Walker Brothers is sponsoring the Footbrake (No Box) class with $1,500-to-win and $300 for the runner. Plourd Racing Products is supporting the Junior Dragster with $200-to-win and $100 for second place.
Brody Quick, a longtime racer at the Alabama track, worked with track owner Russ Easterwood to help secure the good sponsorship packages for the competitors.
“We got looking around and every time there’s a bracket race paying $5,000, people are going to race,” Quick said. “From the racer’s standpoint, it’s very exciting to be with IHRA. A lot of our racers like how we can represent our home track and have something to look forward to. Beyond the great racing here, it’s a big opportunity to make ourselves known on a national scene.”
Quick is referring to the opportunity to compete in the IHRA Division 8 (South) Summit Team Finals later in the year and also how Baileyton track champions qualify for the IHRA Summit SuperSeries World Finals in October. Quick has talked to other racers about the team finals and they’re delighted at the prospect of competing both as individuals, and being a part of the home team.
“Representing where we’re from is a big deal. I know it’s the same for the other race tracks in the area like I-22 and Holiday Raceway,” Quick said. “It’s a big thing for these tracks to put their names behind the racers who go to the team finals. You’re trying to prove this is the best place to race, the toughest place to race and the hardest place to win.”
The state of Alabama has produced great racing and some of the biggest names in motorsports. It’s true whether you’re talking about the Allison family, Red Farmer and Neil Bonnett forming the famed “Alabama Gang” in NASCAR or exceptional drag racers like IHRA Hall of Famer Shannon Jenkins and his Pro Mod machines.
“There’s just a hard work ethic and there’s a lot of race tracks in Alabama that have had good, local competition,” he said. “A lot of people here pride themselves in being good and it makes Baileyton a tough place to win. You take the guys we race with on a week-in, week-out basis, they’re all good.”
Those good drivers will need to be at their best to claim the winning prizes Saturday throughout the rest of the season. Gates open at 3 p.m. with time trials to start at 5 p.m.
Click here to check out the Baileyton Drag Strip Facebook page for the latest track updates. Racers be sure you’re eligible to participate in the IHRA Summit SuperSeries program by clicking here for the IHRA membership center or by calling Heather at (85) JOIN IHRA.
