track during round one . Another large turnout set the stage for one racer to claim the $ 550,000 purse , while the runner-up would take home $ 50,000 . After a late start caused by the remnants of Hurricane Francine passing through the area , the decision was made to resume on Saturday morning . Round two eliminated over half the field , leaving those racers to try again in 2025 . This break allowed competitors to enjoy a good night ’ s sleep and take part in the Laris Motorsports Insurance Racer ’ s Appreciation Dinner , which featured the famous Million Steak Dinner .

By Paige Hamlin

Veteran announcer Ryan Gleghorn kicked off the race with a moment of silence , honoring the late George Howard , creator of the Million Dollar Drag Race , and paying tribute to two great members of the racing community recently lost – Scotty Richardson and Jeffrey Maggart . Gleghorn , joined by fellow announcer Steve Riggins , called laps throughout the Million , giving viewers both at home and at the track the play-by-play , and racers were on their game .

A total of 436 entries took to the

NO BOX FINAL

■ After defeating Donnie Hagar , the 2023 Million Dollar winner , and collecting the BRODIX Bounty Hunter Award , Rob Fisher lined up in the final against Troy Ross . Fisher was . 001 too soon , turning it red and advancing Troy Ross to the main event , claiming the $ 2,000 No Box Bonus .

SEMIFINALS

■ Bart Nelson and Josh Pickett made their way to the water box to see who would face Gage Burch , who had a bye , in the final round . One of their dreams was about to end , and the main question was whether there would be an all-door-car final or if the final dragster would manage to secure a sweep for the weekend . Pickett was on the left and Nelson on the right . The winner would return to face Burch in the final . Six thousandths separated them , with Pickett laying down a solid run with a . 012 reaction time and going dead-on with a two , while Nelson matched him with a . 006 reaction time and ran dead-on with an eight , reaching the stripe by . 0004 to nose out Pickett at the finish line .

Burch dialed in 1.39 in honor of Sean Serra as he prepared to face Nelson in the final round , which would be a door car versus dragster matchup .

FINALS

■ Nelson and Burch lined up in the final – a door car versus dragster matchup , young gun versus veteran , Florida versus Texas – featuring two wellknown and respected bracket racers . One thing was certain : a new Mickey Thompson Million Dollar Winner would be crowned . The question was whether the big check and bragging rights would go to Florida with Burch or to the Lone Star State with Nelson . Thousands of viewers tuned in to watch on MotorManiaTV , thanks to Autoland Outlets and Vintage Trailers , while the crowd at the starting line eagerly anticipated the showdown .

The final would go down in Million Dollar Drag

Race history as an epic lap between Nelson and Burch . Nelson continued his dominance , helping the dragsters sweep the weekend with a . 002 reaction time and putting his dragster dead-on with a one , falling just three thousandths of a second short of a perfect run . Burch put down an impressive run that would have won many final rounds , with a . 008 reaction time and going dead-on with a zero , leaving him five thousandths of a second behind Nelson at the finish line .

Nelson was celebrated in the winner ’ s circle by his friends and his father , who travels to each race with him . The winner circle featured champagne bottles popping and the presentation of the prestigious trophy and Million Dollar Drag Race Big Check . DI

PHOTOGRAPHS BY CHRIS SIMMONS

28 | Drag Illustrated | DragIllustrated . com Issue 191