Saturday, October 2, 2021 saw the conclusion of the NHRA Northeast Division Bracket Finals hosted at Lebanon Valley Dragway. Ten teams sent from Atco Dragway, ESTA Safety Park, Island Dragway, Lebanon Valley Dragway, Maple Grove Raceway, Mason Dixon Dragway, New England Dragway, Numidia Dragway, South Mountain Dragway and Team Canada, competed for both individual as well as team honors in an exciting day of awesome side by side drag racing action where the decision on the team championships came down to the final races to determine the winner.
New England Dragway edged out Lebanon Valley Dragway for the Team Championships by two points with Atco Raceway coming in third.
The event isn’t all about racing. The three days give families, friends, racers and their crews the opportunity to cheer each other on by coming up with a theme and decorating the grandstands with cheering sections. The team spirit award is then presented on the third day of the event. This year’s team spirit award went to Island Dragway.
The main races on the day in Super, Pro, Bike and Sportsman offered the winners of these categories the opportunity to travel to Las Vegas, Nevada, October 29-31, 2021 to compete against other sportsman racers from across the nation at the Dodge//SRT NHRA Nationals presented by Penzoil. For most this is a once in a life-time opportunity.
In Pro Eliminator Dan Caissie of Thompson, CT representing New England Dragway defeated Bill Kirpens, Sr. of Pittsfield, MA who represented Lebanon Valley. John Crutchfield of Elkton, MD representing team South Mountain and Bob Mullaney of Mays Landing, NJ representing Numidia Dragway lost in the semi finals.
In Motorcycle/Sled eliminator, two Lebanon Valley regulars squared off to determine the winner of the category when Adam Sheran of Chester, MA and Ron Blake of Oxford, CT lined up in the final. Sheran was victorious over Blake. Brian Moore of Hanover, PA representing Mason Dixon and Chris Miele of West Orange, NJ representing Island Dragway lost in the semi-finals.
The Sportsman Category saw long time Lebanon Valley regular, Russ Wilber of Ghent, NY defeat Atco Dragway’s David Harvey III of Barrington NJ. Edward Hawley of Freehold, NJ also of Atco Dragway lost in the semi-finals.
The Junior Street category which is new to the Bracket Finals this year saw Atco Dragway competitor Gian-Anthony Melendy of Jackson, NJ defeat Lebanon Valley competitor Spencer Jasmin of Canaan, CT in the final. Kaylee Genualdo of Sandown, NH representing team New England lost in the semi’s.
The Super Pro category awarded New England competitor Theresa Cumming of Milton, NH the win over veteran racer and Team Mason Dixon’s Randy Krause of Orefield, PA. Bryan “Chicken” Balducci of Voorhees, NJ lost in the semi-finals.
Also on the day were consi gamblers races in each category were those competitors who had lost in the first round of competition in the main race could choose to race again in a separate race. These races did not earn points towards the team standings but offered races a chance to continue to race.
Winners in each of these categories were- Sportsman Consi- Michael Franks of Ewing, NJ from Team Island Dragway; Pro Consi- John Londino of Philadelphia, PA from Team Maple Grove; Super Pro Consi- Joe Ingalls of Unadilla, NY from Team Lebanon Valley and Bikes/Sled Consi Jacob Teats of Hopatcong, NJ from Team Island Dragway.
Thank you to all who attended and participated in a great event. Congratulations to all the winners and racers for a great race.
Results are as follows:
