The Circuit 2026 - Day 1
The Circuit 2026 presented by Summit Racing was intense for Day 1 of racing. Event Record ETs were run and Event Record attendance was smashed by more than 50 cars.
With 210 Racecars and 38 Road Trippers, this is the LARGEST event hosted by the Drag Drive Repeat Team to date.
Cars from across the country fought tooth and nail to make every pass count. Several classes are tight already, so the extra passes today may be the deciding factor come Sunday afternoon.
We knew the Street Race Power Adder would be stacked, but have not had competition like this in the past. The racers are stacked deep into the 8s. TJ Linebaugh left Day 1 in the lead with an impressive 8.528, ran late in the day as he and Second Place Brain Acton hot lapped their cars. Brian ended the day with an 8.585. Dustin Peterson put up an 8.609 for third, with James Hendrickson on his heels at 8.610. James Esmond (8.761), Kody Kutz (8.85) and Corey Petska (8.913) round the strongest SRPA class we have had in The Circuit history. This year, everything has elevated because of the Baker Engineering Bounty $1,000 Prize for the Winner of the Class.
Kyle Bemount, and his Firebird, gave us our FIRST-EVER 4 Second ⅛ Mile ET, running a 4.944 in Small Tire. Kyle has a sizeable lead on Second Place Eric Kuhn’s 5.409. But a race is heating up between Eric and Third Place David Bell’s Roadrunner that submitted a 5.439.
The two index classes are already proving to be ones to watch. Starting with 11.00 Index, Josh Odom in the Dodge Magnum wagon set the bar VERY TIGHT with his 11.002 submission. But Ty Atkinson is a close Second with an 11.045, followed by Tony Kirkup’s 11.057 and Case Hudelson rounds out the Top 4 with an 11.09. The 12.00 Index is even tighter. Jeff Short put everyone on notice with his 12.005 timeslip. Chad Maggard is behind him at 12.015, Terry Barnett is within striking distance at 12.024 for third. Don Harmon left the track in fourth place with his 12.053 and Josh Malesa rounds out the Top 5 at 12.06.
The Top Six cars of the 6.50 Index all begin with 6.5xx meaning the class is wide-open for anyone. Jeff Mass leads with a 6.522, followed by Scott Barker at 6.534, ahead of Blake Flores’ 6.545 for the Top Three. Bill Schulz (6.576), Brandy Roberts (6.578) and Gaylon Knowlton (6.581) complete the Top cars in the class.
The Unlimited is a Camaro vs Camaro Vs Camaro Vs Mustang battle - Jim Parkison is leading with a 5.14, followed by John Ketch’s 5.179, ahead of Kiley Reynolds’ 5.369 and Eric Rizner’s Mustang holding the 4th spot with 5.666.
And, as a special surprise, Keith Turk came by to say hi on his trip returning home from the west coast.
Day One of The Circuit only requires racers to submit a single pass. But, for Saturday and Sunday, racers need to hand in two passes per day. Who can continue once the level of racing goes WAY UP??
Watch the live results on Google Drive: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1n3ZZbIQji3RTzYS_PSl7zM9rIdnIQX5EyO41PFbi5KA/edit?usp=sharing
And if you want to see all the content from the event, follow us on Drag Drive Repeat.
