The “Event-Before-The-Event” – Photographer Jim Doyle was on hand to capture all the action and pre-race testing at Pacific Raceways. Click here to view and purchase photos from the Test N Tune, Day one of the Summit ET Racing Finals. More coverage is coming soon!
Racing Goes “Old School” as Bremerton Raceway Hosts 18th Annual Nostalgia Drags & Car Show
Old school is cool…as Bremerton Raceway held its 18th Annual Nostalgia Drags and Car Show in conjunction with the /9th Annual Northwest Hot Rod Reunion & Cackle Fest.
Nearly 300 competitors from all across the Puget Sound region enjoyed some great racing and exhibition runs through the course of the weekend. The Cackle Fest wowed the packed grandstands as everyone was treated to a great BBQ Rib dinner to go along with the racing and Cackle Fest on Saturday night….
The Pacific Northwest Super Comp Association was also in attendance with some close competition in the 8.90 Index class.
Sunday’s Winners included:
| Class | Name | Car/Vehicle |
| Hot Rod 1 | Al Matheson | 41 Plymouth |
| Hot Rod 2 | Terry “Speedo” Anderson | 50 Chevy |
| Dragster/Roadster/Topalino | Dave Welch | 47 Fiat Topalino |
| Pro Nostaliga (A) | Mike Peck Sr. | FED |
| Pro Nostalgia (B) | Frank Miller | 48 Fiat Topalino |
| NW Super Comp Assoc | Tory Lea “The Shredder” | RED |
| Top Gas | Rob Broardway | 72 Chevelle |
| Street Machine 1 | Jason Cooper | 72 Maverick |
| Street Machine 2 | Brian Seaberg | 72 Maverick |
WINNERS
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The 2012 Auto Max USA Bracket Series Races To The Finish Line
Last weekend marked a fast and furious completion of the 13 event Auto Max USA Bracket Series at Pacific Raceways. The weekend’s event winners included:
| Class/Category | Driver | Hometown | Car/Vehicle |
| Super Pro | Gary Ermish | Auburn | 68 Camaro |
| Pro | Ken Reaves | North Bend | 67 Dart |
| Sportsman | Ron Maynard | Seattle | |
| Motorcycle | Joe Lind | Renton | 07 Kawasaki |
With the final event now complete and the series points finalized here are the 2012 Auto Max USA Bracket Series Season Champions:
| Class | 2012 Champion |
| Super Pro | Mark Cavar |
| Pro Bracket | Scott Lewsley |
| Sportsman | Gene Furman |
| Motorcycle | Joe Lind |
| Jr. Lightning | Amber Arthur |
| Jr. Thunder | Austin Grotting |
With the series completed everyone is looking forward to this weekend and the Summit E.T. Bracket Finals which will be hosted this year at Pacific Raceways. More than 18 different racetracks will field teams competing for the Division Six Team Championship on Sunday.
Saturday is the big day as the top points earner’s from each racetrack in Super Pro, Pro, Sportsman and Motorcycle will race for the bracket racers “crown jewel” a win in the prestigious Summit E.T. Race of Champions (ROC). A win in the Race of Champions, means a big payday of $ 3500.00 from Summit Racing Equipment and a trip to Pomona, California to race for the Summit E.T. Bracket Racing World Championship at legendary Pomona Raceway in front of a capacity crowd during the AAA Auto Club of Southern California Finals!
Good luck to all the teams and we will see you this weekend!
Images from this weekend’s AUTO MAX Bracket Racing Series are available now in the photo gallery – to go there click here.
WINNERS
Jr Dragster #10, PRFC #5 & Car Club #6 at Pacific Raceways
Images from Friday Night’s action at Pacific Raceway is available now. To purchase and review photos in the photo gallery – click here.
WINNERS
Wednesday High School Drags #7 & PRDC #9 – August 22nd, 2012
Photos from all the action at last Wednesday’s High School Drags #7 & PRDC #9 are available now in the photo gallery. Click here to go to the photo albums.
Heat, Smoke, and Flames – 2012 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series at Pacific Raceways
Its amazing how racers are able to adapt to different track conditions, track temperatures, traction and last but not least weather conditions. They had to tackle all of these things in the span of three days.
