Article by Jessica Spears.
Fridays are infinitely more enjoyable when spent at the racetrack, although having an opportunity to take home $15,000 at the Worldβs Greatest Footbrake Race certainly sweetens the deal. That is precisely what was at stake for day two of the BTE Labor Day Footbrake Challenge as drivers geared up for another action-packed day of bottom-bulb racing at Bristol Dragway.
After everyone received their time trial and the opening ceremonies were completed, 294 entries staged up for the first round of competition. By the seventh round only seven drivers remained: Aaron Richards, Brian Holbrook, Danny Peery, Chris Yates, Jake Magee, Lil Phil Combs, and Jordan Wilhelm.
Both drivers in the first quarterfinal pairing run dead-on their respective dial ins, but Peeryβs .008 reaction time gives him the winning edge over Magee. Wilhelm has an .016 starting line advantage and illuminates the win light as Richards runs too far off the dial in. Yates launches a bit too early to send Holbrook into the semifinal, while Combs earned the last bye run of the event to secure his spot.
In the wheel-standing semifinal, Wilhelm is perfect on the tree and runs .016 above his dial to leave Combs mathematically ineligible. Only one thousandth separated the pair on the starting line, but Holbrook ran closer to his dial to take the .022 margin of victory.
Two beautiful second-generation Camaros make their way down the eighth-mile in Fridayβs $15K final round as surrounding family and friends eagerly wait for a win light to shine. Holbrook is .001 on the tree and agonizingly breaks out one-thousandth, while Wilhelm is dialed dead-on with a zero to claim his first Coalburg Racing Promotions main event victory during his fifth final round appearance.
Wilhelm explains in his winnerβs circle interview, βItβs incredible and pretty unbelievable, especially the way the final went, but Iβd rather be lucky than good every dayβ¦I want to thank Mariah for all her support, TJ at Wired Designs, [Coalburg Racing Promotions] for a great track, all of my buddies for keeping me going when Iβm .040 and somehow turn a win light on. Lucas Walker, I have his engines in my car, and I appreciate all of his help, Fordβs Transmissions, Final Touch Performance, and my Uncle Hoyt – it wouldnβt be possible without him.β
Fridayβs excitement continued with the $4,000-to-win Gamblers Race, however, the decision was made to pause the race after round three with the 22 remaining entries to be completed near the conclusion of Saturdayβs $15K.
That said, the engines will roar tomorrow for new entry time runs at 8:30 am, followed by the first round of Saturdayβs main event.
Motormaniatv will continue to livestream all the on-track festivities thanks to the support from Laris Motorsports Insurance and GoDeadOn.
For more information on Coalburg Racing Promotions, visit www.worldfootbrakechallenge.com.
Winnerβs circle photos provided by RLR Photography on behalf of BME Photography.