The Clash of the Titans at San Antonio Raceway, 8/29-30, 2014, Finals
By JM Hallas
Marion, TX. (Aug. 30th, 2014) As the Clash of the Titans Outlaw Racing Series celebrated its 20th year, the racing action was as hot as the Texas sun. After a full day of testing, tuning and qualifying on Friday, it was time for the baddest of the bad to be determined in all Clash of the Titan classes, plus a Summit Super Series Bracket Race for double points.
Two more qualifying sessions were held for the Pro classes, but extremely hot and tricky track conditions didn’t allow anyone to take over the number one spots from Friday nights sessions that saw Steve Wiley (Pro Mod), Kevin Hargett (Outlaw 10.5) and Lamar Swindoll Jr. (True 10.5) all set new track record times.
In the Clash classes, top qualifiers Wiley, Hargett, Swindoll Jr., Scott Ball (5.80 Index) and Perry Taylor (Little Pooch) looked to complete the weekend sweep and take home the trophies and prize money.
The day saw two major incidents that slowed the racing action and kept track crews busy throughout the day. In Sportsman time trials, Roy Trevino literally knocked the bottom out of the motor in his Chevy Camaro leaving parts, pieces and lots of oil on the track.
During round 1 of Outlaw 10.5 eliminations, Larry Valadez, in his recently rebuilt Ford Mustang, got sideways on his run against Mike Murillo. Once out of the groove, his car slid across the track making hard contact with the wall in the other lane. The contact knocked off parts, and spraying the top end with synthetic oil, coolant, and assorted car parts. Valadez was able to get out uninjured.
In the track Summit Super Series points chase, Leroy O’Bryant in his El Camino holds a substantial lead over the Dragsters of Brett Zampese, Brent Ritter, Chris Keylich, and Jeff Rabedeau in the Electronics (Box) class.
The Foot Brake (No-box) class is as tight as usual with the two Hayabusa motorcycles of Brandon Mitchan and Ruben Gallegos once again battling for the championship. Nelson Friedeck in his Chevy II, Ryan McDonnell in his Roadster, and Todd Zampese in his Dragster make for a interesting combination of points chasers in the top five.
The two Hayabusa riders are no strangers to battling for championships. Mitchan is the defending Foot Brake track champion with Gallegos finishing second. While in the Motorcycle Shootout championship, it was Gallegos taking that title with Mitchan as runner up.
The Jr. Dragsters have former track champ Ashley Hubbell out front by a huge margin over Matthew Keylich, Caden Meuth, and the Ball sisters, Emily and Haily. With Hubbell’s 200+ point lead, it’s certain she will take her second Jr. Dragster track championship.
Pro Mod
The Pro Mod finals ended in the wee, small hours of Sunday morning, but for those who stuck around, it was well worth the wait. It was the two top qualifiers of Steve Wiley (Burleson) and Gaylon Smith (Mansfield) going head to head. Wiley, in the Clark Brothers Pusher Racing Hemi-powered 63 Corvette, got almost 3/100s on Smith at the starting line. Smith, in his Texas Bounty Hunter Hemi-powered 57 Chevy, was able to not only drive around Wiley who slowed on the big end, but reset the track record in the process bettering Wiley’s Friday number by .008
Gaylon Smith, 3.861 @ 193.55 defeats Steve Wiley, 4.246 @ 139.49
Outlaw 10.5
The Outlaw 10.5 finals saw top qualifier and new track record holder Kevin Hargett (San Antonio) pair off with 14-time champion Mike Murillo (San Antonio) in a pair of Mustangs. Murillo, in his SCT 92 Mustang, who seemed to have launch issues throughout the weekend, went red by a bunch, handing the victory to Hargett’s 2001 KBR Racing Mustang.
