Photos by Jeanne Allen

Feb. 20 & 21, 2010. The Huntsville Engine "King of the Coast" Bracket Series Kicked off it's 6th Season of racing this past weekend as the Bracket Bash invaded Gulfport Dragway in Gulfport, MS. With a good weather forecast in store racers from Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky and Texas made the trip to Gulfport Dragway hoping to cash in on the $26,000 Weekend Purse and to experience the "King of the Coast" Bracket Drag Racing Series. 190 race cars which turned into over 200 entries were ready to take to the track Saturday morning.


Saturday Pro Electronics Winner - AJ Ashe

As fate would have it first round of eliminations for Pro Electronics, Pro Footbrake and Sportsman would not kick off till 3 p.m. due to a racer hitting the guardrail during the last time trial session which resulted in fluid on the 2nd half of the 1/8 mile. There were no injuries to the racer. Once eliminations kicked off the race went into the night with no major delays as A.J. Ashe of Gulfport, MS tangled horns with Timmy Malone of Toney, AL in the final as Ashe would take the first "KOC" Pro Electronics WIN in 2010. Ashe piloted the Mullis 4-Link Dragster owned by Steven Barnett of Gulfport, MS in that WIN. "It was one of those races where all the breaks went my way. I had a bunch of close races that could have went either way," Ashe stated. "I also wanted to thank Steven for letting run his dragster this weekend. He has a good piece," Ashe concluded. Alabama heavy hitter Kevin Pruett of Millbrook, AL took home Semi-Final money.


Saturday Pro Footbrake Winner and R/U- Phil Combs

In Pro Footbrake a stout field of Footbrakers which included Scott Taylor of Petal, MS, Mike Barnett of Columbia, MS, Phil Combs of Demossville, KY, Aaron Hill of Gulfport, MS, Timmy Fieramusca of Kenner, LA had full intentions of taking home the $2,000.00 Winner's Purse. Combs took home the WIN and R/U as Combs defeated Shane Bounds of Purvis, MS in the Semi-Finals when Bounds went red.


Saturday 13-17 Winner Brittney Neely

When all the dust cleared second generation and new to the "KOC" Junior program Brittney Neely of Florence, MS took home the WIN in the 8 & 9 Division over an up and coming Lemaul Oubre of Marrero, LA. Veteran "KOC" racer Hannah Bailey of Marrero, LA took the WIN in the 10-12 Division over fellow veteran "KOC" racer Trent Evans of Belle Chase, LA. The Junior 13-17 Division featured James Hulse of Slidell, LA picking up where he finished in 2010, in the Winner's Lane, but this time it was over Tristian Sholar of Gonzales, LA.


Hannah Bailey

The Sportsman class Thad Smith of Slidell, LA taking the WIN over Sheryl Hidalgo (mother of former Jr. Dragster 10-12 Champion Joe Hidalgo III) of Westwego, LA.

The Sunday racing action went well as Alex Tritt of Picayune, MS defeated Joe Hidalgo III in the 13-17 Jr. Dragster Division. "I have a feeling these two gentlemen will meet in the "KOC" finals a lot this year," Rolison stated with big grin on his face. The second half of the Double Trouble Racing Team Selena Bailey of Marrero, LA took
the WIN in the Jr. 10-12 Division over former "KOC" Champion Blaine Stewart of Angie, LA. "Hannah and Selena get better every time they come to the track. Their potential with what they can accomplish is not even measurable," Rolison commented.

In the Jr. 8 & 9 Division a new face visited Victory Lace for the first time as a driver. Second generation driver and son of former "KOC" Champion David Reynolds, Nathan Reynolds of Petal, MS took the WIN over Trevor Palmisano of Belle Chase, LA. "If Nathan can somehow grasp the skills that is dad has, Nathan will be one heck of a racer. As for Trevor, he is making a habit of visiting the pay window and maybe the odds on favorite to WIN the 8 & 9 Championship in 2010 based on his racing experience," Rolison explained.



James Hulse
As the Junior Dragsters finished up and we entered the fifth round of racing in Pro Electronics, Pro Footbrake and Sportsman the drizzle that hit during the morning returned in a light rain. After about a 30 minute delay and a local radar providing us the information that more rain would continue for possibly the next hour the "KOC" staff made the decision to split the purse evenly between the racers left in competition in their respective classes.

Event Two of the Huntsville Engine "King of the Coast" Bracket Series is slated for March 6 & 7 at Gulfport Dragway in Gulfport, MS.