YOUR JUNIOR DRAGSTER
JAKE BERIAS
Following a stellar season, 15 year old Jake
Berias has been announced as the 18/19 Summit
Racing Equipment Sportsman Series Junior
Dragster Champion. “Going out in the first round was really hard, it
was difficult watching Zara go rounds, but then
she finally got knocked out and I won the title,
which made me very happy,” Jake said.
The title battle came right down to the Summit
Racing Equipment Junior Dragster Grand Final,
held across February 15-16 as part of Mildura’s
Twilight Nationals. “As they (the Board family) said and we said,
whichever way the championship went we
would be happy as we both deserved it and had
been 1-2 all year.”
“I am very happy; happy and emotional –
winning a championship, it is a big thing!” Jake
said, while thanking his sponsors Werribee
South Farm Supplies, Harley Heaven Melbourne,
D Berias Farms and LT Egg Farm. While the nerves well and truly kicked in
following his first round loss, ahead of the Grand
Final weekend the softly spoken student was
feeling quietly confident.
The Year 10 student from Werribee (Victoria)
clinched the title despite losing out early on in
racing at the Grand Final.
While a strong season performance with four
event wins ultimately stood him in good stead,
it was still a tense wait for the teenager as he
had to wait to see how his nearest rivals fared
as they continued on.
In the end, he would be confirmed as the
champion mid-way through the Grand Final
ahead of Championship runner-up, Zara Board
(click here to see Zara’s profile).
“Heading into the Grand Final I was probably
feeling more confident than nervous because of
the wins I have had,” he explained.
“It has been a really good season, I won three
events in a row and then came off a loss to Zara
at round four to win again; it is a really great
feeling.
“I want to thank my family: my mum, dad and
sister as well as my grandparents who have
come to nearly every event, and also everyone
in the drag racing community – they are very
positive and great people.”
With this season so freshly complete, Jake
and his family are yet to lock in their racing
commitments for the 19/20 season but it is safe
to assume you will see them around the track
throughout the year.
“The thing I really love about racing juniors
is actually not the racing side, it is all of the
families that are involved,” he said.
“It is a very family-friendly sport and on top of
that the racing side is fun; you get to go fast
and have fun.
“At this stage we haven’t really thought about
next season but we will still run in the Junior, we
might not travel as much but we will definitely
be coming to meetings at Portland and Mildura,
and if I am not racing my dad will be there
racing!”
ANDRA congratulates Jake, his family and all
involved with this racing on a fantastic year and
a well-deserved championship as well as all of
the Junior Dragster racers on a great season.
For more information on the Twilight Nationals,
which hosted the Junior Dragster Grand Final,
click here.