Lebanon Valley Shines as Team LV Captures Bracket Finals Team Championship

Lebanon Valley Dragway in West Lebanon, New York was the host track to the NHRA Division 1 Bracket Finals sponsored by Summit Racing Equipment and Hoosier Tire on Thursday, August 27 -Saturday, August 29, 2026. The track hosted 9 tracks from NHRA Division 1 with over 400 racers in the Summit ET bracket racing categories of Super Pro, Pro, Motorcycle/Sled, Sportsman, Junior Street and for the first time in a long time, Junior Dragsters joined in the combined race.  Winners from each of the Categories except for Junior Street and Junior Dragster would earn the privilege to represent Division 1 in their category at the NHRA National event held in Las Vegas at the end of October where the winners from each division will compete for top honors in the nation. Also, it was announced at the event that this year, the winners from the Race of Champions in each class will also compete in Las Vegas.  

So, what happens at the bracket finals? A whole bunch of fun and excitement. Parking began on Wednesday where racers parked with their track teams and the socializing began.

Thursday was the start of racing time runs, or so we thought it would be. Instead, Mother Nature decided to throw a curve ball and dropped precipitation. No problem. The crew went to work and we had a late start but we got it done and instead of gamblers races, bogie races were run for the best package in the second time run.

Friday, the decorating of the bleachers for team spirit started first thing in the morning and the mascots came out to cheer on their favorite racers. There were swamp things, Star Wars, Patriots, and of course a new mascot for Lebanon Valley, a racoon. Racers took to the lanes and participated in a gamblers race in each category along with the warm ups for the Race of Champions in each category.

As the night went on, teams cheered for their racers, and champions were crowned just in time to catch a few hours of sleep and return to the track Saturday morning. Full results are below but a mention must be made to congratulate Lebanon Valley’s Gavin Russo of Norfolk, CT who made it to the semi-finals in Junior Street Race of Champions, Giuseppe Portilio of East Longmeadow , MA who runnered up in the Junior Dragster Race of Champions, Jamie Dymond from Kerhonkson, NY who runnered up in the Super Race of Champions, and Billy Kirpens Jr of Pittsfield, MA who won the Sportsman Race of Champions.

Saturday was the day of the main race for all categories which began first thing in the morning with a final time run for the Junior Dragsters and Junior Street racers followed by first round of eliminations in all the other classes. Racers were awarded points for individual wins to their teams which would eventually at the end of the day award the team with the most points the team championship. Congratulations to Team LV for winning this year’s team championship award.

The Team Spirit Award was judged and Lebanon Valley Dragway was the recipient of that award this year.  Thanks to the Billetts family and family and friends of Team LV for the support.

At the end of a long day of racing, Lebanon Valley had several racers who deserve an extra shout out for their accomplishment. For full results, see below.  In the 15-17 Junior Bracket Finals, Racin Mason Spinelli of Latham, NY finished his day in the semifinals. Hudson Bleakley of Carmel, NY finished in the semi-finals along with Emily Burns of Staatsburg, NY.

Shawn Rainey of Waterford, CT took the win in Motorcycle/Sled when he  defeated his teammate, Adam Sheran of Blandford, MA.

Gavin Russo of Norfolk, CT had a great weekend when he won the Junior Street division in the main race.

A major thank you needs to go out to all the racers in attendance who endured a marathon of racing and especially to the workers from NHRA, workers from visiting tracks and Lebanon Valley Dragway who spent countless long hours working the event. You guys and gals rocked it!!

Anyone who missed the event can catch it on YouTube on the NHRA Northeast Division page.

Congratulations to all the winners!!