2026 BIR ET Bracket Racing Series Race #7 & #8 Featuring The Ken Niesen Memorial 64 Car Shootout Honoring Jill Gilgosch Recap
- Brainerd International Raceway
- 6 days ago
- 8 min read
Date: July17-19, 2026
Location: Brainerd International Raceway
Photo Credit: Eagle Eye Photography
Memorial Shootout Honoring Ken Niesen and Jill Gilgosh Highlights Special Weekend at BIR
Some race weekends are about championships and points. Others remind us why we all fell in love with this sport in the first place.
Brainerd International Raceway's seventh and eighth Summit ET Bracket Series races of the 2026 season delivered both. More than 300 entries, outstanding racing, an inaugural Stock/Super Stock special event, and one of the most meaningful traditions at BIR—the Ken Niesen Memorial 64-Car Shootout Honoring Jill Gilgosh—made for a weekend that celebrated not only competition, but the friendships, families and memories that define grassroots drag racing.
For many racers, it was a weekend that was every bit as much about the people as it was the win lights.
Adding to the excitement, the entire BIR facility was buzzing throughout the weekend. The Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) hosted its Midsummer Majors on the 2.5-mile road course, while universities were competing in the Formula Sun Solar Grand Prix on site, preparing and testing their solar-powered race cars ahead of their week-long competition. On the dragstrip, the Midwest Drag Racing Association (MDRA) joined the Bracket Series, while Stock and Super Stock racers enjoyed the inaugural North Star Summer Classic presented by Koivisto Trucking and Fuel Factory.
Although the temperatures hovered in the upper 80s throughout the weekend, racers packed the pits and delivered outstanding competition from Friday morning until Sunday evening.
Friday’s Test & Tune gave racers an opportunity to dial in their combinations before eliminations began.
The Gizmo Jackpot Race attracted 38 competitors. In the final, Gabe Killian drove his 1992 Mustang to victory over Jeff Rue’s Buick. Killian posted a .012 reaction time and was closer to his dial-in in a double-breakout finish.
The No Gizmo Jackpot Race drew 34 entries and featured Toby Giese’s 1967 Nova and Cole Casteel’s 1998 Chevrolet S-10 in the final. After a long, hot day at the track, the racers agreed to split the purse.
More than 310 entries took to the drag strip Saturday as racers pursued championship points and positions on Team BIR for the 2026 NHRA Summit ET Finals.
The weekend also marked the inaugural North Star Summer Classic presented by Koivisto Trucking and Fuel Factory. The Midwest Class Racers special event guaranteed $2,000 to the winner and $1,000 to the runner-up each day.
Every Saturday and Sunday tech card purchased for the weekend and turned in through tech inspection by Saturday afternoon also became an entry in the drawing for Sunday’s 64-car Memorial Shootout.
Saturday Winners
ResTech Systems Super Pro saw Ryan Athman defeat Charles Johnson after Johnson broke out by .003-second, giving Athman the victory.
In Track Stop Pro ET, Joe Howell used a stellar .005 reaction time and a .022 package to defeat Brad Mickle, whose dead-on four pass came up just short.
The Thunder Valley Classic Cars Sportsman final was one of the closest races of the weekend. Gene Harmel and Jason Sandstrom posted nearly identical reaction times and both finished with a difference of .003 from their dial-ins, with Harmel edging Sandstrom by only .002-second.
In DOA Drags Bike/Sled, Mike Cheney, riding Jimmy Paulson's Hayabusa, used an .008 reaction time to defeat Paulson.
Race #1 of the North Star Summer Classic belonged to Jack Beutler, who defeated Riley Speer. Beutler was nearly perfect with a .002 light and dead-on four pass to earn the $2,000 victory.
Morgan Keske captured Comp Trophy after a double-breakout finish over Todd Larson.
A familiar face from BIR's Muscle Car Series found success in bracket racing as Anna Tesar, who normally competes in SE-3 and 14.0 Index drove her 1967 Mustang to the Street Trophy victory over Mike Larson.
Junior Street went to Drew Schalm after Ty Reynolds fouled at the starting line.
In Junior Dragster Advanced, Bodie Carlson's .007 reaction time proved too much for Colin Songas to overcome.
Junior Dragster Intermediate winner Jasper Urbick continued his strong weekend by defeating Brynn Reynolds.
In VESEL Construction Junior Novice, Jaxon Wilczek earned the win over Blair Reynolds in a double-breakout final.
As racing was concluding, racers gathered once again for one of the traditions that makes the BIR racing family special.
