TC WILLIAMS POCKETS $160k IN WINNING BYRON FIRECRACKER BRACKET NATIONALS
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Byron Dragway, recognized as the birthplace of big money bracket racing, held the 22nd edition of its popular three-day event, the Firecracker Bracket Nationals last weekend.
One of the longest-running bracket races in the nation, the Firecracker Bracket Nationals is a race that touring professionals consider essential, and local hitters see as an opportunity to take them on at their home track.
This year was notable on several fronts. First was the weather.
Typically a three-day event, with $100,000 to win on Saturday, and $30,000 each on Friday and Sunday, Mother Nature altered those plans significantly by plaguing Friday's program with persistent rain. which allowed only one late into the nighttime trials session.
With similar predictions for more of the same the rest of the weekend, Byron Dragway General Manager Randy Simpson announced there would be a single race for $160,000, rolling Friday and Sunday's purses into Saturday's, making it the largest purse in Byron Dragway history. Eliminations would be based off the single-time trials run on Friday, and would start at 10 AM Saturday, weather permitting.
The third notable event was the emergence of a rising star at the conclusion of the event.
T.C Williams, a 20-year-old from nearby Winnebago, IL earned the $160,000 prize over highly experienced touring bracket racers, as well as local hero's.
Saturday's action began with track drying, while rain was falling. With the rain and track prep, first round of eliminations was pushed back to 3 PM, with the intent to run the race to its conclusion that night.
That gargantuan task proved impossible, as racing was halted at 11:30 PM after five rounds of eliminations. Winners of that round were instructed to report to the lanes at 10 AM Sunday to resume racing.
After 128 cars and 7 rounds of Door Car competition, the final two were Colin Hurley of Waterloo, IA and Jeff Billeter of Byron, IL. Hurley and his Cutlass would get here by defeating multi-time national champion Slate Cummings in the previous round by virtue of a superior reaction time, which forced Cummings to break out.
Billeter, Byron Dragway's 2020 Super Pro track champion got there by being better on the tree and running dead-on his dial-in over Steve Folk of the Folk Race Cars dynasty.
Billeter dialed his Vega station wagon at 6.65, Hurley at a much quicker 5.09. Billeter would pad his head start with a .021 better reaction time than Hurley and cross the finish line first running dead on his dial-in.
(Insert Dragster Final photo)
The Dragster final featured the familiar and experienced face of Clinton, Iowa's Brian Lynch. Lynch's workmanlike consistency throughout the event, and a dead-on his dial-in in his Round 7 victory over Collin Estes got him here to face T.C. Williams.
For his part, Williams, the local rookie didn’t drive like a novice. The winner of the previous two bracket races at Byron Dragway, was on a hot streak. His superior reaction time and victory over Derek Degnitz in Round 6 earned Williams a competition bye in Round 7 and an automatic matchup with the winner of the other pairing.
Brian Lynch received the head start, predicting a run of 4.89 seconds over Byron's 1/8th mile course. Williams would dial in 4.73 seconds. Lynch's head start was quickly erased by Williams, who would react .033 quicker. With both drivers wheel to wheel, Lynch inched ahead at the finish line, breaking out by .015. handing the win to T.C. Williams.
The final pairing for the Firecracker $160k Final was a win for the locals before it was even run. Jeff Billeter and his family live a strong outfield throw from Byron Dragway. T.C. Williams and his family reside just up the road in Winnebago. And both drivers trailered notable touring drivers to get to the big money round, a rarity at this race.
Billeter gained a significant head start, dialing in 6.65 seconds. Williams would again dial 4.73, a number that seemed to be to his and crew chief/father Torry's liking.
Jeff Billeter knew he would have to push the tree against Williams' telepathic reaction times. In doing so he went -.005 red and continued to push the Vega hard, breaking out by .034. This handed the win to Williams, who continued to hit his numbers. He reacted in .004 seconds and matched his dial-in with a 4.735 ET, earning Byron Dragway's highest ever single day payout.
While T.C. Williams is new to the dragster category, he began racing at 16 in his street Monte Carlo on an occasional basis. He has also taken the wheel of his dad Torry's Super Pro Chevy Nova to get himself acclimated to tougher competition.
The dragster, one of the last dragsters built by Trick Chassis in 2014, is a years long project that father, son, and grandfather Terry completed early last year. T.C., affectionately known by the nickname "T-Bucket", began testing the dragster in August of 2020.
Williams began racing it in earnest this season winning day two and $10,000 of the three day Memorial Day weekend at Byron Dragway. He followed that up with another win on June 14th at Byron Dragway's "Big Bucks Bracket Bash", earning $5000.
Currently in his sophomore year of college and studying engineering. Williams drives a truck at his family business when not in school or racing.
When asked by CompetitionPlus which of the 9 round of eliminations was his toughest, without hesitation he said "The first round, because it sets you up on proper footing if you win, and we did. Next I would say was the first one this morning (Round 6), because we weren't sure if we'd be ready for the 10 o'clock start time".
When asked about seeing the win light in the final, "It was surreal. My Dad and I worked so hard to put this car together. After a full day at school or work, we come home to work on the car for six hours or more. This win makes it all worth it, and I can't thank him enough.". Williams continued, "I also have to give a big shoutout to (track owner) B.J. Vangsness and his Byron Dragway crew. They give a great environment to race, and they never quit as this weekend showed. B.J. was out dragging and drying the track at 3 o'clock this morning, so without them, none of this is possible."
We are certain we have not heard the last of T.C. "T-Bucket" Williams.
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