Carl’s 4 Wheel Drive and Performance Center presents Bracket Series Races 7 and 8 with Addition of Willis Racing Bike Shootout
Last Updated on July 14, 2025 by WWTR
By Jeremy Rosenstengel
World Wide Technology Raceway was most definitely the best place to be for the red hot 2025 Fourth of July weekend!!! There was excitement in the air, and the Willis Racing motorcycle shootout was in full force. The most coveted trophy that the NHRA has to offer, the Wally, named for NHRA founder Wally Parks, was up for grabs Saturday in every class. The ultra lucky spectators on the pit side of the grandstands were treated not only to some of the best racing the country has to offer but could also see the St. Louis Arch fireworks going off in the background. This was most definitely the hottest ticket in town!!! Speaking of hot, man oh man was it hot. Ambient temperatures were reaching 101 degrees throughout the day, a density altitude of 3400 feet, a 14.5 tail wind – that kept shifting from the southwest at the tail of the racecar to a cross wind – and the water grains in the air were off the charts. All our heavy hitters with normally deadly consistent race cars, even the ones on alcohol, were ranging in ET 4-6 numbers from round to round. That is unheard of. Dialing these race cars was a skill that only the savviest racer could manage. The drivers were dealing with in car temperatures of around 140 degrees with 75 percent humidity…. Don’t ever tell me that the World Wide Technology Raceway racers are not some of the toughest guys and girls in the country.
Speaking of tough racers, the Wally races saw the best of the best rise to the top. A multiple time Super Pro champion, who had been struggling as of late, not only found his way back to the winner’s circle but liked it so much that he decided to do it again on Sunday in a totally different class. Now that is a super talent. A former track champion in Super Pro decided to get his fifth Wally, but this time he did it in Pro class. A guy traveled all the way from the Indiana border to show the Pro guys how to get it done and all the same kids you would expect to be there were in the Jr’s. It was indeed a great weekend and here is how it all went down….
SUPER PRO:
Saturday’s Wally race in Super Pro brought out all the heavy hitters and man was everyone gunning for the coveted trophy. Ask me how I know? In my first round of Super Pro, my personal .002 reaction time left me mathematically ineligible for a win against 2020 former Super Pro Champion Rod Schaeffer who was .000 on the tree and a one total package in the first round. Wow, this was going to be some kind of day. Speaking of former champion’s, do you remember the name Dennis Pearson? That’s right. The multiple year back-to-back-to-back champion was on fire in Super Pro taking home the Wally. Dennis found himself in the finals for the Wally against arguably the best Super Pro racer for several decades in the St. Louis area: Mr. Twin 50’s winner and 4-decade racer Angelo Belosi. Dennis Pearson was able to show some nerves of steel and lay down a .017 reaction time and use that starting line advantage to propel himself to victory over Belosi. Belosi was a stellar 6.336 on a 6.33 dial in, but he could not overcome the starting line advantage in his beautiful Chevy II, which then allowed Dennis Pearson to grab the 2025 Super Pro Wally. Belosi was .004 in the semi-final’s vs Shannon Micheletto (-001 red) and Pearson was .001 in the semi-finals match-up vs an always tough Brian Spillers (.010) in a losing effort. These guys are ultra tough. Wow!!!
Sunday’s Super Pro race was not able to be completed because of rain and ended in round 5 with remaining competitors Scott Offerman, Brandon Bergschneider and Sean Miller in the semi-finals when the sky’s let loose. Congratulations to all three of the semi-finalists as they were able to split the purse three ways.
PRO CLASS:
Saturday: The race for the Wally in Pro Class saw former track Champion and 4-time previous Wally winner Clay Tyler vs Jeremy Rosenstengel (no Wally’s to date,LOL). Clay Tyler probably has one of the most unique race cars in the country in the Corvair wagon. Tyler and his father hand fabricated this car, and man is he tough as nails in that car. Clay is one of the best racers in any event he goes to off the bottom or the top whether it is the Million or any big dollar bracket race, Clay always has the ability to rise to the occasion. The Wally race here was no exception. Rosenstengel, who was on the tree all day and who had beaten Chad Eaton in the semi-finals, was also the recipient of a really lucky round against Sam Stewart in the quarterfinals, winning despite Sams .002 light, saw his day end on a final round .006 red light. Tyler was .015 on the tree in the victory. Congratulations to Clay Tyler on your 5th NHRA Wally. You are a great champion. In the strangest twist of events, Clay lost his ignition as he crossed the finish line and was dead in the water on the return road. In the only sport in the world that this would happen, the 5-time Wally winner borrowed the losing drivers S-10 to go back to get a tow hook, and the champion was towed by Kevin Corzine and a golf cart to the winners circle for his victory pictures. Only sport in the world where were we would all drop everything we are doing to help the other guy in need. Kind of what makes our sport unique and great!!! Winner goes down the track in the winning car and up the return road in the losing S-10. LOL.
