2015 Western Conference Finals
Each season, racers from throughout the western United States and Canada take their shot at Wallys and a share of prize money during the NHRA Jr. Drag Racing Western Conference Finals. The event features racers from all tracks in Divisions 6 and 7 and some from Divisions 4 and 5. Each NHRA member track may send an unlimited number of teams of 10 racers to the event. The event awards a Wally and prize money to the winner in each of the eight age categories -- 6-9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16-17 -- and a Wally to each member of the winning team.
2015 Jr. Drag Racing Western Conference Finals
Rocky Mountain Raceways (West Valley City, Utah)
July 16-18
Quick links: Schedule | Awards/Purse | Participant Guideline | FAQs
July 18, 2015
Poe's record third win highlights Western Conference Finals
Results quick links: 6-9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16-17 | Jr. Comp | Special Awards | Best Reaction Time | Closest to Dial | Top of the Mountain | Lucas Oil Age Race
![]() 2015 Western Conference Finals champions |
![]() 2015 Western Conference Finals runners-up |
![]() 2015 Western Conference Finals team champion |
![]() 2015 Western Conference Finals Team Spirit winner |
Cade Poe became the first three-time Conference Finals/National Championships winner in the history of the NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League when he outlasted the field in the 13-year-old age group. Joining Poe in the winner’s circle were Isabella Scofield (age 6-9), Lilian Cacioppo (10), Ryan Mason (11), Damon Bustamante (12), Dylan Oliveira (14), Tristan Marti (15), Jake Jones (16-17), AJ Thomas (Jr. Comp), and Sacramento Raceway (team champion).
Poe, a Los Alamitos, Calif., racer who was part of the Auto Club Famoso Raceway team, added this year’s 13-year-old age group Wally to the ones he earned in 2012 (10) and 2013 (11) when he won a tight double-breakout final against Kate Worsham, who resides in Villa Park, Calif., and was part of the Barona 1/8-Mile Drag Strip team. Both Poe and Worsham cut .025 lights in the final, but Poe was closer to his dial in the 7.88 (7.90 dial) to 7.89 (7.92) contest.
Poe wasn’t the only multi-time winner at this year’s event. Thunder Valley Raceway Park’s Marti, who was a winner alongside Poe at the 2012 event, picked up his second Western Conference Finals title by outlasting Josiah Nava in the 15-year-old age bracket. In the final, Nava, a Bandimere Speedway racer from Avondale, Colo., left the starting line .002-second too soon. That gave the automatic win to Noble, Okla., racer Marti, who cut a .081 light and posted a 7.86 (7.90).
West Jordan, Utah, competitor Jones also picked up his second Western Conference Finals victory. Jones, who raced for host track Rocky Mountain Raceways, got a reaction-time edge of more than a tenth over Trey Vetter, a Henderson, Nev., racer who was part of the The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and turned it into a 7.95 (7.90) to 7.99 (7.97) holeshot win. Jones was also a winner at the 2008 event.
Scofield, who hails from Winslow, Ariz., and was part of Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park’s team, turned a .030 to .111 reaction-time advantage into a 12.16 (11.98) to 12.58 (12.39) win against Las Vegas, Nev., runner Jessica Boardman, in the 6-9 age group final.
Cacioppo, an Orangevale, Calif., resident who was part of the winning Sacramento team, also had the reaction-time edge in the 10-year-old class final, and she used it to defeat Colorado Springs, Colo., racer Donovan Harless, 9.57 (9.47) to 8.93 (8.90).
San Clemente, Calif.’s Mason chalked up a second win for Wild Horse Pass when Brittney Sturdevant, a Draper, Utah, resident who was part of the Las Vegas team, went red in the 11-year-old age-group final. Mason cut a .077 light and ran right on his 9.09 dial en route to victory.
After finishing as the runner-up in Friday’s Top of the Mountain race, Bustamante, a member of the Barona team from San Dimas, Calif., went the distance in today in the12-year-old category. In the final, Jack Stanfield, who lives in Placerville, Calif., and was racing for Sacramento, had the slight reaction-time edge, but Bustamante ran closer to the dial in the 8.93 (8.91) to 9.22 (9.19) contest.
Oliveira, a Famoso competitor from Cypress, Calif., got the automatic nod in the 14-year-old title round when Joey Leal, a Sacramento Raceway competitor who lives in Loomis, Calif., went red. Oliveira cut a .042 light and ran an 8.05 (8.08).
After finishing as the runner-up in last year’s Jr. Comp exhibition at the Western Conference Finals, Chowchilla, Calif., driver Thomas was able to turn on one more win light this time around in the class that runs on a 6.90 index. In the final, Thomas cut a strong .009 light and he used it to beat Mesa, Ariz., competitor Brandon Marcheski, 6.940 to 6.944.
