Edwards & Young Racing – Seattle & Kent, WA.

On Friday the 27th, we took the Chevelle to the Goodguys race at Pacific Raceways. Big crowds and exciting racing for all involved with many great vintage cars putting on a great show. Without a doubt, the old cars bring out the fans!

Chris’ wagon was running in “Comp” along with many other local cars from Super Pro. We got unceremoniously dumped in the first round when we broke-out running a 10.439 on a 10.44 dial !

Here’s a few pictures we took:

2012 Summer Olympics underway:

NBC is providing the coverage for the 2012 Olympic games. Keep up with all the events here!

Saturday Bracket Race: Pacific Raceways

Tonight Chris is running in Super Pro and Paul in Torri’s Tempest in Sportsman down to the next of the last race to make the team at Pacific Raceways.  Paul was in 3rd place in the Sportsman standings going into this race making this a very important race.  – Roger

1st qualifying hit:

Chris: 10.44 @ 126 mph — Paul: 12.567 @ 106 mph 

2nd qualifying hit: 

Chris: 10.451 @ 126.22 mph  — Paul: 12.553 @ 105.96 mph 

Chris leaving the starting line on July 28th 2012. Jim Doyle photo

The PR crew is now dragging and prepping the starting line for the 1st round of eliminations.

1st round of eliminations: 

Chris defeated Dale Green running a 10.436 on a 10.43 dial and also beat Dale on the tree. This is a big win for Chris as Dale is an outstanding racer!

Paul lost to Jason Biscay running a 12.527 on 12.52. Biscay cut an outstanding .003 light. However, there are two more points races remaining for Paul to successfully defend his 2011 Pacific Raceways Sportsman Track Championship.  But at this point he is well in the hunt to make the team finals and likely to have another opportunity to race in the Race of Champions. The next race on August 11th will tell the story regarding the E.T. Finals, but the race on August 25th will count for the Track Championships!!

Paul just reported there is a huge oil down at the moment at 9:57 pm.  Track curfew is 11:00. No chance of getting this complete race in the books.

2nd round of eliminations:

Chris is paired against Dave Wakefield, the battle of the blue Chevelle’s! 

Chris just defeated Dave running a 10.405 on a 10.39 dial.

3rd round of eliminations:

Chris just won the 3rd round running a 10.41 on a 10.39  good for the win!!!!! That will be all for this race, the curfew has hit and Chris was driving very well this evening. And our thanks to Justin Jung for his help at the track tonight!!

Commentary: I do have to wonder when Pacific Raceways will ever move up the opening time for their evening drag racing events. Too few races this year have been completed which is unfair to the drag racers participating there.

UPDATE: More day races at Pacific Raceways in 2013! – July 30th 2012

On Sunday I sent an e-mail to Tracie Brandenburg, General Manager at Pacific Raceways voicing our concerns regarding there have been far too many incomplete races this season.

This afternoon Tracie gave me a call and the track is listening! They are planning to hold more day races in 2013 to resolve the issue and asked that we help spread the word! – Roger

PDF: Copy of my e-mail to Pacific Raceways dated July 29, 2012

Next weekend, August 3-5th, the big boys come to Pacific Raceways for the O’Reilly Auto Parts 25th Annual NHRA Northwest Nationals as part of the Western Swing.

The last bracket points race is slated for the following Saturday, August 11th which will decide the team for Pacific Raceways at the Division 6 Team Finals on Labor Day weekend. – Roger

Chris was running in Super Pro today, Torri running her ’66 Tempest in Sportsman and Paul his Dodge Dakota truck also in Sportsman hoping to gather some more valuable points!

Paul was in 2nd place in Sportsman going into this race behind longtime Division 6 Pontiac racer Don “The Worm” Elgin. Paul is currently defending his 2011 Sportsman Track Championship at Pacific Raceways.

This was also the National Dragster Challenge. Up for grabs were Wally trophies for winners in Super Pro, Pro, Motorcycle and Sportsman. 

Torri recording her data on 7/21/2012. Kelly Miller photo.

1st Round: 

Chris won his first round in Super Pro running a 10.433 on a 10.42 dial.  Next up were Torri & Paul in Sportsman where Torri got the win light in her Tempest & sadly, Paul lost in a double breakout run. For Paul the good news was that the Sportsman points leader, Don Elgin, wasn’t at this race.

2nd Round:

Chris lost in this round running a 10.422 on a 10.42 dial but was beaten in another extremely tight race against Jason Beggerly by a holeshot.

Torri also lost in the 2nd round when the Tempest slowed down, ending our team effort this weekend.   

These are basics stats since I’m posting this from home as the race is underway. – Roger

This was my first time out in 2 years and had a great time driving our ’57 in Pro bracket. The weather was hot and muggy which makes traction a challenge, but we got by Jeff Denton’s ’55 in the 1st round with a .016 light running a 10.909 on a 10.88. In the 2nd round I cut a solid .035 but the car slowed to a 10.939 on a 10.89 as the humidity climbed to 71% and the car hooked better in this round pulling the small motor down with our reduced launch RPM. Congratulations to Makayla Quam who put me on the trailer with her Valiant, she drove well.

But I had a great time and my thanks to Pam, my very able crew chief Chris & Paul for all their help & support! The car with the retarded cam timing is running strong in high gear but we’re giving up 2 mph to the 1/8th. We’ll loosen the front shocks and advance the cam before the ’57 sees the track again!

Paul won his 1st round in Sportsman also and we were off to a good start. Unfortunately Paul left just a tad early in the 2nd round and our night was finished.

I also want to thank the crew at Pacific Raceways for all their hard work in the heat and humidity. Good job ladies & gents!

