Irwindale: January 4th Dragstrip Season Opener

Irwindale, Calif. January 4, 2003; The drag racing season will get staged-up and cutting some quick lights early at Irwindale Dragstrip this year -- After only a week and half off (for the Christmas holiday), the 2003 racing season will roar into life with a special Saturday, January 4 event aptly called: "BRACKET BASH SATURDAY NIGHT".

"We just couldn't wait to get back to drag racing and we thought that a Saturday night might just be a great way to kick off the 2003 season at Irwindale," said Track Director, Gene Bergstrom. "We think that it'll give a lot of people who've heard about how much fun the races at Irwindale always are, an opportunity to get a good look for themselves."

Gates will open at 3PM for technical inspection and runs will start at 4PM.

Saturday night's "Bracket Bash Saturday Night" will feature three Bracket Classes: SUPER PRO (6.00 to 7.50 ETs, electronics OK), HOT ROD (6.50 to 7.99 ETs, NO electronics), and HOT STREET (8.00 and above ETs, NO electronics). (Electronics are per NHRA rule book). All of the cars competing in the "Bash" must be bodied ONLY).

The normal track $20 entry fee will allow drivers to practice and run time trials (as at any regular "Test and Tune" session) and spectators are only $10 (as usual).

Entry into the "Bash" is an additional $20 with a guaranteed 100% payback divided up thus: 50% to the winners, 25% to the runners-up, and 12 ½% to the semis. Of course, there'll be cool trophies for all class winners and runners-up too. And, just to spice things up a little bit, Bergstrom will be offering up a nice, crisp $50 bill to the first perfect light (or dial-in) during eliminations.

To make matters even more "interesting" competitors will be able to take advantage of the availability of first and second round buy-backs for $10 (only one per customer please). Each bracket racer will get a 3-pass run card for time trials. The first "Bash" elimination races are set to begin at 5PM and just plain good-old great drag racing will rule until 10PM.

"We're all really looking forward to January 4," said Bergstrom, "We know that all of our regulars will be here, they've already told us to look for them on that night, but we really hope that fans and drivers who haven't yet been to Irwindale Dragstrip will give us a looksee. We really strive to make our events entertaining and fun for everyone on site."

The January 4 date kicks off the 2003 season and will be followed by regular every-Thursday-night "Test and Tune" sessions beginning on Thursday, January 9. Irwindale Dragstrip has rapidly become a great place for fast family motorsports entertainment, where one really can race their own car or watch friends take on the "traction-packed" NHRA Street Legal eighth-mile drag strip.