Bolstered by Cacioppo’s win and the runner-up finish by Stanfield, Sacramento Raceway Team 1 took home this year’s team championship. The group tallied 19 points. Barona 1/8-Mile Drag Strip finished second with 18 points, followed by The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Team 2 (17), Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park (17), and Auto Club Famoso Raceway Team 2 (16).
The competition for the Team Spirit award was tough once again this year with several teams contending for the title, which ultimately went to The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Other special-award winners were Jordan Dyer (Best Overall Appearing Car), Dylan Horridge (Best Appearing Theme Car), Cason Segundo (Coolest Car), and Auto Club Famoso Raceway (Best Appearing Track).
Trophies were also presented to the drivers who cut the best reaction time on winning run in round one and to the drivers who had the best package on a winning run in round one. The Best Reaction Time award winners were Cy Mitchell (6-9), Lacey Martin (10), Mason (11), Maverick Molloy (12), Korban Lewis (13), Derrick Hegwood (14), Amy Book (15), and Shelby Rae Schoenfeld (16-17). Closest to Dial winners were Jake Taylor (6-9), Harless (10), Aaron Covington (10), Cavica Wilkerson (11), Molloy (12), Poe (13), Oliveira (14), Blake Johnson (15), and Schoenfeld (16-17).
July 18, 2015
Jordan Dyer (Best Overall Appearing Car), Dylan Horridge (Best Appearing Theme Car), Cason Segundo (Coolest Car), and Auto Club Famoso Raceway (Best Appearing Track) received special awards at the NHRA Jr. Drag Racing Western Conference Finals.
Best Overall Appearing Car
Best Appearing Theme Car
Coolest Car
Best Appearing Track
July 18, 2015
Following are the drivers who cut the best reaction time on a winning run in round one.
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Age Group | Driver | Reaction |
6-9 |
Cy Mitchell |
.012 |
10 |
Lacey Martin |
.007 |
11 |
Ryan Mason |
.022 |
12 |
Maverick Molloy |
.000 |
13 |
Korban Lewis |
.003 |
14 |
Derrick Hegwood |
.013 |
15 |
Amy Book |
.011 |
16-17 |
Shelby Rae Schoenfeld |
.006 |
July 18, 2015
Following are the drivers who ran closest to the dial on a winning run in round one.
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Age Group | Driver | E.T. (Dial) |
6-9 |
Jake Taylor |
13.907 (13.90) |
10 |
Donovan Harless |
8.920 (8.90) |
Aaron Covington |
8.920 (8.90) |
|
11 |
Cavica Wilkerson |
8.903 (8.90) |
12 |
Maverick Molloy |
8.919 (8.90) |
13 |
Cade Poe |
7.901 (7.90) |
14 |
Dylan Oliveira |
8.053 (8.05) |
15 |
Blake Johnson |
7.908 (7.90) |
16-17 |
Shelby Rae Schoenfeld |
7.902 (7.90) |
July 18, 2015
Eliminations under way at Rocky Mountain Raceways
The quest for Wallys has officially begun at the NHRA Jr. Drag Racing League Western Conference Finals, one of two national events in the NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League.
Alaina McCary, far lane, was the event's first winner of the weekend when she defeated Caden Ball in the first pair of 6-9 competitors.
