It was a weekend we won’t soon forget. Friday’s weather forecast called for severe thunderstorms, high winds, and a tornado watch. Friday’s Test ‘n’ Tune was halted when weather conditions were judged to be too dangerous to continue. Saturday dawned — and stayed — cold and windy. The 2023 season-opener for the Carl’s 4WD & Performance Center ET Bracket Series (including the JEGS Super Quick class) was postponed to Sunday.
Sunday was a beautiful day and the event attracted a number of entries from Iowa, Indiana and Kentucky, as well as WWTR’s local racers.
Joey Moore of Terre Haute, Indiana, won the Super Pro presented by UA Local 562 Plumbers & Pipefitters finale over Dennis Pearson.
Mike Eggleston debuted a new car and won the Pro category over Sam Stewart, a former Jr. Dragster champion who graduated to full-size cars.
Neal Finder drove 6.5 hours to WWTR from Sumner, Iowa, and won the final round of Sportsman eliminations.
Tom Klemme towed in from Davenport, Iowa, and won the Kenneth R. Schwartz, Attorney at Law Motorcycle finale.
But nothing could top 11-year-old Juliet Reed’s adventure. Reed, from Florissant, Missouri, tried her hand at drag racing for the very first time and won the Jr. Dragster Thunder finale over fellow newcomer Ella Grace Gibbons of Cedar Hills, Missouri. Reed then runnered-up to Kennedy Hale of Pevely in the Jr. Dragster Runoff. (Juliet is pictured above.)
Jay Oakley of Philpot, Kentucky won the JEGS Super Quick final over Jeremy McKague of Chamois, Missouri.
