Junior Dragster Kelli Bennett's First Outing

Kelli Bennett Finishes Quarter-finalist In First Junior Dragster Event, Runs Dead-On In First Round!

GREER, SC-- It wasn't too bad for a first day at the races. The Bobby Barr-prepared, Trim Parts sponsored, junior dragster piloted by Kelli Bennett reached the quarter-finals in its first outing. Bennett, who is a third grader at Spartanburg, S.C.'s Pine Street Elementary, made his first eighth-mile laps at Greer Dragway in Greer, S.C. On his very first venture down the drag strip, he carded a .720 reaction time with a 13.67 elapsed time at 44 mph. By the end of qualifying, he had produced a .570 reaction best with a 13.442/46.72 lap.

He was paired opposite of Willie Thompson's junior dragster in the first round. Bennett got the handicap and used it to his advantage as he carded a .520 reaction time and took the winlight with a 13.538 on a 13.53 dial-in. Thompson fell short with a .650 reaction and a +.116, 10.946.

Bennett then met the "Rockin' Robin" of David Hall. He lapsed on the lights and that was all the momentum that Hall needed to force the rookie into a breakout. The Trim Parts dragster took the stripe with a -.027, 13.503/45.22. Hall won with a +.084, 9.214/65.52. The car is scheduled to be on display at this weekend's Holley Spring Nationals in Rockingham, N.C. and will return to competition the following weekend at Greer Dragway.

All of Bennett's sponsorships stuipulate that he must maintain a B+ average to participate in his racing efforts.