PETERSON PREVAILS IN INAUGURAL HOLIDAY JUNIOR JAM Two Past PDRA Jr. Dragster Winners Lock Up in Final Round at Rockingham ROCKINGHAM, N.C. – In a spectacular double-breakout final round involving 2014 and 2015 Jr. Dragster winners at Rockingham Dragway’s PDRA Spring Open, Samuel Peterson slipped past Connor Caulder Sunday to win the $5,000 top prize in the inaugural Holiday Junior Jam. Caulder, a Rockingham regular from St. Pauls who won the PDRA Pro Jr. Dragster title at The Rock in 2014, got the starting line advantage and got to the finish line first but was guilty of running under his 7.900 second target by .006 of a second. Meanwhile, Peterson, the son of Jason and Stephanie Peterson, who manage US 131 Motorsports Park in Martin, Mich., also ran under his target but only by .004 of second. Peterson won the PDRA Top Jr. Dragster crown at the 2015 Spring Open. More than 100 aspiring young drag racing champions from 15 states and Canada battled the weather and one another for a shot at one of the biggest cash purses in Jr. Dragster history. Juniors raced in age group categories to determine a final eight. Among the others who advanced to the main event was two-time NHRA Eastern Conference Jr. Dragster Champion Carson “Big Check” Emmett of Cedar Bluff, Ala., a double-up winner earlier this year when Rockingham played host to the Midwest Jr. Dragster Super Series. The long distance award was grabbed off by Braiden Owen of Palmer, Alaska, who reached the round of six in 10-13 year old division. Carter Jackson of Cartersville, Va., won Friday’s Gamblers Race for 6-9 year olds, beating Brandon Jenkins of Mechanicsville, Md., in the final. The other two Gamblers races were interrupted by rain and the purse split among those still in competition. ROCKINGHAM, N.C. – Results from Sunday’s inaugural Holiday Junior Jam at Rockingham Dragway. Hometowns are North Carolina unless otherwise indicated. Results include reaction time, track time versus target time and finish line speed. SUNDAY MAIN EVENT Quarterfinals – Carson Emmett, Cedar Bluff, Ala., .065, 9.015 on an 8.940, 67.27 mph, def. Gabriel Williamson, Marion, S.C., .329, 11.951 on an 11.940, 53.32 mph; Samuel Peterson, Martin, Mich., .038, 7.901 on a 7.920, 79.56 mph, def. Jorden Denny, Manassas, Va., .022, 7.892 breakout on a 7.930, 79.23 mph; Connor Caulder, St. Pauls, .044, 7.920 on a 7.900, 79.41 mph, def. Shelby Thurman, Gallatin, Tenn., .056, 8.011 on an 8.000, 81.35 mph; Oates, .063, 8.032 on a 72.63 mph, def. Kahlia Lewis, Mechanicsville, Va., .175, 11.875 breakout on an 11.940, 53.59 mph. Semifinals – Peterson, .012, 7.990 on a 7.900, 75.15 mph, def. Emmett, foul; Caulder, .002, 7.913 on a 7.900, 80.95 mph, def. Oates, .054, 7.914 breakout on a 7.970, 82.60 mph. FINAL – Samuel Peterson, Martin, Mich., .029, 7.916 on a 7.920, 79.51 mph, def. Connor Caulder, St. Pauls, .010, 7.894 breakout on a 7.900, 81.07 mph. 6-9 YEAR OLDS Round 4 – Carter Jackson, Cartersville, Va., .121, 11.985 on an 11.940, 51.86 mph, def. Brandon Jenkins, Mechanicsville, Md., .245, 11.978 on an 11.900, 54.56 mph; Nolan Callahan, Fayetteville, .113, 14.077 on a 14.100, 45.43 mph, def. Kace Shupp, Rossford, Ohio, .203, 14.183 