The Rumble In Ringgold lived up to its name and then some, as the Southeast Gassers Association brought thunder – not the kind from the clouds, but from roaring vintage hot rods – to Brainerd Motorsports Park for the fourth race of the 2025 season. With major shakeups in nearly every class, new faces in the winner’s circle, and milestones that tug at the heartstrings of SEGA faithful, this Southern Nationals presented by Harbin’s Mechanical Services will be one for the books.
Barry Adler Steals the A/Gas Spotlight from the Big Dogs
A/Gas is always the headliner, and in Ringgold, it was Barry Adler’s breakout moment. The SEGA rookie from Quick Time Performance ran the table with his Iron Eagle Corvette, slicing through a bracket stacked with veterans, including Alan Pittman and Ben Christopher. Meanwhile, series points leader and SEGA owner Leslie Horne fell in the quarters, and Chase Howard – the top qualifier in his USA-1 Chevelle – saw his transmission break in the final. That handed Adler his first SEGA Cup and bragging rights over the series boss. “If I wanted to come to play, go A/Gas – this is just amazing,” Adler grinned. “And of course, Leslie is not going to hear the end of this one.”
Charlie Lee Ends the Renegade’s B/Gas Streak
Ken Rainwater was gunning for three straight wins in B/Gas, and it looked like the Renegade had the goods after qualifying No. 1. But a loose set screw and slipped fuel pump belt at 150 feet cost him the final. That left the door wide open for longtime SEGA regular Charlie Lee in the Tennessee Charlie Mustang to score a long-awaited first win. “We’ve been running with these guys for years,” Lee said. “Today was our day.”
100 Starts Later, Ernie Smith Still Has the Fire – But Perdue Has the Pace
C/Gas delivered both a sentimental milestone and a show-stopping performance. Ernie Smith made his 100th consecutive SEGA start, the first racer in history to hit that mark, and drove his Saturday Night Special Chevy all the way to the final. But standing between him and a storybook win was points leader Jerren Perdue in the Stud Muffin wagon. Perdue threw down his fourth consecutive 6.05-second run of the day to edge out Smith’s best-of-day 6.13. “We could’ve bracket raced this thing today,” laughed Perdue. “It ran the same number all day. I knew I had to cut a good light. Ernie and I meet at every SEGA event. I’m glad to pull this one off.”
Rob Walden Finally Grabs Gold in Super Stock
For years, Rob Walden has bounced across SEGA’s top categories – A/Gas, A/FX, and now Super Stock. But Brainerd marked his first-ever class win, outlasting undefeated 2024 champ Jerry Dean, who battled mechanical issues in the final. “We’re here! We made it!” shouted a fired-up Walden. “Been racing with SEGA since 2019, and this is my first class win. We’re here – loving what we do – happy to be here.”
Lil’ Indian Strikes Twice, Corn Pops the Rambler
H/Gas and A/FX are becoming must-watch divisions in SEGA action. In H/Gas, points leader Robert Fraizer was stopped cold in round one on a holeshot upset by Todd Hinds. That set the stage for Colby Welch, who wheeled his Lil’ Indian Anglia to a second-straight win over Hinds in the final.
In A/FX, the debut of Randy Jensen’s stunning MOPAR machine turned heads, but it was Todd Wimberly who emerged victorious in Southern Comfort – aided by a post-race technical infraction that disqualified Jeffrey Ferguson. Still, a win’s a win, and Wimberly took it in stride.
Next Stop: Jackson Dragway – Gassers Invade for the First Time
The thunder might have missed Ringgold, but the rumble sure didn’t. With Brainerd’s epic throwdown in the books, the SEGA caravan rolls into Jackson Dragway in Tennessee for the first time ever on August 22-23, continuing a season already filled with shakeups, rivalries, and some of the purest racing left in America.
As SEGA likes to say – the golden age of drag racing lives on.
This story was originally published on August 6, 2025. 
