Nostalgia drag racing at a premier level with the Southeast Gassers Association returns to Knoxville Dragway for its second race date of 2025 this weekend for the MAHLE Motorsports Mountain Madness Nationals. With only four championship race weekends remaining, championship hopes and dreams may very well be lost or found on ole rocky top just north of Knoxville, in Maynardville, Tennessee. The golden era of grasser drag racing from 1967 can be relived this weekend at the Knoxville Dragway, nestled in the valley of roar with the Southeast Gassers.
For the quickest and fastest cars of SEGA, the A/Gas machines, Leslie Horne, the 2024 defending champion rolls into the valley with the at track momentum having won three straight events at Knoxville Dragway. In the class as a whole, many other competitors have momentum in 2025 as well. Second in points Chase Howard was in the final round at Knoxville for the Spring edition. Ben Christopher in his Happy Daze gasser earned a victory at the most recent event with Jason Line horsepower.
With less than a handful of championship races left, two categories where race day outcomes are particularly interesting can be found in the B/Gas and C/Gas classes. Ken Rainwater in his blaring red Renegade gasser, named Chevy II, is leading the B/Gas contingency. If his bid for the 2025 championship is to be halted, the stopping of such a feast needs to happen this race weekend. One aiming to stop the Renegade’s rampage is Ted McKee, an in-state favorite with his University of Tennessee Orange Chevy II known as the Rocky Top Missile. Another in-state favorite is Charlie Lee of Sparta, Tennessee. Though not in the championship chase for the top spot, he has brought out a reworked gasser that in just two races back has won and runnered-up. They’re all chasing Rainwater into the valley of Knoxville Dragway.
For C/Gas the top performing driver with the most wins on the season is Jerren Purdue. For him it’s been performance records, wins, and coming into the Mountain Madness race with the points lead as well. Close behind, by seemingly shear tenacity, is Ernie Smith. A racer that all of SEGA recognizes as the hungriest driver out there has been consistent and kept pace with Jerren all season by going out later instead of early in rounds having three final round appearances to his credit. Past champions in the category are lurking and though they might be out of a championship chase race, are certainly willing to put the madness in this Mountain Madness event.
For the team at Knoxville Dragway, the Southeast Gassers Association event pitching at their facility for the second time in 2025, is a part of their marque attractions in a season. “We’ve got a good relationship with the gassers,” Wes Clapp, track operator stated.
That is certainly true, being one of only two tracks that get two race dates with SEGA in a race season. Wes also stated that SEGA and Knoxville Dragway just “fits” with the nostalgia racing and the nostalgia feeling facility. That’s not to say that Knoxville Dragway is rundown, though. New-to-the-track amenities have been added in the recent past such as aluminum grandstands on the pit side. There is a great at-track concession stand, with near-the-burnout-box seating area to enjoy those track fare options. Wes also expressed that there are bigger plans for Knoxville Dragway that includes more aluminum bleachers and a campground area. Included in the big plans for this weekend and beyond is the drag racing of the Southeast Gassers Association.
The MAHLE Motorsports Mountain Madness Nationals at Knoxville Dragway will be a critical event in the premier nostalgia drag racing of SEGA. It’s race six of nine and in each SEGA championship category, A/Gas, B/Gas, C/Gas, H/Gas, A/FX and Super Stock, the competition is going mad to claim the top spot. Be sure to catch the test and tune action on Friday at 5PM eastern but most certainly the race day action on Saturday with qualifying beginning at 1PM eastern. Get your Mountain Madness this weekend at Knoxville Dragway!
Fans of SEGA can also enjoy livestreams this weekend at Knoxville Dragway.
Friday Livestream Link – https://youtube.com/live/vNKqPRuwbrI?feature=share
Saturday Livestream Link – https://youtube.com/live/4hvlRqAtGeY?feature=share
THE 2025 SOUTHEAST GASSERS ASSOCIATION REMAINING SCHEDULE
- 9/19-20 – Knoxville Dragway
- 10/10-11 – Gulfport Dragway “Cruise the Coast” (Two race weekend)
- 10/31-11/1 – Shadyside 2025 FINALS
This story was originally published on September 18, 2025. 