Kevin Hargett, 4.432 @ 163.99 defeats Mike Murillo, 4.490 @ 156.30 (red)
True 10.5
Top qualifier and track record setter, Lamar Swindoll Jr. (Beach City) squared off with Daniel Pachar (Orange) for the win in True 10.5. Pachar, in the Triangle Speed Shop 2004 Mustang, left way too early, giving the honors to Swindoll Jr., in his Gold Dust Racing 68 Chevy Nova. Lamar savored the moment on the line, then eased it on down the track.
Lamar Swindoll Jr., 7.168 @ 85.18 defeats Daniel Pachar, 7.198 @ 91.06 (LB3A)
5.80 Index
JC Torres (McAllen) got the early gift from James Few in the 5.80 Index finals after Johnson went .0059 red. After Few’s 69 Chevy Chevelle lit the red, Torres in his Dirty Joe Racing 67 Chevy Camaro, ran it on through anyway, knowing he had the win in the bag.
JC Torres, 5.941 @ 117.77 defeats James Few, 5.867 @ 116.97 (red)
Little Pooch
Former track champion, Ryan McDonnell (San Antonio) scored the Little Pooch victory over Tommy Johnson (San Antonio) after Johnson went red by .0062. McDonnell, in the San Antonio Hydro Grafix Chevy Camaro, eased it on down the track after seeing Johnson’s Mission Auto Parts Ford Mustang light the red bulb.
Ryan McDonnell, 7.989 @ 81.07 defeats Tommy Johnson, 5.999 @ 115.44(red)
Electronics (Box)
The Electronics (Box) finals came down to at father-son battle between former San Antonio Raceway promoter, Todd Zampese, and his son, Brett. The two opted to split the prize money with a run for the points. Todd would not make the call to the line, leaving Brett to just roll through the beams to get the win, saving parts and fuel.
Brett Zampese, N/T, defeats Todd Zampese, DNS
Foot Brake (No-box)
It came down to a motorcycle versus door car final in the Foot Brake (No-box), but not the pair one would have thought. On a Kawasaki Ninja, it was Gene Hudel against the Pontiac Firebird of Carlos Carrasco Jr. whose father, Carlos Carrasco Sr., is no stranger to final round racing.
As the duo staged, Carrasco’s car jumped through the beams, which would have been a disqualification, but Hudel allowed Carrasco to restage. Hudel got a hundredth on the tree and was on a near perfect run as he ran down Carrasco. Hudel’s show of sportsmanship on the line paid off when Carrasco broke out on the top end by .003 seconds.
Gene Hudel (5.99) 6.009 @ 118.27 defeats Carlos Carrasco Jr. (7.60) 7.597 @ 90.56
Jr. Dragster
Ashley Hubbell secured her second track championship, making it to the finals, while Matthew Keylich went out in round 2. Hubbell, in her Aramendia Plumbing, Bexar Waste, VP Race Fuels, Screen Pro Graphics, Mission Auto Parts, Jim Cole Race Engines, Greg Hubbell Race Cars machine, was paired off with Kristen Velasquez. Velasquez gave away 4/100s at the light and that was all Hubbell needed to take the win and increase her track points lead.
Ashley Hubbell (8.98) 9.050 @ 68.34 defeats Kristen Velasquez (7.92) 7.980 @ 79.91
Photos:
Clash of the Titans
1) Gaylon Smith Pro Mod winner on his burn out
2) Kevin Hargett Outlaw 10.5 winner wrinkling g the slicks on launch
3) Lamar Swindoll jr. launching his True 10.5
4) JC Torres, 5.80 Index winner gets the front wheels up
5) Ryan McDonnell(far lane) watches as Tommy Johnson goes red in Little Pooch finals
Sportsman Bracket Racing
6) Electronics winner, Todd Zampese (near side) gets ready to run points leader, Leroy O’Bryant
7) Gene Hudel gets Foot Brake Motorcycle staged for a run
8) Ashley Hubbell (near lane) stages with Katherine Keylich in semis
Exhibition
9) Sam Ives Jet Funny Car leaves a shower of sparks on his run
10) Todd Simpson ‘lights the candles’ on his Top Fuel Funny Car
