By JM Hallas
Marion, Texas – With two days of racing in the rear view mirror and the team finals championships already decided, another ‘Gamblers Race’ was on the card with racers vying for extra money to cap off their weekend. Also running were the track operators from the six tracks.(San Antonio, Pine Valley, Edinburg, Little River, Wichita Falls and Amarillo) shooting for bragging rights until next year.
The weather conditions once again changed from the previous day, more like Friday. Sunny skies replaced yesterdays cloudy conditions making for much hotter track temperatures. Instead of a tail wind, today it was a head wind, gusty at times.
Drivers also had a chance to pick up some extra coin with a “Run for the Money” time trial session. Similar to “Dialing for Dollars”, but each class is run individually, instead of as one group. The object is to run closest to your dial in than anyone else in the class.
Run for the Money
Aaron Cole in his Mission Auto Parts, TnT Dragster scored the Electronics win out of 50 entries coming within .0004 of his index. In the Foot Brake class it was Sambo Tyra in his G&S Race Car, 70 Yenko SC Nova besting the 67 cars with a .0012. The Jr Dragsters class had Caden Meuth in his Quality Care Automotive, PRC Chassis take the extra money of the 16 cars entered with a .003.
Track Operators Race
The track operators race came down to the two tracks that battled for the overall Team Finals championship. Billy Bailey jr. from Pine Valley Raceway was paired with Iain Grae from San Antonio Raceway. Bailey, in Chevy Silverado and Grae in his BMW M4 had fairly similar reaction times. At the finish line it was Bailey, completing the Pine Valley weekend sweep, getting the win.
Billy Bailey jr.(10.73) 10.745 @ 65.15 defeats Iain Grae(8.00) 8.03 @ 88.15
Gamblers Electronics
If you had that “Greg” would win the Electronics Gamblers Race in the track pool, you’d be guaranteed a winner. After deciding whether or not split, Greg Meuth(Boerne) and Greg Duffield(Temple) decided to go ahead and run. Meuth in his Quality Care Automotive, TnT Chassis, cut a .005 light to chase down Duffield, in his ACS Data Recovery Dragster, and the two were side by side on the top end. Meuth took the victory by .0102 with Duffield breaking out by .0005. OUCH!
Greg Meuth(4.79) 4.801 @ 136.12 defeats Greg Duffield(4.84) 4.395 @ 143.77(break out)
Gamblers Foot Brake
The Foot Brake finals it was a classic battle between a door car and a motorcycle. Michael Wayne Turman(Thorndale) on his 1/8 Mile Outlaws, Hayabusa was paired with Donna Lummus(China) in her old school SS Chevy Nova. Turman got almost 2/100th advantage on the tree and ran down Lummus on the top end to get the hole shot win.
Michael Wayne Turman(5.64) 5.663 @ 117.19 defeats Donna Lummus(6.32) 6.354 @ 108.99
Gambles Jr. Dragster
Wade Walker(Splendora), who won Fridays 2nd Chance Jr. Dragster finals made it to Sundays finals against Dalton Lummus(China). Both had nearly identical reaction times and both ran too quick at the stripe. Walker, in a different car from Friday, got the double break out win being closest to his dial in.
Wade Walker(7.99) 7.977 @ 79.91 defeats Dalton Lummus(7.96 7.922 @ 80.86(double break out)
Team Finals Awards
Best Appearing full bodied car; Greg Estes, Chevelle
Best Engineered full bodied car; Zay Becknal, Corvette
Best Appearing open bodied car; Scott Ball
Best engineered open body car; Jay Fitzgerald
Best Appearing and Engineered Jr. Dragster; Conner Rivers
Best Team Grandstand; Little River Dragway
Best Sponsor Banner; Pine Valley Raceway
Best Appearing Team; Little River Dragway
Best Team Spirit; San Antonio Raceway
