CROWDS
In stark opposition to the worn-out rumor that bracket racers are a dying breed , drivers continue to pack the pits at various events nationwide . Over the last calendar year , record crowds have been recorded at the 28th Million Dollar Drag Race at World Wide Technology Raceway ( 774 entries ), the World Footbrake Challenge XVII at Bristol Dragway ( 713 entries ), and back-to-back sellouts for the Fall Fling events with all entries claimed in mere minutes .
To meet the growing demand , the bracket racing market has witnessed established promoters adding events to their schedules , the development of new organizations , and racetracks adjusting race payouts or prizes to attract the attention of traveling racers .
Reflecting on his involvement as a racer and Spring Fling Bracket Races promoter , Peter Biondo shares his insight on the state of bracket racing and how the sport continues to flourish .
“ One reason bracket racing is growing is because competition is great for any industry ,” Biondo explains . “ Unless you do your job well and treat people right , you ’ re not going to stay in business . The bar has been raised because of a lot of great promoters and racetracks are trying harder than ever to keep up with how things have changed . [ Bracket racing ] has turned into a competitive industry , and that ’ s really good for the customers , which are the racers . Another perk is that the coverage for bracket racing is bigger and better than ever .”
Thanks to increased social media attention and live streaming services , interest in bracket racing also expands to those not physically in attendance . MotorManiaTV , a longtime leader of sportsman drag racing coverage across North America , boasts over 71,000 subscribers on its YouTube channel and features nearly 2,000 videos with over 40 million total views .
MotorManiaTV founder Mark Walter shared valuable insight into the popularity bracket racing has attracted on his platform . In 2023 , each broadcast attracted an average of 45,000 views per event while accumulating an impressive 2.8 million total views throughout the race season . The statistics confirm that bracket racing can provide valuable entertainment even when the grandstands have a few empty seats .
COMPETITION
One of the most attractive features of bracket racing is the equal opportunity this sector of the sport provides for all competitors . By momentarily oversimplifying the intricacies of bracket racing , the main objective focuses on consistency , which
Though bracket racing might not be a spectator sport , the style of racing packs the pits at tracks all over the country , from big-money events to local points races .
PHOTOGRAPHS BY VAN ABERNETHY
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