breakout on a 14.230, 44.91 mph; Gabriel Williamson, Marion, S.C., .176, 11.984 on an 11.940, 53.05 mph, def. Bentley Verchota, Springfield, Tenn., .079, 13.788 breakout on a 13.850, 37.80 mph; Kahlia Lewis, Mechanicsville, Va., .062, 11.962 on an 11.940, 51.53 mph, def. Beau Sims, Honea Path, S.C., .186, 11.895 breakout on an 11.900, 53.39 mph; Spencer McGee, Pelion, S.C., bye. Round 5 – Jackson, .036, 11.948 on an 11.900, 52.00 mph, def. McGee, .082, 12.013 on an 11.900, 53.41 mph; Williamson, .376, 11.953 on an 11.910, 53.39 mph, def. Callahan, .147, 14.044 breakout on a 14.080, 45.52 mph; Lewis, bye. Round 6 – Lewis, .085, 11.920 on an 11.900, 53.11 mph, def. Jackson, foul; Williamson, bye. Lewis and Williamson advance to the Main Event. 10-13 YEAR OLDS Round 5 – Jorden Denny, Manassas, Va., .010, 7.942 on a 7.930, 79.21 mph, def. Logan Westmoreland, Greenwood, S.C., .028, 8.944 on an 8.930, 70.75 mph; Carson Emmett, Cedar Bluff, Ala., .022, 8.981 on an 8.940, 69.30 mph, def. Mallory Logan, North Chesterfield, Va., .026, 7.999 on a 7.950, 81.97 mph; Kate Hall, Nokesville, Va., .081, 7.934 on a 7.900, 80.71 mph, def. Phillip Radford, Radford, Va., .049, 8.931 on an 8.860, 71.13 mph; Braiden Owen, Palmer, Alaska, .198, 7.867 on a 7.900, 81.49 mph, def. Ryan Leche, Moyock, foul; Logan Westmoreland #2, Greenwood, S.C., .021, 9.035 on a 9.000, 67.87 mph, def. Hailey Pumphrey, Waldorf, Md., .028, 7.943 on a 7.900, 81.19 mph; Shelby Thurman, Gallatin, Tenn. bye. Round 6 – Emmett, .012, 8.975 on an 8.950, 71.92 mph, def. Hall, .013, 7.955 on a 7.900, 81.25 mph; Thurman, .037, 8.002 on a 7.930, 81.29 mph, def. Owen, foul; Denny, .004, 7.966 on a 7.930, 75.30 mph, def. Westmoreland, .065, 9.016 on a 9.000, 68.88 mph. Emmett, Thurman and Denny advance to the Main Event. 14-18 YEAR OLDS Round 5 – Samuel Peterson, Martin, Mich., .027, 7.956 on a 7.920, 77.97 mph, def. A.J. Jenkins, Mechanicsville, Md., .080, 7.921 breakout on a 7.930, 82.64 mph; Chase Carter, Hampsted, .0788, 7.934 on a 7.910, 81.51 mph, def. Morgan Miles, Jackson, S.C., .051, 7.887 breakout on a 7.900, 80.45 mph; Connor Caulder, St. Pauls, .036, 7.972 on a 7.900, 76.89 mph, def. Ashley Pumphrey, Waldorf, Md., foul; Thomas Oates, Clearbrook, Va., .065, 7.966 on a 7.930, 79.11 mph, def. Morgan Carroll, Olar, S.C., foul; Madison Pennington, Lexington, S.C., bye. Round 6 – Caulder, .094, 7.907 on a 7.900, 82.72 mph, def. Carter, .034, 7.918 breakout on a 7.920, 79.84 mph; Oates, .078, 7.961 on a 7.930, 82.65 mph, def. Pennington, foul; Peterson, bye. Caulder, Oates and Peterson advance to the Main Event FRIDAY GAMBLERS RACES 6-9 YEAR OLDS Round 3 – Tanner Brayboy, Maxton, .314, 12.096 on an 11.900, 52.34 mph, def. Caleb Burns, Fredricktown, Ohio, .510, 13.055 on a 12.400, 50.52 mph; McKenzee Hogan, Youngsville, Ohio, .222, 12.038 on an 11.960, 52.98 mph, def. Beau Sims, Honea Path, S.C., .419, 13.381 on a 12.090, 52.60 mph; Carter Jackson, Cartersville, Va., .0344, 11.940 on an 11.900, 51.82 mph, def. Rebekah Peterson, Martin, Mich., .024, 14.785 on a 14.190, 40.36 mph; Brandon Jenkins, Mechanicsville, Md., .140, 12.145 on an 11.900, 53.76 mph, def. Bryant Crawford, Donalds, S.C., .144, 12.422 