The sport of drag racing is typically a warm weather sport , but attendees of the third annual DragstersForSale . Com Practice Tree Race Presented by TEAM DFS were able to get a taste of competition despite the winter weather . Over 150 drag racers from the Midwest and Tri-State regions converged on VFW Post 1114 in Evansville , Indiana in January to fight for $ 4,500 in prize money in the Top Bulb event , while the Bottom Bulb racers chased over $ 1,500 in prize money . Participants also had the chance to win weekend race entries to events promoted by the Dillman family and their No Box Nationals , taking place at I-57 Dragway this summer . Loose Rocker Promotions supplied a weekend entry for a skilled racer for their racing series . If that is not enough to get a bracket racer ’ s blood moving , the event also pitted 32 racers against each other for entries to the Spring Fling Bracket Race Series and The Million Dollar Race for the mere cost of $ 50 and $ 100 , respectively . “ We put this event on to get people back out with their racing families that they see at the race track eight months out of the year on a weekly basis . The sight of racers winning one of the $ 8,000 in prizes that we give away as door prizes while getting a chance to compete at a race that the entry fee is $ 700 or $ 2,000 really makes me happy ,” said Super Comp racer Don O ’ Neal , who is responsible for the event .
The event consisted of six events , five of which racers had to pay to enter , with the sixth event being a Shootout Race sponsored by Racepak . This event included the quarter-and-semi-finalists from the events squaring off for the ownership rights of a Sportsman data logger from Racepak and the runner-up taking home a Racepakbranded pit mat . Scott Carmen walked away with the logger , taking the win over David “ Bird ” Jones .
The first event to lead off the night of cash and prizes was the Racing RVs Bottom Bulb event . Starting with 238 entries , just a few hours later only two were left fighting to claim the title of the baddest off the bottom bulb . When the tree activated , it was Neil Posey claiming victory over Shawn Rissler for the win . Carson Griffith had the potential to sweep the event , as he was carrying two entries into the quarter-finals , only to lose both by the semis .
This year over 356 entries let go of the transbrake button on the stylish Richardson Boyz Steering wheels in the Top Bulb event presented by Law Chevrolet . Hitters with last names like Adkins , Crick , Bohannon , and Beard , along with big personalities such as “ Disco Dean ” Karns and David “ Bird ” Jones , squared off against past winners Jarrell and Mascaro , divisional champ Al Peavler and numerous racers chasing $ 3,000 in cash to the winner . As the time drew closer to
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midnight , which is when most big-money bracket racing events start heating up , that is exactly what happened . Dylan Winters , Tyler Moffitt , Tyler Jarrell , Brock Smith and Blake Webb were the ones battling for the cash . The final round came down to a battle of the Bs between Brock and Blake . Webb was the winner of the Mulligan , which was awarded to a racer to be used to re-enter the race after losing before the round of 16 . He utilized it , and that was all he needed to catch fire to take home the big payday .
The final hours of the evening concluded with two entries to The Million Dollar Race promoted by Randy and Jennifer Folk . Sixty-four of the best racers of the night competed for the prize of having their entry for the October race paid for in January . The winners , Brandon Jarrell and Tyler Bohannon , stood proudly when the LED lights flashed in the final . Jarrell became the first repeat winner as he won the Top Bulb race in 2014 . The runner-ups were Lester Adkins and Josh Statts
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taking home a little cash .
Kyle Seipel and Peter Biondo , promotors of the hugely successful Spring Fling races in Bristol , Tennessee ; Benson , North Carolina ; and Las Vegas , provided free entries to their races as prizes for the DFS Practice Tree Race . None other than David “ Bird ” Jones , known for his Street Outlaws-famous Camaro , made moves all the way to the finals . On the other side , there sat a tractor puller who loves drag racing named Cody Wiggins . Jones and Wiggins put on a great show in the finals , with double-oh lights on both sides , but it was Wiggins who came out on top .
After 12-straight hours , 74 pizzas and 30 cases of beverages were consumed , and 800 times a trans brake button clicked as the bright LED lights lit up on Porta Trees . O ’ Neal and the event organizers at DragstersForSale . com predict an even bigger evening in January 2018 as the new winter tradition continues to pick up participants and supporters .
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PHOTOS : MEGAN STRASSWEG |