The Southeast Gassers Association (SEGA) brought pure nostalgia drag racing chaos to Alabama for the inaugural Bama Brawl presented by Superior Performance Transmissions, and Holiday Raceway delivered the kind of unpredictable, wheelstanding action that has become synonymous with SEGA competition.
For the first time in nearly five years, SEGA championship racing returned to Alabama, and the historic Holiday Raceway in Woodstock proved to be both a challenge and a spectacle. From centerline crossings and wall contact to record-setting runs and razor-close finals, the Bama Brawl became an instant highlight of the 2026 SEGA season.
Racers from across the Southeast and as far away as Wisconsin and Texas rolled into Holiday Raceway with limited track knowledge and no opportunity for additional testing due to weather. As soon as qualifying began, it became clear the surface would demand every bit of skill drivers had.
Cars launched violently, wheels high in the air, darting left and right as drivers wrestled their vintage-style gassers down the track. Timing blocks were sacrificed, walls were tagged, and fans lined the fences capturing every chaotic moment on their phones.
Ben Christopher Survives Wild A/Gas Battle
A/Gas produced some of the weekend’s biggest moments, with eventual winner Ben Christopher at the center of much of the action. Christopher unloaded strong, posting a 5.22-second qualifying pass in his Happy Daze Chevy II gasser to secure the No. 1 qualifying position.
In round one, Christopher squared off against defending A/Gas champion Chase Howard, who rebounded from a difficult qualifying effort with a strong 5.23-second run. Christopher answered with low elapsed time of the meet at 5.15 seconds.
The drama escalated in round two when Brad Henry’s Wild Child Willys got loose past the 330-foot mark and slammed the wall after a violent move across the track. Henry exited under his own power, but the incident underscored just how difficult conditions were all weekend.
Christopher eventually met Leslie Horne in the final round. Horne had steadily improved throughout eliminations, dropping from a 5.44-second qualifying run to a 5.25-second pass in the final. But a red-light start handed Christopher the victory and the A/Gas points lead.
Tennessee Drivers Steal The Show In B/Gas
The B/Gas category turned into a Tennessee showdown, with Ted McKee and Charlie Lee battling for the win. McKee, driving the Rocky Top Missile Chevy II, qualified No. 1 with a 5.54-second run and maintained consistent performance throughout eliminations.
Charlie Lee’s debut SEGA appearance immediately grabbed attention after a dramatic qualifying run filled with towering wheelstands and a centerline crossing. Once the Mustang settled down, Lee found consistency and speed, eventually advancing to the final against McKee. The final became one of the closest races of the weekend, with Lee edging McKee in a side-by-side battle, 5.58 seconds to 5.57 seconds.
Jerren Perdue Resets The Standard In C/Gas
Defending C/Gas champion Jerren Perdue delivered one of the most dominant performances of the event. After qualifying No. 1, Perdue reset the C/Gas record during eliminations with a stunning 5.947-second pass. He continued running in the 5.90s throughout race day, showcasing unmatched consistency.
His final-round opponent, Alabama’s Todd Oden, fought through a stacked field to set up a rematch of the season opener at Shadyside Dragway. Both cars launched hard with wheels in the air, charging side-by-side to the finish line in one of the weekend’s best races. Perdue took the win with a 5.95-second pass to Oden’s 5.96-second effort.
Jerry Dean Continues Super Stock Dominance
In Super Stock, Alabama’s Jerry Dean once again proved to be the class of the field. Dean extended his SEGA winning streak to six races dating back to last season, defeating Rob Walden in another rematch from the Shadyside opener. Walden posted a respectable 6.67-second run, but Dean’s 6.35-second pass further emphasized the performance gap he currently holds over the competition.
The Bama Brawl reinforced exactly why the Southeast Gassers Association continues to stand out in nostalgia drag racing. For racers and fans alike, the inaugural Bama Brawl put on one heck of a show.
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