Article by Jessica Spears
The inescapable obstacle of the BTE World Footbrake Challenge XIX is undoubtedly a โgoodโ problem to face โ the overwhelming support of racers from across the country. Both Friday and Saturdayโs $20,000 feature races ballooned into record-breaking main event car counts with engines roaring into the early morning curfew. Following the only time trial session on Friday, three rounds of eliminations were completed before the race was put on hold temporarily.
Saturday began with one-time trial for new entrants before diving into the first round of competition, where 586 entries staged on the mountain. Superb coordination between the Coalburg Racing Promotions staff, Bristol Dragway track crew, and racers resulted in an efficient program, considering an untimely oil-down.
The eighth round featured seven remaining drivers with their eyes on the $20,000 prize: Jordan Martin, Seth Lancaster, Mason Fix, Jake Ball, Steve Wagner, Gary Blankenship, and Edmond Ellison. In the first quarterfinal pairing, Martin has the advantage with a .006 reaction time but finds himself behind at the finish line as Blankenship runs dead-on with a three for the win. Only five thousandths separate the drivers at the tree as Fix runs dead on his 7.41 dial-in to take the win over the breakout pass of Ellison. Wagner turns a .013 starting line advantage into a win light as Lancaster breaks out on the top end. Ball held onto the bye run courtesy of his prior perfect reaction time and was able to cash in on the last solo pass of the race.
Fix is the first driver to earn his spot in the final round as his .030 package leaves Blankenship mathematically ineligible. Wagner is five thousandths better on the tree, and the double-breakout win light illuminates in his lane while Ball bows out at four cars.
Itโs an all-Mopar matchup with two first-time finalists as the burnout smoke settles between the lanes. Fix launches with a .021 light followed by the green glow atop his scoreboard as Wagner turns on the red bulb.
When asked about this accomplishment Fix says, โIt feels really good man, the car honestly just makes me look good. Iโm out there hitting twenty lights the last four or five rounds and itโs just bailing me out. I gotta give BTE a shoutout for the best converter out there and APD carburetors, itโll make anything run the number.โ
The final day of competition will pick back up with round four of Fridayโs main event with a balance of 107 entries. New entries for Sundayโs $20,000 main event will then receive a time trial, before the high-stakes eliminations begin. Sundayโs re-entry round has been removed from the program in an effort to save time and crown two champions in a timely manner.
You can catch the action live on Motormaniatv courtesy of Weldon High Performance. For more information on Coalburg Racing Promotions events, visit www.worldfootbrakechallenge.com.
Winner’s circle photos provided by Chris Simmons Event Photography