By: Celeste Smith
Normally the race cars get a makeover during the “winter” break but this time it was the racing surface at Texas Raceway that got the makeover. The staff at Texas Raceway dug up the old track from about 100’ out and laid all new concrete and then they poured concrete walls and took out the grass & guardrails. As with any “outside” job they were at Mother Nature’s mercy and got a little behind schedule re-opening. They really wanted to be open several weeks before running the “Fastest Doorslammers on the Planet” down the new racing surface but they only got to open the Wednesday and Thursday before the day the Pro Mods were scheduled to make the Texas Raceway season opener for 2008. On March 14th the sun was shining down on Kennedale, America as 10 teams rolled into Texas Raceway to try their luck on the new and IMPROVED racing surface. After two rounds of qualifying, here's how everything ended up:
The #10 position was held by Tim Cruce in his Blown ’47 Anglia who has been fighting handling problems with the car since the end of last year. He stopped the clocks with a 6.038 at only 94 mph. The #9 spot was held by Chuck Poindexter in his Blown ’76 Luvamaro (what is a luvamaro you ask? It is a luv truck body with a camaro front end cut and narrowed to fit the luv truck body) Chuck stopped the clocks with a 4.721 at 149 mph. David Baldwin in his ’63 nitrous assisted Corvette owned by Butler Motorsports and clocked a 4.684 at 147 mph to nose his way into the top 8 capturing the #8 position. H.T. Wilson held the #7 position with a 4.670 at 153 mph in his ’89 nitrous assisted Camaro. Kevin Hargett held the #6 position in his ’01 Turbo charged Mustang with a 4.64 at 162 mph. The #5 spot was held by Frankie Taylor in his Blown ’05 C5 Vette with a 4.405 at 148 mph. Frankie is not normally in the bottom half of the field but he fought tire shake all night long and left TXR scratching his head. In the top half of the field in the #4 position was Heath Harvey in his Blown ’96 Grand Prix out of the Thomas Motorsports camp with a 4.215 at 171 mph and his team car, Ken Thomas was in the #3 position with his Blown ’97 Firebird which stopped the clocks with a 4.102 at 174 mph. Ken has been so consistent since the end of last year; this was his race to lose. Welcome back Gaylen Smith in his BRAND NEW Jeffers built Blown ’70 Hemi Cuda who right off the trailer went a 4.077 at 176 mph to capture the #2 spot. This team is looking to make a comeback in 2008 and if you’ve tracked the Texas Bounty Hunter’s career, you know it can be done. The final car in the top 8 capturing the pole position was Gene Hector in his Blown ’63 Small Block Corvette and he clocked a 4.030 at 178 mph.
First Round:
Heath Harvey (W) 4.277 at 167 mph (.022 RT)
Frankie Taylor (RU) 4.757 at 111 mph (.164 RT)
I watched this race on video in Frankie's trailer and Frankie drove a quarter mile to end up at the 1/8 only to wind up on the short end of the stick. Heath was on his game and takes the win.
Ken Thomas (W) 14.791 at 52 mph (-.280 RT)
Chuck Poindexter (RU) NT
Chuck had problems staging and his lights were blinking off and on but ultimately left before the tree activated. Not sure if Ken coasted thru because he knew this or if he had problems himself. It sounded like the bad bird was spitting and sputtering.
Gene Hector (W) 4.399 at 168 mph (.079 RT)
David Baldwin (RU) 4.722 at 148 mph (.006 RT)
David pushed the tree but couldn't overpower that BLOWN small block.
H.T. Wilson (W) 4.530 at 155 mph (.161 RT)
Gaylen Smith (RU) 5.298 at 97 mph (.087 RT)
Gaylen had the starting line advantage but just after the 60 foot clocks the new Cuda started moving around and he wasn't able to get past H.T. in the traps. Once we got back to the shop we found that the track locater bar broke which caused the Cuda to move around.
Semi Finals:
Ken Thomas (W) 4.087 at 174 mph (.073 RT)
H.T. Wilson (RU) 4.532 at 156 mph (.248 RT)
H.T.'s luck ran out here as Ken Thomas commanded this round.
Gene Hector (W) 4.097 at 174 mph (.024 RT)
Heath Harvey (RU) 4.301 at 166 mph (.046 RT)
Gene had the slightly better reaction time and better performance and takes the win.
Finals:
Gene Hector (W) 4.067 at 166 mph (.060 RT)
Ken Thomas (RU) 4.117 at 173 mph (.061 RT)
Dead even off the starting line it was Gene Hector who got there first ending Ken Thomas’ winning streak but Ken was right beside Gene waiting for him to wiggle.
Congratulations to Gene Hector and Small Block Mafia crew for their 1st TOPMA victory (on the new and improved racing surface at Texas Raceway) and also to Ken & Susan Thomas and the TMS team for their runner-up finish. I can't wait until next month at TXR when a few more cars have been down the track......History in makin!
Blown-2
Nitrous-0
