Monday, November 9, 2026

Friday at the BTE Labor Day $250K finances two first time winners

Devin Dudley claims his first Coalburg Racing Promotions victory during the Friday $10,000 main event at the Labor Day $250K, while Kalieb Cordill earns the $4K Gamblers Race win.

BRISTOL, TN – Clear skies and sunshine welcomed racers and staff for the second day of the BTE Labor Day $250K. Breakfast was replaced with burnouts as drivers made one time trial at 8:30AM in preparation for day full of footbrake racing at Bristol Dragway.  

The car count climbed as 322 entries filled the staging lanes for first round of eliminations during Friday’s $10,000 main event. Drivers were defeated through rounds of rigorous racing as some of the best off the bottom bulb showcased their skills.

bristol sunset
$10,000 Main Event Quarterfinal

The quarterfinals had eight entries but only seven drivers: Brandon Michaels, Gage Burch, Zach Combs, Lucas Walker, Phil Combs, Mason Fix, and Devin Dudley still doubled.

Michaels is .011 total to leave Walker’s .020 bulb mathematically ineligible while Dudley turns on the red light in his first entry beside Burch who was .013 green to advance. Both Combs are locked out at the hit with Fix eliminating Zach and Dudley coming back to defeat Phil.

mason fix friday 10k semi
Mason Fix
Semifinal

Michaels returns to his second semifinal in just as many days as he lines up beside Fix. Michaels is .021 and one above to turn on the win light and move into the final.

Dudley lays down a .005 package to eliminate Burch and earn a spot in his first Coalburg Racing Promotions final.

gage burch friday 10k semi
Gage Burch
Final

It was a classic Camaro versus Mustang battle with $10,000 on the line as both Michaels and Dudley roll in deep on the starting line. Michaels leaves just a little too soon, but Dudley is .015 green to wheel himself into the winner’s circle on Friday.

devin dudley friday 10k winner
Devin Dudley
Photo credit: Chip Bralley
brandon michaels friday 10k runner up
Brandon Michaels
Photo credit: Chip Bralley
Friday Gamblers Race Quarterfinal

As the main event began to win down, Friday’s Gamblers Race rolled into the staging lanes for one more chance to get paid on Day 2. Once again, the payout rose to $4,000 to win instead of the originally advertised $3K.

By round six, the 213 entries were narrowed to only seven remaining: Charlie Lockhart, Matt Ricchezza, Dave Dissinger, Lucas McKinney, Bryan Walker, Tony Mattera, and Kalieb Cordill.

In the first pairing, Dissinger is .033 on the tree beside Lockhart who is .033 total to turn on the win light. Walker has an .022 starting line advantage but finds himself 9 thou behind at the stripe when Ricchezza runs dead on for the win. Mattera is .006 red to advance McKinney while Cordill takes the bye run into the semifinal.

Semifinal

Both drivers turn on the red light but Lockhart leaves first which sends Cordill into the $4K final round. Ricchezza is .024 and one above to take the win beside the .038 light and breakout pass of McKinney.

Final

Matt Ricchezza of New Jersey staged up against Virginia native Kalieb Cordill during the Friday $4K Gamblers Race just after midnight on the mountain. Cordill was in control from the launch and runs .023 above his dial to leave Ricchezza mathematically ineligible with an .035 reaction time.

kalieb cordill friday gamblers race winner
Kalieb Cordill
matt ricchezza friday gamblers runner up
Matt Ricchezza

By this time tomorrow, someone will claim the BTE Labor Day $250K Saturday prize which is guaranteed to be at least $100,000. As the car count increases, so does the cash flow, so make your way to Bristol Dragway before it’s too late!

Each entry will receive one time trial beginning at 9:30AM followed by first round of eliminations. All of the action will be live on MotorManiaTV.com courtesy of JEGS and Environmental Oil Recovery. For more information on Coalburg Racing Promotions and the BTE Labor Day $250K, visit www.worldfootbrakechallenge.com.

Take a look at Thursday’s results by clicking here.


Jessica-Hicks-image

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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