Wied’s Second Title Highlights 2025 Western Conference Finals at Texas Motorplex

Carson Wied picked up his second NHRA Right Trailers Western Conference Finals championship to highlight the first of two national events for racers in the NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League. Wied earned the Wally in the 12-year-old class at this year’s event at Texas Motorplex, adding it to the one he earned in the 10-year-old bracket in 2023. Joining Wied in the winner’s circle were first-time champions Bo Smith (age 6-9), Ryker Flowers (10), Gavin Fojt (11), Holden Pavlock (13), Luka Markham (14), Allison Bolle (15), and Sarah Kidd (16-17). Led by individual titlists Bolle and Kidd, Tucson Dragway Team claimed the team championship.

In the 6-9 age-group final, Smith, who hails from Jay, Fla., got off the starting line first .023 to .043, and carried the advantage to an 11.996 (11.95 dial) to 12.022 (12.13) win against Norman, Okla. racer Cash Saum.

Hutch Harger, of Pace, Fla., had the reaction-time edge in the 10-year-old category title round, but he carried too much momentum at the top end and broke out with an 8.960 (8.97). That opened the door for Kingsbury, Texas’ Flowers, who turned on the win light with an 8.918 (8.90).

Dayton, Texas, runner Fojt got a .071-second lead at the Tree in his final-round bout with Lily Steadman, of Derby, Kan., and used it to his full advantage. Both racers broke out with Fojt’s closer 8.978 (8.98) earning him the 11-year-old class Wally against Steadman’s 8.972 (8.99).

Wied, who lives in Neenah, Wis., led the 12-year-old bracket title round wire to wire, pairing a .014 light with an 8.957 (8.94) en route to victory. Chino, Calif., competitor Presley Kinman finished second with an 8.945 (8.90).

The 13-year-old age-group final was decided at the Tree when Mont Belvieu, Texas, resident Mackenzie Walker went red by .017-second, turning on Pavlock’s win light. Tomball, Texas’ Pavlock celebrated with an 8.293 (8.21) victory lap.

After cutting a near-perfect .003 light, Markham wheeled his Scottsville, Ky.-based dragster to a 7.974 (7.96) to best Pflugerville, Texas, driver Tyler Janousek in the 14-year-old category final. Janousek claimed runner-up honors with a 7.984 (7.96).

In the closest final of the event, Tucson, Ariz., runner Bolle edged Punta Gorda, Fla.’s Matthew Peterson by .007-second to earn the 15-year-old class Wally. Peterson cut a perfect .000 light to get the early advantage, but Bolle was able to drive around him and win on a 7.906 (7.90) to 7.953 (7.90) count.

The event wrapped up with another great final-round match in the 16-17 group, in which Marana, Ariz., driver Kidd bested Briley Tipton, of Chattanooga, Tenn., by .011-second. Tipton left the starting line first, .025 to .046, but Kidd ran closer to the dial, 7.911 (7.90) to 7.942 (7.90), to claim the Wally.

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Results from the 2025 Western Conference Finals:

6-9

W: Bo Smith (Jay, Fla.): .023, 11.996 (11.95 dial)

R/U: Cash Saum (Norman, Okla.): .043, **12.022 (12.13)

Semifinalists: Trenton Tindle, Corbin Pennington

Quarterfinalists: Gavin Denis, Thomas Kerns, Parker Moberly

10

W: Ryker Flowers (Kingsbury, Texas): .080, 8.918 (8.90)

R/U: Hutch Harger (Pace, Fla.): .057, **8.960 (8.97)

Semifinalist: Sadie McDaniel

Quarterfinalists: Liam Lopez, Cash Pennington

11

W: Gavin Fojt (Dayton, Texas): .034, 8.978 (8.98)

R/U: Lily Steadman (Derby, Kan.): .105, **8.972 (8.99)

Semifinalist: Brogan Yates

Quarterfinalists: Hudson Reid, Braxton Tipton

12

W: Carson Wied (Neenah, Wis.): .014, 8.9957 (8.94)

R/U: Presley Kinman (Chino, Calif.): .104, 8.945 (8.90)

Semifinalist: Journey Morell

Quarterfinalists: Brett Gonzales, Rydin Cook, Jason Johnson

13

W: Holden Pavlock (Tomball, Texas): .044, 8.293 (8.21)

R/U: Mackenzie Walker (Mont Belvieu, Texas): -.017, *7.922 (7.94)

Semifinalists: Camden Teel, Mace Crandall

Quarterfinalists: Easton Hodge, Molly Doepel, Gage Rutledge

14

W: Luka Markham (Scottsville, Ky.): .003, 7.974 (7.96)

R/U: Tyler Janousek (Pflugerville, Texas): .056, 7.984 (7.96)

Semifinalist: Cayson Walker

Quarterfinalists: Camden Walker, Brenley Green, Mackenzie Roberts

15

W: Allison Bolle (Tucson, Ariz.): .043, 7.906 (7.90)

R/U: Matthew Peterson (Punta Gorda, Fla.): .000, 7.953 (7.90)

Semifinalists: Tyler Wied, Mallory Dolezal

Quarterfinalists: Lucas Graves, Dane Gonzales, Tristan Vehar, Landon Grayson

16-17

W: Sarah Kidd (Marana, Ariz.): .046, 7.911 (7.90)

R/U: Briley Tipton (Chattanooga, Tenn.): .025, 7.942 (7.90)

Semifinalist: Lane Morgan

Quarterfinalists: Addysan Rogers, Colby Wattenbarger

*red-light **breakout