2026 BIR ET Bracket Racing Series Race #5 & #6 Recap
- Brainerd International Raceway
- Jun 25
- 6 min read
Updated: Jun 30
Date: June 19-21, 2026
Location: Brainerd International Raceway
Photo Credit: Eagle Eye Photography
After Friday’s rain washed out Test & Tune and the Jackpot races, racers were greeted by perfect weather for the remainder of the weekend as more than 300 competitors took to Brainerd International Raceway for Summit ET Bracket Series Races #5 and #6. Along with valuable championship points, racers were chasing one of the season’s biggest prizes — the coveted NHRA King of the Track title and Wally trophy.
Saturday's Race #5 featured the annual King of the Track competition, where the winners from ResTech Systems Super Pro, Track Stop Pro ET, Thunder Valley Classic Cars Sportsman, DOA DragSleds & Bikes, Feist Automotive & Towing Stock/Super Stock, Comp Trophy, and Street Trophy earned the opportunity to compete for the coveted NHRA King of the Track honor and the Wally that comes with it.
In ResTech Systems Super Pro, Andy Schmall, who traveled from Idaho Falls, Idaho to join us for races 5 & 6 and the King of the Track Wally race, squared off against Brad Mickle and his '67 Mustang. Schmall in his '88 Beretta earned the victory when Mickle turned on the red light by just .007 seconds, sending Schmall into the King of the Track runoff.
The Track Stop Pro ET final featured Mel Knott's '48 Pontiac against Dave Engler's '70 Charger R/T. Knott used a starting line advantage to hold off Engler, who posted a dead-on run, with Knott securing the victory by just .002 seconds.
Thunder Valley Classic Cars Sportsman saw Luke Schneider's '67 Nova SS face Kyle Davis and his '04 Mustang. Both competitors dialed a heads-up 11.74, and after being separated by just .008 at the starting line, Schneider collected the win in a double-breakout race.
In Feist Automotive & Towing Stock/Super Stock, Brad Koivisto's '74 Pontiac GTO advanced to the King of the Track runoff when Riley Speer turned on the red light in the final round.
The DOA DragSleds & Bikes final featured a family showdown as Brad Harder faced his daughter, Addie Harder. Brad's .011 reaction time helped secure the victory and a berth in the King of the Track runoff.
Todd Larson defeated John Takacs in a double-breakout Comp Trophy final, while Carter Luberda used a reaction-time advantage to defeat Don Haataja and earn the Street Trophy victory.
In Junior Street, Drew Schalm capped off an incredible week by driving directly to BIR after winning Sick Week on Friday at Byron Dragway and then defeating Ty Reynolds for the victory.
Junior Dragster Advanced saw Bodie Carlson defeat Collin Songas after Songas red-lit in the final. Hayden Hjelle claimed the Junior Dragster Intermediate victory over Jasper Urbick, while Paisley Jahr picked up the Junior Dragster Novice win when Blair Reynolds turned on the red light.
King of the Track Runoff
Seven class winners returned to the lanes Saturday evening with one goal remaining — earning the coveted NHRA King of the Track Wally. With the class winners determined, the King of the Track eliminations narrowed the field down to Track Stop Pro ET winner Mel Knott and DOA DragSleds & Bikes winner Brad Harder.
Harder used a reaction-time advantage aboard his Kawasaki ZX10R to hold off Knott's '48 Pontiac and capture the 2026 BIR NHRA King of the Track title and prestigious NHRA King of the Track Wally.
Sunday brought another beautiful day for Race #6 of the Summit ET Bracket Series.
In ResTech Systems Super Pro, Steve Elzy collected the victory in his front-engine dragster after Mike Campbell turned on the red light by .008 seconds in the final round.
The Track Stop Pro ET final paired Steve Stockton's '66 Nova against Christopher Takacs' '73 Camaro. In a double-breakout race, Stockton ran closer to his dial-in to secure the win.
Grant Pesola claimed the Thunder Valley Classic Cars Sportsman victory when Jack Anderson red-lit in the final round.
Less than 24 hours after earning the King of the Track Wally, Brad Harder returned to the winner’s circle Sunday to complete one of the most impressive weekends of the season, capturing the DOA DragSleds & Bikes victory and finishing with three wins across two days. Facing Jimmy Paulson, Harder posted a stellar .008 reaction time and a dead-on 6.027-second pass on his 6.02 dial, forcing Paulson into a breakout attempt. The victory completed a remarkable triple-up weekend for Harder.
In Feist Automotive & Towing Stock/Super Stock, Brett Speer defeated Ben Line in a razor-close double-breakout final. With nearly identical reaction times of .013 and .014, Speer earned the win by breaking out just .001 second less than Line.
Comp Trophy saw Triston Zimmerman defeat Chuck Cielinski after using a starting-line advantage and running 13.438 on a 13.43 dial. Mike Larson collected the Street Trophy victory when Jim Stockton fouled at the starting line.
