Last month l talked about racing at the October 2-5 NHRA Summit Racing Series Div. 7 ET Finals right here at Firebird Motorsports Park in Chandler. This was probably my 20th time racing at a Bracket Finals event and as always l was excited to be part of team Firebird. On Thursday, my old friend Steve Watkins who now lives in the Portland area, had raced all year with team Redding Raceway, so he could race in this Div. 7 Bracket Finals. On Thursday, everyone got to make two time trial runs, and those that paid to race in the special Gambler Brackets, got to run in the first round and if you won also in the second round. The Gambler races finished up on Friday. Steve won both of his Thursday races, but lost in Friday’s round three. All of my Thursday runs, including that first round, started with a red light. I was pretty frustrated, because two weeks earlier my last three runs down the Firebird track netted very decent .010, .014 and .026 reaction times, so those three red lights had me stumped. On Friday, l decided to shallow stage and launch as the third starting light came on. My two time trial runs were green lights, but not very good reaction times. 

On Saturday, my Sportsman class was up first to start the actual Bracket Finals race, with over 475 racers in competition split between several classes. Right before 8:am the call for Sportsman to the lanes came over the PA system, and l jumped into my little Chevy S-10 and headed to the lanes for the first round. My brain was racing, because of Thursday’s 3 red lights and Friday’s 2 bad lights. What would my strategy be? Red light, and you’re done, bad light and you’re probably done. As l sat there in the staging lanes with about 75 other racers, a voice rang out, “HEY HUTCHCROFT” I looked over and it was my dAndy, and my daughter Abby, son-in-law Corey, his mother Meta, and Scarlet and Chase, two of my grandkids. WOW, l was stunned at this awesome surprise, and after hugs to all of them, l went back to the S-10 to again ponder my strategy. When my lane started moving forward to race, Andy yelled out “DON’T RED LIGHT” that made me laugh, because they all know I’ve had more than my share of red lights over my 30+ years of bracket racing. After doing my burnout, l decided to take the safe approach and did exactly what l did on both of Friday’s two runs, shallow stage and leave on the last countdown light. I was dialed-in at 13.23 and a late model Mustang was dialed-in at 12.50, so l would leave the starting line first. As that third amber light flashed, l mashed the gas pedal hard and held my breath hoping the red light would not come on, which it didn’t, and the other guys red light didn’t either, so the race to the finish line was on. He never actually caught me, so not wanting to break-out (go quicker than my 13.23 dial-in) l tagged the breaks right near the finish line. When my WIN light came on, l could almost hear my family cheering 1320 feet away. Maybe they could even hear my cheers inside the car, which were more for them than me. By the time l drove back to the grandstands where they were waiting, my youngest son Cameron and his girlfriend Abbey were also there. That moment with my family surprising me, and winning the first round, is without doubt my favorite moment in a long career of bracket drag racing. While sitting in the stands, l advised my family that it could take over four hours before they called up for the second round. It actually took over 5.5 hours, but they all stayed. Unfortunately, a dead battery ended my chances. Buddy Steve went a few rounds on Saturday, and then got to race in Sunday’s big race, but again lost early. THANK YOU FAMILY YOUR SURPRISE IT MEANT SO MUCH TO ME!!!!

CONGRATULATIONS TO MY FELLOW TEAM FIREBIRD RACERS WHO KICKED ASS AND WON THE TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP WITH TEAM TUCSON BATTLING US TO THE BITTER END. Firebird also won the Best Appearing Team award. CONGRATULATIONS to the following team Firebird racers that scored big.

Heath Hathorne Won Pro on Saturday, Jeff Ford Won Sportsman on Sat. Davey Johnson Super Pro runner-up on Sat. Sean Phipps Won the Motorcycle Gambler race and was runner-up in Saturday’s MC final round. Collin Terlecki was runner-up in the Low Roller Gambler. A very special CONGRATULATIONS goes out to the father son combo of Mike and 16 year old son Christian Williams. Christian won the Race of Champions in both High School and Jr. Street class. Mike got to race in Sunday’s big Summit Showdown race, where all winners then get to race at the NHRA Nevada Nationals for National Championships, Mike won Sportsman class over fellow team Firebird and former National Champion Dave Muller.

WOW, l can’t wait for the 2026 team Firebird season to start. Again CONGRATULATIONS!!!