If you thought Day Four of Drag Week was action-packed, Day Five at National Trail Raceway took things to a new level. Multiple classes would be decided on the final day of racing, so the racers were all ready to put in their best effort. Here’s how the action played out on the final day of Drag Week 2024.
Alex Taylor had a monster Drag Week recording six-second passes each day. The final day of racing almost started with a disaster for Taylor. As she was pulling into the Impound area of the pits, Taylor's trailer broke and the box rolled a good distance by itself. According to Taylor, this trailer has thousands of miles on it and they plan on beefing it up for the next event.
John Faraone might have driven nearly as many miles on the track as he did between venues. Faraone's 1972 Charger makes a whole lot of horsepower and is an absolute handful to drive. The Charger danced all over the track each pass, but Faraone kept it under control and laid down several seven second passes on the final day. Drag Week 2024 was not only Jeremiah Kirby’s first drag and drive event, it was also the debut of his 1972 Chevelle. Based on how the Chevelle ran, you wouldn’t think it was untested. Kirby not only finished Drag Week, he won the Pro Street NA class with an 8.46 average.
Josie Kirker is just 16 years old, but she took on Drag Week like a champ. Kirker piloted her father's 1957 Chevy Belair to a 10.94 average after overcoming a tough first day. The hard work paid off for Kirker, as she made the Street Machine Eliminator top 40 race, and even went a couple of rounds.
Drag Week must have felt like Drag Month to Bryant Goldstone. As the week went on, things got tougher for Goldstone due to mechanical issues, but he never gave up. When Goldstone rolled into National Trail Raceway, his path to victory was clear, but that path was full of potholes. On his first pass, Goldstone's Javelin destroyed a U-joint at the rear of the Gear Vendor's Overdrive unit. Goldstone pulled the Gear Vendors unit and bolted in a longer drive shaft to continue. What Goldstone didn't know, is when the drive shaft failed, it also damaged his transmission and torque converter. So, when Goldstone tried to make another pass he had no reverse, therefore, he had no transbrake. After another epic thrash, Goldstone replaced the Javelin's transmission and torque converter. On his third attempt of the day, Goldstone laid down a 6.59 pass, enough to win the Overall Drag Week title and Ultimate Iron class title.
