Competing for big money in bracket racing means facing down a massive field, round after round, where every thousandth of a second matters.
At GALOT Motorsports Park, that intense test concluded with the final Wiseco Performance Products $50,000 event at the Strange Engineering Spring Fling presented by OPTIMA Batteries. Through fierce competition and a weather interruption, Dustin Smiley earned the top spot and claimed the $50,000 prize.
Close to 400 racers entered the event on Saturday, each hoping to reach the final round and take home the big check. Drivers battled head-to-head, with precision often determining who advanced. The large starting pool steadily shrank, bringing the competition down to a strong group of nine drivers aiming for the title. This stage saw tight matchups, including Dustin Smiley’s victory over AJ Currie, where only three thousandths separated them at the start.
Saturday eliminations were halted due to a thunderstorm and heavy rain. This pushed the remaining three rounds to Sunday morning. When racing resumed, the reduced field went back to work to decide the finalists. In the semifinals, Ryan Barnes moved into the final pairing. Dustin Smiley also secured his spot after a winning run against Jeff Taylor. Zac Fulcher took a solo pass to round out the final three before the last matchup was set.
The deciding race was an all door car final between Dustin Smiley and Zac Fulcher. Both drivers were sharp off the starting line, Smiley with a 0.012 reaction time and Fulcher with a 0.014. Dustin Smiley took the win light; he ran just two-thousandths under his dial-in to secure the victory. This win is Dustin Smiley’s second Fling event title; he adds this $50,000 prize to a $15,000 win he earned at GALOT in the previous year.
With the Spring Fling concluded at GALOT, the Fling Tour now looks ahead to its next stop. The inaugural Summit Racing Equipment Fling presented by Total Seal Piston Rings is scheduled for August 27-31 at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio.
Navigating fields of hundreds takes skill and some luck, all in the chase for massive payouts. Dustin Smiley conquered the Spring Fling, but the Fling Tour moves fast. Potential competitors will soon gather in Norwalk, ready for another chance to claim a big money title. Make sure to stay tuned.
