Back on Track at Brainerd

Words and photos by Ian Tocher
2/8/05

Chattanooga, TN’s Billy Smith put on quite a show Feb. 6, at Brainerd Optimist Dragstrip, routinely clawing the sky during testing in car owner George Miles’ 1970 Nova.

Brainerd Optimist Dragstrip, the venerable 1/8-miler near the Georgia-Tennessee border, opened its 2005 race season Feb. 5-6, and Todd Berry took the opportunity to debut his 1993 Mustang with Trance Sanders behind the wheel. The car is motivated by a 557 c.i. big-block Ford featuring a two-stage nitrous set-up and machine work by Jon Kaase. Berry did most of the car’s construction himself at his shop in Gainesville, GA, and probably will enter it in the 6.0 index class.

Local racers Jerry Bryant and Steve Smith brought a perfect pair of Chevy II SuperSports to the Brainerd opener. Bryant (#672) actually bought his 1967 machine from Smith a couple of years ago. He qualified fifth for the 7.0 race while Smith lined up eighth in his 1966 version. Both lost in round two of eliminations.