Many racers at last weekend's Bristol Bracket Blowout probably felt as if they were running a marathon instead of a drag race.
To thank competitors for their support during the 2008 season, dragway officials offered a "mulligan" race during Saturday's action. Mulligans could be purchased and allowed each racer one re-entry after a loss in any round. Racing lasted well into the night with drivers taking advantage of their mulligan to remain in the competitive field.
Loudon's Billy Rolen outlasted everyone to take his 1967 Camaro to Winner's Circle in Saturday's Super Pro division. Kevin Hill of Bristol, Va. handed the win to Rolen when he received a disqualification for going faster than his dial-in. Rolen left the line with a .041 reaction time and streaked through the finish in 6.113 seconds at 111.78 mph.
A battle of dragsters marked Sunday's Super Pro final as Rutledge's Chris Hodge defeated Lauren Freer from Lewisville, N.C. Hodge's .046 R.T. and 5.132 E.T. (5.13 dial-in) at 133.92 mph earned the victory over Freer's .015 R.T. and 4.939 E.T.
Kingsport's Van Greer drove his 1985 Escort to victory in the Pro Division when his opponent, J. Lovett of Bee, Va., turned on the red light for leaving the line too soon. Greer ran a 10.607 elapsed time at 64.86 mph to claim the win. Greer, who was double entered in two classes, made a total of 32 passes during Saturday's activities.
Elizabethton's Carl Lee Widner took his 1984 Buick Regal to the Winner's Circle in the Pro category on Sunday when Rob Nelson of Bluff City went faster than his dial. Widner had a .022 R.T. and tripped the clock with a 6.262 E.T. at 108.18 mph.
Bluff City's Jason Nelson earned top honors in Saturday's Sportsman action by defeating Michael Hicks of Bristol, Va. Nelson was slower leaving the line, .184 R.T. to Hicks' .104 R.T., but drove around his competition with a 10.960 E.T. at 120.96 mph.
The Pro Bike trophy went to Allen Clark of Duffield, Va. after John Swafford went too fast in the final round and picked up a disqualification. Clark broke the starting line beams with a .636 R.T. and completed his run with a 6.787 E.T. at 118.24 mph.
Junior Dragster Division I went to Allison Eads of Bristol, Va., while Morristown's Phillip Vineyard tasted victory in Jr. Dragster Division II.
Other Sunday winners included Don Evans of Abingdon, Va. (Sportsman) and a trio of Bluff City residents, Jerry Turner (Pro Bike), Kyle Kotgowski (Jr. Dragster Div. I) and Austin Roberts (Jr. Dragster Div. II).