The winner of Saturday's eliminations takes home an impressive check for $50,000, while winners on Friday and Sunday collect $10,000 each.
Bristol Dragway hosted the inaugural event last season, and the response was overwhelming. "The World's Greatest Footbrake Race," as it also is known, saw drivers from 24 states visit Thunder Valley to put it all on the line and see if they had what it took to collect the top prize. This year's competitors continue to pre-register in record numbers and organizers expect this edition to rival the success of last year's event.
"The list continues to grow and we look forward to another amazing year in Bristol," said event promoter, Jared Pennington. "We have an entrant from Canada, our first from outside the country, and he looks forward to coming just because the event is in Bristol."
The World Footbrake Challenge is a 1/8-mile event that will see racers depend on their driving skills to take home the top prize. In footbrake competition, drivers are not allowed to use electronic equipment to help them achieve a perfect start.
"Everyone wants to be there for this event," continued Pennington. "It is the race to be at in the footbrake class. Everyone that attended last year said it was one of the best events around. Bristol Dragway and the staff there certainly played a large role in that. We couldn't imagine being treated any better.
"I've raced my whole life, and Bristol is absolutely the nicest facility. It is world class. The track is great, the people are the best and the surrounding area has something from everyone."
When asked about the inaugural event, Pennington admitted organizers were pleasantly surprised with the results.
"It was unbelievable," he said. "It exceeded our wildest dreams, and the support that the footbrake community showed the event was unprecedented. This year, we are expecting close to 200 cars, we're paying out a lot of money and giving out a lot of prizes. It's going to be fun."
Gates open each day at 8 a.m. On Friday and Saturday, time trials begin at 9:30 a.m., with a Run for the Money at noon and eliminations beginning at 2:30 p.m. Sunday will begin with a church service at 9 a.m., and time trials for new entries and a run for the money scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Eliminations kick off at 11:30 a.m. Spectator tickets are available for only $10 each day.
Racers will begin parking on Thursday at 4 p.m. Drivers' entry fees are $150 for Friday and Sunday, while Saturday's fee is $500.
To learn more about the World Footbrake Challenge and to see a detailed payout chart, visit www.worldfootbrakechallenge.com or call (205) 612-3502.
For more information about all of the exciting events at Bristol Dragway, call (423) 764-DRAG or visit www.bristoldragway.com.