{"id":31345,"date":"2013-03-20T01:30:12","date_gmt":"2013-03-20T08:30:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bangshift.com\/?p=31345"},"modified":"2015-06-24T17:06:21","modified_gmt":"2015-06-25T00:06:21","slug":"drag-action-gallery-fast-door-slammers-at-brainerd-optimist-drag-strip-big-tire-and-small-tire-fun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bangshift.com\/general-news\/event-coverage\/drag-action-gallery-fast-door-slammers-at-brainerd-optimist-drag-strip-big-tire-and-small-tire-fun\/","title":{"rendered":"Drag Action Gallery: Fast Door Slammers At Brainerd Optimist Drag Strip! Big Tire and Small Tire Fun!"},"content":{"rendered":"

(Words and Photos by Tommy Lee Byrd) – Bangshift contributor Tommy Lee Byrd hit it hard this weekend and covered a cool Heads Up race at Brainerd Optimist Drag Strip in Ringgold, Georgia. The event was highly anticipated, as it was the first big heads up race of the 2013 season in this region. The crew at Brainerd put together a bunch of classes to make sure the spectators got their money\u2019s worth, and a wonderful weekend of weather made for a great turnout.<\/p>\n

Friday night offered test-and-tune, as well as a single round of qualifying for the index classes. One of the coolest aspects of the race was the Quick 4 Shootout, which occurred Friday night during the 4.70 qualifications. After the 4.70 racers made one time shot, the quickest 4 were picked to face off in a \u201cno breakout\u201d shootout for $1,000. Then, Saturday afternoon, the 4.70 class held a parade lap in memory of Johnny Walker, the track crewman, who was killed last year in a racing accident.<\/p>\n

The majority of the classes are set up on an eighth mile index, and included 7.0, 6.0, 5.70 and 4.70. The big dogs in the 4.70 class are always a big attraction, but Brainerd also added another element to this year\u2019s heads up season\u2014a couple of 275 Drag Radial classes. One is a street class, designed for the more streetable combinations, while the 275 Outlaw class is a true \u201crun what ya brung\u201d as long as it\u2019s on a 275 tire.<\/p>\n

The event also included heads up motorcycle racing, junior dragsters and Brainerd\u2019s regular bracket racing program. The multitude of classes resulted in a huge car count and it kept the track busy all weekend. Our favorite car of the weekend had to be the \u201870s era, Chrysler-powered dragster campaigned by LONG TIME drag racer, Johnny Labbous. The Brainerd Heads Up Weekend had lots of offer, and they plan to do it on the third weekend of the month for the remainder of the season.<\/p>\n

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