BENSON – Bladen Core of Benson is the 2020 NHRA Southeast Division 2 National Open Series Champion. Bladen is the 12-year-old son of Adam and Monica Core and is a 7th grader at Benson Middle. Bladen has been racing junior dragsters for 3 years but his love for the sport started long before.
Several years ago, on a Sunday afternoon after church, Adam took Bladen to Fayetteville Dragway to watch a test and tune. When a junior dragster ran on the track Bladen said he wanted to do that when he was old enough. Adam, thinking it was a 6-year-old talking in a moment of excitement, said okay When Bladen continued to bring it up several times over the next few years, Adam and Monica realized it was something their son really wanted to do.
As they began to search for a car, Adam ran across a car he recognized and took it as a sign. The car Adam found was “Outlaw Jr” and the original builder and owner was Adam’s uncle, ML Core. The car was built in the 1990’s and sold in early 2000. After 20 years and a trip to Alabama, the Outlaw Jr came back home.
Bladen’s first year racing in 2018 included two wins at Fayetteville Dragway and the Fall Mad Mule at Galot Motorsports Park in Benson. What had started as a hobby turned into a passion and CBL Motorsports, LLC was created. The name represents the Core family, Joe Bullard (Adam’s best friend), and the Langdon family (Monica’s parents).
When ML Core passed in September 2018, CBL Motorsports decided to carry on the Outlaw Jr name as a tribute when they built a new car. In the 2019 season, Bladen continued to improve as a driver and started running the NHRA Southeast Division 2 series. He picked up three wins and his first Wally. A Wally is the NHRA coveted trophy named after NHRA founder, Wally Parks.
During the off season of 2019, the team decided to focus on NHRA D2 points in 2020. The D2 races are contested all over the Southeast US in FL, GA, SC, and NC. This year Bladen brought home three Wally’s and the D2 National Open Series (10-12 year-old) Championship. In July, Bladen competed for the first time at the Jr Drag Racing League Eastern Conference Finals at Zmax Dragway in Charlotte. This race brings Jr dragsters racers from all over the US. Bladen was runner up in the 12-year-old division.
Bladen thanks God for letting him do what he loves, his Mom and Dad, Nanma & G-daddy, and his sponsors; Beeline Racing Engines, Burgess Boxing and Fitness, Core Enterprise, Redline Speed Shop, and Robbie Draughon Power Train Development.
