NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Aiden Rizner earned his second straight NHRA Right Trailers Western Conference Finals title, adding this year’s 11-year-old class Wally to the one he earned last year in the 10-year-old bracket. Joining Rizner in the winner’s circle were Blane Carrell (age 6-9), Carson Wied (10), Colton Farley (12), Logan Sweetman (13), Race Ragland (14), Nevaeh Quiring (15), Vinny Geonetta (16-17), and Emersyn Rose Pires (Jr. Comp). Bandimere Speedway Team 2 won the team championship. The event at Bandimere Speedway is the first of two national events for drivers in the NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League.

After finishing as a runner-up in the O’Brien Companies Shootout on Friday, Carrell was able to go the distance in the Western Conference Finals, outlasting Paige Gallegos in the 6-9 age group. In the final, Carrell, who hails from Ardmore, Okla., got off the starting line first and never looked back, defeating Commerce City, Colo., runner Gallegos on a 14.526 (14.45 dial) to 12.214 (11.90) count.

Neenah, Wis.’s Wied got a reaction-time lead of more than a tenth in the 10-year-old class final, and he used the advantage to defeat Wellington, Kan., competitor Haven Moberly, 9.223 (9.09) to 8.944 (8.91).

Rizner, of Longmont, Colo., earned his second straight Western Conference Finals championship when Herriman, Utah’s Kaitlyn Stewart red-lighted in the 11-year-old bracket title round. Rizner celebrated with an 8.872 (8.90) victory pass.

A red-light start also determined the outcome in the 12-year-old category. This time, Alex Diaz, of Grand Junction, Colo, left the starting line early, turning on the win light in the lane of Angleton, Texas’ Farley, who posted an 8.855 (8.90).

A reaction-time lead of more than a tenth helped guide Fort Lupton, Colo., racer Sweetman to top honors in the 13-year-old age group. Sweetman posted an 8.026 (8.00) to defeat the 7.965 (7.99) breakout of Grant, Neb., racer Cade Kroeker.

Ragland continued a weekend that included a win in Friday’s Shootout with a victory in the 14-year-old class of the Western Conference Finals. In the final, Arvada, Colo.’s Audrey St. Clair ran right on her 7.92 target, but it wasn’t enough to get around Ragland, who ran an 8.159 (8.08) after a starting-line lead of more than a tenth.

Quiring, of Bentley, Kan., cut a near-perfect .007 light in the 15-year-old age-group final, and that proved key. Ben Bryson, who traveled from Pleasant Hill, Ore., ran .001-over his 7.91 dial, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the great light of Quiring, who turned on the win light with an 8.301 (8.28).

Geonetta, who calls Pueblo West, Colo., home, won a great final-round battle that was decided by .006-second against Chino, Calif., racer Katelyn Torres in the 16-17 bracket. After getting the edge on the Tree, Geonetta eased his entry to an 8.183 (8.16) to best the 7.913 (7.90) of Torres.

The Jr. Comp final was a sister-brother battle with Emersyn Rose Pires defeating brother Ayden, last year’s Jr. Comp champion. Ayden left the starting line first, but he carried too much momentum on the top end and broke out with a 7.097 on the 7.10 index. That opened the door for Emersyn Rose, who won with a 7.114.

Led by 16-17 champ Geonetta and 14-year-old runner-up St. Clair, Bandimere Speedway Team 2 won the team championship, notching 20 points. Ardmore Dragway Team 1 finished second with 18, followed by Texas Motorplex Team 1 at 17 and Julesburg Dragstrip Team 2 and Mid-America Dragway Team 1 tied at 15.

FINAL-ROUND RESULTS

6-9
Blane Carrell, Ardmore, Okla., .138, 14.526 (14.45 dial) def.
Paige Gallegos, Commerce City, Colo.,.152, 12.214 (11.90)

10
Carson Wied, Neenah,Wis., .072, 9.223 (9.09) def.
Haven Moberly, Wellington, Kan., .213, 8.944 (8.91)

11
Aiden Rizner, Longmont, Colo., .049, 8.92, 8.872 (8.92) def.
Kaitlyn Stewart, Herriman, Utah, -.095, 9.257 (9.36)

12
Colton Farley, Angleton, Texas, .056, 8.855 (8.90) def.
Alex Diaz, Grand Junction, Colo., -.011, 8.913 (8.90)

13
Logan Sweetman, Fort Lupton, Colo., .166, 8.026 (8.00) def.
Cade Kroeker, Grant, Neb., .291, 7.965 (7.99)

14
Race Ragland, Norman, Okla., .075, 8.159 (8.08) def.
Audrey St. Clair, Arvada, Colo., .180, 7.926 (7.92)

15
Nevaeh Quiring, Bentley, Kan., .007, 8.301 (8.28) def.
Ben Bryson, Pleasant Hill, Ore., .031, 7.911 (7.91)

16-17
Vinny Geonetta, Pueblo West, Colo., .074, 8.183 (8.16) def.
Katelyn Torres, Chino, Calif., .090, 7.913 (7.90)

Jr. Comp (7.10 Index)
Emersyn Rose Pires, Madera, Calif., 0.087, 7.114 def.
Ayden Pires, Madera, Calif., 0.011, 7.097