Friends, family members, racers and sponsors came together to remember both Ken Niesen and Jill Gilgosh while enjoying the Hot Dog Feed. Stories were shared, plenty of laughs mixed with heartfelt memories, and the 64 names that would compete in Sunday's Shootout were drawn.
Thanks to the incredible generosity of racers, businesses, friends and supporters, Sunday's Shootout purse grew to an impressive $7,500 to win and $2,500 runner-up, with semi-finalists receiving $750, quarter-finalists earning $350, a $250 Trip Zip bonus, and JRJ Customs awarding a custom helmet paint job for the best losing package.
Special thanks to Andy's Towing, Even's Racing, Bredemus Hardware, C&R Sod, Affordable Transmission, Gil's Paint & Body, Economy Brake & Muffler, Kristine Burgess Eventing, Giese Racing Solutions, Tow Time, Gather Well, Alley Excavating, Larson Leaches, Line Performance, Ward Performance, Lehmicke Welding & Fab, Lehmicke Polishing, St. Paul Speed & Performance, G&S Race Cars, Atwater GM, Fastronix, Midwest Industrial Coatings, Tom Thumb Donuts, Matt Kirchner, Kaye Lucey, Jeff Serene, Thunder Valley Classic Cars, Pepsi, and Top End Graphics for helping make this special event possible.
Sunday brought another full day of racing, highlighted by the Ken Niesen Memorial 64-Car Shootout Honoring Jill Gilgosh.
Despite another hot afternoon and a long weekend of competition, racers battled through a full day of eliminations before a passing evening rain shower arrived with only the Super Pro final and the Shootout semifinals remaining. After discussions among the remaining competitors, the Super Pro finalists agreed to split the purse, while the four remaining Shootout semifinalists elected to equally divide the remaining Shootout purse, bringing a memorable weekend to a fitting close.
Shootout Highlights
The four semifinalists who shared the Shootout purse were:
Charles Johnson
Joe Schmall
Dale Evens
Rod Neugebauer
No racer recorded a perfect .000 reaction time during the Shootout, making Tadd Larson's first-round .001 reaction time the winner of the $250 Trip Zip bonus.
Mike Anderson earned the JRJ Customs custom helmet paint award after posting the best losing package of the Shootout with a stellar .012 package.
Sunday Winners
ResTech Systems Super Pro semifinalists Mike Campbell and Kyle Loeffelholz elected to split following the rain delay.
Track Stop Pro ET winner Owen Drake defeated Joe Moriarty Jr. in a double-breakout final.
Thunder Valley Classic Cars Sportsman winner Kyle Davis used a .006 light to defeat Grant Pesola.
DOA Drags Bike/Sled winner Ellie Birr defeated Mike Cheney after Cheney red-lit by .002-second.
The second day of the North Star Summer Classic belonged to Riley Speer. After finishing runner-up on Saturday, Speer returned Sunday to claim the victory when Ben Line turned the red light on by just .001-second.
Todd Larson captured Comp Trophy over newcomer Arvin Poser, who was making his first career bracket racing final.
Jim Stockton claimed Street Trophy over Mike Larson.
Ty Reynolds captured Junior Street when Colin Songas red-lit.
In Junior Dragster Advanced, Colt Carlson used an incredible .001 reaction time to score the victory over Evan Songas.
Saturday's Junior Intermediate final was replayed Sunday, but this time Bryn Reynolds turned the tables on Jasper Urbick with a perfect .000 reaction time to earn the victory after finishing runner-up the previous day.
Cameron Davis claimed the VESEL Construction Junior Novice win over Gray Sipper.
The weekend proved to be a pivotal one in the championship chase.
With no additional points races remaining before the NHRA Summit ET Finals, the standings following Races #7 and #8 determine Team BIR's Race of Champions representatives and the racers eligible to represent Brainerd International Raceway at the 2026 Summit ET Finals in Earlville, Iowa. The results also locked in three Junior Dragster competitors for opportunities to participate in the NHRA JDRL Shootout during the upcoming Brainerd NHRA Nationals at BIR.
While Team BIR positions have now been determined, season championships are anything but settled.
The final chapter of the 2026 BIR Bracket Series will be written during Races #9 and #10, September 25-27, where class champions will be crowned and another outstanding season of grassroots drag racing will come to an exciting finish.
Congratulations to all of our winners, finalists and competitors, and thank you to everyone who helped make another unforgettable Ken Niesen Memorial 64-Car Shootout Honoring Jill Gilgosh a tremendous success. We'll see everyone back at BIR in September.
2026 BIR ET Bracket Series Points Standings
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
