Wells Also Wins in Rain-Plagued Event; Parish, McKissick Claim Jr. Dragster Titles

Samuel Peterson, who just a year ago still was racing in the Jr. Dragster division, got his second win since moving up to the big cars Sunday when he drove a 1985 Chevy S-10 pickup to a $7,500 victory in the weather-plagued seventh annual Bottom Bulb Bash and Jr. Dragster Bonanza at US 131 Motorsports Park.

Peterson, the 18-year-old son of US 131 General Manager Jason Peterson and his marketing director wife Stephanie, used a .025 final round reaction time to force Allegan veteran Al Bruischart, a former US 131 Racer of the Week, into a .005 of a second breakout foul in his venerable 1973 Plymouth Duster.

Dave Wells of Pullman earned a $5,000 share of the purse on Friday before the rains came. Weather suspended competition midway through the main event on Saturday and forced cancellation of Sunday’s entire program. Track officials were able to complete the Saturday before the rains returned on Sunday.

In the Jr. Dragster Bonanza portion of the event, Kalamazoo’s Molly Parish won Friday’s “Run for the Money” and Kayla McKissick of Hartford City, Ind., won the Friday combo race.

* * * *

MARTIN, Mich. – Results from the rain-shortened seventh annual Bottom Bulb Bash and Jr. Dragster Bonanza at US 131 Motorsports Park. Hometowns are Michigan unless otherwise indicated. Results include reaction time, track time in relation to target time and finish line speed:

FRIDAY
NO BOX – Dave Wells, Pullman, .060, 5.975 on a 5.970, 114.56 mph, def. Mark Hancock, Cedar Springs, .052, 6.523 breakout on a 6.530, 106.69 mph.

JR. DRAGSTER RUN FOR THE MONEY – Molly Parish, Kalamazoo, .187, 9.000 on an 8.990, 72.79 mph, def. Antonio Iocoangeli, Monroe, foul (-.002).

JR. DRAGSTER COMBO – Kayla McKissick, Hartford City, Ind., .006, 8.092 on an 8.020, 79.96 mph, def. Bailey Burkhardt, Bronson, .057, 7.690 on a 7.650, 78.69 mph.

SATURDAY MAIN EVENT
NO BOX – Samuel Peterson, Richland, 1985 Chevy S-10 truck, .025, 6.170 on a 6.160, 109.28 mph, def. Al Bruischart, Allegan, 1973 Plymouth Duster, .042, 6.185 breakout on a 6.190, 110.54 mph. Semifinalist – Gerald Ingle, Huntington, Ind., 1966 Chevy II wagon.