4/2/2024
US 13 Dragway
2024 US 13 Dragway Opening Weekend Success
Delmar, DE -
The 2024 US 13 Dragway kicked off the new season with two complete bracket races on March 30 and 31st. Friday night we were unable to get the Dragway test in tune completed due to the over 2 inches of rain that we received on Thursday; however, that did not stop the racers for showing up and showing off! The management team decided they would give the drivers a two-hour open test run session on Saturday morning to give those new drivers a chance to take their cars down the track and to give the seasoned drivers a chance to reconnect with the buttons.
On Saturday, Noland Company Top Eliminator finals paired, Michael DiLorenzo, and Brian Bogle chasing that winner's check. Off the line Brian, with a perfect light was unable to get the finish line over DiLorenzo with a .004 reaction time. It was a fight to the finish line for that winning check! Beach Customs Mod Eliminator paired Joe Dedrick in his '68 Camaro versus Jimmie Miller on his 2004 Suzuki. Jimmie, who had just won the OBHF Pro Bike final was trying to get a double win on Saturday. His early reaction presented him with a red light against Joe Dedrick. Dedrick picked up the win. OBHF Pro bike eliminations Jimmie Miller had the reaction time advantage over Montrell Johnson to take the win. The Tire King Sportsman eliminations brought Donald Metz up against Timothy Parks where Metz was able to receive the winner's check with Timothy running under his dial. The Carquest Junior Dragster eliminations put Brayden Hazzard versus Ella Ketterman where Brayden squeezed out a win with a .005 reaction time over Ella. The final class of the day was our Prestige Plumbing and HVAC Teen Challenge elimination which gave Landon Miller the win over Savannah Baker in her Chevy S-10.
Sunday, Mother Nature gave us a sunny day to celebrate Easter at the racetrack. The Easter bunny made a surprise visit and was able to meet and greet with the kids on site with an Easter gift bag.
In Noland Company Top Eliminator, Alexis Truitt, with her first ever win driving her dad‘s Dodge was able to pull out of victory over Paul Riddle in his dragster. Alexis put down a 15 pack to win the race. Beach Custom Services Mod Eliminator placed Brandon Michaels from Belair, Maryland in his 2000 Camaro with the victory over Michael Jefferson in his 74 Chevy Nova. Michaels with a .006 reaction time did not leave much room for Jefferson. OBHF Pro bike placed Brice Cornish against Raheem Gladney, two of our seasoned bikers where the reaction time may have won it for Cornish with a .014 reaction time. Tire King Sportsman placed Urias Shockley and his 2010 Dodge up against John Elias in his 1981 AMC. Urias pulled out the win with Elias' red light start. Carquest Jr Dragster finish placed Raegan Ketterman out of Laurel, Delaware up against Brice Cornish III with Ketterman putting up a .091 reaction time to take the win. The Cornish family was looking for a big father/son win but fell short. In the final class, Prestige Plumbing and HVAC Teen challenge placed Brayden Hazzard in a back-to-back finals weekend. Hazzard, who just won the Carquest Jr Dragster finals on Saturday brought out the second win of the weekend with the better reaction time and the win over Savannah Baker in the finals.
Coming up this weekend we have a weekend full with test and tune Friday night, April 5, gates opening at 5 PM with testing from 6 PM until 10 PM. Saturday and Sunday, April 6-7, gates will open at 10 AM, on Saturday all classes will receive one time run starting at 11 AM with eliminations to follow. Sunday gates will open at 10 AM with new entry only Receiving one time run with elimination to follow. If time permits, we will hold a pit vehicle race on Saturday following eliminations.
Drivers, please remember if you plan to join Track and WDRA points for this season, you must have all paperwork turned into the tower prior to the final pair going down the track. We will not be able to accept any points entries after the final pair has gone down the track. Points are run daily following eliminations.
Thank you to the racers and the fans for making our opening weekend successful and we look forward to seeing everybody this weekend.
Submitted By: Mark Cathell
