Mopar Bracket Racers at the Thanksgiving Footbrake Challenge will compete for a bonus of up to $400, sponsored by Sox & Martin, for achieving the furthest elimination round each day. The two-day event is set for November 29-30, 2024, at Piedmont Dragway in Julian, North Carolina, and features a $20,000 payout for the winner and $5,000 for the runner-up each day.
“Grassroots Bracket Racing is the heart and soul of this sport, and we want to support these hardworking competitors,” said Mike McCandless, Founder and CEO of The McCandless Collection. He added that his nephews are dedicated bracket racers who continue the family’s drag racing tradition.
Since its inception in 2003, the Thanksgiving Footbrake Challenge has built a loyal following among bracket racers. The competition is structured as eighth-mile racing on a five-tenths full tree, footbrake only, with no electronics, and involves a single class and dial-in format.
The event is now managed by Jared Pennington and Steve Stites, who have organized some of the largest money bracket races in the country. “We’re committed to upholding this longstanding Thanksgiving tradition and excited to elevate the event,” said Pennington, owner of Coalburg Racing Promotions.
Pennington emphasized their shared background as drag racers, reassuring competitors of their dedication to maintaining the event’s integrity. “Our number one goal is not to mess it up while earning the racer’s trust,” he noted.
