By By Paul Keane
Publisher
Drivers from the Atmore Dragway recently had an opportunity to match skills and wits with drivers from around the country.
On Oct. 10-12, drivers that regularly compete at the local drag strip traveled to South Carolina to compete in the International Hot Rod Association's World Championship Bracket Finals. While many of the local drivers didn't place in the finals, they did win their fair share of heat races and also placed in some of the gambler races.
Either way, Karen Allen, one of the owners of the track, said everyone had a great time.
"We had a blast," she said. "This was some strict competition, and it was the best of the best. We just bought the track back in December, so this was our first time to go as the owner of a track."
Twenty-one drivers from the Atmore track traveled to South Carolina to represent the area, and the Atmore Team faced off against 17 other teams from around the country, vying for top honors.
"We are members of IHRA as a track," Allen said. "That means every year, we can put together a team to go to South Carolina to compete."
Members of the Atmore Team are chosen through point totals accumulated from bracket races held every weekend from April through October. Allen said this weekend will be the final bracket racing at the track for the season, then driver's will take some time off and prepare their cars for the next season that begins in April.
Many of them will take some of the experiences gained from the South Carolina event with them into next season.
"This was a great chance for us and for our drivers," she said. "They got a lot of knowledge of other tracks, teams and drivers, and that will only help them next season."