance into the $5,000 final round. It was a Tennessee versus Kentucky finale when Sanders let go .024 and ran one above his dial to leave Field mathematically ineligible and earned the win while representing Cherokee Race Park.

The Advanced Product Design No Box semifinal featured Brad Talbot on the bye run while Chad Brewer and Velicity Morris battled off the bottom bulb to see who would advance. Only one thousandth separated the drivers on the tree, but Brewer breaks out three thousandths while Morris runs dead on with a six to move into the final. In a true show of sportsmanship, Talbot from Grand Bend Motorplex waited on Morris, who was having trouble getting her truck started, before rolling into the waterbox. Atmore Dragway representative Morris was unphased by the hiccup as she was .009 on the tree and ran dead on her dial for the $5,000 win beside Talbot, who was .025 on the tree but broke out one ten-thousandth at the stripe. Continue reading →

Team Mooresville Dragway wins the WDRA Summit Southeast Bracket Finals

UNION, SC – Rosters full of racers from tracks across the Southeast gathered at Union County Dragway for the WDRA Summit Southeast Bracket Finals presented by Laris Motorsports Insurance. The competing tracks were Union County Dragway, Greer Dragway, Farmington Dragway, Mooresville Dragway, Ware Shoals Dragway, Cherokee Race Park, Kinston Drag Strip and Coastal Plains Dragway.

Five races were completed over the four-day event, with winners emerging in everything from Zuma scooters and street cars to full-size dragsters. The first winner’s circle celebrations took place on Thursday night, with Parker Dotson winning the Pit Vehicle Race and the host track’s Tony Brown claiming the Track Operator Race victory.

Friday began with a time trial for all competitors before diving into eliminations for the Fuel Factory Race of Champions. In the Box class, Scottie Watts, representing Union, was .008 on the tree and ran one above his dial to earn the win over Kale Hoffman from Coastal Plains. Mooresville’s Jerry Cline won the No Box class when Tommy Duff from Kinston broke out one-thousandth at the finish line. Calla Varner from Farmington had a better reaction time and claimed the double-breakout win over Will Dotson from Greer in the Junior Dragster final. Mark Dudley Jr from Mooresville earned the automatic win in Sportsman when Greer’s Cody Spears turned on the red bulb. In the Teen Racing division, Jordan Philbeck from Union took the win over Caleb Dix representing Greer. Continue reading →

Brainerd Motorsports Park earned first and third points in the Team Standings during the WDRA Summit Southern Bracket Finals presented by Laris Motorsports Insurance

MONTGOMERY, AL – Eleven teams of racers gathered at Montgomery International Dragway over the weekend for the WDRA Summit Southern Bracket Finals presented by Laris Motorsports Insurance. Weather surrounding the event created a couple of schedule changes and the omission of one gamblers race, but eventually winners emerged in all classes during three separate races.

The Fuel Factory Race of Champions was contested on Friday where track operators and drivers could brag about which track champion was superior to the rest in their region. Brainerd Motorsports Park and Montgomery International Dragway each claimed two wins while Gulfport Dragway celebrated one winner. In the Junior Dragster final, both drivers were .028 on the tree, but CJ Handy ran dead on his 7.96 dial to get the win at his home track over Ryan Alexander from Atmore Dragstrip.

In the Box class, Rob Major from London Dragway had a .009 reaction time but breaks out by nine-thousandths while David Taylor (Montgomery) runs dead on his 4.56 dial in for the win. Brainerd’s Chad Brewer is .011 on the tree and runs two above his dial for the No Box win while leaving Chris Hester from I-22 Dragway mathematically ineligible.

Jerry Rogers is in full control at the starting line get the Sportsman victory for Gulfport over Paige Short Smith from London Dragway. Sonny Vick, representing Brainerd, has an .018 light and runs closer to his dial to earn the Motorcycle win over Robert Meeks from North Florida Motorplex. Continue reading →

WDRA member tracks in Northwest Canada enjoyed their first Summit Bracket Finals experience contested at Nitro Motorsports Park earlier this month

British Columbia, CA – In years past, racers north of the border had to travel into the United States to participate in the end-of-season sanctioning body activities, but this season the World Drag Racing Alliance (WDRA) brought the action to them. The WDRA Summit Northwest Bracket Finals presented by Laris Motorsports Insurance took place September 5-8, 2024, at Nitro Motorsports Park.

