Jon Northrop Becomes First Big Bobby Summer Slam Championship Contender
The inaugural Big Bobby's Summer Slam Series officially kicked off this past weekend at Numidia Dragway, marking the beginning of the Battle for the Belt!
Saturday presented its share of challenges as the weather forecast seemed to change by the minute. Fortunately, we didn't let Mother Nature spoil the fun. While racing plans were affected, we celebrated the Grand Opening of the all-new ‘Rec Center’, where racers battled it out on the Practice Tree for cash prizes throughout the afternoon and evening. It was a great opportunity to christen our newest facility and prove that there's still plenty of racing excitement to be had—even when the weather doesn't cooperate.
By Sunday, the skies cleared and it was time to crown the very first Summer Slam Championship Contender.
In the $5,000 Super Pro final, Jon Northrop continued his impressive run at Numidia Dragway, squaring off against Bryan Sorce. Northrop delivered a near-perfect package, posting a stellar .003 reaction time and running dead-on his dial to finish with an .008 total package. Sorce left with a respectable .011 light but crossed the finish line one over his dial, giving Northrop the victory.
Over in Pro, Mike Bryson, driving his S-10, defeated Brent Long in the $2,000 final. Bryson left the starting line with a .009 reaction time and finished one over his dial to secure the win.
That set the stage for the first-ever Summer Slam Championship Contender Runoff, where the Super Pro and Pro winners faced off for the coveted Mini Big Bobby Championship Belt and a spot in the season-ending Championship Gauntlet. Once again, Northrop was exceptional, cutting a .007 reaction time to earn the victory and become the first racer to punch his ticket to the championship finale.
We'll see Jon back at the end of the Summer Slam Series with a chance to capture the Big Bobby Championship Belt and all the exclusive perks the title holder has rights to.
In Junior Dragster competition, Emma Osborne captured her first career victory, defeating Kenneth Lanterman in the final. Emma consistently cut strong lights and put together a series of outstanding runs on her way to the $500 victory and the Junior Mini Big Bobby Belt. Congratulations to Emma on an unforgettable milestone—we're excited to watch what the future holds for this talented young racer.
Finally, we'd like to thank everyone who came out to support the first-ever Big Bobby's Summer Slam Series, despite an uncertain weather forecast. Saturday proved exactly why the new Rec Center is such an exciting addition to Numidia Dragway. Even with the rain outside, racers had a place to gather, compete, and enjoy the evening together.
Going forward, don't let a little rain keep you away. The Rec Center ensures that there's always something happening at Numidia Dragway, and we'll continue filling those weather delays with fun competitions, games, and racing activities.
Until next time…
Puddy out.
