Multi-time Pro Extreme Motorcycle winner Brunson Grothus and the Grothus Drag Bikes team have spent the last few seasons away from PDRA competition to focus on business and life events, including the passing of Brunson’s mother following a cancer battle, as well as the birth of Brunson’s third son.
The team returned this season with a turbocharged ’19 Hayabusa, and in just the second race for the class, Grothus picked up his first win in the series since 2018 aturday night at the Smokies Garage American Doorslammer Challenge presented by Callies Performance at Summit Motorsports Park. The win was decided in a side-by-side final round, with Grothus using a .005 holeshot advantage and a 3.975 at 188.10 performance to beat two-time and reigning world champion Chris Garner-Jones and his 3.978 at 178.78 by just eight thousandths of a second.
“It’s one of the most memorable, if not most memorable, biggest, things in my career,” said Grothus, who thanked motorcycle owner Robert Varela, father Ed, brother Bradley, Dan Wagner, and his wife and family at home. “It’s incredible to come here to race. I got goosebumps thinking about who we’re racing against here. It’s incredible. The very best of the best of the world are here and it’s an honor. I’m humbled. It’s just a gauntlet with people throwing it down. That’s what makes it so amazing to be able to win.”
Grothus qualified third but had the quickest motorcycle on race day, starting with a 4.009 at 184.55 to beat Tyron Lemons and his 4.152. He set low E.T. of the event with a 3.972 at 186.72 in his second-round match with Paul Gast, who ran a 4.019. A side-by-side race followed in the semifinals against No. 1 qualifier Brayden Davis, but Davis negated his 3.996 with a .003 red light. Grothus got the win with his 3.997 at 186.79.
Garner-Jones on his TT Jones Racing ’18 Hayabusa qualified No. 2 and got the first-round win with a 4.061 at 176.81 over Gerry Hunt, who didn’t make the call. He left together with Ashley Owens in the second round but held off Owens’ 4.063 with a 4.041 at 174.57. The two-time and reigning world champion ended up with a semifinal bye run, posting a 4.035 at 176.33.
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