Titles Earned at NHRA JDRL Eastern Conference Finals

July 21, 2021

Teel, Smith, Ward, Harp, Radford, Wilson, Burt, and Rachford win championship titles at 2021 NHRA Eastern Conference Finals.

BRISTOL, TN- The NHRA Jr. Drag Racing Eastern Conference Finals presented by Mike Bos Chassis Craft took place at Bristol Dragway July 15-17, 2021. Junior Dragster races hailed from all over the United States to have the opportunity to race for a week long and get the chance to be crowned as an Eastern Conference Finals champion. In addition to the main age group races, there were also multiple shootouts, index classes, and fun races to give racers even more chances to win.

This year’s champions included: Camden Teel (6-9), Ava Smith (age 10), Ava Ward (11), Morgan Harp (12), Phillip Radford (13), Gage Wilson (14), Ian Burt (15), and Gage Rachford (16-17). Atlanta Dragway Team 1 earned the Team Championship title.

See below for full results!

6-9 Year Old Champion- Camden Teel

In the 6-9 year old age group, Camden Teel made history becoming the first driver to ever win both Conference Finals events in the same year. In the final round, Teel had the starting line advantage over Autumn Wright and ran a 12.227 on a 12.18 dial-in for the win. Wright posted a 11.917 on a 11.90 dial-in.

10 Year Old Champion- Ava Smith

In the 10-year-old class final, Myles Heatherly was better at the Tree, but ended up breaking out at the top end with an 8.919 on a 8.94 dial-in. His breakout opened up the opportunity for Ava Smith to turn on the win light with an 8.993 on a 8.95 dial.

11 Year Old Champion Ava Ward

Ava Ward left the starting line with a .047 light and ran a 8.954 on a 8.94 dial-in to claim the win in the 11-year-old bracket final against Ava Badgett, who broke out with an 8.867 on a 8.90.

12 Year Old Champion- Morgan Harp

Morgan Harp claimed his second Eastern Conference championship after securing the 12-year-old age group win over Dylan MacNicol. Harp had the advantage at the starting line with a .014 light and used it to overcome MacNicol by running a 8.950 on a 8.92 dial-in for the win.

13 Year Old Champion- Phillip Radford

Phillip Radford picked up the 13-year-old age-group win after 2020 Eastern Conference Finals champion, Kade Renoll fouled by -.007 in the final round. Radford ran a 7.932 on a 7.92 on his victory lap.

14 Year Old Champion- Gage Wilson

Former Western Conference Finals Champion, Gage Wilson claimed the 14-year-old age-group ECF win over Gavin Shoemaker. Shoemaker had a slight starting line advantage but broke out with a 8.092 on a 8.10 dial-in. Wilson ran dead-on his 7.90 dial-in to turn on the win light.

Eastern Conferenced Finals — Gage Wilson, 14 Year Old Champion

15 Year Old Champion- Ian Burt

In the 15-year-old final, Ian Burt had a slight .004-second advantage at the starting line and posted a 7.935 on a 7.91 dial-in to claim the win over Kaitlyn Morgan. Morgan broke out by .001-second.

16-17 Year Old Class Champion- Gage Rachford

Gage Rachford rounded out his stellar week by claiming the 16-17 ECF Champion title. In the final, Addyson Owens left -.007 red automatically turning on Rachford’s win light. Rachford cut a .004 light and ran a 7.893 on a 7.93 dial-in.