Juniors Race #3 and 4

It was a big Memorial Day Weekend at Barona Drag Strip, with a weekend full of Junior Dragsters, as well as an intense Night of Nitro on Saturday.

First, on Saturday and Sunday the drag stars of the future sped down Barona's 1/8th Mile.

Starting off in Group 1 on Saturday, the final came down to some sibling rivalry, as Caden and Carlie Ball met in the final, with Caden in the slightly faster dragster, getting a small head start on his 11.94 dial against Carlie's 12.55. Caden would get off the line faster, his .103 R/T beating Carlie's .208, and that'd be the difference as Caden races to a 11.973 E/T against Carlie's 12.575. Carlie was closer to her dial, but Caden beat her by more on the tree.

Jr. Group 2 would wind down to Ethan Cerny and Cy Mitchell, as Ethan lines up on his 8.90 dial against Cy's 2005 Motovational's 9.05. Ethan was slow off the line, taking over a half second to get off the line. He never catches up, as Cy finishes with a 9.179 E/T while Ethan scores a 8.952, giving Cy the Group 2 win

Cy Mittchel (Near) lined up against Ethan Cerny (Far) in Saturday's Group 2 Finals


Group 4's finale would be a duel between Derrick Hegwood and Jena Bryant, the two nearly going heads up with Derrick's 7.90 lined up against Jena's 7.93. Both got off the line nearly even, Derrick getting a slight head start with a .034 against Jena's .036, the two staying close, until Jena pulled ahead, but her 7.927 E/T was under her 7.93 dial, breaking out and giving the win to Derrick.

But Derrick was not done yet, also in the final for the Jr. Comp bracket, this time up against Dylan Oliveira, both lined up at a 6.90 dial, racing heads up. Dylan would be the first to cross the line, his 6.936 E/T three thousandths of a second faster then Derrick's, but Derrick got off the line 18 thousandths sooner, as Derrick doubles up.

Derric Hegwood (Far) before winning the Jr. Comp bracket against Dtlan Oliveira (Near)


And on Sunday, we did it all again.

Group 1 on Sunday had Caden Ball returning to the final in order to sweep the weekend, going up against Nicky Jensen. Again, Caden would get a good jump off the line, his .146 R/T less then half that of Nicky's .370, and he'd ride that to a 11.982 E/T, 22 thousandths of a second under their dial, and to a win to sweep the Group 1 weekend.

Caden Ball (Far) Lined up against Nicky Jensen (Near) in Sunday's Group 1 final. Caden would win, and win back to back Group 1 brackets.


Group 2's final was down to Paige Smith going up against Dylan Hegwood. Paige's 2006 Halfscale. It'd be another near heads up race, with Paige going first at a 8.95 dial, and Dylan shortly after with a 8.90. Dylan would get off the line first, with a .026 R/T compared to Paige's .091. That'd be the difference, as Dylan's 8.957 E/T was a few more thousandths off then Paige's 9.002 E/T, the reaction time giving Dylan the Group 2 win.

Dylan Hegwood, before his burnout and winning  Sunday's Group 2 final.


Group 3's final comes down to two racing families, as Nolan Oliveirza, who has siblings who also made the finals that day, lined up against Maddy Worsham, daughter of NHRA Funny Car champ Del Worsham. Maddy had the faster dragster, locked in on a 7.96 dial compared to Nolan's 8.10. Maddy would be closer to her dial, nailing 8 seconds exactly on her E/T compared to Nolan's 8.143, but Nolan got off the line 3 hundredths of a second sooner, giving Nolan the Group 3 bracket win.

Nolan Oliveirza (Near) up against Maddy Worsham (Far) in the Group 3 final.


Juniors Group 4 would see the other Oliveira, Dylan, make it to the final against Chris Schweers. Dylan would try to repeat his brother's bracket win in his 2013 Halfscale, while Chris counter with his 2008 RPC. Chris dials in an 7.90, and is going to have to wait while Dylan and his 8.05 dial launch first. Dylan gets a lead off the launch, his .020 R/T beating chris's .141 start, but where Dylan gets his win is by getting a nearly perfect E/T: a 8.051 on a 8.05 dial. Chris' 7.925 cannot compete with that, as Dylan takes the second win for the Oliveira's.

Dylan (Left) and Nolan (Right) Oliveira with their Wallys and their family, after winning the Group 4 and Group 3 brackets respectfully.


Finally, we got the Jr. Comp bracket, with Justin Ball, brother of Group 1 back-to-back winner Caden Ball, going up against Group 2 winner Derrick Hegwood. It'd be a heads up race, both of them tied to a 6.90 dial. Justin gets off the line first, getting a 6 hundredths of a second lead off of Derrick, and while Derrick an a 6.990 E/T compared to Justin's 7.012, it would not be enough, and Justin brings the Jr. Comp championship and trophy to the Balls.

And with the Jrs. And Nitro Night taken care of, next we'll have the second race of the Crower Cup series here, on June 11th. See you there!