by Dennis Dalman
Long-time Sartell dragster Gary Olson’s win at Brainerd International Raceway July 17 was almost literally “frosting on the cake.”
It happened on Olson’s 52nd birthday, and what a birthday triumph it was to be named “Summit King of the Track” after winning by .0004 of a second or literally about 13 inches of roadway at the finish line, a hair’s breadth, a mere squeak ahead of his competitor.
The race he won with his trusty 1971 Chevy Nova was the Bracket Drag Racing Series, one of the many racing events at the Brainerd Raceway the weekend of July 16-18.
Olson’s time was 11.113 seconds with an overall speed of 121.55 mph.
That particular race win, however, did not clinch his victory. The marvelous moment came later, in the fourth and final round, when – hyped up to start the final race – Olson’s competitor fouled at the starting line, with the “King of the Track” trophy going to Olson.
After accepting the “Wally Trophy,” Olson, in an understatement, called it a fun win.
“You never know,” he said, “if you’ll have another chance at winning King of the Track because of how the points fall and the level of competition, so coming out on top was pretty special.”
The King of the Track event is for the two racers at the top of the points standing in each of the series’ seven race classes. Then, those racers are paired off for a chance at the big prize.
At the Brainerd International Raceway, dragster Gary Olson of Sartell holds his “Wally Award” after winning the Bracket Drag-Racing series and being named “Summit King of the Track.”