July 17, 2015
Top of the Mountain Final Results
![]() Final round: Austin Jackson, near lane, defeated Damon Bustamante |
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Round 1 | ||||
Driver | Hometown | R.T. | E.T. | (Dial) |
Jared Jones | West Jordan, Utah | .038 | 8.030 | (7.90) |
Kaden Bean | Sumner, Wash. | .206 | 8.103 | (8.10) |
Cade Poe | Los Alamitos, Calif. | .043 | 7.931 | (7.90) |
Emersyn Rose Pires | Madera, Calif. | .181 | 11.906 | (11.90) |
Damon Bustamante | San Dimas, Calif. | .045 | 8.910 | (8.90) |
Samantha Yowell | Chowchilla, Calif. | .084 | 8.013 | (7.97) |
Steven Jackson | Aurora, Colo. | .062 | 9.107 | (9.05) |
Hunter Priest | Layton, Utah | .065 | 9.053 | (9.08) |
Codi Bettis | DeLeon, Texas | .036 | 7.930 | (7.91) |
AJ Thomas | Chowchilla, Calif. | .039 | 8.424 | (8.43) |
Tabitha Boardman | Las Vegas, Nev. | .144 | 8.985 | (8.95) |
Wyatt Hahn | Grand Junction, Colo. | -.039 | 9.836 | (9.81) |
Austin Jackson | Lakewood, Colo. | .160 | 7.922 | (7.90) |
Jessica Boardman | Las Vegas, Nev. | .222 | 12.424 | (12.38) |
Nolan Oliveira | Cypress, Calif. | .111 | 9.087 | (9.06) |
Hannah Ellison | Las Vegas, Nev. | .122 | 7.917 | (7.90) |
Round 2 | ||||
Austin Jackson | Lakewood, Colo. | .006 | 7.936 | (7.90) |
Jared Jones | West Jordan, Utah | .053 | 7.896 | (7.90) |
Damon Bustamante | San Dimas, Calif. | .001 | 8.925 | (8.90) |
Cade Poe | Los Alamitos, Calif. | .059 | 7.892 | (7.90) |
Codi Bettis | DeLeon, Texas | .084 | 7.936 | (7.92) |
Tabitha Boardman | Las Vegas, Nev. | .082 | 9.020 | (8.98) |
Nolan Oliveira | Cypress, Calif. | .096 | 9.087 | (9.08) |
Steven Jackson | Aurora, Colo. | .208 | 9.130 | (9.09) |
Semifinals | ||||
Damon Bustamante | San Dimas, Calif. | .025 | 8.941 | (8.90) |
Codi Bettis | DeLeon, Texas | .025 | 8.941 | (8.90) |
Austin Jackson | Lakewood, Colo. | .031 | 7.980 | (7.90) |
Nolan Oliveira | Cypress, Calif. | .103 | 9.065 | (9.07) |
Final | ||||
Austin Jackson | Lakewood, Colo. | .066 | 7.935 | (7.93) |
Damon Bustamante | San Dimas, Calif. | .086 | 8.896 | (8.90) |
July 17, 2015
Friday Photo Highlights
July 16, 2015
Lucas Oil Age Group Race Final-Round Results
![]() 10-year-old final: Tripp Breitkreitz, near lane, defeated Mayson Hawker |
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Driver | Hometown | R.T. | E.T. |
6-9 | |||
Alaina McCary | Clinton, Utah | .275 | 12.120 |
Caden Barth | Greeley, Colo. | .193 | 13.994 |
10 | |||
Tripp Breitkreitz | Casa Grande, Ariz. | .111 | 9.125 |
Mayson Hawker | Wellsville, Utah | .181 | 12.490 |
11 | |||
Braden Bettis | DeLeon, Texas | .218 | 9.113 |
Hailey Dubach | Syracuse, Utah | .317 | 9.260 |
12 | |||
Brooke Rainey | Wilton, Calif. | .022 | 8.907 |
Sydney Kopping | Placerville, Calif. | .116 | 8.929 |
13 | |||
Sam Hartnett | Winslow, Ariz. | .010 | 8.065 |
Michael Crump | Elk Grove, Calif. | .121 | 7.884 |
14 | |||
Elizabeth Strones | Flagstaff, Ariz. | .023 | 8.017 |
Josh Gagnon | Las Vegas, Nev. | .126 | 8.716 |
15 | |||
Kris Trimp | Wilton, Calif. | .025 | 8.144 |
Parker Theobald | Saint George, Utah | .045 | 9.841 |
16-17 | |||
Kevin Motter | Anaheim, Calif. | .006 | 7.941 |
Shawn Hart | Layton, Utah | .008 | 8.003 |
Jr. Comp | |||
Brandon Marcheski | Mesa, Ariz. | .045 | 6.895 |
Jordan Dyer | Colorado Springs, Colo. | .033 | 6.879 |
July 16, 2015
Thursday Photo Highlights
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Click here for photo highlights from the first day of activity at the 2015 NHRA Jr. Drag Racing Western Conference Finals at Rocky Mountain Raceways, one of two national events in the NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League. The event kicked off with two time trial runs for all participants, followed by a special Lucas Oil age-group race. Action continues Friday with two time trial runs and the Top of the Mountain race that will award a rolling chassis to the winner. Final eliminations for the Western Conference Finals take place Saturday. |
July 16, 2015
NHRA Jr. Drag Racing Western Conference Finals under way
The 2015 NHRA Jr. Drag Racing Western Conference Finals, one of two national events in the NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League, is officially under way at Rocky Mountain Raceways in West Valley City, Utah. All competitors are making two time runs today, and a special Lucas Oil-sponsored age-group race will take place after time runs.
July 15, 2015
NHRA Jr. Drag Racing Western Conference Finals brings the best young drag racers to Rocky Mountain Raceways
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WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah — Rocky Mountain Raceways will host the NHRA Jr. Drag Racing Western Conference Finals event, July 16-18. Nearly 300 racers from the NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League, ages 6 to 17 years, will compete for team and individual honors and a share of the event purse.
