Submitted Photo – Eureka’s Cameron Ellsworth celebrates his victory at the Saturday’s Big Bucks Junior Dragster Race.

The seventh annual Big Bucks Junior Dragster Race at the Samoa Dragstrip attracted a field of more than 30 cars this past Saturday, as the 2024 season continues to build momentum.

The local youth drag racing event featured two age groups with almost half the field traveling from out of the area for what has become one of the highlight events of the local junior drag racing season.

And it was a good day for Eureka’s Cameron Ellsworth, who placed first in the 6- to 12-year-old bracket and took home a winning purse of $2500.

Hayden Colton from Lakeside, Oregon, also had a good day on the way to placing first in the 13- to 17-year-old bracket and also won $2500 .

After their victories, both winning drivers received a Redwood Wally trophy, named after National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) founder Wally Parks.

The event, which has grown in stature over the past few years, attracted drivers from as far away as Fresno and Washington State.

The Big Bucks Race also paid out $1000 to second-placed drivers and $400 for third.

The 2024 Junior Drag season runs from May until September and it has been a competitive year for the young drivers, with several locals currently in the race for the season championships.

The top five in the 13-17 age group have all impressed this summer, with little to separate them in the standings.

Grant Williamson currently leads the way with 241 points and holds a slender advantage over Robert Boynton (232 points) and Isabella Fuentes-Zittel (219), with Dylan Ellsworth (195) also in the mix in fourth.

Jasper Butterfield (129) also has impressed, and all of the top-five drivers have won at least once each this summer.

The 6-12 age group has been almost as competitive.

In addition to his Big Bucks victory over the weekend, Ellsworth remains in the thick of the chase for the season championship.

The Eureka native trails season leader Jeremy Johnson by just 30 points as they had towards the business end of the season.

Submitted photo – Hayden Colton celebrates her victory in the 13-17 age group race on Saturday.

Johnson has been the most consistent young driver in the bracket and leads the way with 241 points followed by Ellsworth (211), Logan Johnson (205), Mason Sefton (151) and Nate Wasso (132).

The young drivers usually compete every two weeks throughout the summer months and the next scheduled race is scheduled for Aug. 17.

“The kids race against each other but they really all get along,” Grant Williamson’s father Dax Williamson said. “From that perspective, it’s been a very positive experience.”

The local junior drag racing association began competing at Samoa in 1991 and it has steadily grown in popularity over the years.

All of the young drivers must be licensed by the NHRA before they begin competing.

Grant Williamson got into the sport after watching a race a couple of years ago and was immediately hooked.

In addition to competing at Samoa, he also travels regularly out of the area to race and is currently ranked No. 9 in the Western United States.

Any young local drivers interested in competing can contact the association through the Samoa Dragstrip Facebook page or visit the drag strip website.