Small-tire no-prep racers from across the Midwest and beyond will converge on Darana-National Trail Raceway this Saturday, July 25, for the King of Columbus Backside Battle presented by Palmetto State Armory.
The one-day event will bring competitors from the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and South to the historic Hebron, Ohio, facility, where they will race in the shutdown area on a surface used for competition just once each year. Racer gates open at 9 a.m., followed by the drivers meeting at 2 p.m. and eliminations at 3 p.m. Adult admission is $20, while children 12 and under are admitted free.
“The surface is known for being one of the fastest backsides in the country, so the racers get excited to take that challenge on,” said co-promoter Austin Kardules, a member of the 2025 Drag Illustrated 30 Under 30 class. “It allows racers to push the limits a little more, which they love. That makes for great side-by-side action, and it also makes it great for the fans.”
Kardules promotes the race with his brother, Camron, and Jeb Bolyard through Triple J Promotions. The group revived the King of Columbus name, which originally drew some of the Midwest’s quickest street cars to National Trail Raceway during the 1990s.
The promoters have found success by keeping the modern version connected to the fundamentals of backside and no-prep racing rather than attempting to turn it into an elaborate, multi-day production.
“We learned that we have to embrace what backside and no-prep racing is at its roots, which is simplicity,” Kardules said. “We don’t need to make it a huge conglomerate event. It doesn’t need the biggest payouts, VIP parking and seating, special formats or classes, or side shows. It just needs to be a smooth, easily accessible event.”
That approach extends to affordable spectator admission, reasonable racer entry fees and giveaways that give every attendee or competitor an opportunity to leave with something beyond the racing experience.
“We have a surface that provides the value,” Kardules said. “Certain types of events make sense for some of those extras, but this event is what no-prep racing stands for: work with what you have and find a way.”
The setup in the shutdown area is intentionally basic. There are no major grandstands, established staging lanes or conventional timing system. Fans line the hillside overlooking the racing surface, while competitors are paired before making their way toward the starting line.
“We don’t have major stands down there, no timing system and no staging lanes, but the fans find a spot on the hill, the racers get paired up before making their way toward the line, and we make it work,” Kardules said. “It is the epitome of no-prep racing, and that’s what we need to embrace.”
The headlining Driveline 1 Small Tire category (100% of entries plus $2,500 on top) will be joined by Hot Shots Secret True Street (100% of entries plus $1,500 on top), Stick Shift (100% of entries plus $500 on top), Hard Tire (100% of entires plus $1,000 on top), and Tanzillo Automotive Daily Driver (100% of entries plus $500 on top). The driver who does the Best Wheelie will take home a $500 Palmetto State Armory gift card.
Last year’s King of Columbus events established a strong group of potential defending winners. At the April race on National Trail’s newly stripped bare-concrete surface, Pennsylvania’s Don Saporito defeated Frankie Rappa to win the 27-car, $10,400-to-win Small Tire field. Robert Fairchild earned the True Street victory, Josh Frinfrock won Lil’ Gangstas, Dave Jones claimed Late Model honors and Michael McCoy prevailed in Stick Shift. Brian White in “Rotten Apple” won the backside small-tire race last year.
Along with the racing, Saturday’s program will feature several spectator and racer giveaways.
When the Small Tire field gets down to 16 cars, event officials will throw foam footballs into the crowd. Each football will carry the name of one remaining driver. The fan holding the football corresponding with the eventual winner will receive $100 cash and a $100 Palmetto State Armory gift card.
Lincoln Electric will give away a Square Wave 205 TIG welder, while NMR will award a complimentary chassis setup. Summit Racing Equipment will also provide gift certificates and hats.
“We hope to accomplish a smoothly run event that fans and racers leave remembering why they love it,” Kardules said, “and marking their calendars for the next one.”
This story was originally published on July 20, 2026. 
The post King of Columbus Backside Battle Returns to Darana-National Trail Raceway first appeared on Drag Illustrated.
