Marion,
TX - It was time again for another 'Night of Fire'
event on the 1/8 mile San Antonio Raceway surface. The
action was highlighted by the Texas Outlaw Pro
Modified Association (TOPMA), Southwest
Superchargers (SWSC) and the Outlaw Fuel
Altered Association (OFAA). Also on the nights
racing card were the Nogolitas Gear 5.80 and 7.00 index
classes.
TOPMA is a 'run what ya brung' series
featuring some of the baddest door slammers on the planet.
Current points leader Steve Wiley had a rough outing in
the Memorial weekend show at SAR when he crashed in the
first qualifying session. Ed Hickl and Bob Alexander were
scheduled to meet in the final, but Mother Nature ended
the night earlier than expected. Wiley, who also took
a big $50K to win No-Prep race here in March, basically
had to just show up to secure the TOPMA championship over
Alexander.
The SWSC group is a mix of any fuel injected,
blower car ranging from dragsters to altereds to funny
cars. They were also cut short in that early summer event
with Don David slated to face off with points leader Joe
Navar before the rains came. Navar held a 48 point margin
over David in the championship chase coming into the nights
action. Christian Leffew and Jacob Penner were about 90
back, but separated by only one.
In the running for the OFAA title are
it's much closer with Raymond Dawson leading the way over
Nick Poloson by only eight markers. With bonus points
and dropping a race, the decision came down to the final
run of the night. The OFAA brings a nostalgia look to
the racing circuit with all open bodied fuel altereds
of the past.
TOPMA
Alexander
Gets the Battle, Wiley Wins War
Steve Wiley showing up didn't happen,
which all but secured the 2016 TOPMA championship, but
Bob Alexander went down fighting. Even going out in the
semis Wiley locked the championship, while Alexander advanced
to the final to meet Jay Ligon.
Alexander was .078 to Ligon's .417 for
a huge advantage, pretty much giving him the win off the
line. Couple that with Alexander's sub-four second pass
and Ligon was just a spectator watching Alexander sail
into the night for the win. Alexander beat Chuck Poindexter
in round one, then took a bye in the semi's doing a stage
and break the beams. Ligon bested Eric Clark, who went
red, and Wiley in round 2.
Bob Alexander, 3.997 @ 185.19 defeats
Jay Ligon, 6.028 @ 98.64
SWSC (4.50 index)
Mears Motors to the Money, Navar Notches Title
Andy
Mears matched up with Buck Woolen Jr. in the final for
the Southwest Superchargers. Both left with nearly identical
reaction times, but at the top end it was Mears with the
better number, scoring the win.
Joe
Navar lost in round one, but Don David would go down in
round two thereby giving the championship to Navar. Mears
got the better of Jacob Penner in round 1, then ousted
Penner again in the rematch.(Penner got back into the
ladder with the fastest losing time). Woolen was the giant
killer beating both points contenders, Navar and David.
Andy
Mears, 4.653 @ 131.20 defeats Buck Woolen Jr., 4.844 @
142.27
OFAA
Dawson Does Daily Double
The
Outlaw Fuel Altered Association runs a 'Chicago Style'
elimination where the fastest two round one winners square
off in the final. That put points leader Raymond Dawson
up against Eric Buchanan. Dawson in the Hemi powered,
29 Model A cut a better light for the edge. Buchanan in
his Keith Black powered, 23 Model T ran him down and posted
a career fastest ET. Unfortunately for Buchanan it was
too quick, breaking out, handing the victory and championship
to Dawson.
Dawson eked out the win in round one over
Donny Massey with a holeshot. Buchanan trailered Donny
McSwain advancing him to the finals.
Raymond Dawson, 4.031 @ 178.78 defeats
Eric Buchanan, 3,751 @ 191.16
7.00 index
The 7.00
index final had a pair of old school Camaros in the running
for the win. John Albarado got 1/100th on the tree over
Jesse Garza then inched out another couple hundredth at
the finish to grab the victory.
Albarado defeated Dean Svatopolsky and
Antony Montoya, with a Round 2 bye. Garza got by David
Bixler, Roy Trevino and Matt McInnis to get to the final.
John
Albarado, 7.046 @ 98.42 defeats Jesse Garza, 7.084 @ 90.29
Text
& photos: J.M. Hallas
