The Southeast Gassers Association opens its 2026 season with the Bama Brawl at Holiday Raceway in Woodstock, Alabama, where changeable conditions test drivers and teams from the outset.

Presented by Superior Performance Transmissions, the event leans into Holiday Raceway’s retro character, amplifying SEGA’s 1960s rulebook and period-correct focus across a multi-state entry.

Early weather limits tuning windows, then qualifying escalates rapidly. Big wheelstands, center-line crosses, and a bruised shutdown area underline a demanding surface that rewards restraint and precision.

A/Gas, SEGA’s headline class, delivers the sharpest performance swings. Leslie Horne’s Chick Magnet ’55 Chevy starts sixth on 5.44, then trends faster, peaking with a 5.25 by the final.

Ben Christopher’s Happy Daze Chevy II sets the early benchmark. He tops qualifying at 5.22 from the trailer and holds form despite on-track disruptions and lane variability.

Christopher defeats defending champion Chase Howard in round one. Howard rebounds to a 5.23, but Christopher stamps authority with low ET at 5.15 to move through.

The semifinal picture tightens. Newcomer Steve McNamara crosses the center line against Christopher, while Brad Henry spins and contacts the shutdown wall earlier. Henry is unhurt, but his ’41 Willys is damaged.

The final pairs Christopher with the resurgent Horne. Horne owns lane choice, but a red light ends it instantly, handing Christopher the win and an early points lead.

B/Gas builds to an all-Tennessee final. Ted McKee’s Rocky Top Missile Chevy II leads qualifying at 5.54. Charlie Lee’s Tennessee Charlie Mustang posts 5.60 despite a center-line scare.

The final is decided on the leave. Lee wins by 0.01 seconds despite a slower 5.58 to McKee’s 5.57, converting a holeshot and managing a narrow, measured finish.

C/Gas remains Jerren Perdue’s yard. The champion fires a record 5.947 on a round-one bye, then strings sub-sixes to reach a heavyweight final with Todd Oden.

Both cars wheelie and track straight. Perdue edges Oden by 0.01, 5.95 to 5.96, reinforcing his class control while underlining the discipline’s setup sensitivity.

Super Stock is one-way traffic again. Alabama’s Jerry Dean outpaces Rob Walden, qualifying 6.35 to 6.67 and extending a six-race winning streak with another composed final.

The opener establishes early patterns. Christopher takes the A/Gas points initiative, class depth looks healthy, and SEGA’s period-correct formula continues to reward execution over outright risk.

With wild runs contained and no serious injuries reported, the Bama Brawl validates SEGA’s robust officiating and track management, while showcasing why it anchors nostalgic drag racing relevance in 2026.

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Miles Carter

Miles Carter covers grassroots and regional drag-strip action, from bracket racing to street-legal shootouts. His event previews and performance-upgrade guides keep local racers up to speed on timing-slip trends, tire tech, and weekend race highlights.