Ty Reynolds captured the Junior Street win over Collin Songas in an all-truck final.
Junior Dragster Advanced featured a Carlson family showdown as Bodie Carlson defeated brother Colt Carlson. Bodie ran dead-on with an 8.006 on his 8.00 dial while Colt broke out by just .001 second.
Jasper Urbick earned the Junior Dragster Intermediate victory over Krew Speer, while Blair Reynolds rebounded from Saturday's final-round loss to capture the Junior Dragster Novice win over Cameron Davis.
Looking Ahead
That wraps up Brainerd International Raceway's Summit ET Bracket Series Races #5 and #6, along with the 2026 NHRA King of the Track competition. With six races complete, championship battles continue to tighten as racers chase season titles and coveted Team BIR positions for the NHRA Summit Division 5 ET Finals.
The next stop on the schedule will be Bracket Series Races #7 and #8, July 17-19, highlighted by the return of the Ken Niesen Memorial 64-Car Shootout honoring Jill Gilgosh.
The 64-Car Shootout is a race within a race. Every racer who turns in a tech card before 2 p.m. Saturday will be entered into a random drawing during the Saturday evening Hot Dog Feed presented by ResTech Systems and Feist Automotive & Towing. Sixty-four racers will be selected for the Shootout, which will be contested Sunday alongside Race #8 and will pay a minimum of $5,000 to the winner.
We hope to see everyone back at BIR for another exciting weekend of Summit ET Bracket Series competition.
The BIR ET Bracket Series is fueled by the racers, families, businesses, and partners that continue to invest in grassroots drag racing across the Midwest. BIR proudly thanks the 2026 class sponsors for helping support weekly competition and racer opportunities throughout the season.
ResTech Systems — Super Pro
Led by Dan Woody, ResTech Systems specializes in smart home integration, automation systems, audio/video technology, and high-end simulator experiences throughout the Twin Cities and Brainerd Lakes Area. Built around precision and performance, their involvement in the Super Pro category reflects a deep commitment to grassroots racing and the racer community.https://restechsystems.com
Track Stop Food & Fuel — Pro ET
Located directly outside the front gate at BIR, Track Stop Food & Fuel has become a race weekend staple for racers and fans alike. Owned and operated by Bob Igman, Steve, and Kayla Dreon, Track Stop provides fuel, food, ice, VP Racing Fuels, and race-day essentials while continuing to support the growth of the Pro ET category.https://www.facebook.com/trackstopbir
Thunder Valley Classic Cars — Sportsman
Since 1984, Thunder Valley Classic Cars has built a reputation around restoration, performance, and classic automotive craftsmanship. Their continued support of the Sportsman category helps strengthen one of the most competitive and tradition-rich classes at BIR.https://www.thundervalleyclassics.com
D.O.A. DragSleds — Bikes & Drag Sleds
Founded by Travis Neyssen, D.O.A. DragSleds designs and builds full-custom asphalt drag sleds engineered specifically for high-horsepower competition. Designed by racers for racers, the company continues to push innovation within one of BIR’s most unique racing categories.https://www.facebook.com/DOADragSleds
Feist Automotive & Towing — Stock / Super Stock
Ron and Bill Feist have long supported grassroots drag racing while operating a trusted automotive repair and towing business serving the North Metro Minneapolis Area. Their continued support helps preserve the heritage and competitiveness of the Stock & Super Stock category at BIR.https://feistauto.com
Vesel Construction — Jr. Dragster Novice
New to the program in 2026, Vesel Construction is a family-run restoration and reconstruction company based in Duluth. Led by owner Mike Sipper, the company’s support helps invest in the next generation of racers through the Jr. Dragster Novice program.https://www.veselconstruction.com
The BIR ET Bracket Series is part of the NHRA Summit Racing Series, giving racers the opportunity to compete locally at Brainerd International Raceway while chasing divisional and national championships. Built around consistency, reaction time, and driver skill, the series provides racers of all experience levels the opportunity to compete for season championships, TEAM BIR ET Finals positions, and a chance to race for national glory at the Summit Racing Equipment ET Finals.
Bracket racing at BIR continues to serve as one of the Midwest’s strongest grassroots racing communities, bringing together racers, families, and fans throughout the summer racing season.
Brainerd International Raceway (BIR), located in Brainerd, Minnesota, is one of the Midwest’s premier multi-discipline motorsports facilities. Home to the NHRA Nationals, BIR hosts drag racing, road racing, drifting, autocross, performance driving experiences, and grassroots motorsports events throughout the season.
The facility features a championship drag strip, multiple road course configurations, dedicated drift infrastructure, and destination camping that has made BIR a motorsports tradition for generations of racers and fans.
For schedules, tickets, racer information, and event details:https://www.birmn.com
