Ingalls Park Athletic Club Practice Tree Nationals

Saturday was the fourth annual Ingalls Park Athletic Club Practice Tree Nationals benefiting the Route 66 Raceway NHRA Junior Drag Racing League. The "Juniors" traditionally run five races in the summer in two classes, Junior Sportsman and Junior Modified. This year's practice tree races consisted of three classes Junior, Sportsman and Pro Tree. In addition to the racing, this event has become a big social event for the racers to gather, catch up and talk about the upcoming season. This event was organized by the Churchill family and they want to thank the following sponsors:

Midwest Junior Super Series
Route 66 Raceway
Patty Brown's Tire Covers
Jeff & Dana Highland
Sontag Speed Supply
Core & Main Waterworks
Car Chix
John Holmstrum
Git Sidewayz
Dave & Pat Beimfohr

After lunch and the social time, qualifying began in all three classes when Rt. 66 Track Announcer Greg Nickleski called the participants to the Staging Lanes.

After qualifying there was a break while the brackets were set. Door prize giveaways announced and continued throughout the event.

It started getting serious with the start of eliminations.

In the Junior Finals it was Bree Covell against Ruby Zolper, with Bree taking the win light.

The Pro Tree Final was next up with TJ Trench going against Troy Bogner. Troy took the win.

In the Sportsman Class Final, it was Troy Bogner in his second final up against Autumn Lawson, with Troy taking his second win.

With his double win, Troy Bogner swept  the Practice Tree Nationals.

Track Bites:

During competition there was a $50 award for a perfect light. The only perfect light of the day was junior, Brinny Covell. Brinny's sister, Bree won the Junior Class. Congratulations to the Covell family

One of the event sponsors was Car Chix and Jeanette Desjardins. She had just returned home from the South Georgia Motorsports Park's Lights Out 10 event. With upcoming events, the schedule is starting to get busy! Car Chix will be hosting four 2019 race events:

June 8th - Ladies Only No Prep @ Anarchy No Prep, Great Lakes Dragaway
June 22nd - Battle of the Sexes, Great Lakes Dragaway
August 17th - Ladies Only Drag Race & Breast Cancer Cancer Fundraiser, Byron Dragway
October 12th - Car Chix Outlaw, Cordova Int'l Raceway

Jenny Zolper (L) Jeanette Desjardins (R)

A visitor to the event was Danny Sullivan. Danny drives the Chicago Rush Jet Dragster. 

Greg Nickleski (L), Danny Sullivan (R)

I spoke with Jim Luckett driver of the "Beat the Heat" car. Jim hurt the motor last season and is about ready to reinstall it in the car. And like most racers, when the motor was out of the car, his motor "grew"! (Jim is on the left in the below image)

I also spoke with Joe Zolper and asked about his Charger Pro Mod. He said while it is coming along and should be out this year, it's his wife's, Jenny, car which is going to be fast. He recently installed a new Hemi motor in the car. (Joe and Jenny (l); Jenny racing at Great Lakes Dragaway (R)

This was a great event for an even better cause! I am looking forward to a great season and this is always a super way to kick it off!! See everyone soon, at the track!!!

To see all images from the event, please click here.