Byron Dragway

In this episode, we sat down at the Race & Performance Expo for a conversation with Ted Peters. Ted is a multi-faceted personality within drag racing. A Mopar enthusiast through-and-through, Ted has been a staple among nostalgia pro stock racing and most recently made waves after acquiring the Darrell Alderman driven, original 1991 NHRA Pro Stock Championship winning Dodge Daytona from Wayne County Speed Shop. Outside of the driver’s seat, racers throughout the midwest are familiar with Ted...

In this episode, we sat down for a conversation with drag racing legend Arnie “The Farmer” Beswick at the Byron Dragway booth during the 2020 Race & Performance Expo. Arnie’s nearly 70-year-long drag racing career is truly legendary and often times greatly understated. From his humble beginnings on the farm and his first taste of drag racing all the way back in 1951, Beswick’s storied career was ground breaking and trendsetting in many ways. A pioneer of early drag racing, Beswick was not...

In this episode, we get to know Lee Bardo. Lee holds the distinction of having been a racer at Byron Dragway for longer than anyone else. Lee raced at Byron Dragway’s grand opening on July 4, 1964. He and his trademark ’57 Chevy - which was also at opening day - are an inseparable pair, having most recently raced at the Glory Days Vintage Drag Race at Byron Dragway in 2019 and they are already on the entry list for the 2020 edition of Glory Days. Lee has many stories about what drag racing...

In this episode, we get to know Brett Williamson - a 22-year-old bracket racing rising star from Rockford, Illinois. This wide ranging interview deconstructs what it truly means to “eat, sleep and breathe” drag racing. From waking up at 4:55 AM every morning to make time for the practice tree before school, to his father Larry’s origins as a motorcycle racer, and how construction on his trademark ’57 Chevy began when he was only four-years-olds, you will be truly amazed and motivated by his...

In this episode, we get to know the reigning World Power Wheel Standing Champion - Chris Pearce. He is blue collar, working class hero who has risen to super stardom in the wheel stand community in only three years time. In Chris' own words, "reality starts with dreams." He is a champion on the track and an inspiration for all. See Chris Pearce attempt to defend his title at the World Power Wheel Standing Championships on Sunday, October 4, 2020 at Byron Dragway. Visit...

Chelsey and Randy Simpson sit down following the PRI Show in Indy to talk Track of the Year, Firecracker Bracket Nationals, and Randy's guilty pleasure: mini-vans. As mentioned in this episode, the 2020 Firecracker Bracket Nationals event flyer is now available here: https://rebrand.ly/fbn2020

What do race track operators do during the winter months? Byron Dragway owner BJ Vangsness and General Manager Randy Simpson give you a peek behind the scenes and bring you up to speed with some exciting announcements - particularly surrounding the Firecracker Bracket Nationals (June 26-28, 2020) and the Glory Days Vintage Drag Race, Car Show, & Swap Meet (July 17-19, 2020).

What do race track operators do during the winter months? Byron Dragway owner BJ Vangsness and General Manager Randy Simpson give you a peek behind the scenes and bring you up to speed with some exciting announcements - particularly surrounding the Firecracker Bracket Nationals (June 26-28, 2020) and the Glory Days Vintage Drag Race, Car Show, & Swap Meet (July 17-19, 2020).

Byron Dragway podcast host Randy Simpson previews this weekend's Inaugural Juiced Electric Vehicle Drag Race presented by Exelon. Special guest Paul Dempsey, Exelon Generation Byron Station Communications Manager, joins the show to talk about Exelon's involvement in the event, outlook on electric vehicles, and how participants can charge their cars at the power plant this Saturday. For more event information and details for participants charging their electric car at the Exelon Generation...

Mitchell Vincent represented team Byron Dragway at the 43rd Annual NHRA North Central Division Finals at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis where he drove two cars deep into eliminations. Vincent reached the fifth round in his 1967 Chevrolet Camaro in Pro Eliminator and reached the final round in Super Pro driving his rear-engine dragster. Mitchell took some time out of his day to talk about his racing roots, the joys of racing two different cars, and his successful weekend at Indy.

Midwest Super Comp Series director Rich Kwasiborski joins the Byron Dragway podcast to talk about all things Midwest Super Comp. Rich gives listeners a lesson in Super Comp 101, discusses the origins of their series, and previews this weekend's season finale to be held at Byron Dragway, September 21-22, 2019.

Grant Zimmerman, who won Saturday’s $2,500 FTI Performance Super Pro final round, appeared to be unstoppable again on Sunday. Zimmerman nearly completed a successful weekend sweep but came up one round short in Sunday’s $5,000 to win bracket race as veteran NHRA drag racer Jay Allen drove his dragster to the big race win. Allen, a humble veteran racer takes great pride in the success that he and his do-it-yourself family owned and operated race team have achieved.

Relive the Pro Eliminator, Street Eliminator, and Sportsman class final rounds from an exciting day of NHRA Drag Racing at Byron Dragway. After each final, we catch a word from each bracket race class winner. In Pro Eliminator, Tim Flynn became the first repeat winner in the Big Bucks Bracket Bash Series in 2019. In Street Eliminator, Randy Heinzeroth dedicated his emotional win to Barry Fisher and Ron Leek. And in Sportsman class, Brian Hampton explains how he bounced back after running out...

No Box racers continue to dominate in the final round as Grant Zimmerman drove his 1979 Ford Mustang to the $2,500 race win in the FTI Performance Super Pro Box / No Box final against the dragster of Shane Pope. Listen to the final round replay and hear from Zimmerman and Pope from their winner's circle interviews.

Opening ceremonies at the Glory Days vintage drag race at Byron Dragway were dedicated to former longtime track owner, Ron Leek. Byron Dragway dedicated of a special landmark erected in Ron's memory at center track and the military Honor Guard honored Ron with a twenty-one gun salute following a moment of silence.

Twenty-year-old Kamryn Mason won the biggest race of her young career as she won the $30,000 weekend finale to conclude the 20th Annual Firecracker Bracket Nationals. Like déjà vu, Mason eliminated a dragster driven by Gary Williams in the final round, just as Jeremy Bousman did one day earlier in Saturday's $100,000 race. Relive the exciting final round and experience the excitement of Mason's Winner's Circle celebration.

Jeremy Bousman successfully navigated his "No Box" Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck to the $100,000 overall championship of the 20th Annual Firecracker Bracket Nationals. Relive Bousman's final round victory over the dragster driven by Gary Williams and hear from the champ himself from Winner's Circle.

Ben Baer was victorious in the historic $5,000 to win Midwest SuperComp Series sponsored by Don's Auto Part's & Machine Shop. Baer overcame the defending series champion Chad LaMont in an exciting final round. Also featured is Super Comp fun race winner Brian Folk of Folk Race Cars.

At last, Mother Nature is playing nice with Byron Dragway and we have a lot to talk about! We preview the upcoming Father's Day Festival of Speed weekend and also swing by Winner's Circle to hear from the Big Bucks Bracket Bash Series and Diesel Truck Blackout Drags winners.

After an exciting day of heads-up action, we interview each class winner from the Midwest Index Shootout series opener. Featured drivers include Tracy Reeder (Street Brawler), Cameron Alley (Street Heat), Scott Ketz (Street Intimidator), Jim Laughlin (Street Limited), Mike Mackey (Pro Dominator), and Jason Hawkins (Pro Avenger).