Fall Footbrake Frenzy III

Harvey Jr. Dominates Revived Thanksgiving $20,000 Footbrake Tradition

Words and photos by Michael Beard

Thanksgiving weekend in North Carolina became the home of $20,000 Footbrake racing in 2003, enjoying seven years of history-making battles on the eighth mile. Management changes saw the $20K event fade into memory in 2010, however, prompting footbrake racers Anthony Walton and Michael Beard to carry the torch.

“It’s been a tradition,” explained Beard. “When the $20K went away, Anthony and I decided that somebody had to do it, and if no one else was going to, I guess it was going to be us!”

Walton had already tried on the promoter’s hat, having partnered with Coastal Plains Dragway, in Jacksonville, N.C., to host multiple big money races since 2009.

“Anthony laid the groundwork for this with his other events, and established a good working relationship with the staff at Coastal Plains,” said Beard. “Since it’s on the coast, it’s a little further for some people to get to, but having that comfort level with the staff and the warmer weather in November helped make the track a natural choice. He started the Fall Footbrake Frenzy two years ago as three $5K races, the first weekend in November, but it was on top of another big race in Virginia, and it wasn’t enough to draw racers from ten hours away.

Walton and Beard also treated participants to a Racer Appreciation Barbecue sponsored by Piggly Wiggly supermarkets and Coastal Beverage, homemade cookies, and live entertainment from the Band of Oz, presented by United Rentals.

“When this opportunity presented itself, we jumped at the chance,” continued Beard. “It’s the right format, on the right weekend. We were able to use the Thanksgiving holiday weekend to pack three races into two days, while leaving racers plenty of travel time so they wouldn’t have to miss work. We also front-loaded the round money to get as much gas money back into people’s pockets as quickly as we could. We hoped to put together a complete package that would make the extra drive worth it to our customers.”

The Fall Footbrake Frenzy III paid out an impressive $51,720 in cash, plus over $5,000 in prizes from an array of sponsors. All told, racers recorded nearly 1,100 pairs down Coastal Plains Dragway in just two days, and in the process proved that it was possible to complete two big car count races in the same day.

“The massive support from the racers, the great Coastal Plains staff, our lovely (and take-charge) wives, and an incredible weather forecast all came together to make this event a tradition that we are not only going to keep going, but intend to make even better for the racers,” Beard concluded.