Proving Grounds 2012 is going down June 22-24!
Check back for updated information as we get it. Help us make 2012 the biggest year yet, and make Proving Grounds THE summer event for race fans!
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Chris Carey had the fastest car at Brainerd International Raceway during the 2011 Sport Compact & Diesel Weekend but he learned the hard way that races are won and lost on the starting line, which is why he finished runner up in the Quick 16 Class.
Carey had his '94 Mazda RX7 flying down the drag strip at 160 mph all weekend. His car was faster than Ricardo Torres' 1972 Toyota Corolla, which was the matchup in the Quick 16 finals. But Torres was off the starting line in .584 seconds, nearly two seconds ahead of Carey, whose reaction time was 2.451 seconds. Even though Carey's run was 8.824 seconds at 144.74 mph, Torres had too much of a head start and finished with the win, posting a time of 9.076 seconds and 144.55 mph. Carey finished runner up last year as well.
The event's drag racing featured turbo-charged import cars, sport compacts, bikes and smoke-belching diesel trucks as the weekend combined the 3rd Annual Modern Automotive Performance Proving Grounds and the Jags Pro Truck Shop's Midwest Diesel Challenge. The event grew again this year, with more than 170 cars, bikes and trucks traveling from as far away as Washington, Idaho, Canada and Chicago to compete.
In addition to the action on the drag strip, the MAP Proving Grounds also featured drifting, autocross, open lapping on BIR's Competition Road Course and live music. Although drag racing took center stage, the drifting competition was a fan favorite. Cars are timed as they drive through a course mostly in controlled (or uncontrolled, in some cases) skids. Translation: lots of smoke, burnt rubber and screeching.
Back on the drag strip, a pair of Honda Civics lined up against each other in Outlaw Street Class finals. Driving a '96 Civic, Nathan Compner was paired up against Erick DesFassiaux in a '93 Civic. Compner edged DesFassiaux off the starting line and held on for the win with a time of 10.584 seconds and 127.86 mph to DesFassiaux's 11.125 seconds and 127.01 mph.
The True Street Class featured 25 cars and some great drag racing action throughout the elimination rounds. In the end, it came down to a shootout between Brandon Vanyo and Xue Yang in another showdown between two Honda Civics - Vanyo and his '92, and Yang in a '95. Yang was 16/100ths of a second quicker off the starting line but he couldn't hold off Vanyo, who caught him at the finish line with a time of 11.187 seconds and 127.32 mph. Yang ran 11.469 seconds and 133.12 mph.
After finishing runner up in last year's Motor Street Class, Corey Grimsrud was determined to finish the weekend in the Winners Circle. Running a '92 Nissan Sentra, he earned his way to the finals where he faced Jason Su in an '88 Honda CRX. Grimsrud beat Su off the starting line and never looked back, winning with a time of 12.014 seconds and 114.42 mph to Su's 12.153 seconds and 114.13 mph.
In the Street Stock Class finals, Cameron Clarke was almost 4/10ths of a second faster off the starting line but it wasn't enough to keep Molivann Men and his '08 Honda Civic from winning the class with a time of 15.460 seconds and 92.94 mph. Driving an '86 Toyota MR2, Clark finished with a run of 16.994 seconds and 81.34 mph.
Chris Scheidecker, driving an '08 Mitsubishi, outlasted the 23-car field in the Stock Appearing Class by beating Paul Johansen and his '91 Eagle Talon in the finals with a time of 12.130 seconds at 120.97 mph. Johansen finished with a 12.236 second time and 117.52 mph.
The 12-bike Import Bike Class featured a good ol' fashioned family reunion in the semifinals: nephew racing uncle with dad waiting to take on the winner in the finals. Tyler Pangerl, whose dad Michael Pangerl won the class last year, was up against his uncle, Jeff Pangerl, in the semifinals. Tyler was a little too eager on the starting line and fouled, handing the win to Uncle Jeff. Michael Pangerl had a bye in the semifinals, setting up a grudge match between brothers Jeff and Michael in the finals. Jeff finishing on top with a time of 10.580 seconds and 108.10 mph.
