Robbie Philbeck becomes the 2023 WDRA Summit Sportsman World Champion over the weekend at Darlington Dragway

SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Sportsman category is the only true non-electronic class in the WDRA and provides drivers an outlet to footbrake off the bottom bulb with an elapsed time restriction of 7.50 seconds and slower.  Racetracks can advertise Sportsman as somewhat of a middle ground class- giving the opportunity for new racers to get their bearings in bracket racing while seasoned drivers albeit on the slower side of the field, also compete for the lucrative end-of-year prizes. Sportsman drivers must compete without the aid of starting line enhancers, transbrakes, two-steps, nitrous, electric shifters, electronic throttle stops, and of course delay boxes are prohibited.

Although the class is still growing and may be a relatively new addition to many racetracks, doubting the talent within the Sportsman ranks would be a mistake, especially with ten thousand dollars on the line. Exhibit A would be the 2023 WDRA Sportsman World Champion, Robbie Philbeck. Throughout five rounds of cutthroat competition during the WDRA Summit World Championships presented by SunCoast Performance Philbeck managed a .007 average reaction time, omitting the .015 red light behind his opponent in the semifinal.

The forty-three-year-old Grover, North Carolina native first began racing at an outlaw track at the tender age of twelve in his father’s 1976 Camaro and drove for about nine years before taking a three-year hiatus. Continue reading →

Alex Selleck not only becomes the first WDRA Summit Junior Dragster World Champion but bracket racing’s youngest World Champion to date

SPRINGFIELD, IL – Due to the intricate nature of the sport, it often takes years for a newcomer to master the consistency, discipline, and focus required to become successful. On the other hand, occasionally a driver bursts onto the scene seemingly unstoppable and equipped with a natural talent. Alex Selleck, from Ionia, Michigan, is most certainly the second type of competitor as he became the 2023 WDRA Summit Junior Dragster World Champion at only eight years old.

Technically, Selleck’s extracurricular activity should count as extra credit as the third grade student spends his weekends adding up the total package on his time slip, multiplying his winnings, and subtracting his competition from the next round. The 2023 season was only his second behind the wheel, but it also resulted in his second consecutive Junior Dragster Track Championship at Mid Michigan Motorplex in the seven to nine year old class. Selleck earned this year’s championship after picking up eight wins and one runner up during the eighteen-race points chase. Since Mid Michigan separates their junior class by age groups, all three champions then ran head-to-head with Selleck winning both rounds and therefore the rights to represent his track at the 2023 WDRA Summit World Championships.

Mid Michigan Motorplex track operator, Mike Ledford, expressed confidence in the young Selleck’s ability to represent his track. He said, “He made good runs all day and put the pressure on the competition. Well-deserved and the kid made no mistakes all day.”

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Donnie Hagar, Matthew McDaniel, Alex Selleck, and Robbie Philbeck earn the inaugural WDRA Summit World Championship titles at Darlington Dragway

DARLINGTON, SC – An elite field of racers traveling from across the United States and Canada converge in South Carolina to add their names to bracket racing history by conquering the first World Drag Racing Alliance (WDRA) Summit World Championships presented by SunCoast Performance. Summit Racing Equipment is the title sponsor for the quarter million dollar Sportsman Drag Racing Series which rewards local bracket racers who qualify to compete at the end-of-the-year championship event. Every qualifier receives $500 cash to aid in offsetting the travel costs and each round the payouts multiply eventually reaching thousands of dollars in each class. Box and No Box champions earn $20,000 each while the Sportsman and Junior Dragster champions leave with $10,000 each.

Clear blue skies, sunshine, and a steady wind spread throughout the host track, Darlington Dragway, on Saturday as drivers prepared for five rounds of competition where each opponent had already accumulated the word Champion on their racing resume. WDRA President, Skooter Peaco, explains the skill it takes to qualify for the WDRA Summit World Championships by saying, “The amount of talent gathered together this weekend from across the US and Canada is incredible. We founded the WDRA to specifically support the bracket racers and the tracks they call home. This weekend was a dream realized for us and a lot of memories were made for our racers and their families.”

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Sobczynski, Hagar, Brooks, and Laffoon earn $5,000 victories on Friday during the WDRA Summit World Championships presented by SunCoast Performance

DARLINGTON, SC – A little over nine months after inception, the World Drag Racing Alliance (WDRA) gathered at Darlington Dragway for the last event of its inaugural season. The WDRA Summit World Championship presented by SunCoast Performance is an invitation-only event consisting of Sportsman Drag Racing Series champions and Bracket Finals main event winners, in other words, the best of the best.

Thursday featured a test and tune session for everyone in attendance followed by a pit vehicle race. A sibling rivalry played out in the final round when John Varner representing Gulfport Dragway took the $300 win over his sister, Grace, who picked up $200 while representing for North Florida Motorplex. Mason Crews and Kadden Collins with Darlington Dragway were the semifinalists.

Friday featured $5,000 to win races in four categories with no entry fee for the competitors. Title sponsors for each class were American Race Cars for Box, Laris Motorsports Insurance for No Box, Renegade Race Fuels for Sportsman, and Wild Willy Fuel Fragrance for the Junior Dragsters. After completing the time trial and nearly first round, a rainstorm created a pause in the program, but the clouds eventually parted, and the track was restored to racing conditions.

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The WDRA Summit Bracket Finals presented by Laris Motorsports Insurance are complete after the Southeast event was contested at Darlington Dragway

DARLINGTON, SC – After crowning champions in Iowa, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Mississippi, the World Drag Racing Alliance (WDRA) team traveled to the Southeast in preparation for the last two events of their inaugural season. Darlington Dragway would first welcome the WDRA Summit Racing Equipment Southeast Bracket Finals presented by Laris Motorsports Insurance where the best of the best racers from eight regional racetracks competed for numerous awards throughout the weekend. Those racetracks were Cherokee Race Park, Coastal Plains Dragway, Darlington Dragway, Farmington Dragway, Greer Dragway, Kinston Drag Strip, Union County Dragway, and Ware Shoals Dragway.

