Randy Meyer Racing (RMR) continued their impressive streak in the 2024 NHRA season with a standout performance at the North Central Division’s Battle at the Beech, held at Beech Bend Raceway in Bowling Green, KY. With six Top Alcohol Dragster entries, the RMR team showcased their dominance throughout the weekend, securing their 107th NHRA win, the 6th victory of the season, and their 11th consecutive final round appearance.
In qualifying, RMR’s Scott Dean led the charge, clinching the number one spot with a blistering 5.223-second pass at 278.92 mph. New driver Zach Sackman, making his second race appearance with the team, qualified third with a solid 5.258 at 275.11 mph.
In the first round of eliminations, Scott Dean faced a tough match-up against Jared Dreher. Despite a strong effort, Scott’s 5.317 at 275.34 mph fell just short of Dreher’s 5.324 at 272.01 mph, ending Scott’s weekend early.
Zach Sackman, however, proved to be a formidable competitor. In the opening round, Zach delivered a near-perfect 0.036 reaction time and clocked in at 5.266 seconds at 274.55 mph, defeating Joe Maynard, who struggled to a 5.85-second pass. Zach’s momentum continued into the semi-finals, where he took on motorsports legend Tony Stewart. Despite the challenging hot and greasy track conditions, Zach’s 0.022 reaction time and 5.330 at 269.29 mph run outpaced Stewart, whose car lost traction at the start.
In the final round, Sackman faced off against Jared Dreher, the very driver who had eliminated his teammate earlier in the day. Zach showed his mettle with a 0.032 reaction time and a winning pass of 5.303 seconds at 275.17 mph, securing his first career Top Alcohol Dragster victory. Dreher’s 5.420 at 270.00 mph wasn’t enough to challenge the RMR machine.
“This win means the world to me,” said Zach Sackman. “To get my first Top Alcohol Dragster win with Randy Meyer Racing is an honor. I was kinda just going into the race not really expecting anything because I haven’t made too many runs in the car before and then after running the 5.25 in qualifying I felt pretty confident about race day and I was hitting the tree pretty good. I wasn’t really nervous or anything for the finals, just went up there and did what I had been doing all weekend and came out with the win.”
This victory marks Sackman’s seventh divisional Wally trophy and his first in the Top Alcohol Dragster category. Sackman, like his teammate Scott Dean, is no stranger to the winner’s circle, having previously earned championships in the Top Dragster class. His seamless transition between classes underscores his exceptional driving talent.
Randy Meyer Racing’s success at Beech Bend adds yet another chapter to their storied legacy, bringing their total NHRA wins to 107 and solidifying their place as one of the most successful teams in the sport.
This story was originally published on August 28, 2024. 
