The Milan News-Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Dragway hosts high school championships
PUBLISHED: April 24, 2008
High school students from across Michigan and Ohio competed Saturday in quarter-mile drag racing for prizes and trophies. The annual event, held at Milan Dragway, is designed to promote safe and legal drag racing to students, friends and families.
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The event averages more than 400 racers, with 4,000 spectators cheering them on.
Racers were divided into four bracket classes that crowned a winner and runner-up in each. In the Bracket 1 Class, cars that run 12 to 13.99 seconds, the winner was John Ingerson of Kennedy High School, who beat Mike Holcomb of Fenton.
In Bracket 2, cars that run 14 to 15.99 seconds, Dan Beauch of Bedford beat Lindsay Vollmar of Bowsher High School in the finals.
In Bracket 3, cars that ran 16 to 17.99 seconds, Brian Sawk of Plymouth Community Educational Park was the winner, beating runner-up Alexander Romin of Rochester High School.
In Bracket 4, cars that run 18 seconds and slower, Bryan Ensch of Huron came out victorious over Marcus Plont of Livonia.
Winners from all four brackets ran against each other to be named "King of the Hill," a name which includes not only bragging rights, but a Gold Card for the year to test, tune and race at any street event at Milan Dragway for free.
This year was a close race, but Ingerson was crowned champion in the end.
Besides winning a trophy and other prizes, Baran Institute of Technology awarded the top three racers in each bracket a scholarship to attend once they graduate high school.
Another part of the event was the instructor's race, which allows auto shop teachers from around the area to show their skills, as well. Rob Eppler of Jefferson High School beat Bill Yurgelaitis of Hartland in the final.
School spirit and racing ability also was showcased with the crowning of the Overall High School Winner. Students who compete in the bracket classes display their school name on their car and, for each round that they race, a point is awarded to their school. This year, Plymouth Community Educational Park won it.
In addition to drag racing, a highlight of the day is the smoky burnout contest, followed by the car stereo contest. The smoky burnout contest saw three-time defending champion Chris Bruce and his "Smoke Machine" from Waterford Mott beat out in the end by a 1981 Chevy Monte Carlo with Adam Smith from Waterford Mott at the wheel.
In the car stereo contest, Ricky Farrell of Wyandotte Roosevelt, in his red Dodge Dakota, showed off his system and everyone agreed with applause that he was the overall winner.
On Sept. 20, the dragway will host the Fall High School Nationals.
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