Witherow, Moren, and Lloyd Claim 2015 Raider ET Series Championships

MECHANICSVILLE, MD – Steve Witherow, Chris Moren, and Allison Lloyd each claimed their stake as the 2015 Raider ET Challenge Series champions this weekend, as the season long campaign was completed with the final two day event at Maryland International Raceway (MDIR) on October 25th.

The 12th season of the Raider ET Challenge Series was originally scheduled for 8 races over four weekends between Richmond Dragway, Virginia Motorsports Park, and Maryland International Raceway. Weather got the best of the original schedule reducing this year’s chase to 6 races at 3 events with the July race at VMP being a rain out. With the reduced number of series events, this weekend’s results became even more crucial for racers looking to claim the series class championships along with a Gold Iron Tree Trophy, over $150,000 in total cash and awards overall including the “Major Sponsorship” awards provided by over 25 participating business partners to year end winners.

In Top ET, Steve Witherow of Sumerduck, VA, overcame his 2nd place position and a 20 point deficit entering the weekend, to then points leader Will Kivett of Waldorf, MD to claim the season championship. The battle came down to the very last day of competition after both racers went an identical 5 rounds of action on Saturday. Kivett would bow out in the 2nd round the final day, while Witherow and his ’14 Racetech dragster would eventually finish the day in the runner-up spot to Michael Boswell of Mechanicsville, MD and claim the crown with 360 points to Kivett’s 350. Jack Trussell also of Summerduck, VA, used a strong weekend to claim the 3rd place position with 300 points. Witherow has now claimed 3 of the last 4 championships, also winning in the ’12 and ’13 seasons!

In Mod ET, Chris Moren of Henrico, VA, used a 41 point advantage entering the weekend to propel him to the season ending championship position, finishing with 381 total points with his ’68 Dart. Steve Witherow used a strong finish in Mod ET as he did in Top ET, including a race win on Sunday to propel himself to a 2nd place finish with 331 points. Local standout and ’15 MDIR track champion Bobby Mattera of Waldorf, MD rounded out the top 3 with 321 points.

In what turned out to be the tightest points chase of the season, Allison Lloyd of Doswell, VA claimed the Junior Dragster championship via a tie-breaker over Chad Logan of Nokesville, VA. Both competitors would finish the 6 race season with an identical 351 points forcing a tie-breaker to determine the winner. Both racers each won one race on the season and each had one runner-up to their credit. Lloyd would claim the crown in the fourth tie-breaker via a better finish in the ’14 season! Roger Thornton of North Chesterfield, VA finished in 3rd with 321 points.

“What an exciting way to finish the series with championships being won in the very last few rounds,” said MDIR Director of Administrations and Operations Chris Miller. “We have some of the best and most competitive ET racers in the country right here at MDIR.  We would like to say thank you to all of the racers, their families and friends that have supported this series as well as our other big buck events and our entire ET program.  We look forward to seeing everyone again for another great season in 2016!”