NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Carson Wied picked up his second NHRA Right Trailers Western Conference Finals championship to headline the first of two national events for racers in the NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League. Wied earned the Wally in the 12-year-old class at this year’s event at Texas Motorplex, adding it to the one he earned in the 10-year-old bracket in 2023. Joining Wied in the winner’s circle were first-time champions Bo Smith (age 6-9), Ryker Flowers (10), Gavin Fojt (11), Holden Pavlock (13), Luka Markham (14), Allison Bolle (15), and Sarah Kidd (16-17). Led by individual titlists Bolle and Kidd, Tucson Dragway Team claimed the team championship.

In the 6-9 age-group final, Smith, who hails from Jay, Fla., got off the starting line first .023 to .043, and carried the advantage to an 11.996 (11.95 dial) to 12.022 (12.13) win against Norman, Okla., racer Cash Saum.

Hutch Harger, of Pace, Fla., had the reaction-time edge in the 10-year-old category title round, but he carried too much momentum at the top end and broke out with an 8.960 (8.97). That opened the door for Kingsbury, Texas’ Flowers, who turned on the win light with an 8.918 (8.90).

Dayton, Texas, runner Fojt got a .071-second lead at the Tree in his final-round bout with Lily Steadman, of Derby, Kan., and used it to his full advantage. Both racers broke out with Fojt’s closer 8.978 (8.98) earning him the 11-year-old class Wally against Steadman’s 8.972 (8.99).

Wied, who lives in Neenah, Wis., led the 12-year-old bracket title round wire to wire, pairing a .014 light with an 8.957 (8.94) en route to victory. Chino, Calif., competitor Presley Kinman finished second with an 8.945 (8.90).

The 13-year-old age-group final was decided at the Tree when Mont Belvieu, Texas, resident Mackenzie Walker went red by .017-second, turning on Pavlock’s win light. Tomball, Texas’ Pavlock celebrated with an 8.293 (8.21) victory lap.

After cutting a near-perfect .003 light, Markham wheeled his Scottsville, Ky.-based dragster to a 7.974 (7.96) to best Pflugerville, Texas, driver Tyler Janousek in the 14-year-old category final. Janousek claimed runner-up honors with a 7.984 (7.96).

In the closest final of the event, Tucson, Ariz., runner Bolle edged Punta Gorda, Fla.’s Matthew Peterson by .007-second to earn the 15-year-old class Wally. Peterson cut a perfect .000 light to get the early advantage, but Bolle was able to drive around him and win on a 7.906 (7.90) to 7.953 (7.90) count.

The event wrapped up with another great final-round match in the 16-17 group, in which Marana, Ariz., driver Kidd bested Briley Tipton, of Chattanooga, Tenn., by .011-second. Tipton left the starting line first, .025 to .046, but Kidd ran closer to the dial, 7.911 (7.90) to 7.942 (7.90), to claim the Wally.

Results from the Western Conference Finals:

6-9
W: Bo Smith (Jay, Fla.): .023, 11.996 (11.95 dial)
R/U: Cash Saum (Norman, Okla.): .043, **12.022 (12.13)

10
W: Ryker Flowers (Kingsbury, Texas): .080, 8.918 (8.90)
R/U: Hutch Harger (Pace, Fla.): .057, **8.960 (8.97)

11
W: Gavin Fojt (Dayton, Texas): .034, 8.978 (8.98)
R/U: Lily Steadman (Derby, Kan.): .105, **8.972 (8.99)

12
W: Carson Wied (Neenah, Wis.): .014, 8.9957 (8.94)
R/U: Presley Kinman (Chino, Calif.): .104, 8.945 (8.90)

13
W: Holden Pavlock (Tomball, Texas): .044, 8.293 (8.21)
R/U: Mackenzie Walker (Mont Belvieu, Texas): -.017, *7.922 (7.94)

14
W: Luka Markham (Scottsville, Ky.): .003, 7.974 (7.96)
R/U: Tyler Janousek (Pflugerville, Texas): .056, 7.984 (7.96)

15
W: Allison Bolle (Tucson, Ariz.): .043, 7.906 (7.90)
R/U: Matthew Peterson (Punta Gorda, Fla.): .000, 7.953 (7.90)

16-17
W: Sarah Kidd (Marana, Ariz.): .046, 7.911 (7.90)
R/U: Briley Tipton (Chattanooga, Tenn.): .025, 7.942 (7.90)

*red-light.   **breakout