BTE Labor Day $250K becomes highest paying footbrake race in history
The BTE Labor Day $250K surpassed last year’s car count to create a $110,000 to win main event on Saturday. Dave Harvey Jr earns the historic win at Bristol Dragway.
BRISTOL, TN – Year after year, Coalburg Racing Promotions continues to dismiss whispers that “footbrake racing is dead” by packing the pits and elevating payouts at Bristol Dragway. Just one year removed from dishing out the first six-figure footbrake payout, the BTE Labor Day $250K increased the ante.
Saturday officially became the highest paying footbrake race in history when 277 entries crossed the starting line in round number one.
Co-promoter, Jared Pennington said, “Thank you to the racers, our fantastic sponsors, and everyone who has worked so hard for this event to come together. Because of your support, we have once again made history and are racing for $110K on the mountain!”
Quarterfinal
As the sun began to fade the competition intensified as only seven drivers remained eligible for the record-breaking riches. Nasty Nick Hastings earned the bye into the semifinal while Ryan Butler, Michael Beard, Caleb Ellison, Brandon Michaels, Lucas Walker, and David Harvey, Jr. battled in the quarterfinal.
Harvey is .019 on the tree and takes .009 stripe to leave Beard mathematically ineligible during the first pairing. Butler is .005 and takes .001 at the finish line to eliminate last year’s champion, Ellison. Michaels had the starting line advantage but breaks out 7 thou while Walker runs dead on with a seven to take the win.
Semifinal
The first semifinal pair turns into an epic matchup when Hastings is .003 and dead on with an eight to be behind 1 thousandth at the finish line. Harvey is .000 and one above the dial putting together an .010 package to earn his spot in the final.
On the other side of the ladder, only 6 thou separated the pair at the tree as Walker runs dead on with a seven again to take the win over Butler.
Final
In an all-Hoosier tire final, Lucas Walker and David Harvey Jr. fill the air with smoke as they roll towards the stage beams with $110,000 on the line.
Walker turns on the dreaded red light by .002 while Harvey is .019 green to add the title of highest paid footbrake race winner to his legendary list of accomplishments.
Photo credit: Chip Bralley
Photo credit: Chip Bralley
One More Day
There is still one more day of competition at the BTE Labor Day $250K! Sunday begins with a time run for new entries only before jumping right into first round of eliminations for the final $10K.
MotorManiaTV will live stream the race, thanks to JEGS Performance and Environmental Oil Recovery. Learn more about Coalburg Racing Promotions and their events by visiting www.worldfootbrakechallenge.com.
In case you missed it, here’s the results from Thursday and Friday at the BTE Labor Day $250K.
Jessica was born into a family of drag racers and fell in love with the sport at a young age. She began competing at 13 and has been hooked ever since! She even met her husband at the World Footbrake Challenge VII. Jessica works full time as an Ultrasound Technologist but spends almost every weekend chasing win lights at IHRA and NHRA bracket races.
You can contact her at Jessica@dragchamp.com or on her Facebook page.
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