DER BRACKET RACING SERIES CROWNS 2009 TRACK CHAMPIONS IN THUNDER VALLEY

BRISTOL, Tenn. (Monday, July 27, 2009)- The final 2009 DER Bracket Series event at Bristol Dragway saw several drivers celebrate their track championships from a familiar position…the Winner’s Circle.

Jason Nelson (Street), Jerry Turner (Motorcycle), and Landon Stahl (Junior Dragster Div. II) were able to clinch championships while also coming up victorious in the last race of the season.

Barry Brown of Blountville claimed the 2009 DER Bracket Series Super Pro title after a very consistent season that saw him race in the latter rounds almost every weekend.

With Brown celebrating a championship, Bill Griffin of Jonesborough drove his 2004 Race Tech dragster to the Super Pro event win over Kingsport’s Brian Olinger.

In the final round, Griffin moved first with a .004 reaction time to Olinger’s .016 R.T. Griffin ran close to his dial-in, a 5.051 elapsed time on a 5.05 dial, while Olinger ran just a bit faster than his dial and received a disqualification.

Steve Foley earned the 2009 DER Bracket Series Pro division title, and almost celebrated with a trip to Winner’s Circle after the event. The Barboursville, Ky. native was a little too anxious to begin the celebration, however, and turned on the redlight by .002 sec. in the final round.

Foley handed the win to Neil Church of Boone, N.C. Church had an impressive .001 R.T. to begin his run, and completed his pass in 7.115 seconds at 95.12 mph.

Bluff City’s Nelson took home the 2009 DER Bracket Series Street title, as well as the final event win of the season. It was an all-Bluff City final as Jerod Haga lined up against Nelson in the money round.

Haga ran a little faster than his dial, giving Nelson the win. Nelson used a .019 R.T. and an 11.093 E.T. (11.06 dial-in) at 119.59 mph to take home the trophy.

Turner, another Bluff City native, won the 2009 DER Bracket Series Motorcycle championship and also celebrated with an event win.

After his opponent, Jonesborough’s Mike Conley, turned on the red in the final round, Turner unleashed his 1984 Kawasaki. He left the line .002 sec. too soon and ran faster than his dial-in (7.430 E.T on a 7.50 dial), but after Conley’s mistake, Turner was able to celebrate his victory in style.

Mooresburg’s Kellie Shortridge earned the Junior Dragster Division II championship, while Denver Maltba of Newland, N.C. took home the final event win of the season.

Maltba’s final round foe, Andy Snyder from Covington, Va., moved from the line too soon giving the win to Maltba. Maltba came off the line with a .111 R.T. and completed his jaunt down the track in 7.924 sec. at 82.86 mph.

The Jr. Dragster Div. I championship went to Stahl who also won the final event of the season. The Boone, N.C. racer took the win after his opponent, Kingsport’s Riley Davis, went red in the final round.

Stahl had a .049 R.T. and 9.003 E.T. at 72.56 mph during his final round of the 2009 DER Bracket Series campaign.

After winning a special shootout race, Van Greer from Kingsport won an entry into George Howard’s Million Dollar Race to be held in Oct. at Memphis Motorsports Park. Greer also collected the 7.50 Index class season championship.

Jonesborough’s Bill Griffin won an RCI Engine Blanket courtesy of the DER Racing Series.

For more information about the DER Racing Series, please call Red Whitmore at (423) 989-6952 or visit www.derracingseries.com.

For more information about Bristol Dragway events, please call (423) 764-DRAG or visit www.bristoldragway.com.