DragChamp Sportsman Racing Top 10 List 6/19/19
Welcome to the DragChamp Sportsman Racing Top 10 List!
We have another great list this week as several racers showed out. As usual, the list includes a wide range of weekend warriors. From Super Stock to Jr. dragster and all classes in between, we have the best of the best on this week’s list.
We are sportsman racers and we know first hand what it takes to excel in our sport. That’s why we celebrate the top performers in sportsman drag racing each week.
To insure we keep up with your success on the track, tag us or message us on Facebook at @dragchampmagazine or email us at garydon@dragchamp.com. Let us know if we got it right or who we missed.
DragChamp Top 10 List 6/19/19
1 – Kris Whitfield
Team DragChamp blogger Kris Whitfield is having an impressive season. After starting the season with a $20,000 win at the Southwest Showdown, Kris made two finals at the Night of Fire in Denver. He followed that up with a $10,000 Top Gun Shootout win a week ago at Western Colorado Dragway.
And to put an exclamation point on his season, he hit the trifecta at the Division 5 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Bandimere last weekend. Kris began the weekend with a Super Comp Shootout win on Friday. Then on Saturday, he ran over the field in Super Gas and Super Comp collecting two Wally’s in the process.
All I can say is wow! Great season for a great guy. Welcome to the one spot this week.
2 – Adam Davis
AD went off last weekend winning three races in four finals over two days. Yes, you heard right, 4 finals, 3 wins, 2 days! And he also won at Lassiter Mountain the previous week.
On Friday, AD won both Pro (Top Bulb) and Footbrake in the same car at Sand Mountain. He then raced at Baileyton Dragway on Saturday where he won Footbrake and was runner up in Pro.
The fun fact about Saturday’s race is he was in a borrowed race car after having issues with his car earlier in the day.
3 – Ashley Huffman
Ashley doubled up at the Top Eliminator Edmonton series in Canada over the weekend. She defeated Jenna Michaud in the first all-female final for the series on Saturday night for $5K.
Ashley then took out series points leader Jason Padd in the Sunday $5K final. Two wins, $10,000, two days. That’s how it’s done right there.
4 – Joe Santangelo and Monty Bogan Jr.
Both Joe Santangelo and Monty Bogan Jr. won their second national event of the season in their third final round at Bristol.
Competing at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, Santangelo won Super Stock for the second time in a month. In addition to his national event success, Santangelo has been on fire on the divisional level as well.
Monty Bogan Jr. won Stock on the mountain just a month after winning Super Stock at the 4-Wide Nationals in Charlotte. He also took the Stock runner up at the Charlotte.
In a strange coincidence, Bogan and Santangelo faced off in the Super Stock final at the 4-Wide Nationals. Bogan would take the win in that match up.
5 – Braden Taylor
Braden, the son of bracket racing star Brandon Taylor, extended his recent streak at Montgomery Raceway Park. In the Jr. dragster final, he defeated his sister for his most recent victory. To make the Father’s Day weekend more memorable, Brandon won in his Camaro and family friend TJ Pruitt won as well. It was a Taylor family affair in the winners circle.
In addition to his win on Saturday, Braden had a win and a runner up at Huntsville the week prior. The week before that he won at the Super 7 race at Montgomery.
To top off his impressive run, the 14-year old made a lap in his Dad’s big car on Saturday. He drove the 4.60 dragster to about 300′ before clicking it off. Here’s a link to the video.
6 – Sugar Shane Carr
Like Kris Whitfield, Sugar is quickly becoming a regular on the Top 10 List. Another weekend, another awesome performance for the man they call Sugar. Shane hitched a ride in the Kick Booty Motorsports dragster at Carolina Dragway and proceeded to win a $10 grander.
The latest win came on the heels of a $20,000 win at Dragway 42 and a runner up in the Spring Fling Million.
7 – Kane Kern
10-year old Kane has been destroying the Jr. dragsters across the south. In 2019, Kane has competed in 13 events and been in 18 final rounds. He’s won 9 times in his two Jr. dragsters. He’s collected wins at four different tracks and currently leads the points at three tracks.
8 – Ricky Decker
NHRA Super Stock racer Rickey Decker grabs the eight spot this week after yet another final round appearance. Decker earned runner up honors at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol over the weekend.
It was his fourth final of the year in what I believe is the only four races he’s attended. Ricky has a win and runner up on the divisional level and a $5,000 SS/STK combo win to go with his latest final round appearance.
9 – Ryan Barnes
High school racer Ryan Barnes swam with the sharks at Carolina Dragway and walked away $20,000 richer. The young man waded through a tough field to capture the huge win on Saturday. He followed it up with a quarterfinal effort in Sunday’s $10K.
Photos of Ryan courtesy of Lou Crouch.
Ryan Barnes
10 – Ryan Henry
Anybody that can beat Nick Bowman in three straight finals deserves a spot on the list. Nick was kind enough to let us know that Ryan has been killing it and more specifically killing Nick lately. For his latest win, Ryan collected a $7,500 payday at Empire Dragway.
Shout Outs
I couldn’t end the list without at least mentioning the following racers on their recent accomplishments.
Michelle Furr – In just over a month, Michelle has driven her Super Gas roadster to two NHRA national event final rounds. While she settled for runner up on both occasions, it’s still and amazing accomplishment.
Jake Howard – Much like Sugar Shane and Kris Whitfield, it doesn’t seem like a week goes by that Jake doesn’t make a final round. The talented footbrake racer cashed in at Paris Dragstrip last week. He also won the a Wally in the King of the Track run off.
Andy Schmall – Andy made the long trip to Wagler Motorsports Park for the No Box Nationals. He lives in Idaho! Although the event eventually rained out, Andy did grab the win in Thursday’s warm up race.
Cole Waldrop – Cole has enjoyed some recent success at Beacon Dragway. In the last two events he’s won been in four final rounds. His record includes wins in Sportsman and Mod along with a runner up in each class as well.
Saige Embley – Sisters win Sportsman and Jr. Street at Island Dragway. A week ago Saige was excited about her first final round in Sportsman. In her first year of running the Sportsman class, the 17-year old earned a runner up finish.
A week later Saige captured her first Sportsman win at Island Dragway. Even better, her sister Jaina took the win in Jr. Street for a huge winners circle celebration.
Thanks to all of you in DragChamp Nation for your help each week in putting together this list. Our followers are amazing and we appreciate each one of you. Top contribute to the list, comment on our Facebook post each week where we ask for your DragChamp Top 10 List suggestions.
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