Sunday, May 27, 2007

Mother Nature treated Dragway 42's racers with much more kindness on Sunday than she did on Saturday, only creating a single 15 minute stoppage to the middle event of the Ohio Bracket Series Memorial Day Weekend races presented by Wind-It-Engines of Willard, Ohio.

In the $1,000 to Win No Box Class that was postponed from Saturday Andy Bailey continued his winning ways by defeating Jim Stephens of Plymouth, Ohio in the final round. The Polk, Ohio driver backed up his Friday Night victory in the No Box Gambler race with the Mickey Thompson Tire bonus by running an 8.8998 ET on his 8.89 dial-in. This was Andy Bailey's 3rd final round in the past 5 days at Dragway 42 as he was also the runner-up in Wednesday Night's "Run Tuff" cash class.

In the Delay Box Class Norton's Gus Dowdell took home the big money by defeating New Philadelphia's Jeff Kiser in the final round. Sunday afternoon's at Dragway 42 have been very good to Dowdell this season as he has lead the points for all 5 events in the Milestone Services, Corp Top Class in the track's Akron Machining Institute / Summit SuperSeries points program and has a class win and runner-up to his credit.

In the Junior Dragster Combo class Brooklyn, Ohio's Adam Paul defeated Joey Parker of Brooklyn Heights to take home the $100 winner's purse running an 8.0160 ET on his 7.99 dial-in.

In a seemingly appropriate result on the Memorial Day weekend, Army soldier Stephen Gowitzka from Fort Knox, Kentucky wheeled his GSXR 750 motorcycle to a 12.4712 ET on the 12.47 dial-in to take the class win in Street Trophy over the Camaro of Parma's Mike Storc.

The Ohio Bracket Series weekend will wrap up on Monday with a $2,000 to win No Box Class, a $2,000 to win Box Class, a $100 to win Junior Dragster Combo, plus Street Trophy. The No Box and Junior Dragster purses are guaranteed and the box class purse is based on 64+ entries in that class.

Gates open at Monday at 9 AM with final eliminations scheduled for 2 PM. Race entry for the $2,000 to win classes is $50 car and driver. Spectator admission is just $15 with a free race entry into the Street Trophy class included free of charge with the paid general admission. Junior Dragsters pay $15 car and driver. As always, children 14 and under receive free admission at Dragway 42.

Saturday, May 26, 2007 • 4:45 PM

A second rain storm of the late afternoon has forced the postponement of today's event.

The revised schedule for the remainder of the Ohio Bracket Racing Series Memorial Day Weekend presented by Wind-It-Tight Engines of Willard, Ohio is posted below.


Race prices remain the same as previously announced. $60 covers car and driver entry fees for both Sunday's and Monday's (previously Saturday's and Sunday's) events in the Box or No Box classes. Racers entering only Monday's (previously Sunday's) scheduled event pay only $50 for that single race.

Junior Dragster competitors have the option of $30 for both day's or $20 for either Sunday and Monday (previously Saturday and Sunday) Combo Race entry.

General admission is $25 for the two remaining days or $15 for either single day.

The purses for both day's No Box and Jr. Dragster classes are guaranteed. The purses for both day's Box Classes is based on 64+ entries into the class.

"We appreciate everyone's patience as we tried to get in today's scheduled event, but the rain just isn't going to allow it," said Dragway 42's Toby Ehrmantraut. "We hope to see everybody tommorrow and Monday."

Friday, May 25, 2007

Kinsman, Ohio's Jim Morris and Polk, Ohio's Andy Bailey did not let the late afternoon rains dampen their attitudes as these two drivers outlasted a large field of cars to take home the class wins in the Box and No Box Gambler Races with their bonus prizes of a pair of new Mickey Thompson slicks to each winner on Friday at Dragway 42.

Jim Morris and his "Snake Eyes" '48 Fiat Altered used a .016 holeshot advantage to take the Box Class cash and slicks over the '69 Camaro of Barberton's Bob James, Jr.

Not to be outdone, Andy Bailey in his '66 Dodge Dart backed up his dead-on to the 10/1000th of a second run in the semi-finals with a perfect .0000 reaction time in the finals to outduel Shiloh's Todd Crager. To his credit, Crager had a nearly perfect reaction time of his own in the finals, but the .0030 in his '74 Nova left him with a "tough beat" story to tell during this weekend's bench racing sessions.