Over the course of three days, racers were rewarded with their share of over $56,000 in total payouts as well as gift certificates, the coveted WDRA Rod trophy, WDRA Champion Cards, and the opportunity to compete at the WDRA Summit Sportsman Drag Racing Series World Championships presented by Suncoast Performance.

Eager and early arriving racers were rewarded with a test and tune session on Thursday, while most of the field rolled through the gates by Friday morning. The first group of drivers who wheeled their way into the winner’s circle were greeted with a $3,000 purse in the Box and No Box classes while Sportsman and Junior Dragster winners took home a healthy portion of the proceeds.

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Springfield, IL – The WDRA is happy to have Wild Willy Fuel Fragrance join the Alliance as a new partner. The chemical company, which is known for its fuel fragrance and top lube additives, will sponsor the free $5,000 winner-take-all Junior Dragster race prior to the WDRA Summit World Championship presented by Suncoast Performance.

Talented drivers who qualify for the WDRA Summit World Championships presented by Suncoast Performance will have the opportunity to cash in early during separate free entry fee $5,000-to-win races. These lucrative gamblers races are available to Junior Dragster, Box, No-Box, and Sportsman racers thanks to the support from Wild Willy Fuel Fragrance, American Race Cars, Laris Motorsports, and Renegade Race Fuels.

In addition to the support of the Juniors, Wild Willy will also launch a national partnership program with all WDRA member tracks to become distributors and have the products available for sale to racers on site. This is another national benefit to WDRA member tracks, and it comes courtesy of WDRA track owner Greg Miller of Keystone Raceway Park who brought this program together for his fellow track operators.

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Springfield, IL – The World Drag Racing Alliance announced today that Laris Motorsports Insurance has renewed their sportsman racer based programs for 2024 and will be expanding their commitment to the sport by creating an unprecedented national sponsorship package for each WDRA sanctioned track next season.

Laris Motorsports Insurance will continue in their role as the Official Racing Equipment Insurance partner of WDRA, the presenting sponsor of the Summit Bracket Finals series of events, the primary sponsor of the MotorManiaTV live stream program for the 2024 Summit World Championships as well as the Laris Motorsports Perfect Run program held during the Summit Bracket Finals.  The expanded program will now feature Laris Motorsports becoming a marketing partner at every WDRA sanctioned facility in 2024.

“We are honored that Laris Motorsports has seen the value in what WDRA does and how we materially support our sanctioned facilities with a host of discounts and benefits that reduces a track’s operating costs” said WDRA’s Skooter Peaco.  “This new track sponsorship program is a big investment and WDRA is thrilled to deliver actual sponsorship dollars directly to our member track family while helping Laris Motorsports create a national footprint.  Thousands of racers will now be exposed to the programs and benefits Laris Motorsports offers at their home track and can quickly and easily get a quote and learn more about coverage for their investment.  We’ve connected a racer owned business to our member track network with products and services that can help our racers, which is the core of our mission statement.”

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Springfield, IL – The World Drag Racing Alliance (WDRA) proudly announces the addition of the cutting – edge Street Legal Dragway to its esteemed member track family. Spearheaded by visionary Andy Marocco, this brand-new “street tire only” 330-foot drag racing facility is located at the Southern California Fairgrounds in Perris, California. Street Legal Dragway aims to provide a safe and legal platform for regional street car enthusiasts to unleash their horsepower and compete.

Illegal street racing remains a persistent nationwide concern, and WDRA saw an opportunity to address the issue head-on by partnering with Andy on his revolutionary project. Jon O’Neal, representative of WDRA, expressed, “Working with Andy on this endeavor is not just an acknowledgment of the illegal street racing problem—it’s an actionable solution. Street Legal Dragway’s concept of a nationally recognized and sanctioned short track format (330 ft) presents a scalable model that can be readily adopted across the country, making a significant impact in curbing illegal street racing. We believe this is a blueprint for others to follow.”

Andy Marocco, the driving force behind Street Legal Dragway, shared his excitement, “This idea has been years in the making, and we are thrilled to receive support from the State of California and the Riverside County Sheriff to bring our vision to life. WDRA’s recognition and sanctioning of our track are invaluable, providing guidance in running our race events successfully.”

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Springfield, IL – The World Drag Racing Alliance announced today that Renegade Race Fuels has joined the rapidly growing list of sponsors that will be supporting the bracket racing community by joining the WDRA in 2023. Renegade will become an Official Partner of WDRA and offer various discounts and programs exclusively for WDRA Member tracks and racers. Renegade has become the title sponsor of the Free Friday 5k race at the Summit World Championships presented by Suncoast Performance for Sportsman class competitors. Beyond the free $5k race, Renegade will also provide access to the Renegade Rewards program for WDRA members. WDRA member tracks also benefit by having an exclusive and industry first traction compound offer to earn free product.

In addition to the Summit World Championships, Renegade will have a presence at all WDRA Summit Bracket Finals presented by Laris Motorsports events and will be providing $250 in fuel prizes to the Summit World Champions.

“Renegade Race Fuel is proud to partner with the WDRA as a Race Fuel and Traction Compound supplier for the WDRA and will provide the highest quality products to ensure the best performance for both the racers and facilities,” said Renegade Marketing Director Braiden Baptiste. “We are confident that this partnership with the WDRA will be a great success and we are excited to be a part of racers and facilities reaching their full potential.”

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