on a 12.150, 51.86 mph; Corey Reed, Winder, Ga., .019, 13.635 on a 13.430, 45.30 mph, def. Spencer McGee, Pelion, S.C., .158, 12.986 on a 12.030, 53.43 mph; Gabriel Williamson, Marion, S.C., .117, 11.948 on an 11.920, 53.69 mph, def. Kaden Paone, Galloway, N.J., foul; Cole Jennings, Lincoln University, Pa., .018, 11.904 on an 11.930, 54.61 mph, def. Maxson Loddoar, Rowland, .392, 11.258 breakout on an 11.900, 52.43 mph; Bentley Verchota, Springfield, Tenn., bye. Round 4 – Verchota, .015, 13.867 on a 13.850, 37.52 mph, def. Jennings, foul (-.001); Williamson, .227, 11.923 on an 11.920, 53.85 mph, def. Brayboy, .254, 12.037 on a 12.030, 53.00 mph; Jenkins, .121, 12.124 on a 12.000, 54.64 mph, def. Reed, .210, 13.525 breakout on a 13.620, 46.35 mph; Jackson, .115, 11.957 on an 11.900, 52.20 mph, def. Hogan, .145, 12.000 on an 11.960, 53.28 mph. Semifinals – Jackson, .042, 11.995 on an 11.900, 51.89 mph, def. Williamson, .206, 11.862 breakout on an 11.920, 53.87 mph; Jenkins, .186, 12.126 on a 12.050, 54.87 mph, def. Verchota, foul. FINAL – Carter Jackson, Cartersville, Va., .026, 11.901 on an 11.900, 51.91 mph, def. Brandon Jenkins, Mechanicsville, Md., .212, 12.101 on a 12.090, 54.76 mph. 10-13 YEAR OLDS Round 5 – Hailey Pumphrey, Waldorf, Md., NA, 8.006 on an 8.030, 82.22 mph, def. Phillip Radford, Radford, Va., foul; Nathan Mendenhall, Parkesburg, Pa., .051, 8.006 on an 8.050, 81.53 mph, def. Shelby Thurman, Gallatin, Tenn., foul; Mallory Logan, North Chesterfield, Va., .037, 7.948 on a 7.980, 83.63 mph, def. C.J. Jenkins, Jamesville, .079, 8.953 breakout on a 9.010, 73.43 mph; Carson Emmett, Cedar Bluff, Ala., .073, 8.236 on an 8.220, 77.72 mph, def. Mason Crews, Summerville, S.C., .069, 8.969 on an 8.940, 72.22 mph; Brian Yerger Jr., Mooresville, .015, 8.114 on an 8.080, 77.33 mph, def. Alyssa Rabon, Florence, S.C., .127, 9.007 breakout on a 9.050, 74.63 mph; Cobi Toliver, Piney River, Va., bye. Round 6 – Mendenhall, .000, 8.089 on an 8.040, 78.34 mph, def. Pumphrey, .083, 7.996 on a 7.990, 81.88 mph; Logan, .079, 7.918 on a 7.930, 83.98 mph, def. Toliver, .035, 7.957 breakout on a 7.980, 79.76 mph; Yerger, .046, 8.079 on an 8.080, 82.44 mph, def. Emmett, .038, 8.156 breakout on an 8.210, 75.22 mph. Racing suspended due to rain. Nathan Mendenhall, Parkesburg, Pa., Mallory Logan, North Chesterfield, Va. and Brian Yerger Jr., Mooresville, split the semifinal and final round purse. 14-18 YEAR OLDS Round 5 – Lauren Overfelt, Roanoke, Va., NA, 7.993 on a 7.900, 83.65 mph, def. Morgan Carroll, Olar, S.C., foul; Wade Kubicke, Yardville, N.J., .042, 7.904 on a 7.900, 83.63 mph, def. Samuel Peterson, Martin, Mich., no time; Vaughn Dunn, Jackson, N.J., .044, 7.942 on a 7.950, 82.79 mph, def. Connor McGee, Pelion, S.C., foul (-.004); Mason Potter, Caledonia, Ontario, Canada, .021, 8.020 on an 8.070, 82.39 mph, def. Joshua Talvacchio, Ernul, foul. Round 6 – Kubicke, .055, 7.940 on a 7.900, 80.45 mph, def. Overfelt, .022, 8.004 on a 7.900, 83.76 mph; Dunn, .017, 8.231 on a 7.950, 66.29 mph, def. Potter, .037, 10.660 on an 8.030, 28.66 mph. Racing suspended due to rain. Wade Kubicke, Yardville, N.J., and Vaughn Dunn, Jackson, N.J., split the final round money.