Markham Joins Elite Group During Eastern Conference Finals at Bristol Dragway

Luka Markham became just the fourth driver to win both Conference Finals events when he outlasted the field in the 15-year-old class at the NHRA Right Trailers Eastern Conference Finals at Bristol Dragway. Joining Markham in the winner’s circle at the second of two national events for drivers in the NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League were Carter Hayes (age 6-9), Abram Grado (10), Austin Bucher (11), Case Brady (12), Rydin Cook (13), Shane Conner (14), Valarie Wright (16-17), and Maryland Int’l Raceway (team).

Markham, a winner at the 2025 NHRA Right Trailers Western Conference Finals, picked up another Conference Finals Wally when he bested fellow Beech Bend Raceway Park competitor Caden Taylor in the 15-year-old bracket title round. Markham got off the starting line first, .033 to .067, then ran .001-over his 8.09 to turn on the win light over Taylor’s 7.967 (7.94 dial).

Hayes added a second Eastern Conference Finals trophy to the family mantle, joining brother Connor as a champ when Lincoln Wisneski red-lighted by .001-second in the 6-9 age-group final. Hayes cut a .010 light and ran right on his 12.07 dial en route to victory.

Grado made the long haul from Gilbert, Ariz., pay off when he bested Bryce Troupe in the 10-year-old category. Grado cut a near-perfect .009 light that gave him a starting-line advantage of more than a tenth and never looked back, defeating Troupe on an 8.991 (8.90) to 9.146 (9.12) count.

Bucher got the automatic nod in the 11-year-old group final when Byron Kirkpatrick fouled. Bucher celebrated with a 9.055 (9.02) victory lap.

Brady won a tight battle with Raegan Ketterman to claim top honors in the 12-year-old class. Brady and Ketterman were evenly matched at the Tree with Brady’s .012 slightly edging the .019 of Ketterman, then the two stayed glued together downtrack with Brady’s 9.105 (9.06) finishing just .007-second ahead of the 8.999 (8.95) of Ketterman.

The 13-year-old bracket final was even closer with Cook narrowly defeating two-time Western Conference Finals champion Carson Wied by .002-second. Cook was first off the starting line, .015 to .027, which proved key. Wied ran closer to the dial with an 8.149 (8.12) but came up just short against the 7.939 (7.90) of Cook.

In the 14-year-old age-group title round, 2022 Eastern Conference Finals had a slight advantage at the Tree, .031 to .033, but he broke out by .003-second. Conner ran a clean 7.923 (7.92) to turn on the win light.

Wright got off the starting line first .016 to .063, in the 16-17 category final, and that proved key. Former Western Conference Finals champion Allison Bolle carried too much momentum while trying to catch Wright and broke out with a 7.854 (7.90). Wright ran .003-over her 7.90 dial to claim the win.

Bolstered by Wright’s win and the runner-up finish of Ketterman, Maryland Int’l Raceway dominated the team competition, tallying 41 points. The next-closest teams were Cecil County Dragway Team 2 and Wabash Valley Dragway Team 2, who each finished with 27. Wabash Team 1 was fourth with 26 points, and Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park Team 1 and Bristol Dragway Team 1 tied for fifth at 25 points apiece.

Special-award winners were Beech Bend Raceway Park (Team Spirit), Mason Acosta (Best Appearing Car), Ben Newton (Best Engineered Car), and Carolina Dragway (Best Appearing Team).

Results from the 2026 Eastern Conference Finals:

6-9

W: Carter Hayes (Max Meadows, Va.): .010, 12.076 (12.07 dial)

R/U: Lincoln Wisneski (Dickson City, Pa.): -.001, *11.935 (11.94)

Semifinalist: Ki Moberly

Quarterfinalists: Kynlee Darr, Lee Angelique Rivera Melende, Iancarlos Ferrer

10

W: Abram Grado (Gilbert, Ariz.): .009, 8.991 (8.90)

R/U: Bryce Troupe (Winter Haven, Fla.): .173, 9.146 (9.12)

Semifinalists: Cristian Pridgen, Brendan Schultze

Quarterfinalists: Mason Micetich, Abby Novitsky, Easton Fields

11

W: Austin Bucher (Howell, N.J.): .079, 9.055 (9.02)

R/U: Byron Kirkpatrick (Redkey, Ind.): -.012, *8.967 (8.91)

Semifinalist: Paige Doney

Quarterfinalists: Jaxon Brown, Connor Boyd, Garrett Cramer

12

W: Case Brady (Kingsport, Tenn.): .012, 9.105 (9.06)

R/U: Raegan Ketterman (Laurel, Del.): .019, 8.999 (8.95)

Semifinalists: Brady Dunigan Maeson Summers

Quarterfinalists: Gavin Fojt, Grayson Herbert, Morgan Pickens

13

W: Rydin Cook (Middleburg, Fla.): .015, 7.939 (7.90)

R/U: Carson Wied (Neenah, Wis.): .027, 8.149 (8.12)

Semifinalist: Camden Grayson

Quarterfinalists: Colette Zahnd, Justin Bunting

14

W: Shane Conner (Elkton, Md.): .033, 7.923 (7.92)

R/U: Gavin Cramer (New Market, Md.): .031, **7.957 (7.96)

Semifinalist: Tyler Lusby

Quaterfinalists: Lexie Klinger, Nash Rachford

15

W: Luka Markham (Scottsville, Ky.): .033, 8.091 (8.09)

R/U: Kaden Taylor (Columbia, Tenn.): .067, 7.967 (7.94)

Semifinalist: Logan Oliveira

Quarterfinalists: Lucas Willard, Ella Ketterman

16-17

W: Valarie Wright (Dinwiddie, Va.): .016, 7.903 (7.90)

R/U: Allison Bolle (Tucson, Ariz.): .063, **7.854 (7.90)

Semifinalist: Abigail Norment

Quarterfinalists: Ean Guenthardt, Michael Artim

*red-light     **breakout