Tate Branch Shreveport preview

Branch looking to stay on a roll in Shreveport

GILLIAM, La. - Former three-time NHRA Division 4 Top Alcohol Funny Car Champion Tate Branch will be looking to stay on a roll going into this weekend's NHRA Division 4 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Red River Raceway just outside of Shreveport, La. Branch enters the event hot off of two final round appearances, and hopes to put the Bar's Leaks Repair It/ Branch-Etterman Racing Camaro in the winner's circle on Sunday.

Branch, who is a Service Manager at Bull Dog Dodge in Artesia, N.M., when not racing, enters the event locked in a tight points battle with last year's Division 4 Champion, Jackie Stidham. Stidham won an out of division event last weekend in Division 5 in Great Bend, Kan. The win put Stidham only six points ahead of Branch, who has yet to run any out of division events this year.

"We knew it was going to be a battle for the points this year," said Branch. "And this year, it's not only us and Stidham, you got guys like Jimmy Jones who won in Dallas, Richard McClain, Kebin Kinsley and Steve Burck who have really stepped up. There is no room for error."

"We have four races in a row coming up," Branch continued. "So this next month can really make or break us. We're really hoping to improve our hot weather tune up this year. My crew chief Dave Scheelk has been working on some things, and it was pretty hot in Vegas, so hopefully we'll be ready for the heat this summer."

Qualifying begins on Friday for the alcohol cars with two more sessions on Saturday. Final eliminations will conclude the event on Sunday. Stay tuned to InsideTopAlcohol.com for the latest news in alcohol racing.

For more information on the team, log on to the team's website, Branch-Etterman.com

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