Sunday: Dennis Pearson was a man on a mission this weekend. The former champion, coming off his Super Pro win the day before, was not to be denied on this day either. He knew he was in for a battle with Tommy Barbero. Tommy was hotter than a firecracker and on a roll. Tommy was double entered and had rolled all the way through Super Pro to the quarterfinals and through Pro to the finals. Both Tommy and Dennis were looking at the sky and the huge black cloud over their head in the finals and both had to rush their routine as lightning was hitting and drops were falling. In the final, Dennis took advantage of a .014 reaction time advantage, and both drivers were two over their dial in to secure the victory for Pearson. Tommy had to best Kevin Corzine, another man on a mission, with .000 lights and multiple best of reaction times for the round that day and was on a roll up to the semi-finals. Congratulations to Dennis Pearson on a very memorable weekend!!!
VP RACING LUBRICANTS SPORTSMAN
Saturday: The Wally brings in all the local racers as well as the racers from far. Chad Easton in his beautiful Monte Carlo traveled to WWT Raceway from Paris, Illinois on the Indiana border in search of a Wally, and he found it. Chad matched up against Nathan Riley from La Place, Illinois The final round consisted of Chads .016 light to Nathans .027 light on a double break out 4 thousandths for Chad and 9 thousandths for Nathan. What a great race!!! Chad defeated Jim Bouckaert, who was better on the tree but ran off his dial in and Nathan defeated Kristina Garcia in her Camaro in the Semifinals. Congratulations to Chad on your Wally victory.
Sunday: Sunday’s final was not to be as the rain came in and washed away any chance that Mike Davis and Luke Beach had to finish the race. Mike Davis had just beat Douglas Deck in the semi-final match-up as Luke Beach was on the bye. Great job to all racers.
COMMERCIAL SAFE AND LOCK SUPER PRO BIKE
Saturday: Saturday’s Wally race saw Ted Thompson from Downers Grove, Illinois dominate all day. I told you they came from near and far. Ted matched up in the finals against local St. Louis racer Darnell Dickerson. Thompson was an awesome .008 in the final round on the tree to secure the victory. Thompson defeated Sonny Bolton in the semi-finals and Dickerson defeated Nicholas Stewart to earn his trip to the final round. Congratulations to Thompson on your hard-earned victory!!!
Sunday: Sunday’s race was halted in round 4 with only Dale Stewart, Dennis Abrams, B J Evans and Nicholas Stewart remaining in competition. Congratulations to all the competitors.
JUNIOR THUNDER
Jr. Thunder had two competitors this weekend: Brayden Hearn and Damon Haberberger. Both competitors did a great job with Haberberger winning Saturdays final by way of a .115 light seven over the dial and Sunday’s final with a .028 light to a .036 foul form Hearn. Great job kids.
JUNIOR LIGHTNING
Saturday: Damon Haberberger from Beufort, Missouri was on a roll this weekend. Damon took advantage of a .011 reaction time in the final round against Isbella Hammock who found herself with the wrong end of a red light. Damon defeated Tori Nolan on a double red light .001 red to a .008 red in the semi-finals. That is walking a razor thin edge for these young kids. Great job guys.
Sunday: Cohen Hale, that familiar name in the Jr. Dragster winners circle, not only won the Sunday final over, but he did also it over champion and heavy hitter Sarah Stewart. Hale was a perfect .000 reaction time to Sarah’s .030. Sarah defeated Jaxin Reed in the semi-finals to make her way to the finals. Great job to Cohen and congratulations to the Hale family and the Stewart family on a great race!!!
MARINE COIN COMPANY JR STREET
Saturday: Tyler Kuehnel and Braston Pettus made their way all the way to the finals on Saturday’s Wally race. In a double red-light event, Tyler was able to go the least red to secure the victory. Tyler was an impressive 10.388 on the 10.35 dial in which is pretty impressive in a streetcar. Tyler was also able to defeat Lilly Busken in the semi-finals. Great job kids.
Sunday: Jacob Phillips was able to secure the victory Sunday over fellow competitor Juliet Reed taking advantage of Reeds red light. Phillips ran an impressive 9.62 on his 9.64 dial in. Is it possible that with a father like Racin Jason that this young Phillips kid is possible holding a couple numbers in the bank? Pretty advanced stuff for these young racers. Great job kids.
RANKEN TECHNICAL COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL CLASS
Saturday: The finals in High School saw that familiar name Luke Beach vs Timothy Hearns. Beach took advantage of a .015 reaction time to Timothy Hearns .005 red light and secured that victory. Timothy Hearns had the semi-final bye, and Beach had to defeat young Bobby “Knight” Meyers in the semi-finals. Great close races for all these kids.
Sunday: The final round of high school came down to Conner Awalt from Granite City, Illinois vs Luke Beach. Conner was .039 up front in the finals to Luke’s .056 and managed to beat Luke to the stripe to secure the win. Conner also dispatched of young Bobby Knight in the semi-final round. Great racing by our high school kids.
WILLIS RACING BIKE SHOOTOUT
Charles Willis and Janie Palm work their tails off to put on one of the best MX races around. Saturday was the day and the 39 plus motorcycle field was set. The finals came down to John Markham of Bowling Green, Kentucky. vs WWT Raceway Champion and race title sponsor Janie Palm. Markham laid down a .012 reaction time and went 5 over the dial in backing into Palm at the stripe killing 10 plus mph to secure the victory. Palm was able to defeat the other title sponsor Charles Willis in the semi-finals and Markham had earned the bye to the finals. Great job to all the MX racers, and a special thank you to Charles Willis and Janie Palm for bringing this great event to us here at WWT Raceway!!!
