Harvey Hoists $3,000 Check on Thursday during BTE Labor Day $250K

David Harvey Jr earns the first victory of the BTE Labor Day $250K during Thursday’s $3,000 Gamblers Race.

BRISTOL, TN – Only nine weeks after the record-breaking BTE World Footbrake Challenge XVII, the Coalburg Racing Promotions crew returned to Bristol Dragway with plans to send someone home with a six-figure payday. 

The 4^th Annual BTE Labor Day $250K kicked off on Thursday with a track-operated test and tune session under clear blue skies. Eventually, the time to practice was exhausted and drivers were dialed in for the $3,000 gamblers race.

Nick Bowman

Quarterfinals

Although double entries were permitted, the no-buyback format allowed the 216 entrants to dwindle down to only 7 rather quickly. The quarterfinal round consisted of Nick Bowman, Jordan Wilhelm, Taylor Bowling, Gage Buch, David Harvey Jr, Jason Ford, and Devin Dudley. 

Bowling had a one-hundredth reaction time advantage but ran under his dial while Bowman was one above to take the win. Only four-thousandths separated the second pair on the starting line while Harvey runs dead on with a nine to advance over Wilhelm, who breaks out one tiny thou. Ford was another racer who ran too quickly for the loss as Burch was .018 on the tree and dead on with a four to win. Dudley coasts into the semifinal courtesy of his bye run. 

Devin Dudley

Semifinal

In the semifinal, Burch uses the starting line advantage to package up Bowman while Dudley turns on the red bulb by .006 to advance Harvey who runs dead-on with a zero. 

Final

Although wheeling two atypical drag racing rides, a Chevrolet Vega Wagon and Plymouth Valiant, both finalists are frequent flyers in the winner’s circle. Harvey cuts a better light at the tree and illuminates the final win light over Burch for $3,000 and the first celebration of the weekend. 

David Harvey Jr
Photo credit: Hobbie Lee Photography

Gage Burch
Photo credit: Hobbie Lee Photography

With one race complete, we are only getting started! The ante increases tomorrow with Friday’s $10,000 race, followed by another $3,000 gamblers race if time permits. Gates open at 8 AM and then everyone will receive one time trial per entry at 8:30 AM, followed by first round of eliminations. 

MotorManiaTV live coverage begins on Friday where all the elimination action for the remainder of the weekend will be broadcast courtesy of JEGS Performance and Environmental Oil Recovery, Inc. 

For more information on the BTE Labor Day $250K visit our website at www.worldfootbrakechallenge.com.