Gary Loeffelholz had a weekend of drag racing that he'll remember for a long time.
Unfortunately, the 90 drivers he beat will probably remember it as well.
Loeffelholz and his 2004 Mustang made 18 runs down the drag strip during elimination rounds June 10-11, winning 17 of them and losing only once. Along the way, he won the Super Pro class both days as well as the Super Pro/Pro ET Shootout, which pits winners of the Super Pro and Pro ET classes against each other. The only race he lost was in the Quick 16 class. He won two rounds before losing to Michael Freischel in the semifinals.
Defending Super Pro champ Brian Johnson will also remember Loeffelholz's winning ways last weekend because he lost to Loeffelholz in both finals. Loeffelholz's winning time in Saturday's finals was 7.444 seconds and 184.67 mph. His winning time Sunday was 7.412 seconds and 178.87 mph, which included a near-perfect reaction time of .005 seconds on the starting line. The Super Pro class had 84 cars last weekend.
Loeffelholz went on to beat Joe Schmall in Saturday's Shootout and Grant Pesola in Sunday's Shootout. After the dust settled Sunday, he vaulted from 24th place in the points standings to second, just behind Johnson.
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Jimmy Paulson also had a memorable weekend, running the table both days in the Pro Bike/Sled class. Riding a 2012 Clampitt, Paulson beat Brad Harder in Saturday's final with a 9.057-second pass at 136.87 mph. On Sunday, he won his way to the finals again and a chance to take on Kyle Lundberg. He was quicker off the starting line and held on to win with a time of 9.057 seconds and 143.34 mph. With that effort, Paulson sits atop the points standings.
Last weekend's drag racing program was just one part of an action-packed schedule, with Superbike racing on the Competition Road Course and watercross on Lake BIR.
Superbike racing was courtesy of a dual race between the Central Roadracing Association (CRA), which has five weekend races at BIR each season, and the Championship Cup Series (CCS) Midwest Region. The CRA's riders are from the Upper Midwest while the CCS draws riders from as far away as Canada, California and Colorado.
The rider to beat all weekend was Brian Hebeisen on his Fisk Brothers Racing/Dryject/Team Hoff Yamaha R6. He has been a fixture in the top-5 Middleweight and Heavyweight Expert races for years, and that experience was on display as he took home four wins across the Middleweight and Heavyweight Expert races. Hebeisen's win tally would have been five if it wasn't for a problem with his throttle application mechanism allowing for CCS hotshot Dave Collins to steal a win by .020 seconds.
The next Bracket Drag Racing Series weekend is July 7-9. Watercross snowmobiles will be back at BIR Sept. 22-24 for Wet & Wild Weekend 2.0. The Central Roadracing Association returns for more Superbike racing during its third of five weekend races July 21-23.
SATURDAY, JUNE 10
Super Pro Finals: Gary Loeffelholz of Shafer def. Brian Johnson of Nowthen
Pro ET Finals: Joe Schmall of Lino Lakes def. Steve Roehrs of Frederic, Wis.
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Super Pro/Pro ET Shootout: Gary Loeffelholz of Shafer def. Joe Schmall of Lino Lakes
Sportsman Finals: Joe Moriarty Sr. of Ham Lake def. David Lacasse of Forest Lake
Stock/Super Stock Finals: Glen Demenge of McGregor def. Lance Line of Cromwell
Pro Bike/Sled Finals: Jimmy Paulson of Stacy def. Brad Harder of Waconia
Comp Trophy Finals: Taylor Arneson of Pillager def. Eric Blumke of Pillager
Street Trophy Finals: Todd Anderson of Brainerd def. Joe Moriarty of Ham Lake
Quick 16 Finals: Dan Narusiewcz of St. Paul Park def. Michael Freischel of Cottage Grove
Junior Dragster Advanced Finals: Sydney Thompson of Nowthen def. Meagen Neil of West Fargo, N.D.
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Junior Dragster Intermediate Finals: Riley Luberda of Foley def. Dylan Dancer of Foley
Junior Dragster Novice Finals: Danial Dancer of Foley def. Carlee Reber of St. Joseph
SUNDAY, JUNE 11
Super Pro Finals: Gary Loeffelholz of Shafer def. Brian Johnson of Nowthen
Pro ET Finals: Grant Pesola of Nashwauk def. Brandon Schmall of Palo, Iowa
Super Pro/Pro ET Shootout Finals: Gary Loeffelholz of Shafter def. Grant Pesola of Nashwauk
Sportsman Finals: Mark Pease of Rogers def. Chris Henry of Sauk Rapids
Stock/Super Stock Finals: Mike Patnaude of Sawyer def. Lawrence Line of Wright
Pro Bike/Sled Finals: Jimmy Paulson of Stacy def. Kyle Lundberg of Isanti
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Comp Trophy Finals: Devin Walcheski def. Mike Larson of Brainerd
Street Trophy Finals: Joe Moriarty of Ham Lake def. Luke Schneider of St. Joseph
Junior Dragster Advanced Finals: Sydney Thompson of Nowthen def. Samantha Cielinski of Gilman
Junior Dragster Intermediate Finals: Megan Cielinski of Gilman def. Dylan Dancer of Foley
Junior Dragster Novice Finals: Carter Luberda of Foley def. Brody Thompson of Nowthen
