Is it that difficult for a race promoter to take a quick video of at least the final round with their cell phone and simply talk into it and tell his Facebook followers who won? Maybe even a round-by-round Facebook post. Then you could go crazy and print out the results and post the picture of the Compulink round sheets so racers can “actually see” what it takes to compete at the big bucks events.

I have sat in the tower for dozens and dozens of these races and while a lot of local bracket racers hear that you have to be .000 and dead-on to win, but I can guarantee you that is not the truth. From what I have seen it is true you better not make too many errors, but if you can win at your local track and go deep into eliminations on a regular basis you “owe it to yourself” to go to a big bucks event and give it a shot. You will see some “games” you might not see very often at the finish line as some guys hold a lot on their dial-ins but the reality is this: If you have the better light and run closer to the dial-in than your opponent, you are unbeatable -- never forget that. Tricks don’t win; the best package in that pair of cars ALWAYS wins that round.

Personally, this is my last year of giving it my best shot at being competitive in bracket racing. I am not doing it with a $75,000 dragster or a tricked out door car. My last season will be with me behind the wheel of my “Project 10” Firebird. 10.90 on the quarter mile and 6.90s on the eighth. If I can get my 500-cfm two-barrel carburetor consistent it will be about 3/10ths slower yet. My opinion is this: If I can go .010 or better on the tree, get the car to be within .01 of the dial, the “fast guys” who can judge the 50-mph difference at the stripe have a good shot to get under my package for the win.

First weekend out this year I got to the finals of the Box bracket. Lost a good race to a good friend, Joe Schmall, who has to cross over for the first time when his 6.95 dial was faster than my 7.07 dial. He went .009 and I went .013. I broke out by .019 taking .014 stripe to his 6.949 on his 6.95. My only real chance was to dump him and get behind and hope he still broke out by a thou! Maybe next time, Joe!

I still love races like that and the people at the track every weekend make my day complete. It’s just getting to be time to do some things I have put on hold for a few decades. I played a lot of golf when I was younger and have fallen back in love with it, and bass fishing is starting to replace an evening of setting valves and checking the race car, trailer and motor home over. Don’t get me wrong, I hope drag racing on the local level survives and grows; I will be watching and racing this year. Next year though, I hope the track operators post their results so I can see who is kickin’ ass!

See ya at the stripe, be safe out there, and God Bless you all.