Positions will be up for grabs during Sunoco Bracket Racing Series on Saturday

Bristol Dragway will host the first of two consecutive doubleheader weekends of Sunoco Bracket Racing Series on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2005.The season is winding down but the jockeying for positions and possible championships is beginning to heat up.  With all of the class titles still up grabs, the next two weekends will provide some intense drag racing.Charles Patterson is currently leading the Super Pro class but Jeff Smith, currently in second, won last weekend’s event and has closed the gap to 48 (413,365) points going into this weekend.  Patterson still has some breathing room but one slip-up could leave could make the championship run much more interesting.
The Pro class is shaping up to be a three horse race between Neal Church (501), Brandon Bailey (440), and Tim Griffith (398) with Church currently leading the pack.  Church, a former Bristol Dragway track champion, looks to build on last weekend’s win and stretch out his lead with Bailey and Griffith remaining within striking distance.
Tim Smith (360) is currently leading the Sportsman class but five drivers; Jason Nelson (345), Jonathan Hutchinson (335), C.J. Elsea (298), Danny Trivett (294), and Jessie O’Neal (268), are within 100 points of the top spot.  Nelson is only 15 points behind Smith and Hutchison, currently in third, won last weekend’s event and is looking to add some pressure to the already tight race.
Defending Pro Bike Champion Mike Gill is comfortably sitting atop the leader board but it’s too early to count out John Swafford who only trails Gill by 86 points (426,340).  Swafford gained some ground on Gill last weekend by capturing the Pro Bike win but couldn’t fully capitalize due to having to buy back after losing in the first round.
The Junior Dragster classes have the closest battles with the championships coming down to the last event.  Division I has five drivers; Avery Denton (340), Denver Maltba (328), Dylan Davis (312), Austin Roberts (308), and Austin Olinger (283), who legitimately have a shot at the title.  Denton, who is currently the leader, leapfrogged Maltba to claim the top spot after last weekend’s event.
Division II also saw a shakeup in the leaderboard with Kendra Hall (411) overtaking Mishelle Black (396) for the top spot.  Andy Bayless (370), currently in third, will be a contender for the title after winning last weekend’s event.
This weekend’s action kicks off Saturday, September 17, with gates opening 10:30 a.m. and racing begins at noon.
The track championships will be decided with the season-ending doubleheader Sept. 24-25. 
For more information, call 764-DRAG.

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