Four years ago, Scott Richardson and Scott Weney came together to recreate the “racing in Florida in November” feeling that was so prevalent in the ‘80s, ‘90s and early 2000s. It wasn’t uncommon back then for hundreds of racers to make the trek south and east each year to escape the upcoming winter weather and enjoy some sun and racing with families and friends.

Unfortunately, Scott Weney passed away at that very first race in 2014, but together with Jeff Stange of Strange Engineering, Richardson has continued the tradition and while unofficially known as the Scott Weney Memorial Race, the annual Fun In The Sun bracket race has flourished.

Contested on the eighth-mile, big buck bracket racing typically involves dragsters and the like with a heavy emphasis on electronics. Only recently though, door cars have been making headway when it comes to race wins, as several have broken through for wins at certain big buck events. The reasons might be many, but the separation of door cars and dragsters until the later rounds has certainly helped the issue, a separation that continues at Fun In The Sun.

This year’s event, with presenting sponsors Lucas Oil, Strange Engineering and Drag Racing Edge magazine, will open this Friday with the first of three $10,000-to-win races. On Saturday, two races will take place with the second being the Brown & Miller Racing Solutions $20,000-to-win affair. But it’s not all about the purse money; which is all guaranteed; but thousands of dollars in prizes will be randomly handed out throughout the weekend in addition to Best Losing Package awards.

Last year’s winners were Steve Dweck, Trey Brunner, Bobby Johns and Randy Folk, all probably assured of returning to defend their titles.