Big Bux up for grabs at drag strip
At least two drag racers are going leave the track this weekend at NITRO Motorsports Park quite a bit richer than when they arrived.
The third annual Big Bux Shootout time is on for this weekend at Rolling Mix Raceway and more than 100 drag racers have gathered on the quarter-mile strip to determine who gets the lion’s share of $20,000 guaranteed prize purse.
It’s the biggest event of the season for the Northern Interior Timed Racing Organization.
As of Friday afternoon, 54 racers had entered the box class and they are in the hunt for a $7,000 first-place payday each day of the race meet. The no-box top prize is $3,000 for the winner each day, with 46 racers entered.
Sunny and hot conditions are predicted with high temperatures expected to climb well into the 30s all weekend. That should make for a grippy track and some blister- Bobby Bailey accelerates off the starting line at the Rolling MIx Concrete Raceway during the 2017 Big Bux race. ing runs with the fastest of the fast expected to break the 200-mile-per-hour barrier while making sub-seven-second passes.
“Last year we didn’t have nearly this many cars here, these pits are going to be just packed,” said NITRO vice-president Tony Wiebe. “The weather is one thing we’re very happy for.
“There are a couple cars here capable of hitting the 200 mile-an-hour mark. The heat helps the traction on the line.”’
About a quarter of the entire field are local drivers. About 25 junior dragsters are also entered. Racers have traveled from other parts of B.C. Alberta and Alaska.
“We’re starting to get pretty good recognition from the other tracks for this event, the money does bring them out,” Wiebe said.
Racing starts with eliminations at 10 a.m. both days and will continue until about 6 p.m. A test-and-tune to get the racers used to the track was to be held on Friday afternoon, followed by a gamblers race.
NITRO Motorsports Park is located at 9285 Raceway Rd., about nine kilometres northwest of the city off Chief Lake Road. Admission is $10 per person. Kids 12-andunder and seniors 65-and-older will be admitted free.