Racing Into the New Year
Bracket racers pack Bradenton for ninth annual New Year Nationals • By Van Abernethy
PHOTOGRAPHS BY VAN ABERNETHY , KAYLEE CURRAN , TOM CURRAN , AND BENJAMIN SHACKELFORD
The New Year Nationals is approaching its 10th anniversary later in 2024 , and the event that first began in South Georgia has become exactly what co-founder Rob Reynolds envisioned all along : A race where the entire family could come and race and everybody has a class in which to compete , all while ringing in the New Year .
“ It ’ s never been what I consider a big-money bracket race , although it still occasionally gets labeled as such . This event is more of a family race ,” explains Reynolds , who co-founded the event with Tony Gambarella in 2015 .
Reynolds has promoted the event himself for a number of years , and while the race has changed venues a total of four times , it seemingly found a permanent home in Bradenton , Florida , three years ago . “ Victor [ Alvarez ], Wade [ Rich ], and the whole staff at Bradenton Motorsports Park have treated me really great over the years ,” says Reynolds .
The weather has always been a challenge , and while sometimes it ’ s perfect from start to finish ,
March / April 2024
Rob Reynolds , New Year Nationals promoter those are the weekends to be cherished because half the time they ’ re battling some type of weather conditions that are not exactly favorable . “ Over the last nine years of this event , we ’ ve experienced everything from monsoon rains , to lingering fog and dew , to some years when it was legitimately cold enough to snow !” laughs Reynolds .
The most recent running saw so much rain on Wednesday that the entire track had to be redone before any racing could be accomplished . “ The rubber was peeling up , and Wade and his team stayed up all night scaping and dragging the track ... I mean literally all night they did this !” says Reynolds .
By Friday the weather conditions had improved and the racing commenced without further delays . On Saturday night the traditional racer appreciation dinner was served , followed by a huge fireworks display .
Winners at the most recent running include Matt Dadas in Top Bulb , who collected the $ 10,000 payday after getting past Lil Phil Combs . Kris Bunch took the win over Jeff Stewart in Bottom Bulb , while Dexter Gomez defeated
Kylie Mocny in Jr . Dragster to finish out Friday ’ s eliminations .
In Saturday ’ s main event , Johnny Tolisano captured the Top Bulb prize over Shawn Lingerfelt . Saturday ’ s Botton Bulb finale saw Phil Combs meet JP Britt , with Combs emerging victorious . Braxton Scott took home the win over Hayden James in Jr . Dragster .
Sunday ’ s final day of eliminations saw Jeremy Bargo getting past Katie Sloat in Top Bulb . If
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