SCEDA Communications Network
Gatlin Captures SCEDA Meziere Enterprises Electronics Championship
Fontana, Calif. – Don Gatlin, “aka Dead-on-Don” a 20-year bracket racing veteran captured the coveted Southern California Drag Racing Association (SCEDA) Meziere Enterprises Electronics Series championship for the 2009 season. The SCEDA championship, which was the first in the career for Bakersfield, Calif. based Gatlin, was a highlight in what was a very successful annual campaign. In addition to winning the SCEDA Series and SCEDA events this year he also won the prestigious Medford bracket race earlier this season.
Gatlin began his racing career in 1989 at the wheel of an 11-second 1978 Camaro at Famosa Raceway in Bakersfield. He ran in the Pro E.T. class turning times in the 11.80 second zone, gaining invaluable experience racing against some of the best bracket racers in the country. He eventually upgraded his ride to the current seven-second, 170 mile per hour 1927 “T” Roadster he captured the SCEDA championship with. Gatlin has always bracket raced and has some experience in super class racing but when comparing the two he enjoys the bracket racing over super class racing as he thinks it is a lot more fun, provides a better purse structure and a lot more racing.
“I really like racing with SCEDA,” noted Gatlin. “It’s a fun series and we enjoy the way that the series in conducted.” His passion for racing includes the confidence that when he goes to the starting line he has a reliable car and with Meziere Enterprises equipment on his car. He never has to worry about starting or cooling and as a result is ready to compete at a winning level. “Meziere Enterprises is a great company run by a great family and I’d like to thank them for supporting this series.”
Gatlin would like to thank his crew, which includes his wife Dora and Greg Tremain. His future plans are to compete with two cars, both the Black roaster and a new dragster, which at the upcoming Thanksgiving Big Bucks Bracket Race held at “The Strip” at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, will be driven by multi-time sportsman world champion Anthony Bertozzi. He thinks that there is a time and place for both and would like to be able to enter and race them both.
For winning the series season championship, Gatlin and his family won an all accommodations paid trip and he is going to Hawaii. When asked when he planned to head to the islands his response was, “as soon as the schedule is out so I won’t miss any SCEDA Series or any other races that I want to attend.” He will also be forever remembered with a brick for his accomplishment at the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing in Ocala, Fla. on the Walk of Fame.
