Drag Illustrated Issue 159, August 2020 | Page 74

DRAG ILLUSTRATED ROUNDTABLE AREMARKABLE THING HAPPENED THIS SUMMER. ¶ Without question, the COVID-19 pandemic put a pause and a disruption on nearly everything it has touched. ¶ But in sportsman and bracket racing, the narrative seems to be a little different. There have been numerous success stories in the sportsman bracket racing ranks in the midst of a public health crisis. Racers have flocked to racetracks in massive numbers, with some pockets reporting record participation numbers. ¶ National Trail Raceway in Columbus, Ohio, drew nearly 700 cars for its double-divisional race, by far the most it has ever drawn for a Lucas Oil divisional race or JEGS SPORTSNationals race. At Bristol, the BTE World Footbrake Challenge drew 550 entries, nearly 70 more than last year’s number, which was a record at the time. More than 600 racers were in attendance at the most recent NHRA race in Indy, too, as numbers continue to impress. 74 | Drag Illustrated | DragIllustrated.com Issue 159