The 2021 Northeast Bracket Finals kicked off on Thursday, September 30, 2021 with time trials and gamblers races for races from 9 tracks from throughout NHRA Division1 who have brought their top 38 racers to the Valley of Speed to compete for top honors in five different categories. Four of these categories, Super, Pro, Sportsman and Motorcycle will compete for top honors to represent Division 1 at the Nationals in Las Vegas at the end of October and these racers will also compete as teams for top team honors in the division.
Saturday will see the Junior Street Division crown its champion when the track representative racers will team up with their co-pilot in a newer division that permits teenagers from the age of 13-17 to race a full sized street car with an adult licensed co-pilot in the 1/8 mile.
Thursday's race competition comprised of gamblers races in the four divisions crowning the event's first winners on the weekend. Three of these winners were from team Lebanon Valley!
In Super Eliminator, Grant Nichols, from Marlborough, CT representing team Lebanon Valley defeated Jason Wilson, of Penn Argyl, PA who represented Team Numidia. Teammates Joseph Wallis of Middletown, RI and Mike Sawyer of Leominster, PA representing team New England Dragway lost in the semi-finals.
In Pro Eliminator, team New England Dragway representative Jared Kinson of Plaistow, NH defeated Maple Grove Raceway representative Robert Snyder of Sinking Spring, PA in the final. Brandon Karaguezian of Waltham, MA representing Team New England lost in the semi-finals.
Sportsman Eliminator saw a familiar face at Lebanon Valley Dragway when Billy Kirpens Jr. of Team Lebanon Valley posted his fourth win in six days when Team Maple Grove Raceway competitor Charles Weinreich of Rosedale, MD turned on the red light. Fellow Maple Grove teammate, David Sciarretta of Honey Brook, PA lost in the semi-finals.
The Bike/Sled Eliminator was won by Lebanon Valley member Adam Sheran of Chester, MA over Brian Moore of Hanover, PA representing team Mason Dixon. Team Lebanon Valley member Kim Kiniry of Saugerties, NY and Team Island Dragway Chris Miele of West Orange, NJ lost in the semi's.
Tune in to NHRA.TV for live cover of the race continuing on Friday with more gamblers races and the Race of Champions in all divisions and competing on Saturday with the main race and consi race.
If you're in the area, stop by and watch some fantastic side by side action which starts at 9am with the gates opening at 7am.
Congratulations to today's winners! Good luck in the upcoming races!!
Here are today's results-
