World Footbrake Challenge by Jared Pennington

Bristol, TN – Once again, Footbrakers showed up in large numbers for ‘The World’s Greatest Footbrake Race’ at Bristol Dragway. The 7th version of the BTE World Footbrake Challenge was the largest in the event’s history as well as setting the record for the biggest Footbrake only race (based on current class rules) in the history of our sport.

Friday saw 440 racers on the track while the Saturday/Sunday numbers grew to 459 and 455 respectively. 2nd round winners got paid each day, including the Thursday and Friday night gambler’s races which led to hundreds of participants visiting the pay window over the 4 days of racing. The weather was the best we’ve ever had for a WFC event and it was much needed with the huge crowd on hand. 25 states and 2 countries were represented in the pits.

Plattinum Products and Steve Schmidt Competition Engines provided Live Timing from Mark Walter and the DragStory.com staff. I can’t even believe what I’m about to write but the live feed, photos and results got nearly 130,000 views from over 70 countries. That’s very exciting for our customers and sponsors. To hear that much attention was given to the WFC supporters from people around the world is amazing to us and we’re thankful to each and every one of the viewers for spending their time tuning in to the event.

Saturday night, everyone was treated to a wonderful meal in the CARS Protection Plus Racer Appreciation BBQ. Our great friends from Gardendale Performance put an amazing feast together that anyone in attendance was invited to enjoy free of charge. Great Southern cooking with all the fixins was heaped up on the picnic tables under the ‘shed’ at Bristol Dragway and if you didn’t get enough to eat, you didn’t try hard enough. Over 700 lbs of chicken, pork chops, hot dogs and sausage fed 700 plus people and every ounce of food was prepared to perfection. We want to thank the Tedesco family and CARS for helping put on the BBQ. Special thanks to the folks preparing the meal for our customers. To Jimmy Wesson, Robin Wesson, Elizabeth Wesson, Whitney and Rusty Herring, Anthony and Melissa Statham, Angela and Scott Amason, Corey Wilson and Greg and Leslie Pesnell, we thank you all from the bottom of our hearts. Special recognition to K C Pesnell and Bird Blevins for doing what was needed when it was needed. You boys were awesome as well.

The racing action was very exciting and some new winners visited the winner’s circle in Bristol along with a familiar face or two. Thursday night saw Mark Romeo (Pa) take the win over John Vance (Al) in the first ever Thursday Gambler’s race at the WFC. Friday’s action started our NitroPlate Triple 10’s and after the dust settled, Denny Maclosky (NJ) collected $10K when David Bell (Ar) went -.002 in the final round. Friday’s action also saw a $3K to win gambler’s race get completed by curfew and David Harvey Jr (NJ) made it a clean Friday sweep for New Jersey when he bested Michael Crass (Ky) in the final. Saturday was the largest crowd of the weekend but it also had the highest rain chances so the tension was obvious among the racers and staff.

Mother Nature treated us very well and allowed us to race rain free. The day started with a lot excitement due to us having two 16 car shootouts that was guaranteed to put new faces in the WFC winner’s circle. The ladies only McCarty Auto Parts Ladies Night Out shootout had 16 of the toughest female competitors on the grounds competing for the $2K winner’s check. Susan McMillan (Tn) took the win over Jamie Southards (NC) and history was made at the WFC. The 2nd of the two shootouts was also a special one in terms of what it meant to the history of the WFC. The McCarty Auto Parts Senior Citizen Challenge saw 16 men of ages 60 and over competing for a $2K payday. The ‘geezer’ race had a lot of talented racers and coming out on top of all of them was Kurt Huntington (NC) when he got by Doug Thompson (Oh). The day’s $10K main event went off without a hitch and we had our first ever NO SPLIT $10K final round that saw Mick LeComte (Oh) take the big payday over Dustin Avondet (Mo).

