Ask a racer why he races and he'll give you a lot of different reasons. Some just enjoy the thrill, some see it as a way to spend time with friends and family while others like the challenge. While all of those are good reasons by themselves, some of the top racers in the B&M/Hedman Hedders bracket series have another motivation. They do it for the money.
Hearing that someone races for the money has been more than enough to produce more than a whimsical smile and few off-hand remarks. Yet, with big dollar winner's purses and a $50,000 dollar points fund, that's just what these racers were on hand to do. Each B&M event offers a cool $10 grand to the winner in Pro Electronics and another $1,500 to the Pro Footbrake winner. With separate events paying these amounts out each day (most events are three days long, meaning there are six chances to win), bracket racers attending B&M/Hedman Hedder series events can win a lot more bucks for a lower investment than any other form of drag racing.
Because of this, the B&M/ Hedman Hedder series has evolved into one of the premier sportsman race series running today. Not only do racers have the chance to compete for a season-long championship in Super Pro and Footbrake eliminators, but they can also benefit from a strong contingency program with TV coverage on ESPN2. Operating now under the leadership of Tommy Castanedo and A.J. Ashe, the B&M/Hedman Hedder series has also shown a real personal touch and renewed appreciation to sportsman-level racers. That's been readily seen with special benefit events for drivers in need, a special awards banquet, bonus purses and a special season-ending event featuring a free concert for the enjoyment of everyone.
As we recently discovered at the B&M/Hedman Hedders series at Montgomery, Alabama, the event consists of two different categories of bracket cars. Pro Electronics eliminator is open to door cars, altereds, roadsters and dragsters that use approved delay boxes and throttle stops. Stutter boxes, rpm limiters and traction control devices are not allowed. Pro Footbrake, on the other hand, is a doorslammer class that puts a premium on the driver's ability behind the wheel more than any other class. Electronics such as two-steps, transbrakes and delay boxes are no-no's.
The success of the series has attracted a number of name drivers from all parts of drag racing. Former NHRA Top Fuel driver Chris Vandergriff was on hand at this race in Montgomery, Alabama, along with ex-Pro Stock driver Brad Jeter, who was campaigning two cars at this event. Sportsman legends Edmund and Scotty Richardson also race regularly on the circuit while engine guru Scott Shafiroff is a regular in the pit area.
"We can't forget that this is a spectator sport," Shafiroff said during the event. "I can't count the number of times I've taken people who were new to the sport to the racetrack to watch throttle stop racing and the first thing they say is, 'Well, the car broke.' It's just a hard concept to grasp. Here, when cars go down the track, there is a handicap, but when they're side-by-side and the scoreboards light up, you have to look up and see who won. People want to race. This kind of fast bracket racing is just growing and growing. People like going fast and really feeling the power. We support that and that's why we're here with the B&M series."
With success stories like this, B&M/Hedman Hedder racers are letting the good times roll.
2004 B&M HEDMAN RACER APPRECIATION SERIES SCHEDULE
Feb. 19th Montgomery Motorsports Park Montgomery,AL 2003 B&M Banquet
Feb. 20-22nd Montgomery Motorsports Park Montgomery,AL B&M World Championship Points
March 12-14th Memphis Motorsports Park Memphis, TN B&M World Championship Points
April 16-18th Bristol Dragway Bristol, TN B&M World Championship Points
May 21-23rd Montgomery Motorsports Park Montgomery, AL B&M World Championship Points
June 18-20th Huntsville Dragway Huntsville, AL B&M World Championship Points
July 23-25th Carolina Dragway Jackson, SC B&M World Championship Points
Sept. 3-5th Atlanta Dragway Commerce, GA B&M World Championship Points
Oct. 1-3rd Carolina Dragway Jackson, SC "RocktoberFest World Finals"
Scotty Richardson went home from Montgomery, AL some $13,000 richer with two wins in Pro Footbrake and a Saturday win in Pro Electronics. Richardson has won numerous national championships in IHRA/NHRA sportsman competition and was voted a place among NHRA's Top 50 drivers in 2001.
Side-by-side racing at the finish line is standard fare at every B&M/Hedman Hedders event. Racers try to get the best possible reaction time without redlighting to gain a cushion so they can cross the finish line just ahead of their competition without running under their posted dial-in.
Technology continues to play a big part in ET Bracket racing. Soft-tail four-link dragsters, which began to replace dragsters with solid rear suspensions just a few years ago, are now being swapped out for newer swing arm rear suspensions which use levers to help plant the rear slicks.
So, what kind of racers bracket race? How about former Top Fuel show Chris Vandergriff? Chris made the highlight reel with a blowover at the U.S. Nationals last year and is now mixing it up with some of the sport's best ET Bracket racers.
Former NHRA Pro Stock driver Brad Jeter was another name racer at the B&M/Hedman Hedders season opener. Jeter is a former IHRA Pro Modified racer and has four NHRA career wins in professional categories.
Sport Compacts have found a home in Footbrake racing as shown by "Stone Cold" Steve Stites who won at the season opener at Montgomery.
Consistency in bracket racing depends on a number of things, but none are greater than a reliable engine combination that can go round after round with little or no maintenance. Shafiroff Race Engines is one of a number of big name engine builders involved in big-dollar bracket racing. | 
Concentration is a key to getting off the line quickly and a key component to winning in ET Bracket racing. Travis Harvey was one of the best at the B&M/Hedman Hedders season opener with a runner-up performance on Sunday at Montgomery. |
Bracket racing gives drivers from all walks of life the opportunity to compete for big bucks against some of the biggest names in the sport. Joann Pynes of Cottonwood, Al, who works as a Surgical Nurse during the day, races on the weekend to fill her need for speed. | 
Richardson has won numerous national championships in IHRA/NHRA sportsman competition and was voted a place among NHRA's Top 50 drivers in 2001. |
Scotty Richardson went home from Montgomery some $13,000 richer with two wins in Pro Footbrake and a Saturday win in Pro Electronics. | 
Hot rodding can take many shapes... |
...and forms as seen by the wide variety of cars and trucks... | 
...at every B&M Hedman Hedder event. |