Jr Dragster Christmas on the Coast Returns to Gulfport Dragway

The 2nd Annual Jr Dragster Christmas on the Coast, $10,000 Invitational presented by DragChamp, and Dream Team Challenge returns to Gulfport Dragway Dec. 14-18, 2023!

GULFPORT, MS- Rolison Motorsports Promotions is gearing up for the 2nd Annual King of the Coast Jr Dragster Christmas on the Coast presented by Bone Shaker Motorsports and Jr Dragster $10,000 Invitational presented by DragChamp, December 14-18, 2023 at Gulfport Dragway in Gulfport, MS. This year’s event will also include the SDPC Raceshop Junior Dragster Dream Team Challenge.

The Junior Dragster only event will feature a $20,000-to-win race surrounded by $5,000-to-win races on Friday and Sunday. Additionally the main attraction will be the highly anticipated DragChamp $10,000 Jr Dragster Invitational which will take place Saturday night.

MotorMania TV will be onsite providing the livestream for anyone who won’t be able to attend this historic race.

Caheely Performance 32-Car Shootout + Test-n’ Tune

The weekend competition will kick things off on Thursday with the Caheely Performance 32-Car Shootout where the winner will receive a brand new 7.90 motor and runner-up will claim $1,000. Semi-finalists will earn $350 and there will be no buybacks. The entry fee is $220 and the 32 Racers will be chosen from the Thursday Test-n-Tune participants.

Open Test-n-Tune will take place from 10AM-2PM on Thursday and will cost racers $30, The lanes will close at 1:30PM.

Last year, Velicity Morris picked up the win over Graeme Rufenacht in the Thursday night Caheely Performance 32-car Shootout.

Friday & Sunday $5Ks

Friday and Sunday will both feature a $5,000-to-win where runner-ups will win $1,000 and semi-finalists will cash in for $700. There will be a $80 1st round buyback available if needed. The weekend entry fee which gets you into both $5Ks and the $20K is $350.

In the inaugural event, Zack Pearce took home the big $5,000 check for Friday’s Main Event win and Ty Janousek claimed the runner-up spot. Logan Grayson claimed the Sunday $5,000 win over “Stumpman” Jace Esneault to close out the weekend.

Saturday $20K

Saturday will once again feature the highly anticipated $20,000 main event. The runner-up will earn $3,000 and semi-finalists will take home $1,500. There will also bed a 1st round buyback available for $200. The full weekend entry which gets you in both $5Ks and the $20K is $350.

DragChamp’s own, Austin Free captured the 2022 BTE King of the Coast Bracket Racing Series Christmas on the Coast Saturday $20,000 Main Event win over Cole Knieriem.

Saturday SDPC Raceshop Dream Team Challenge

New to the Christmas on the Coast event is the SDPC Dream Team Challenge! The Great American Bracket Races team made the decision to transition the Jr Dragster Dream Team portion to the King of the Coast Jr Dragster Christmas on the Coast Event beginning 2023.

Each team had to pay an entry fee of $500 and the winning team is to take all winning unless there is a split agreed upon on. There are two categories of teams: ages 7-17 and ages 7-9. The ages 7-17 group has 32 teams made up of 5 racers with an impressive $16,000-to-win payout. In the ages 7-9, there are 8 teams of 3 racers. 7-9 year olds are permitted to be on both 7-17 and 7-9 teams. Racers are not permitted to be on more than one team within the same race.

Last year’s Jr. Dragster Dream Team winners consisted of: Jesse Fritts, Tanner Spires, Gage Rachford, Hunter Davis, and Jesse Lasik.

Junior Dragster $10,000 Invitational presented by DragChamp

The Invitational event will begin Saturday Night following the Dream Team event and will conclude with the crowning of the champion on Sunday. The following invited racers each submitted resumes and a secret panel of five judges sorted through them and chose 63 racers to compete in this prestigious event. The panel was only provided the portions of the resume that show the accomplishments and were not given the name of each racer. Additionally, submitters provided a brief two minute video.

The remaining racer to round out the field of 64 will be determined by a Friday Night “Race Your Way into the Jr Dragster $10,000 Invitational”. All racers that submitted resumes that were not selected by the Race Selection Panel will have the opportunity to compete in the race your way in event.

The Race Selection Panel was made up of five judges: Makenna Brown, Chris Forsythe, Kevin Brannon, Kris Whitfield, and Michael Beard.

Below is the list of 63 of the 64 King of the Coast Junior Dragster $10,000 Invitational presented by DragChamp racers.

Event Sponsors

Thank you to all of the sponsors!

DragChamp, Bone Shaker Motorsports, Lou Crouch, Pearce Automotive, Trailer Sales Inc, Jake’s Muffler & Brakes, Christina Wells Havard Real Estate Group, Berry Performance, Caheely Performance, BME Photography, FuelTech, Wolverine Racing, Renoll Designs, Cart Dr, DragCoverage, Crew Chief Pro, Big Easy Boards, Ryan Saum Snap-On, SDPC Raceshop, Burleson Construction, and Weldon Performance.

For more information about the 2nd Annual King of the Coast Jr Dragster Christmas on the Coast presented by Bone Shaker Motorsports and Jr Dragster $10,000.00 Invitational Presented by DragChamp, contact Gaylon Rolison Jr. at 228-323-7325 or send him an email at racegulfportdragway@gmail.com. 

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