The fourth race of the 2025 Southeast Gassers Association season delivered a shakeup at Brainerd Motorsports Park as first-time winners, mechanical failures, and surprising early exits altered the championship landscape across multiple classes.
Barry Adler (A/Gas), Charlie Lee (B/Gas), Jerren Perdue (C/Gas), Rob Walden (Super Stock), Todd Wimberly (A/FX), and Colby Welch (H/Gas) captured class victories in the Southern Nationals presented by Harbin’s Mechanical Services.
In A/Gas, points leader Leslie Horne was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Greg Stelse, who in turn lost to Chase Howard in the semifinals. Howard, the No. 1 qualifier with a 5.21-second run, broke a transmission in the final, allowing Adler and his Iron Eagle Corvette gasser to take the win from the right lane.
“If I wanted to come to play, go A/Gas — this is just amazing,” Adler said. “And, of course, Leslie is not going to hear the end of this one.”
B/Gas saw points leader Ken Rainwater aiming for a third straight win after earning the No. 1 qualifying spot with a 5.63. Rainwater’s title hopes were dashed in the final after a fuel pump belt failure allowed Charlie Lee to claim his first SEGA victory in his Tennessee Charlie Mustang.
“We’ve been running with these guys for years. Today was our day,” Lee said. “We picked it up a bit.”
The largest field of the weekend came in C/Gas with 16 entries, including Ernie Smith making his 100th consecutive SEGA start. Smith reached the final after a holeshot win over 2024 champion Todd Oden, but fell short to points leader Jerren Perdue, who clocked his third consecutive 6.05 to win the final.
“We could have bracket raced this thing today — it ran the same number all day,” Perdue said. “Ernie and I meet at every SEGA event. I’m glad to pull this one off.”
In Super Stock, 2024 champion Jerry Dean’s winning streak ended when mechanical issues in the final gave Rob Walden his first class win in SEGA competition. Walden, known for his time in A/Gas and A/FX, drove his way to victory lane after years of effort.
“We’re here — we made it,” Walden said. “Been racing with SEGA since 2019, and this is my first class win. Loving what we do.”
H/Gas championship leader Robert Fraizer was eliminated in the first round by Todd Hinds on a holeshot. That opened the door for Colby Welch, who defeated Hinds in the final with his Lil’ Indian Pontiac-powered Anglia to earn a second straight victory in just his second event of 2025.
In A/FX, a post-race disqualification for Jeffrey Ferguson handed the win to Todd Wimberly in the Southern Comfort machine. The class also saw the debut of Randy Jensen in a new Mopar-bodied entry.
A field threatened by forecasted rain instead delivered a full day of racing under dry skies, with historic gassers delivering close competition and surprise finishes. The event continued Brainerd’s longstanding SEGA legacy with a strong turnout from fans and racers.
The Southeast Gassers Association will continue its 2025 tour with a first-time stop at Jackson Dragway in Jackson, Tenn., on Aug. 22-23. Remaining dates include races at Knoxville Dragway (Sept. 19-20), Gulfport Dragway for a two-race weekend (Oct. 10-11), and the SEGA Finals at Shadyside Dragway on Oct. 31–Nov. 1.
