Smith Breaks the Bank at Huntsville Engine '"King of the Coast" Bracket Series Event 5....Miller Earns 2nd Career "KOC" Victory and Neely, Stewart & Fieramusca Claim Monster Size 5ft. Trophies.

The fifth event of the Huntsville Engine "King of the Coast" Bracket Series welcomed groves of racers onto the hollowed grounds of Gulfport Dragway in Gulfport, MS as the Huntsville Engine "KOC" Series hit the home stretch of the 2009 Points Championship Season. Racers from TN, LA, MS, FL, AL and GA kicked off the weekend in hopes of capturing a share of $20,000.00 weekend purse. "KOC" championship points leaders entered the weekend trying fight off all the fellow contenders taking aim at the "KOC" Championship Title.

All the action was to kick off Friday Night with Test-n-Tune, but mother nature had other plans as rains in the afternoon would halt the racing action for the evening, but the rains did not halt everyone from getting together Friday Evening and firing up the grills and telling racing stories well into the night. Saturday morning broke under clear skies and temperatures dipping into the 60's. Around 100 racers were already on site ready to get to business, but the 100 racers on site quickly turned into close to 200 as time approached for time trials at 1p.m. for the Jr. Dragsters.

With nearly two weeks of rain on and under the track, Jeff August of Gulfport Dragway began drying the racing surface at 9a.m. and put the finishing touches in it at 12 noon. As time trials kicked off at 1 p.m, Mother Nature threw a kink in the racing plans for the day as water was pulled up to the track surface due to the direct sunlight on the track. The "KOC" Staff decided to halt time trials to 4p.m. with no success as water still remained on the track as all the racing action would be halted for the evening. "It was extremely disheartening not being able to race Saturday. We had tons of racers ready to take to the track," Gaylon Rolison of the "KOC" stated. "We were set to deliver another great race for the racers, but we just simply could not send racers down the track with water on it. Our primary responsibility to our racers is to provide them with a safe environment to compete in and we could not do that," Rolison added.

Well all the racing action was not halted Saturday evening. The first ever "KOC" Scooter/Golf Cart race went down Saturday evening. 46 entries took to the track for the $560 cash purse up for grabs. Drivers were given one time trial with no buybacks, and when the smoke cleared Wes Neely of Florence, MS took on Reigning "KOC" Jr. Dragster 10-12 Champion Joe Hidalgo III in the final with Neely taking the WIN. "It was amazing watching the racers adjusting to the race as most of them after one "hit" on tree were able to find his/her sweet spot. It really just shows how talented the "KOC" racers are," Rolison commented.

Sunday morning woke to clear skies with temps in the 60's with time trials to kick off for the Jr. Dragsters at 9a.m. The Jr. Dragsters took two time trials in preparation for eliminations. Once eliminations kicked off it was obvious to the racers and their parents that there was a little more up for grabs. The 1st Annual "KOC" Five Foot Trophy Nationals was to award 5ft. trophies to the Winners in all three Jr. Categories. Landon Neely of Florence, MS, Blaine Stewart of Angie, LA and Timmy Fieramusca of Kenner, LA took advantage of the once a year chance at hand to claim victories and the life size trophies. Fieramusca and Stewart also took home $300 in Prize money and the "Big Trophy Checks." Neely claimed $200 in prize money and also the "Big Trophy Check". "It was really awesome to see the smiles on the faces on those young men. Those moments of the "KOC" are exactly what the "KOC" is all about," Rolison explained. "It is emotional enough to bring a tear or two to your eyes seeing the excitement displayed by the kids as they carried away their trophy," Rolison added.

As the race day went on Pro Electronics, Pro Footbrake, Sportsman and Bikes were given two time trials before first round of eliminations were to kick off. The day went by without any major delay in the action as the finals approached Sunday afternoon.

