ULTIMATE FOOTBRAKE CHALLENGE ENJOYED BY ALL
By Tim Glover
Montgomery, AL - Mother Nature cooperated this time, allowing 209 cars on Saturday and 202 cars on Sunday to compete in the re-scheduled edition of the Ultimate Footbrake Challenge put on by Phillips Motorsports the weekend of November 8-10, 2002. The original race scheduled for October 25-27 was rained out.

Although the required number of 200 pre-entered racers was not reached by the October 1 deadline, promoter Chris Phillips decided to continue with the event, minus the originally scheduled Friday race. However, there was such a good turnout that Phillips paid the last 35 cars in competition instead of the original 32 advertised, and, like the recent Ultimate Super Pro challenge, he also increased the purse $50 for the eighth and quarter-finalists. Not one, not two, but $5000 was the posted winner's purse Saturday and Sunday, with another $1500 going to the runner-up and $500 going to the semi-finalists, all for a weekend entry of $100.

Jerry Hallman did a great job teching all the cars, and did a number of surprise inspections. This was well received by the racers because they knew someone was looking out for them. Thanks to the tech crew for making sure everything was on the up and up for all the competitors.

A Gambler's race was added to the Friday night test and tune session, but cold temperatures and an oildown conspired to make the track surface uncompetitive. Rather than risk anyone's cars, the race was stopped after two rounds and $40 was given to the remaining racers in competition.

Jeff Strickland from Red Bay, AL races so well in so many different classes he could probably win a bracket race with a wheelbarrow. On Saturday he took his '68 Camaro straight to the winner's circle against another top notch racer, Robert Fleming. Both were within .005 seconds of each other on the tree, with Strickland .543 and Fleming .548. Strickland took .013 seconds win stripe against Fleming's Abbeville, AL based '78 Nova by running 8.080, 83.67 on an 8.08 dial. Fleming was right there with a 9.728, 73.58 (9.70 target). Wilbur Calton brought his '95 Grand Prix down from Zebulon, NC and was rewarded with the semi-final portion of the purse (which was probably a little better than advertised due to splitting).

Another of the best Footbrake racers around, Doyle Kay, earned some gas money home when he won the Sunday edition of the Run for the Money. A second place award was also given in Run for the Money, which Wesley Purvis earned.

Jared Pennington was the big money winner Sunday. The Fultondale, AL native put a 7.59 dial on his '79 Malibu for the final, and almost got it, running 7.586, 91.14 with a .536 react. That would have been tough to beat, but Tracy Crutcher made it easier on Pennington with a too quick .474 react. Crutcher had the dial of his Pleasantview, TN based '66 Chevy II spot on, running 7.622, 88.23 on a 7.62 target. Two racers got to share the semi-final purse, Steve "Fuzzy" Garland ('79 Capri ? Waleska, GA) and Rand Goodwin ('69 Roadrunner ? Samson, AL). Goodwin had recently completed his Roadrunner, and this was its first race.

"A lot of people didn't think we could get this many Footbrakers together for a weekend. Thanks for coming. Look for another Ultimate Footbrake Challenge in Spring 2003," added Chris Phillips.


Racers Invade Montgomery Motorsports Park for SuperPro Challenge
Montgomery, AL - The fall weather was cool and the action was HOT! As 290 SuperPro racers from around the Southeast battled it out for over $35,000 in cash. In Friday's action it was James Rutledge of Dallas, GA who won run for the money with a perfect run, pocketing $500. A runner-up was chosen and Bob Clifford of Clayton, GA received $300 prize money for his efforts. In the main event, Sherman Adcock, Jr. of Columbus, GA drove Hugh Meeks's Mullis dragster to take home the win and $5,000 defeating Teddy Epperson, of Sycamore AL. The lone semi-finalist was Mike Dyke Sr.

Run for the money started things off on Saturday with Troy Williams, of Bradenton Florida winning the $500 top prize for that race. Creola AL, racer Rusty Nichols, received the $300 runner-up prize. Doorcars ruled the day in Saturdays $10,000 to win main event. Lloyd Kaylor, of Wider, GA drove his 1987 Buick Regal to the victory defeating Mableton, GA racer Jeff Valdez, driving Shelby White's 1966 Chevy II. Tim Archer was the lone semi-finalist. Rain showers moved in Sunday morning and after attempts to dry the track, the final race was cancelled.

The turnout was fantastic for a bracket race so late in the season and promoter Chris Phillips thanked everyone for coming out by bumping the purse up on Saturday and paying back an extra round! It was also announced that Phillips has purchased half interest in Montgomery Motorsports Park from Comp and Super Stock racer, Bob Dennis. Look for many exciting things to come from Chis and Anthony in the future, beginning with the rescheduled Ultimate Footbrake Challenge this weekend.

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RACE RULES:

All races 1/8th mile.

6.00 flat and slower.

Open bodies allowed.

No delay boxes or timers of any type.

No two or three steps of any type. Only one high-side limiting chip allowed.

No buttons, switches, or cords mounted to steering wheel. Cars requiring buttons to back up must relocate them to a plainly visible area on the dash.

Air or electrically operated shifters allowed.

Drivers must leave the starting line with both hands firmly on the steering wheel in plain view. Spotters will be used randomly so therefore, no dark tinted windows.

No devices allowed that alter a car's downtrack performance. No throttle stops (except manual nut and bolt type throttle limiters on the manifold or under the gas pedal), no stutter boxes, no wheel counters, etc. Nitrous allowed but no nitrous timers.

No devices that control staging RPM other than the drivers' foot. No solenoids, etc.

Former NHRA tech inspector Jerry Hallman will be onhand conducting tech. He will be brought up to speed on all the newest forms of cheating. Cars will be subject to tech inspections at any time throughout the event. All cars reaching the semi's or better will be inspected. Protests of drivers thought to be cheating will be honored under these conditions:
A) Protests may be lodged only by competitors that were beaten by the alleged cheater.
B) Upon review of the run sheet from the computer, I must have a reason to inspect. Example: multiple .50 lights or multiple dead on runs especially if the alleged cheater shows no regard for margin of victory. Basically, if you come complaining that your opponent had a .500 light and whipped you, but upon review has averaged a .530 during eliminations don't expect an inspection. Any driver found to be cheating in any way will be banned from competing in Phillips Motorsports Events at any track for one full year. Any winnings that the driver may have had coming to him for that individual race will be forfeited and evenly divided amoung drivers whom he beat during that race. Also, look for more reprimands from the host track, in this case, Montgomery Motorsports Park.
Basically this race is for cars with a steering wheel, gas pedal, and brake pedal and for drivers that know how to use them. If you have questions concerning the legality of certain equipment, ask now by emailing me at: ET2081@cs.com or calling 404-762-1313 Monday-Friday 8am-6pm. Don't wait until race day to be disappointed.
Unlike many racers of today I got my start in the no electronics class. I still think it's important to learn all aspects of Bracket Racing. There are Footbrake racers who know more about their cars and the tracks they race on than some pro drivers ever will. As a promoter, it is a bit of a hassle to have to deal with all these rules but if we know where we stand from the beginning then there should be no problems in the end. Look for more information concerning this race on the DragRaceResults homepage soon.