The home team came out on top earning 24 points over Northen Lights Raceway with 23 points, followed by Napa Auto Parts Raceway with 20 and Northwest Regional Raceway with 8 points. Northern Lights Raceway competitors took home the Fuel Factory Race of Champion titles in three of the five classes: Dereck Patterson (Box), Kevin Noehring (No Box), and Connor Svisdahl (Junior Dragster). Steve Closkey won the Sportsman Race of Champions representing Nitro Motorsports Park and Darren Gavin earned the Motorcycle win for Napa Auto Parts Raceway.

Racers were eager to compete in the Main Event on Saturday where winners earned cash prizes, a WDRA Rod Trophy, and Champion card. In the Box class, Blair Iles lets go .005 red beside Clint Dolla Vecchia who is .006 green to take the win while representing Northwest Regional Raceway. Amber Rutherford (Northern Lights) is .014 on the tree and runs two above to take the No Box win over Tim Jones from Nitro. Continue reading →

NORWALK, OH – GEN-Y Hitch, a leader in high-quality products, excellent customer support, and comprehensive warranties, will be offering exclusive product discounts to World Drag Racing Alliance (WDRA) racers as they join or renew their WDRA license for 2025.

“GEN-Y Hitch is excited to partner with WDRA, and we are confident that racers across America will appreciate the ride benefits that our products provide,” said Gen-Y Marketing Director Donna Schmucker. “Our patented TORSION-FLEX Technology was designed to create the smoothest ride on the market while protecting your valuable assets. We look forward to seeing our American-made products in the hands of more racers!”

Team WDRA will also tow its official WDRA trailer, sporting the BOSS GEN-Y Torsion Flex hitch, to all race markets in the USA and Canada. Continue reading →

Maryland International Raceway competitors won three of the five main event classes during the 2024 WDRA Summit Eastern Bracket Finals

NEW ALEXANDRIA, PA – The WDRA crew traveled to the northeast for the next stop on the WDRA Summit Bracket Finals presented by Laris Motorsports Insurance tour. Keystone Raceway Park hosted the event for the second year and welcomed teams of racers from Sumerduck Dragway, Beaver Springs Dragway, Maryland International Raceway, Empire Dragway, US 13 Dragway, and Lancaster Dragway.

Maryland took the top spot in the Team Standings with 73.5 points, followed by Beaver Springs (56), Keystone (44), Empire (39), Lancaster (37), US 13 (35), and finally Sumerduck with 18 points.

Early arriving racers could participate in Thursday’s test and tune session for extra passes before entering the always-fun pit vehicle race. It was an all-Keystone final round, with Matt Brehm earning the first winner’s circle celebration after defeating Levi Lear. Continue reading →

NORWALK, OH – Revolutionary asphalt and concrete repair manufacturer Aquaphalt has joined the WDRA as a partner in the Alliance and offers an exclusive discount program to assist WDRA member tracks through 1st Ayd.

“We are thrilled to introduce Aquaphalt to the sport on a large scale as this is a revolutionary product for both racing surface and general facility repairs,” said WDRA’s Jon O’Neal. “We saw this product used in a real-world drag racing environment and were very impressed with the repair. The fact that it was speedy, and our test repair has lasted several months now under extreme abuse at a drag strip with no signs of deteriorating. This product is designed as a permanent repair, not a temporary fix.”

Michael Wertheim of Aquaphalt adds, “Aquaphalt keeps the race going with fast repairs for damaged tracks — you just pour it in, spray some water on it, and tamp it down. It begins to harden right away, so you can drive on it immediately. It’s a bad day to be a pothole.” Continue reading →