The track crew did a marvelous job of dealing with Mother Nature's afternoon downpours on Friday in what may be a preview to this race weekend. The Dragway 42 staff prides itself in getting race events run to a completion whenever possible and the Ohio Bracket Series Memorial Day Weekend program presented by Wind-It-Tight Engines of Willard, Ohio will test those skills.

"We will do whatever we can on Saturday and Sunday to adjust the schedule and program so that the entire weekend's racing events can be completed without using the Monday rain-date," stated Dragway 42's Toby Ehrmantraut. "We know that the racers and our staff would love to have Monday as a day to enjoy time with their families and not finishing up a weather delayed race. We will do our part and hopefully Mother Nature will be kind to us."

Gates open at 9 AM on both Saturday and Sunday for the remaining events of the Memorial Day weekend with elimination scheduled to begin at 4 PM Saturday and 2 PM Sunday.

Thursday, May 24, 2007

For years Dragway 42 has been famous for its big payout / low entry fee holiday race weekends. For our 50th Anniversary Season, the track builds upon that tradition by expanding the program beginning with this weekend's Ohio Bracket Series Event presented by Wind-It-Tight Engines of Willard, Ohio.


The Memorial Day Weekend racing action kicks off on Friday with a test and tune program and a pair of optional gambler races with bonus prizes.

Separate Box and No Box gambler races will be offered to Friday participants, with a low price of just $10 to enter the gambler race. In each class the competitors will be racing for a purse of 80% of the total entry fees for their class plus a pair of Mickey Thompson slicks (retail value of over $600).

Gates open Friday at 2 PM with the test and tune program beginning at 5 PM. The gambler race eliminations will begin at 8:30. Test and tuning will continue until 10 PM.


The Memorial Day weekend Ohio Bracket Series program continues with 4 classes of competition including a $1,000 to win Box Class; a $1,000 to win No Box Class; a $100 to win / $50 runner-up Junior Dragster Combo class; and a street trophy class.

Gates open at 9 AM with time trials beginning at 10:30 AM. Eliminations are scheduled for 4 PM on Saturday.

The purses in No Box and Jr. Dragster are guaranteed. The Box Class purse is based on a minimum of 64 entries in the class.

$10 round money is being paid to Saturday's Box and No Box competitors beginning with their 2nd round win of the day. Junior Dragster competitors receive $5 round money beginning with their 2nd round win.


The Memorial Day weekend Ohio Bracket Series program concludes with 4 classes of competition including a $2,000 to win Box Class; a $2,000 to win No Box Class; a $100 to win / $50 runner-up Junior Dragster Combo class; and a street trophy class.

Gates open at 9 AM with time trials beginning shortly thereafter. Eliminations are scheduled for 2 PM on Sunday.

The purses in No Box and Jr. Dragster are guaranteed. The Box Class purse is based on a minimum of 64 entries in the class.

$15 round money is being paid to Sunday's Box and No Box competitors beginning with their 2nd round win of the day. Junior Dragster competitors receive $5 round money beginning with their 2nd round win.


Car and driver entry fee for all 3 days of competition in the money classes (Friday test and tune; Saturday $1,000 to win; Sunday $2,000 to win) is just $60.00

Double entries will be allowed and color dots will be in use to split the classes. No special accommodations (additional cool down time, etc.) will be made for double entrants. It is the responsibility of any double entrants to have their cars in the lanes when their class is run.

Junior Dragster competitors pay $30 car and driver fee for all 3 days of competition or $20 each for Saturday's or Sunday's entry.

Crew or spectators pay $25 for the 3 day weekend or $15 each for Saturday or Sunday.

Saturday and Sunday Street Trophy class entry is free with a paid general admission.

Competitors wishing to only participate in Friday's test and tune with optional gambler races will pay $25.00 weekend general admission fee at the gate and will be refunded $15.00 if they leave at the end of Friday's event and surrender their weekend wristband.

Car and driver entry fee for racers wishing to participate in only Sunday's $2,000 to win classes is $50.00

Box, No Box, and Junior Dragster combo eliminations are all run on the 1/8th mile distance. Saturday's and Sunday's Street Trophy classes will be run on the 1/4 mile distance.

Box Class 0-7.99 ET; No Box Class 0-11.99 with 0-7.99 and 8-11.99 run separately as long as possible; Street trophy 12.00-19.99; Jr. Dragster competitors limited to minimum ETs based on their license.

Monday, May 28th is the scheduled "Rain Date" if needed to complete the 3 day weekend event. Our preference is to complete all of this weekend's scheduled events by Sunday. Schedule adjustments may be made if weather conditions cause delays or postponement of any single day's race in an effort to complete the entire weekend program by Sunday.