NHRA OReilly Auto Parts Jr. Drag Racing League Eastern Conference Finals- FINAL RESULTS from Bristol Dragway
NHRA O'REILLY AUTO PARTS JR. DRAG RACING LEAGUE EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS BRISTOL DRAGWAY SUNDAY JULY 18, 2004 O'Reilly Jr. Drag Racing League champs crowned at Bristol BRISTOL, Tenn. - The NHRA O'Reilly Auto Parts Jr. Drag Racing League Eastern Conference Finals concluded today at Bristol Dragway with champions, ranging in ages from 8 to 17 years-old, being crowned in eight eliminator categories. With nearly 650 drivers, representing 47 NHRA member tracks, competing for honors the action was furious throughout the day, with the young racers skills translating into event victories. A large part of the event was the team competition, in which drivers earned points for each round of racing completed. The coveted Team Championship went to Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pa. They earned 40 points to take the title. Finishing in second was U.S. 13 Dragway in Delmar, Del., with 30 points. Taking third with 29 points was Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, N.J. Individual event honors went to Madison Defoor, Tyler Smith, Payton Filson, Lewis Shuman, Brandon Ennis, David Dean, Ryan Haag and Justin Belmonte. In the 8-9 year old category, Silver Dollar Raceway's Madison Defoor of Warner Robbins, Ga., emerged victorious when she took out South Mountain Dragway's Andrew Whitman of York, Pa. Beech Bend Raceway Park's Tyler Smith of Springfield, Tenn., took home the 10-year old crown when he defeated Montgomery Motorsports Park racer Megan Kerns of Milan, Mich. In the 11-year old category, the title went to Kil-Kare Raceway representative Payton Filson of Fairborn, Ohio who won over Mason-Dixon Dragway competitor, Colby Imes of Clear Spring, Md. Taking home the victory in the 12-year-old category was Lewis Shuman of Washington, Pa., who was racing for Orlando Speed World Dragway. In the final, he defeated 2003 winner Nick Chiles of Reedville, Va. Chalking up a win for the U.S. 13 Dragway was Brandon Ennis of Pocomoke, Md. In the final, Ennis defeated Montgomery Motorsports Park racer Corey Oberstaedt of Whitmore, Mich. Representing Mobile Dragway, David Dean of Waxhawk, N.C., conquered the 14 year-old category when he defeated Old Bridge Township Raceway Park's James Blair. In the 15-year old category, Ryan Haag of Memphis, Ind., took the win home for Ohio Valley Raceway, when he defeated PJ Fouts of Gahanna, Ohio, racing for Pacemakers Dragway. In the 16-17 year old category it was an all Maple Grove Raceway final with Justin Belmonte of Glenmoore, Pa., earning the win over Leola, Pa., racer Frank Markward. Last year Belmonte's sister, Nicole, won this event in the 15-year-old category. In addition to competing for team and individual honors an award was also presented to the Eastern Conference Finals team with the most spirit. This year the Team Spirit Award was presented to Pacemakers Dragway Park in Mount Vernon, Ohio. The following are Saturday's final round results from the NHRA O'Reilly Auto Parts Jr. Drag Racing League Eastern Conference Finals event at Bristol Dragway: 8-9 year-old Category Madison Defoor, Warner Robins, Ga., 13.297 seconds def. 44.39 mph def. Andrew Whitman, York, Pa., 13.437, 48.24 10-year-old Category Tyler Smith, Springfield, Tenn., 9.058 seconds, 70.19 mph def. Megan Kerns, Milan, Mich., 9.021, 71.35 11-year-old Category Payton Filson, Fairborn, Ohio, 9.013 seconds, 68.11 mph def. Colby Imes, Clear Spring, Md., 9.220, 71.36 12-Year-Old Category Lewis Shuman, Washington, Pa., 8.940 seconds, 70.78 mph def. Nick Chiles, Reedville, Va., 9.096, 70.02 13-year old Category Brandon Ennis, Pocomoke, Md., 8.426 seconds, 75.44 mph def. Corey Oberstaedt, Whitmore, Mich., 8.056, 80.55 14-year-old category David Dean, Waxhawk, N.C., 7.941 seconds, 81.79 mph def. James Blair, Old Bridge, N.J., 8.122, 80.19 15-year-old Category Ryan Haag, Memphis, Ind., 8.224 seconds, 77.79 mph def. PJ Fouts, Gahanna, Ohio, 8.113, 80.09 16-17 year-old Category Justin Belmonte, Glenmoore, Pa., 8.176 seconds, 77.45 mph def. Frank Markward, Leola, Pa., 8.176, 77.45