Moore Enjoys Productive Sunday In Bristol Dragway Bracket Race

BY ALLEN GREGORY
BRISTOL HERALD COURIER

BRISTOL, Tenn. – It was a relaxing Sunday afternoon for Donald Moore.

After some fast-paced recreation, the Blountville resident found a shady spot on the banks of Beaver Creek and celebrated with friends.
And the 50-year-old account executive at Tri-Cities Classifieds had much to celebrate.

While other Mountain Empire residents escaped the summer heat at area lakes and parks, Moore competed in the Brawl in Bristol bracket racing event at Bristol Dragway.
In fact, Moore posted a landmark finish in the Super Pro category with his trusty 2004 Mustang.

“I’m tickled to death,” Moore said. “We lost by four-thousandths of a second in the final round, but I’m happy.”

Moore posted a speed of 5.822 seconds at 119.08 miles per hour in the finals. In bracket racing, drivers must run as close to an established dial-in time as possible without going over. The dial-in for Moore was 5.83. That was not good enough to beat Jeffrey Walls. The Knoxville racer posted a time of 4.966, against a dial-in of 4.97, at 138.74 in his dragster.

“It was a close race,” Moore said. “It’s all about going rounds here, that’s your motivation.”

The bracket racing world operates much like a brotherhood. Even rivals share advice, food and parts.
For Moore and his longtime friend William Spangler from Bristol, it’s very much a collaborative effort.

“William and I worked at a motorcycle shop together for 18 years,” Moore said. “William helps me as a mechanic and engine builder, and I do the driving.”
It’s a cohesive relationship.

“We have fun racing together,” Spangler said.

Few motorsports fans realize the effort required to compete at even the local level. Moore has a compelling tale of sacrifice.

“I started drag racing right after Bristol became an NHRA [National Hot Rod Association] track around five years ago,” Moore said. “We bought a chassis in Florida and built this car from scratch.”

The search for speed wasn’t over.

“We’ve redone this car twice and spent about $7,000,” Moore said. “Over this past winter, we put on a new fiberglass body and had the car re-powder coated.
“It’s a competitive, good-driving car. We’re getting there.”

Moore almost captured that elusive first win Sunday.

“We got down to the final three at the Rogersville dragstrip once and had a good weekend at the Fun Ford show a couple year ago, but this was the best I’ve done,” Moore said.

Long after Sunday’s event concluded, Moore was still being congratulated by friends and fellow competitors.

The well-wishers included veteran drag racer and engine builder Larry Snead, and his racing-prodigy son Clinton, from Bluff City.

“It’s a close knit community in drag racing, especially with our group,” Moore said. “We all just dig in together and help each other.”

After some initial worry, the bracket racing community at Bristol Dragway has adjusted to the streamlined racing schedule at famed Thunder Valley.

“I can remember when we had the lanes completely full with Super Pro cars here,” Moore said. “I was kind of hurt at first when they decided to cut back on the bracket races, then they decided to add this 11-race program.

“Some folks who used to race here every week are now going to the tracks in Radford, Elk Creek and Rogersville. I think the numbers will build back up here if track officials want to have a more regular program.”

The location and tradition of Thunder Valley has a strong appeal for Moore and company.

“There’s not another facility that’s even close to being as nice as Bristol,” Moore said. “We live only 10 minutes from the track, so we’re used to racing here and we love it.”

Moore and his buddies plan to return to their favorite weekend hangout next week for the Fun Ford Nationals.

“We have a lot of fun, and it always helps when you have a good weekend like this,” Moore said.

Other local winners on Sunday included Hurley’s Jerry Coleman (Junior Dragster, Division 1), Chris Tester of Piney Flats (Junior Dragster, Division 2), Jonesborough’s Mike Conley (Pro Bike), Shaun Cowan of Bluff City (Pro) and Scott Vestal (Bristol) in Sportsman.

agregory@bristolnews.com | (276) 645-2544