FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 01.23.23

 

U.S. Street Nationals:
Pre-Race Report

 

M&M Transmissions
U.S. Street Nationals

Bradenton Motorsports Park

Bradenton, Florida

January 25-29, 2023

 

NOTABLE

• The War Eagle is prepared for battle at the first event of the year – after thrashing in New Mexico over the holidays

• American Xpress is expected by the team to be ready for the qualifying rounds – with the engine on the way to BMP and the car arriving to the track on Wednesday

• Team HJR to attend the 2022 Radial Outlaws Gala Banquet

• New 2023 Ultra Street rules are in effect at the first race of the season

• Qualifying sessions begin on Friday mornoing and end on Saturday night

• Eliminations begin on Sunday morning
   

Bradenton, Florida (January 23, 2023) – "You must stay focused on the end result to achieve your goals," Catherine Pulsifer once said. Haley James Racing has been doing nothing less than that. After removing the engines out of both cars back in December, it has been a multiple-week trash session for the team. With collaboration between B-TEAM Performance, RGR Engines and Harts Turbo, the ball started rolling quickly after final rule adjustments. After engine work between RGR Engines and B-TEAM Performance (Dwayne James), The War Eagle engine was assembled (by team HJR) in New Mexico over the holidays and brought to Bradenton Motorsports Park for installation – along with the updated (per rules) 76mm Ultra Street Legal Harts Turbo.
 

Haley, Kieffer, Klein, Johnny Drama, and Amber Milton all worked together to get The War Eagle ready to kick off the event with test hits and qualifying. 

 

To kick off the weekend, Kieffer Simpson laid down a solid 4.518 pass at 160.33 mph pass in the heat (Q4), taking #AmericanXpress to the TOP of the sheet for Ultimate Street qualifying. Ironically enough, Haley's #TheWarEagle was giving team HJR some struggles in the beginning of the week – landing in the 17th spot with a 4.737 rip at 153.67 mph. After qualifying was complete, it was time to switch to focus to race day(s) and the team did just that.

“That’s why you run a two-car team,” Dwayne James declared later. “I know some guys don’t like it, but that’s why we do it. Kieffer’s car was good right from the start, so I just used what it was telling me to make Haley’s better and you see the results. That’s why you do it.”

The focus was to take the event round-by-round and what happens, happens... What happened is that Haley James created outlaw drag racing history by becoming the first female to win a Duck X Productions event, and set a new world record for the competitive category of Ultimate Street. The world record was set in the quarter finals with a 4.451 elapsed time at 161.54mph! This is one of the most competitive classes in outlaw drag racing because every combination is capable of these kinds of performances.

When Haley was asked about the win, her simple response was:
“I honestly am speechless, it really hasn’t sunk in yet,” the Brownsburg, IN-based racer said of her record-setting ways. “But I know it means a lot, to me and my team.”

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The champions for the 2022 Radial Outlaws Series will be determined at our next event, World Street Nationals at Orlando Speed World Dragway (DOUBLE POINTS). The points are tight throughout the top 10 and as of now, James is sitting in the number 4 spot with 277 points – putting her 181 points out of first. Simpson is not far behind her in the 7th spot with 236 points – putting him 222 points out of first. If everything falls in line and the cards are in our favor, coming out of the 2022 season on top is achievable with the double points system in place. 

The team has scattered back around the country to their homes in Indiana and New Mexico for a few days to keep the business running and preparing for the trip back down south to Orlando in just a few short days.

For updated information on what is next, stay tuned to our social media pages, facebook.com/haleyjamesracing and instagram.com/haleyjames_racing.

Scheduled Heads-Up Qualifying:
Q1: Friday Jan 27 – 11AM
Q2: Friday Jan 27 – 3PM

Q3: Saturday Jan 28 – 10AM

Q4: Saturday Jan 28 – 2PM

Q5: Saturday Jan 28 – 6PM

Scheduled Heads-Up Eliminations:

Gates Open: Sunday Jan 29 – 9AM
Round 1: 10AM

Final Elims: 5:30PM