With the first half of the season in the books, drivers in Brainerd International Raceway's Bracket Drag Racing Series reloaded for the second half, entering the fourth of six weekends Saturday with a series championship, prize money or upsets on their minds.
For Kyle Lundberg, the weekend offered a chance to catch the Pro Bike/Sled points leader, Jimmy Paulson, which he did in grand fashion. The defending class champion rode his 2012 Suzuki to a finals win Saturday over Mike Bolandor with a time of 8.579 seconds at 144.35 mph. On Sunday, he bounced Max Niesen in the finals with a time of 8.755 seconds and 134.91 mph.
The weekend was a big one for Reno Loeffelholz as well. Of the 72 drivers in the Pro ET class last weekend, only two were able to beat him. Unfortunately for Loeffelholz, those two losses came during the finals Saturday and Sunday. He lost Saturday to Christopher Takacs, who posted a winning time of 10.279 seconds and 125.35 mph. On Sunday, Loeffelholz and his 1968 Mustang lost to Scott Dugdale, whose winning time was 10.673 seconds at 124.32 mph.
Loeffelholz's double runner-up finish was significant in that it vaulted him into first place in the standings ahead of Joe Schmall.
In Super Pro, Mike Campbell won his way to the Winner's Circle Saturday, driving his 1978 Malibu to a finals win over Joe Howell with a time of 9.353 seconds and 143.34 mph. On Sunday, Dan Gilgosch and his '67 Camaro beat Steve Roehrs in the finals with a time of 9.053 seconds and 146.94 mph. Brian Johnson is still sitting in first place, however.
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In Sportsman, Adam Anderson came all the way up from Midland, Texas with his 1979 Chevy Caprice, beating Lee Dugdale in Saturday's finals with a time of 13.170 seconds and 102.13 mph. On Sunday, the Texan got bumped in the first round, while Russ Elzy and Rory Emmans won their way to a showdown in the finals. Elzy and his 1991 Trans Am were too much for Emmans, posting a winning time of 14.272 seconds and 93.42 mph.
Ben Line lost in Saturday's finals in the Stock/Super Stock class but held on to his lead in the points standings after the weekend was over. Line fouled at the starting line in the finals against Dan Jeska. On Sunday, Dustin Nelson beat Craig Meseroll in the finals with a time of 9.092 seconds and 149.81 mph.
The next weekend for the Bracket Drag Racing Series will be July 21-23. This race will be special because it's the annual King of the Track race, where the top drag racers in the points standings get paired up, with the last one standing receiving a Wally trophy and title of King of the Track for the year. Johnson is the defending King of the Track.
This weekend features a mix of endurance racing and full-participation drag racing. The ChumpCar World Series returns for a pair of eight-hour endurance races for the four-driver teams. Saturday's race is on BIR's 2.5-mile Competition Road Course while Sunday's is on the 3.1-mile Donnybrooke Road Course.
Pure Speed Drag Racing Experience is on the drag strip Saturday, giving race fans a chance to experience what it's like to fly down the drag strip at 140 mph. Fans can ride in a side-by-side dragster, drive a dragster, race a buddy in SS Camaros, or race their own car with an instructor riding along for instruction.
Below are the finals for each of the classes from last weekend.
JULY 8
Super Pro
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Finals: Mike Campbell of Roseville def. Joe Howell of Big Lake
Pro ET
Finals: Christopher Takacs of Thunder Bay, Ontario def. Reno Loeffelholz of Shafer
Super Pro/Pro ET Shootout
Mike Campbell of Roseville def. Christopher Takacs of Thunder Bay, Ontario
Sportsman
Finals: Adam Anderson of Midland, Texas def. Lee Dugdale of Scandia
Stock/Super Stock
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Finals: Dan Jeska of Eagan def. Ben Line of International Falls
Pro Bike/Sled
Finals: Kyle Lundberg of Isanti def. Mike Bolandor of Mora
Comp Trophy
Finals: Devrin Walcheski of Foley def. William Wiltse of Kinney
Street Trophy
Finals: Luke Schneider of St. Joseph def. Todd Anderson of Brainerd
Junior Dragster Advanced
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Finals: Sarah Johnson of Anoka def. Zachary McFarland
Junior Dragster Intermediate
Finals: Ally Giese of Kandiyohi def. Cam Giese of Kandiyohi
Junior Dragster Novice
Finals: Daniel Dancer of Foley def. Daniela Krech of Inver Grove Heights
JULY 9
Super Pro
Finals: Dan Gilgosch of Lino Lakes def. Steve Roehrs of Frederic, Wis.
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Pro ET
Finals: Scott Dugdale of Stacy def. Reno Loeffelholz of Shafer
Super Pro/Pro ET Shootout
Finals: Scott Dugdale of Stacy def. Dan Gilgosch of Lino Lakes
Sportsman
Finals: Russ Elzy of Becker def. Rory Emmans of Nowthen
Stock/Super Stock
Finals: Dustin Nelson of New London def. Craig Meseroll of Cloquet
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Pro Bike/Sled
Finals: Kyle Lundberg of Isanti def. Max Niesen of Brooklyn Park
Comp Trophy
Finals: McKenna Bungert of Lakeville def. Eric Blumke of Pillager
Street Trophy
Finals: Luke Schneider of St. Joseph def. Todd Anderson of Brainerd
Junior Dragster Advanced
Finals: Sydny Thompson of Nowthen def. Jazper Wiebusch of Ham Lake
Junior Dragster Intermediate
Finals: Dylan Dancer of Foley def. Davis Godwin of Pengilly
Junior Dragster Novice
Finals: Brody Thompson of Nowthen def. Daniel Dancer of Foley
