Eight memorable moments from the small-tire shootout By Nate Van Wagnen

With just four classes on the grounds , all attention was focused on some of the most popular small-tire classes in racing : Radial vs . the World , Pro 275 , X275 and Limited Drag Radial . Over the course of testing , eight qualifying sessions and four rounds of eliminations , the stars of radial racing lit up the scoreboards with barrier-breaking passes and put on a show with unpredictable , thrilling racing .

Drag IllustrateD put together this compilation of some of the most memorable highlights and unforgettable moments from Sweet 16 4.0 .

Stevie Jackson

Daniel Pharris

Stevie Fast Bounces Back

■ Stevie “ Fast ” Jackson admitted he ’ s been in a bit of a slump to start the 2021 season . The two-time and defending NHRA Pro Mod world champion suffered early exits in his supercharged “ Shadow 2.0 ” Camaro Radial vs . the World car at the U . S . Street Nationals in January and Lights Out 12 at SGMP in February , then missed the 16-car Pro Mod field at the NHRA Gatornationals in March .

Citing “ blower weather ” going into the weekend , Jackson was confident he would bounce back at Sweet 16 . The Georgia native backed up his talk , racing past Casey Buschmeyer , tuning client Marcus Birt and new record holder Daniel Pharris before knocking down Brad Edwards in the Radial vs . the World final round . The two drivers , who ’ ve been racing against each other for 15 years , left with nearly identical reaction times , but it was Jackson ’ s 3.614 at 212.03 mph that took the crown .

Daniel Pharris Breaks 3.40-Second Barrier

■ After recording the first unofficial 3.40-second pass for a Radial vs . the World car in prerace testing , Daniel Pharris and the GALOT Motorsports team fired off a 3.498 at 212.73 mph in Friday qualifying at Sweet 16 4.0 . It was the first official 3.40-second lap for an RvW entry and the fifth quickest pass for a doorslammer of any type .

Pharris has been on a hiatus from racing since selling his Radial vs . the World / Pro Mod Mustang midway through the 2019 season . He quietly put together a deal over the offseason to drive the ProCharger-boosted GALOT Motorsports ’ 69 Camaro previously driven by Kevin Rivenbark .

Earlier in the week , Pharris and tuner Steve Petty put the small-tire world on notice when they recorded a 3.497 at 213.72 during a prerace

Blake Copson

test session at Alabama International Dragway in Steele , Alabama . They backed it up and won the official race to the 3.40s , beating out contenders like Jason Lee in Eric Gustafson ’ s ProCharged Coast Packing ’ 69 Camaro and Jackson in the screw-blown “ Shadow 2.0 ” Camaro .

Radial Community Pays Tribute to Blake Copson

■ Almost a month after the tragic and unexpected passing of rising star Blake Copson , the radial racing community came together on the starting line on Saturday to pay tribute to the 27-year-old wheelman known for his natural driving abilities and his infectious smile and personality .

Ken Quartuccio , who was tapped to drive Manny Buginga ’ s “ Big Red ” Mustang that Copson previously drove in X275 competition , jumped in the car to make one last pass for “ BCOP .” Josh Ledford , who tuned Copson ’ s “ Root Beet Rocket ” Corvette in Outlaw 10.5 , flipped the switch to

activate the tree as promoter Donald “ Duck ” Long stood by his side . Quartuccio idled down the track when the tree dropped , leaving an emotional crowd behind him on the starting line . It was a powerful moment and a fitting tribute for a young man gone far too soon .

Along with the on-track tribute , Long and racers paid tribute to Copson throughout the weekend in a number of ways . Long had a massive memorial banner hung up in the staging lanes , and drivers , team members and other supporters wore Blake Copson tribute T-shirts courtesy of Team Buginga .

Shawn Ayers Sets New Pro 275 Record

■ Shawn Ayers and team owner Fletcher Cox notched another season milestone when Ayers lowered the Pro 275 elapsed time record to a 3.667 at 203.61 MPH during Friday qualifying . It was the second major happening of the season for Ayers and Cox , as Ayers drove Cox ’ s Pro Mod

PHOTOGRAPHS BY CHRIS SIMMONS