Friday was HOT with temperatures reaching into the high nineties. Temperatures cooled slightly on Saturday; then on Sunday it was overcast and cloudy and over 25 degrees cooler than at the same time on Friday!
Weather not withstanding, some excellent racing and an amazing show on Saturday night by the competitors that were part of the “Professional Classes” including:
- Northwest Nostalgia BB Funny Cars
- The Front Engine Dragsters in “Top Eliminator”
- The classic cars of the Northwest Nostalgia Tour
- Nitro Harley
Along with an entertaining job of “finish line reporting” by Mr. Explosive himself Mark Sanders and an exciting finish by the Jet Funny Cars made for a fun time for everyone who attended this annual event.
Sunday’s cool temperatures provided excellent racing conditions and some close action in all the classes. The winners in the various classes were all awarded the coveted NHRA “Wally’s”:
| Category | Name | Car/Vehicle |
| Super Pro | Jamie Toews | S-10 Pickup |
| Pro | Chris Bondy | ’10 Mustang |
| Comp Eliminator | Adam Bowdish | Chevy Cavalier |
| Top Sportsman | Barry Hobson | Chevy Cavalier |
| Sportsman Motorcycle | Kevin Brennen | Suzuki |
| Super Comp | Aaron Kinard | Dragster |
| Super Street | Brad Vinje | Camaro |
| Super Stock | Mark Faul | Grand Am |
| Top Dragster | John Chitwood | Dragster |
| Super Gas | Mike Shannon | Corvette Roadster |
| Stock | Kelly Thomas | Ram Pickup |
| Nitro Harley | Ronn Gledhill | Harley |
WINNERS
Through the Lens-The Nightfire Nationals-From a Photographers Prospective
I had the privilege of attending the Pepsi NightFire Nationals at Firebird Raceway in Boise, Idaho for the second time in my photographic career; thanks to the hard work of Steve Heeb at Inside Track Magazine and Scott New at Firebird Raceway.
This was four days of non stop action, but the thing that I took from this event was its place in northwest drag racing history. Every racer I talked to told stories about either winning or almost winning “The Nightfire” and how for them it was like a “bucket list” achievement.
From a pure racing standpoint it was for me fun to watch “through the lens” the competition on the racetrack and the camaraderie in the pits. It was also nice to meet new friends from all over the country and Canada. As a side note Id like to thank the Firebird Staff, my old friend Dale Green for his help and the Spitali’s and Huffington’s for their hospitality throughout the weekend in nearly 95 degree heat!
There are a couple of stories worth mentioning, Mark Kidd won in Pro on Thursday and then in Bracketeer again on Friday for a two day total of $ 7,000.00. Andy Morris was the winner of Bracketeer on Saturday as he won the single biggest Bracketeer purse in Firebird history in netting a check for $7,500.00.
Also worth noting second generation Snowmoblie rider Richie Pedraza won the Snow/Bike division 3 out of 4 nights a feat never before accomplished at the Nightfire.
Besides all the “bracket racing action, this event included Nitro Funny Car, Nostalgia Top Fuel and Pro Mod classes. Even Ed “The Outlaw Jones” was on hand with the legendary “Candy Land Stagecoach” thrilling all of us to conclude each night. Ed was awarded a place in Firebird Raceway history as he was the recipient of the coveted “Jaker Award” as well.
A full photo gallery chronicling this historic event can be viewed by clicking here.
Pacific Raceways Auto Max Bracket Series Race #3
This race was originally scheduled to take place on May 19 but due to the re-surfacing of the starting line it was re-scheduled for this past Saturday. Winners circle photos courtesy of Jim and Joann Ronan.
WINNERS
Friday night is Jr. Dragster night at Pacific Raceways
Friday night is Jr. Dragster night at Pacific Raceways this past weekend marked the completion of race # 10 out of 11 events for the Jr. Dragster program at Pacific Raceways. Here are the winners circle photos.
WINNERS
How the other half lives-Pacific Raceways Drag Strip Crew Go Racing!
Last Wednesday Night the Drag Race Crew was treated to a fun and competitive night at the races for the “Annual Employee Drags” Lots of fun and prizes were awarded courtesy of the track to its employees! A fun time was had by all as some of the employees turned to their competitive side as they raced on the legendary Pacific ¼ mile!