The way to start the New Year

Words by James Drew - Photos by James Drew and Donna Bristan

Most people bring in the New Year by going to parties and watching college football games or the Rose Parade, but not drag racers. Over 275 participants came out to Auto Club Dragway at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., to try for the cash at the 2nd annual Bracket Bash!

On New Year’s Day the racing began with two classes to choose from: either Electronics or No Electronics. Some racers chose to run both classes, doubling their chances of taking home the purse put up for each day’s winners.

Thirty-two of toughest racers battled it out for cash purse in the Electronics Gambler racing action that was contested on the eighth mile on Friday. The last two standing were Hubert Pierce of Hemet, Calif., and Val Torres Jr., who was in Matt Hartzell’s second dragster instead of one of the family’s fleet of race cars.