Video below which also includes the 1st round win of Jeff Warnke in his hard chargin’ Nova! – Roger

Battle of the Shoeboxes in the 1st round! Roger Young (left lane) vs Jeff Denton in his beautiful ’55. Jeff was in 5th place in Pro Bracket going into this round. Photo credit: Kelly Miller

Battle of the Shoeboxes – Photo credit: Jim Doyle

On July 7th, there were two races held on the same day at Pacific Raceways. One in the morning and the second in the evening.

Chris was running his Chevelle in Super Pro and Paul was driving Torri’s Pontiac in Sportsman. We FINALLY had great weather for a race!

On Saturday at PR the fastest door cars (WCSA) in the Northwest were running AND Bracketstars was hosting the Wild West Car Show also on Saturday.  It was a full day at PR! 

Paul won the first race today in Sportsman, and Chris lost a very close one to Jason Beggerly in the first round of Super Pro with a winning margin of only .0088 seconds!!  Then it was on to the second race of the day!

1st round on July 7th 2012 at Pacific Raceways

2nd Race as it unfolded:

It’s 9:36 P.M., and both Paul & Chris are heading into the 4th round!!  Great day for the team!

9:45 P.M. – Chris won the 4th round and Paul broke out in the 4th round.  Chris is still in the hunt in Super Pro!

‎10:35 pm – Chris broke out in the 5th round (semi-finals) cutting a great .010 light against Al Chinn. A GREAT day for the racing team!  Pam & I are extremely proud of our sons! – Roger

Paul with his BracketStars Sportsman trophy for his win on July 7th 2012

Paul’s review:

It was a very successful day for Edwards & Young Racing as going into this race we deemed it the new start of the 2012 racing for us, especially considering this was a double header with 2 races in a day.  Both Chris & Paul had a great day, we were knocking on the door in almost getting both cars into the Bracketstars winner circle at the same time! 

Race #1:

Chris went out in the 1st round losing by a miniscule .0088 to Jason Beggerly whom is a very successful Super Street racer along with his father Steve Beggerly.  We were feeling a little snake bitten after this round as Chris has lost most of his races by less than .010 but felt we were slowly creeping up on getting the round wins. 

Paul went 6 rounds and won the race, had a .010 light in the semis & followed it up with a .011 light in the finals.  This was his 3rd finals in the last year, fortunately he kept his undefeated streak going in final rounds!

Race #2:

Chris made it to the 5th rd before losing to Al Chinn as Chris had a great .010 light but the car just went too quick.  Al is one of the best Super Pro racers in Div 6 as he is a multi Pacific Raceways track champion and once again is in the top 3 for the 2012 season.  We are extremely happy with the way Chris has been driving and we feel there will be more round wins to come for this season.

Paul made it to the 4th round before losing to Jason Biscay as he also went to quick in a double breakout race, Jason had a better light in taking the win.  Jason is also a very good driver as he has multiple Wally’s to his credit so don’t feel too bad in the loss.

The great efforts on the part of both Chris & Paul moved them both up substantially in the points races, Paul should be in the top 4-5 in Sportsman after this race.  We want to give a sincere thanks to Joe Loch, Barry Hobson, Robert Strohm and many others for their help & guidance this weekend along with good ol’ Dad whom wasn’t able to attend but was helping us with his input & data over the phone.

Finally, we want to say thanks to the hardworking crew at Pacific Raceways, you guys/gals rock as you all worked your tails off in the heat keeping the track in great condition!

Go Team PACIFIC RACEWAYS!!!!

Paul in Winner’s Circle, July 7th 2012

Related article:

Auto Max USA Drag Points and Results – Pacific Raceways – July 9, 2012

April 15th was the last outing for us at Pacific Raceways before the track was closed to resurface the lanes to the 330-mark for the upcoming NHRA Northwest Nationals in August.

’71 Chevelle Wagon, Super Pro:

Chris ran 10.383 @ 717 feet density altitude off the trailer, 10.376 @ 1195 feet density altitude, and a 10.396 @ 1119 feet density altitude during the day testing both lanes. The car was running very well this day putting up consecutive solid numbers. We got the rear suspension working well again with the new 9″ Ford rearend.

Unfortunately Chris turned the tree red with a negative .005 reaction time against Doug Arthur, but recorded his best 60′ time of the day in the first round with a 1.397. The track just got better as the day went along and kudos to the crew at Pacific Raceways for a job well done on the new surface! – Roger

’66 Pontiac Tempest – Sportsman:

Courtesy of Pacific Raceways – 2011 Sportsman Champion!

This weekend was truly The Race aka Close but No Cigar!
 
Both Chris & I were feeling pretty upbeat after our qualifying runs as we both had some pretty decent lights & were running pretty consistent ET wise.  Then the 1st round came along and put a damper on an otherwise good day for us as we both lost by ridiculously close margins.  

Chris faced Doug Arthur whom now own’s Barry Hobson’s old Chevy Beretta that runs in the mid 7’s, Doug is a tough customer as he is usually deadly on the tree & consistent ET wise so that is what we expected from him this time.  Chris redlighted by .005 and only went .01 off of his dial while Doug cut a abnormally late light & broke out by a tenth, ouch!

Paul faced Dustin Ward’s Dad whom also is a tough customer and Paul had a .037 light but unfortunately just didn’t drive the finish line very well which gave the race back by .0028, ouch again!
   

We are both a little frustrated as to how things are going thus far this year as it seems like there are no freebies coming our way but we will have to put it out of our minds & stay positive as things will get better.  – Paul

’57 Chev – Pro Bracket:

The last time our ’57 Chev went down the track was July 17, 2010. We hope to have that back out in the near future making a few passes and having a good time! – Roger