becoming a consistent formula for success , drawing cars from all of the Southeast and beyond . The payout structure was tweaked from a $ 10K bookended by a pair of $ 5Ks to the current $ 10K paid all three days , resulting in the already popular event continuing to attract more racers .
The other adjustment that proved beneficial was transitioning from holding two-class events to making it more of an exclusive outing for just one class per weekend . “ We ’ ve been overloaded with two classes in the same event and not being able to finish , so we ’ ve basically taken our two-category events and separated them into a single category and scheduled them back-to-back weekends , having Footbrake one weekend and Top E . T . the next ,” Beard says . “ We first noticed it last year that the single category events simply drew more cars than when both classes were running together at the same event .”
Loose Rocker seemed to also navigate the COVID disruptions of 2020 with seamless efficiency , as evidenced by the Racer T ’ s American
Doorslammer Nationals presented by McCarty Auto Parts , which packed 539 entries into Piedmont last November . “ Bracket racing was simply not affected by the pandemic , and when we looked at the drone footage from that race it was jaw dropping !” echoes Beard and Walton .
Yet another adjustment that 2021 will usher in is the inclusion of dragsters during a Loose Rocker event at Piedmont for the first time ever , with the running of the Summit Racing Equipment Super Pro $ 75K Challenge slated for May 13-15 . “ This is where we really went over the top with round money ,” Beard says . “ If you win the fourth round of the $ 75K , you ’ ve more than paid for your entry fee into five separate races over the entire weekend , which includes three main events and two gambler ’ s races .”
Both payout structures are in place for the aforementioned Super Pro event , as well as the ATI Performance Products Bigfoot $ 75K scheduled April 16-18 .
Loose Rocker kicked off the 2021 season at Piedmont with the 12th annual St . Patrick ’ s Footbrake Triple 10s , an event that Walton started at Coastal Plains Dragway in 2009 , which predates the Loose Rocker collaboration with Beard by a couple years . The season premiere seemed to pick right up where the 2020 season ended , with very strong car counts , which peaked at 336 on Saturday . “ We continue to love these type events and we ’ re looking forward to another great season of racing ,” the duo concludes . DI
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