Final Bracket Drag race doesn't disappoint; 5 Wally trophies awarded

(Oct. 2, 2011) - There was a lot on the line for drag racers at Brainerd International Raceway this weekend during the fifth and final race in the Bracket Drag Racing Series, namely, series championships in 11 classes and five Wally trophies.

In addition to being the final series race of the season, it was also the annual National Dragster Challenge, where drag racers in seven classes had a shot at winning a Wally trophy, which is similar to the trophies that the pro drivers in the Full Throttle Drag Racing Series compete for. Trophies were awarded to the drivers winning the Super Pro, Pro ET and Sportsman classes. The winners of the Pro Bike/Sled and Street Bike classes raced off for a Wally, as did the winners of the Comp Trophy and Street Trophy classes.

Below are the National Dragster Challenge winners. Congratulations!

Super Pro: Ryan Scheleck of St. Cloud
Pro ET: Dave Engler of Ramsey
Sportsman: Charles Giddings of Ramsey
Bike: Jeff Arpin of Winnipeg, Manitoba
Trophy: Sheryl Takacs of Thunder Bay, Ontario

The series champions in each class have not been determined yet, as BIR is compiling the points from the weekend's racing. They should be available later this week. They will be announced on our Web site and posted here.

The weekend's racing had a slightly different twist to it. All classes only raced an eighth mile instead of a quarter mile like usual. The temperatures and weather conditions this late in the season can make the track unsafe near the quarter-mile finish line, so the track was shortened.

Below are final results from Sunday's eliminations:

SUPER PRO
Finals: Ryan Scheleck of St. Cloud def. Chris Anfange of Prescott, Wis.
Semifinals: Scheleck def. Randy McFarland of Sabin; Anfange def. Dale Evens of St. Cloud

PRO ET
Finals: Dave Engler of Ramsey def. Brett Speer of Ottertail
Semifinals: Engler def. Jeff Wilken of Sartell; Speer had a bye

SPORTSMAN
Finals: Charles Giddings of Ramsey def. Jaime Turcotte of Coon Rapids
Semifinals: Giddings def. Paul Baillif of Brainerd; Turcotte had a bye

PRO BIKE/SLED
Finals: Jeff Arpin of Winnipeg, Manitoba def. Richard Tadych of Fertile
Semifinals: Arpin def. Robert Arpin of Winnipeg; Tadych def. Bruce Sampson of Forest Lake

STOCK/SUPER STOCK
Finals: Ben Line of Cromwell def. Travis Sorokie of Sauk Rapids
Semifinals: Line had a bye; Sorokie def. Jim Langer of Shafer

COMP TROPHY
Finals: Sheryl Takacs of Thunder Bay, Ontario def. Paul Caulley of Crystal
Semifinals: Takacs def. Chris Henry of Sauk Rapids: Caulley def. Dave Johnson of Princeton

STREET TROPHY
Finals: Ali Heib of Maple Grove def. Robert Kuntz of Thompson, N.D.
Semifinals: Heib def. Nick Arnold of St. Louis Park; Kuntz def. Grant Pesola of Duluth

STREET BIKE
Finals: Robert Wgeishofski of Brainerd def. William Heitmann of White Bear Lake
Semifinals: None

JUNIOR DRAGSTER ADVANCED
Finals: Max Gust of Isanti def. Heather Bredeken of Starbuck
Semifinals: Gust def. Haley Heintzman of Fargo, N.D.; Bredeken def. Carter Lindquist of Winstead

JUNIOR DRAGSTER INTERMEDIATE
Finals: Zach Gust of Isanti def. Abby Haben of Hibbing
Semifinals: Gust had a bye; Haben def. Wyatt Niesen of Brooklyn Park

JUNIOR DRAGSTER NOVICE
Finals: Garrett Lindquist of Winstead def. Zach McFarland of Sabin
Semifinals: Lindquist def. Trevor Jelinski of Little Falls; McFarland def. Camryn Takacs of Thunder Bay