In Pro Electronics, Jimbo Smith of Saraland, AL took on Wes Neely of Florence, MS in his 1967 Camaro. Smith took the win by a slim margin of .003 as both racers were dead on their dial with a nine. Steven Barnett of Gulfport, MS and Joe Boone of Hattiesburg, MS took home the Semi-Final money of $1,300.00. Smith claimed $5,900.00 and Neely took home $2,000.00. This was likely to be Smith's last race of 2009 as Smith was scheduled to visit the doctors on Monday August 24th for more radiation treatment. "That treatment just drains my energy. It took me forever to get back in the groove of things and I still have trouble with it. I really don't wont to go back", Smith commented. "That was clearly evident when after the winner circle photo Smith had one of is crew members drive his dragster back to the trailer as he was drained. I told Jimbo that the entire "KOC" family would have him in our thoughts," Rolison stated.

Pro Footbrake pitted veteran bracket racer Mike "Miller Man" Miller of Pascagoula, MS and Rusty Lacoste of Covington, LA driving his 1970 Ford Mustang. Miller drove his vintage dragster to the WIN as Lacoste would leave the start .471 red. This was Miller's second career "KOC" Win. Two Time "KOC" Champion Reid Mocherman of Slidell, LA drove his black 1967 Camaro to a Semi-Finals finish. Lacoste after the Split took home $1,400.00. Miller would have claimed $1,400.00 also but he struck a deal with Footbrake racer and friend Michael Lewis of Saucier, MS. Lewis drew Miller during the fourth round of competition. Before the run went down Miller and Lewis agreed that whoever went on to the fourth round and beyond would split the winnings that were above the $100 weekend entry with each other. Low and behold Miller went on to the WIN and Lewis took home $600.00 of Miller's $1,400.00 Winnings. "Miller just wants to have fun. The money really doesn't matter to him; he is there to entertain everyone and hang out with his racing buddies.," Rolison stated. "On the other hand, I sure would like to have Lewis as my lawyer. He went out fourth round and still took home a $600.00 check. That's crazy!!!!," Rolison added.

The Sportsman's Class paired up John Cothern of Gulfport, MS and Whitney Wesson of Mt. Olive, AL who piloted a 2007 Chevy Truck. Cothern drove his Pontiac Firebird to the WIN over Wesson as Cothern ran dead on his dial with a zero. Cothern and Wesson each took home $150.00 for their efforts. The win for Cothern was an emotional one. Just two days later earlier on Friday Cothern laid his brother William "Stump" Cothern to rest when "Stump", an avid bracket racer and fan, passed away a few days earlier. "You tell me there was not a little divine intervention going on there." Rolison stated with a smile on his face.

The newly formed bike class pitted Levi Shaw of Perkinston, MS and Tray Marosco of Slidell, LA. Shaw took a sizeable starting line advantage en route to the WIN. "We are always trying to make the "KOC" a better series for all bracket racers. We are really going to try to promote the bike class aggressively. These racers deserve to have a place in the "KOC" also," Rolison explained.

All in all, another great weekend of racing for the "KOC". "The staff of the "KOC" always recognizes that the racers and fans are what makes the "KOC" what it is. We can put purses together and order trophies all day long, but without the racers and fans the "KOC" series would be an empty building.," Rolison explained. "The staff of Gulfport Dragway under the leadership of Jeff (August) and Shawn (Meyers) did a great job all weekend. The water box stayed full of water; and they did not miss a dial in all day long that I am aware of. The track was great. It truly was. Without that staff at Gulfport Dragway, the "KOC" would not run efficiently as it does.

Rolison also was not short to recognize the rest of the "KOC" staff, Jim Griffiths, Jennifer Rolison, Star Mitchell and Matthew Moore, for their efforts. "Jim keeps the tower in the right direction, Jennifer and Star keep putting smiles on the faces of the racers and Matthew is as good as anyone when it comes to running the staging lanes. What more could you ask for.," stated Rolison.

The next event of the Huntsville Engine "King of the Coast" Bracket Series is set for Sept. 19 & 20 at Gulfport Dragway. For more information on the "KOC" Series visit www.bracketnews.com for www.kocbracketseries.com.