MIR Completes Trifecta at 16th Annual
Junior Dragster Team Finals

July 10, 2012

Press Release courtesy of:  Fabian Brown

The 2012 IHRA Junior Dragster Team Finals presented by AMSOIL brought a lot of anticipation to MIR. Northeast Dragway was looking to defend their 2011 championship, while other teams looked to make their mark in the junior dragster world. This event was truly unique as for the first time in event history, a team from outside the United States traveled to Budds Creek to compete. Grand Bend Motorplex traveled 14 hours and went through 4 storms to take part in this event. As always, the event started out on Friday night with MIR Promoter Royce Miller challenging all drivers and teams to a water gun war. However, just as in years past, the teams came out in full force and soaked Royce from head to toe. Friday night’s Gambler’s race win went to MIR Team 1 driver TJ Estevez. The win was only just a smidge of what team MIR had in store for their competition.

Through the index racing and et racing on Saturday, during hot temperatures reaching nearly 100 degrees, the young men and women of the junior dragster ranks put on their game faces and stepped up and took on not only their competitors, but mother nature. With a pizza party and a “Cool” tower suite on the line, the competition got hotter than the air temperature, as MIR teams 1 & 2 claimed victory in the team competitions on Saturday. The other teams took notice that the home track advantage was starting to show as MIR looked to make history as not only the first track to repeat as champions, but the first to win all 3 team competitions. A feat that was halted last year as Northeast Dragway won the main event in dominating fashion. With teams from Las Vegas, Georgia and everywhere in between, one thing was for sure that every team could be considered a favorite.

As the rounds went by, MIR team 3 pulled out to a lead after a 3rd round that they would never surrender. Congratulations to all four 2012 Junior Dragster Champions!

In the 8-9 Age Group, the Ironman winner is Matt Schell of Reiffton, PA who is representing Team 1 of Numidia Dragway

In the 10-11 Age Group, the Ironman winner is AJ Jenkins of Mechanicsville, MD who is representing Team 2 of Maryland Int'l Raceway

In the 12-14 Age Group, the Ironman winner is Harry Ackinson of Churchville, MD who is representing Team 3 of Maryland Int'l Raceway

In the 15-17 Age Group, the Ironman winner is Britni Hardesty of Upper Marlboro, MD who is representing Team 3 of Maryland Int'l Raceway

On behalf of the Miller family and all the staff of Maryland International Raceway, we would like to thank all of the drivers, families, crew members and tracks that participated in this year’s event. We greatly appreciate all of you sticking it out through the intense heat and showing the kind of sportsmanship and class that makes drag racing the great sport that it is!
 

MARYLAND INT'L RACEWAY

BEAVER SPRINGS DRAGWAY

RICHMOND DRAGWAY

GRAND BEND MOTORPLEX

US 13 DRAGWAY

75-80 DRAGWAY

SUMERDUCK DRAGWAY

CAROLINA DRAGWAY

MASON DIXON DRAGWAY

NORTHEAST DRAGWAY

ORANGEBURG DRAGSTRIP