To crown the second set of WDRA World Champions, the event moved to Montgomery International Dragway to provide more of a centralized location for the increasing number of WDRA racetracks. The WDRA Summit World Championships, presented by SunCoast Performance, featured two days for qualified racers to get familiar with the facility before diving into the most crucial race of the season.
Thursday opened with a Test and Tune session, followed by a Pit Vehicle Race in which Trey Goodson cashed in on day one. Friday featured $5,000-to-win races in each of the five classes with zero entry fee for competitors thanks to contributions from various sponsors.
The FuelTech Box class was an all-door car semifinal where Cody Field staged up beside Ernie Humes while Scott Sanders earned the last bye run of the race. Humes ran dead on his 5.84 dial, but Field was in control at the tree to advance into the $5,000 final round. It was a Tennessee versus Kentucky finale when Sanders let go .024 and ran one above his dial to leave Field mathematically ineligible and earned the win while representing Cherokee Race Park.
The Advanced Product Design No Box semifinal featured Brad Talbot on the bye run while Chad Brewer and Velicity Morris battled off the bottom bulb to see who would advance. Only one thousandth separated the drivers on the tree, but Brewer breaks out three thousandths while Morris runs dead on with a six to move into the final. In a true show of sportsmanship, Talbot from Grand Bend Motorplex waited on Morris, who was having trouble getting her truck started, before rolling into the waterbox. Atmore Dragway representative Morris was unphased by the hiccup as she was .009 on the tree and ran dead on her dial for the $5,000 win beside Talbot, who was .025 on the tree but broke out one ten-thousandth at the stripe.
Laris Motorsports Insurance Sportsman round five featured four remaining drivers: Ben Dixon, Diane Ratliff, Jimmie Barrett, and Kyle Wanamaker. Both pairs are decided on the starting line as Wanamaker is .010 red to advance Dixon, and Ratliff is .001 red beside Barrett. In the $5,000 final, Barrett had the better light with his .025 but found himself one thousandth behind Dixon at the finish line, who earned the win while representing Farmington Dragway.
Fuel Factory Motorcycle and Sled semifinal came down to Mike Schulz, Mike Peters, Brad Schmidt, and Sonny Vick. Vick is .033 on the tree and runs one above his dial to leave Peters mathematically ineligible. Schulz turned his starting line advantage into a win light as Schmidt broke out trying to take the finish line. In the final, both riders are nearly identical on the tree, but Vick runs too quickly beside Schulz, who runs one above his 5.43 dial for the win. This $5,000 victory comes after Schulz earned his spot for the WDRA Summit World Championships by winning the Main Event during the WDRA Eastern Bracket Finals.
Wild Willy Fuel Fragrance Junior Dragster semifinal featured Ashton Halas taking on Calla Varner, while Emerson Green earned the solo pass into the final. Varner leaves .013 too soon beside Halas, who is .05 green and dead on the 7.90 dial for the win. Halas has an .013 reaction time advantage and runs one above to take the $5,000 win all the way back to New York (Lancaster Motorplex), while Green breaks out .006 at the finish line.
As the end of the race drew closer, the Pit Party kicked off with free ribeye steaks, sides, and drinks for everyone on the property. Racers, families, track operators, and staff could enjoy the evening and get a good night’s rest before the pressure intensified for the final day of competition.
Five WDRA World Championship titles will be on the line on Saturday, with no second chances or buybacks. Tune in to MotorManiaTV to watch all the action live courtesy of Laris Motorsports Insurance.
For more information on the WDRA Summit Sportsman Drag Racing Series, visit our website at www.racewdra.com.
This story was originally published on October 28, 2024. 