The final day arrived with wet pavement from an overnight rain but the amazing staff at Bristol Dragway was on it early. Steven Lyons delivered God’s word in the Sunday morning chapel service and we were ready to race shortly thereafter. When the final pair pulled in the water box, it was obvious that we’d see a repeat winner from races past. Chris ‘Cougar Daddy’ Plott (NC) won his 3rd WFC $10K race when he defeated another previous WFC event winner, Steve Alford (NC).

Awesome sponsors kept us busy distributing prizes all weekend long and it started out with the racers getting JEGS goody bags when they came through the gate. JEGS also supplied special bags for the shootout racers. Plourd Racing Products and Lucas Oil teamed up to provide tons of their products for the racers. K&N Filters provided lots of hats and filters which we handed out by the box full. NitroPlate had stacks of gift certificates and hats that went directly in the hands of the racers as well. The most fun is passing out the Ice Cream that Huntsville Engine and Performance provides for every racer that buys back over the weekend. Miller Pump and Electric kept the racers cooled down in the staging lanes with ice cold bottled water all weekend long.

We’d like to thank the WFC staff for their hard work and dedication. We bring in the best people we can and their performance shows that we made great choices. Jim Gleason, Jeff Kile, Jackie Howard, Jessie Cranford, Mike Shabareck, Heather Moore, Jenny and Kevin Halbert and Shonda Stites, thank you so much for all of your hard work. All of you are a major part of the WFC’s success and it wouldn’t be the same without you. Bubba Piersol is our webmaster and we never mention him but Bubba, we appreciate you very much and we thank you for your hard work behind the scenes. Ken Morris and Chip Bralley handled the photography and did a wonderful job as always. Thanks to BTE and NitroPlate for being the title and weekend sponsors respectively. Your many years of support have played a big role in the WFC’s growth and we appreciate all you have done. Thank you to the LONG list of other sponsors we have. Racers, please look to these companies first when you are in need of parts or services for your hot rod. They deserve your support.

Last but certainly not least, thank you to Steve Stites. In 2006, he dreamed up the WFC and I thought he was crazy. Not because it was a bad idea, but because he told me that I would be the guy out in front of it telling racers why they should be involved. I didn’t think there was a chance that anyone would listen to me and attend an event that I promoted. What I have come to learn over the years is that you can’t fail when you have the best product. Steve has built the WFC structure since day one and it’s obvious that he has an unmatched feel for what the racers want and need. I am very fortunate that he chose me to work with him and ANY credit for the success of this event should start with Steve. Stone Cold, I love ya buddy. Thank you for allowing me to be involved in the WFC. Your decision changed my life and I’m forever grateful.

Thank you to all that support the WFC. You make it worth doing. Look for announcements on the 2014 WFC soon as well as new and exciting things for the BTE Southern Footbrake Challenge to be held at Holly Springs Motorsports again in April of 2014. We hope to see you all at one or both Coalburg Racing Promotions events next year.

The special award and round prize winners are as follows:
Wiseco Round 1: Friday: Ernie Humes, Saturday: Steve Witherow, Sunday: Matt Nowling
Quickfuel Round 2: Friday: B J Bianchi, Saturday: Dude Moore, Sunday: Michael Blackmon
Hoosier Round 3: Friday: Austin Welch, Saturday: Clyde Moon, Sunday: Chris Cassidy
BRODIX Round 4: Friday: Lee Norton, Saturday: David Boggs, Sunday: Scott Taylor
Mountz PRO Round 5: Friday: Wesley Roberts, Saturday: Jake Magee, Sunday: Niki Thomas
NitroPlate Round 6: Friday: Tim Pace, Saturday: Bob Mullaney, Sunday: Rodney Lunsford
OK Motorsports Youngest Racer: Dylan Kiser – Born 5/20/97
OK Motorsports Hard Luck Award: Elizabeth Wesson
Redline Speed Shop Ladies Night Out Best Appearing Car: Wendy Kreps
BRODIX Long Tow Award: Billy Janousek – 1135.69 miles (Pflugerville, Texas)
Fall Footbrake Frenzy V Weekend Entry Winner: Matt Obertanec
Huntsville Engine Best Winning Package: Lauren Sullivan – .000 dead on with a 1