Teams of drivers in eight age categories drive half-scale dragsters powered by five-horsepower engines that may reach speeds up to 85 mph. They can cover the eighth-mile track in as quick as 7.90 seconds. Also in competition is the Jr. Comp class for racers 14 years and older, which run as fast as 110 mph in 6.90 seconds.
Each of the 10 members of the team champion at the NHRA Jr. Drag Racing Western Conference Finals event will receive the coveted NHRA Wally trophy. Individual champions will each earn $1,500 along with a NHRA Wally trophy and champions jacket.
Gates at Rocky Mountain Raceways open at 8 a.m. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Each age category will get two time trials on Thursday, starting at 9 a.m., and Friday, starting at 9:00 a.m. Eliminations will start on Saturday morning at 9 a.m.
Rocky Mountain Raceways is located at 6555 West 2100 South in West Valley City, Utah. For ticket information contact the track, 801-252-9557, or visit RMRRacing.com.
EVENT FACT SHEET
WHAT: NHRA Jr. Drag Racing Western Conference Finals event, where teams of 10 drivers, age 6-17, from tracks across the western United States, compete in eight age classes for individual and team honors. Kids drive half-scale dragsters powered by five-horsepower engines and may run the eighth-mile track as quick as 7.90 seconds.
WHERE: Rocky Mountain Raceways, West Valley City, Utah. Track is located at 6555 West 2100 South.
WHEN: Thursday through Saturday, July 16-18.
SCHEDULE: THURSDAY, July 16 - Gates open at 8 a.m. Time trials begin at 9 a.m. Each age group will have two time trial runs.
FRIDAY, July 17 - Gates open at 8 a.m. Time trials start at 9 a.m. Each age group will have two time trial runs.
SATURDAY, July 18 - Gates open at 8 a.m. Eliminations at 9 a.m.
PURSE: Individual winners for the NHRA Jr. Drag Racing Western Conference Finals event will each earn $1,500 along with the champions NHRA Wally trophy and jacket; runners-up will each earn $500; round money starts with round two winners. Each member of the team champion will receive the coveted NHRA Wally trophy.
2014 EVENT WINNERS: Kaylee Haabrink, 8-9; Braden Bettis, 10; Jason Horridge, 11; Cadie Del Toro, 12; Jenna Michaud, 13; Seth Anderson, 14; Shelby Rae Schoenfield, 15; Travis Van Maarion, 16 -17; Joe Harless, Jr. Comp; Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park, team champion.
TICKETS: Call Rocky Mountain Raceways, 801-252-9557, for ticketing information.
May 5, 2015
NHRA Jr. Conference Finals planning in full swing
The NHRA Jr. Drag Racing Western and Eastern Conference Finals are quickly approaching as host tracks Rocky Mountain Raceways and Bristol Dragway ready for great fun on and off the track.
Bristol Dragway will again host several pre-event specialty races while Rocky Mountain Raceways will host a test and tune on Wednesday and their specialty events in the evenings once event time trials have been completed. The annual racer appreciation parties and special awards ceremonies are also being planned where numerous awards will be presented in all age groups.
NHRA Member Tracks across the country are putting their teams together now as sign-ups will begin soon for both online team rosters and racer registration.
A new purse structure will be in place for this year’s events with payouts beginning with second-round winners, working their way up to the $1,500 champion’s purse that accompanies the coveted NHRA champion’s Wally trophy, an NHRA Gold Card, and champion’s jacket.
Both Conference Finals events are part of the NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League that also consists of NHRA divisional series events, division finals, and local events contested at nearly all NHRA Member Tracks across North America.
April 30, 2015
Daily event schedule released
Rocky Mountain Raceways has set the day-to-day schedule for activities during the week of the NHRA Jr. Drag Racing Western Conference Finals. You can access the schedule through the link near the top of this page or through the Schedules menu.
April 9, 2015
Conference Finals news
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NHRA and track officials have made a few changes for the 2015 editions of the NHRA Jr. Drag Racing Western and Eastern Conference Finals, which are in July at Rocky Mountain Raceways and Bristol Dragway, respectively. The changes start with the logos for the events, which have a new look for 2015 (you can see those to the right).
Another change is to the youngest age group, which will expand to include 6-7-year-old competitors. The age groups at this year’s events will be 6-9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16-17. Jr. Comp will also run as part of the Western Conference Finals.
In addition, this year tracks in Divisions 4 and 5 will be able to pick which of the Conference Finals events its team will attend. A track cannot send a team to both events — they must choose one or the other.
While a track may not send a team to both events, racers are permitted to attend both the Western and Eastern Conference Finals, but they must qualify for a track team for each event.
Further details on the Western and Eastern Conference Finals, including event schedules, purse details, and more will be announced soon.