KING, JENSEN, BOBO, BUTTRUM WINS JEGS SUMMER DOOR CAR SHOOTOUT

The second annual JEGS Summer Door Car Shootout saw over 150 of the best door car competitors in the Midwest converge on I-57 Dragstrip for a huge weekend of on-track competition.  Racers were greeted with the Friday night Holley Racer’s Appreciation BBQ, a delicious meal prepared by I-57’s own Scott Bailey.

Weekend action started Saturday with the BRODIX $7500-to-win Main Event.  Opening round runner-ups were rewarded with a buy back bonus from Auto Meter: all competitors who bought back into competition received a complimentary Auto Meter T-Shirt!  After nine rounds of intense competition, Rhea King took home the trophy when he used a fantastic .010 package to defeat well known big buck competitor Buddy Ferrell.  Ferrell put forth an excellent run of his own, but his .001 reaction time proved meaningless when he broke out by a mere .002.  In addition to the lion’s share of the prize money, both King and Ferrell walked away with lucrative gift certificates courtesy of BRODIX Cylinder Heads.

Saturday BRODIX Main Event Results:

Winner: Rhea King

Runner-Up: Buddy Ferrell

Semi-finalist: Jonathon Smiddy

7th Round Losers: Bryan Robinson, JR Lobner

All drivers who advanced to round four earned prize money thanks to the deep $30,000+ guaranteed SDCS payout.  Additionally, all second and third round losers were automatically entered in drawings for their share of more than $25,000 in great “Door” prizes courtesy of event sponsors.

Once the BRODIX Main Event was complete, the SDCS and I-57 Dragstrip staff went directly into Saturday night’s BONUS events.  The first was the APD Quick 16 event, which boasted a winner’s payout of $1,000 and a new APD fuel system kit, along with $400 to the runner-up.  Over 30 competitors attempted to qualify for the field, which saw a bump spot of 5.360.  Preston “Peeps” Pennington qualified on the pole with a strong 4.782 ET.  When the smoke cleared, it was local standout Mark Buttrum taking the win in his recently purchased Oldsmobile Cutlass.  Buttrum defeated Kentucky racer Rusty Edwards in the final round.

APD Quick 16 Results:

Winner: Mark Buttrum

Runner-Up: Rusty Edwards

Semi-finalists: Ronnie Egner, Jason McConnell

Quarterfinalists: Bill Little, Jeremy Hanks, Greg Dawson, Mark McDonald

The second BONUS race of Saturday evening proved to be the most exciting event of the entire weekend.  The structure of the unique Ohlins King of Illinois Shootout was this: all SDCS competitors were welcome to enter the shootout for a $500 cash entry fee.  The “hi-roller” event would then payout 100% of the entries, with a “Winner Take All” format.  In addition to the cash, the winner also received a complimentary set of Ohlins LMP Series racing shocks (a $1500 value).  29 entrants ponied up the $500 entry, meaning the winner would walk away with $14,500 in cold hard cash!  When the dust settled, the King of Illinois crown went back to Mississippi, as Jesse Bobo earned the victory behind the wheel of Jeff Williams’ Huntsville Engine & Performance Center backed Chevy II.

Ohlins King of Illinois Results:

Winner: Jesse Bobo

Runner-Up: Greg Dawson

Semi-finalists: Michael Pennington, Todd Senseney

Quarterfinalists: Bryan Robinson, Larry Zhand, John Labbous, Jr., Greg Dearmon

The I-57 Dragstrip staff did an incredible job once again, as all three classes were complete and the track secured shortly after 10:30PM.  As if the $30,000+ payout and more than $25,000 in “Door” prizes weren’t enough, the SDCS also rewarded several competitors with specialty awards throughout the weekend.  Those prizes were awarded to the following competitors:

Todd’s Extreme Paint Best Appearing Car (Todd’s Extreme Helmet Paint Job): Jay Thornburg

JEGS Long Tow Award ($500 JEGS Gift Certificate): The Pennington family (Three Rivers, TX – a 1,050 mile tow)

Mickey Thompson Best Burnout Award (Set of MT Slicks): Donnie Ellis

FTI Wheelie Wagon Award (FTI Converter): Rick Harless (For a second consecutive season)

Hard Luck Awards (Random drawing of racers who lost in round 3 BOTH days):

Moser Great American Bracket Race Entry: Kelt Louden

Mark Sullens E85 Carbs $402 Gift Certificate: Rodney Collins

Digital Delay “Little Wizard” Delay Box: Jesse Bobo

Bottom Bulb Bonus Awards (the farthest advancing No Box racer in each days event)

World Footbrake Challenge Weekend Entry: Bill Hooker

JEGS $500 Gift Certificate: Bernie Geist

Sunday’s action began with Scott and Leigh Ann Bailey of I-57 Dragstrip distributing complimentary doughnuts and milk to racers throughout the pit area in yet another display of their unprecedented racer hospitality.  Following a single time trial, action got underway in Sunday’s Moser Engineering Main Event.  First round runner-ups were once again awarded with the SDCS Buy Back Bonus; Sunday’s bonus came from Lucas Oil Car Care Products, as each buy back was awarded a bottle of Lucas Oil Slick Mist detailer!  Following another nine rounds of competition, a pair of Tennessee competitors squared off for the $7500 top prize.  Jeremy Jensen of McEwen, TN knocked off good friend and chassis builder Matt Tinnin in the final round to earn $7500 CASH, a complimentary set of Moser Engineering Axles, the SDCS “Happy Gilmore” Check, and one-of-a-kind winner’s trophy.

Sunday Moser Main Event Results:

Winner: Jeremy Jensen

Runner-Up: Matt Tinnin

Semi-Finalist: Phil Bryant

7th Round Losers: Greg Dawson, Dave Angelly

Sunday’s Moser Main Event was completed prior to 6:00 PM, allowing competitors to get an early start on their respective journeys home.  Look for upcoming details on the 3rd annual JEGS Summer Door Car Shootout, which will return to I-57 Dragstrip in 2013!

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