Nasty Nick Hastings and David Harvey, Jr return to the Fall Footbrake Frenzy winner’s circle and collect $20,000 each.
JULIAN, NC – Loose Rocker Promotions is back at Piedmont Dragway for the second and final week of the 2020 season. The ATI Performance Products Fall Footbrake Frenzy XII brings out the best to battle off the bottom bulb.
Co-promoters, Anthony Walton and Michael Beard, shortened the original three day event into two ahead of a poor weather forecast for Sunday. Friday and Saturday would become $20,000 to win races and Sunday would be left as a clean-up or travel day.
The weekend MotorManiaTV live feed was presented by Summit Racing Equipment. Along with Summit, the other main event sponsors were ATI Performance Products and Abruzzi Transmission & Converters.
On site to re-fuel racers after their Thanksgiving feast was the Giddy Piggy. Delicious sandwiches were served breakfast through dinner and I can personally testify to their cheesy goodness.
A Slow Start Turns Into A Smooth Sailing Event
A misty rain and fog surprised everyone Friday morning, but eventually sunshine broke through the clouds. Racers were given one time run before first round of eliminations and 391 foot-swapping entries were ready to compete.
A late start, high car count, and cooling evening temperatures created a pause in Friday’s program after the completion of second round. Saturday’s schedule would start with round one of Saturday’s $20K eliminations and then Friday’s event would resume.
Summit Racing Equipment and Abruzzi Transmission & Converters Friday
Eighth round of Friday’s event consisted of five tough drivers: Nasty Nick Hastings, Devin Dudley, Kevin Pollard, Tim Douglas, and Dallas Glenn. Tim Douglas’ .010 reaction time from round seven earned him the bye run into the semifinal round.
Dudley is .003 red to Glenn’s .007 green, advancing the El Camino another round. Pollard is .010 on the tree, but runs three above while Hastings is .013 and one above for the win.
Glenn earns the bye into the finals while Hastings and Douglas duel to see who will move on. Hastings uses the reaction time advantage and runs one above the dial in to eliminate Douglas.
Friday $20K Finals
Talented bracket racer and NHRA Pro Stock crew member, Dallas Glenn, wheels his seven second Chevy El Camino into Friday’s $20,000 final. In the opposite lane, Nasty Nick Hastings enters the water box in what must seem like his millionth big money final round appearance.
Glenn pushes just a little too far and turns on the red light earning runner up honors. Hastings is .006 green and collects another Loose Rocker Fall Footbrake Frenzy $20K check in the Pontiac T1000.
A Small Pause in Saturday’s Program
It’s impressive to mention that no entries were lost on Saturday with 391 crossing the starting line again in round one. With curfew closing in and temperatures cooling off, the remaining 17 drivers would finish the event Sunday afternoon.
Part of the remaining field included Matt Richezza, Nick Hastings, Todd Thoman, Lucas Walker, Wade Giles, David Harvey Jr, and Joe Foley. The other half of drivers were Jay Norris, Jordan Wilhelm, David Saunders, Tony Mattera, Austin Welch, Dallas Glenn, Jonathan Surratt, Tim Betterton, and Doug Lephew.
BTE Labor Day $100K winner, Caleb Ellison, was sitting on the bye run in round six.
ATI Performance Products Saturday
Two rounds later on Sunday, only five drivers remained: David Harvey Jr, Jay Norris, Dallas Glenn, Doug Lephew, Jordan Wilhelm. Harvey earned the bye run thanks to his previous .006 reaction time.
Norris turns on the dreaded red light by five thou and runs dead on his dial in, just adding salt in the wound. His opponent, Wilhelm, moves on running one above his 6.46 dial. Glenn has a six thou advantage on the tree, although Lephew runs dead on with a four, eliminating Friday’s runner up.
Lephew earns the solo pass into the final round while Harvey and Wilhelm stage up in the semifinals. Harvey is .002 and runs one above, putting together a .012 package to lock out Wilhelm.
Saturday $20K Finals
Tennessee native, Doug Lephew, takes his Chevrolet Vega into the final round in hopes of picking up a $20,000 payday. New Jersey driver and Fall Footbrake Frenzy III winner, David Harvey Jr, was also looking to turn on the win light.
In the final, Lephew breaks out by six thousandths while Harvey is .028 total to pick up the $20,000 win.
Nine years after claiming his first Fall Footbrake Frenzy champion title, Harvey wheels his Plymouth Valiant back into the Loose Rocker winner’s circle.
Bonus Awards and Accomplishments
The California Car Cover Co. Best Appearing car award went to Gary Ewing in his Camaro. Lucas Walker earned the Gibbs Race Cars Best Engineered award for his Mustang. Ron Huntley Jr. chose Mike Larose’s Dodge Dart for the Announcer’s Choice award.
Being perfect isn’t easy, but Tom Scriffignano made it look that way first round on Saturday. He was .000 and runs 6.980 off his 6.98 dial in and takes .0006 at the finish line. Did I mention there was no time trial on Saturday?
Swipe through the gallery below.
Making Plans for 2021
All eight of the prestigious Loose Rocker events will compete at Piedmont Dragway in 2021. Next season opens with the 12th Annual Hot Shot’s Secret St. Patrick’s Footbrake Classic. The triple $10K event is on the schedule for March 5-7, 2021.
When it’s time to plan your racing calendar for next season, take a look at the Master Schedule compiled by Loose Rocker’s own Michael Beard.
If you missed results from the biggest door car race in history, you will want to check out Loose Rocker’s American Doorslammer Nationals here.
Jessica was born into a family of drag racers and fell in love with the sport at a young age. She began competing at 13 and has been hooked ever since! She even met her husband at the World Footbrake Challenge VII. Jessica works full time as an Ultrasound Technologist but spends almost every weekend chasing win lights at IHRA and NHRA bracket races.
You can contact her at Jessica@dragchamp.com or on her Facebook page.
