Fuel Altereds Rock Caddo Mills

Story and Photos by Gena White

Jack and JT Heslink beside the brand new "Punisher."

Tom Wood's "Sundown Racing" Bantam driven by Nick Poloson went a best ever of 4.27.

Larry Reep standing beside the INFAMOUS "Grim Reeper."

On June 10th there was a lot of earthshaking excitement at Caddo Mills as Harry Hronas’ Redline Raceway featured the Outlaw Fuel Altereds. There were 14 racers there with high hopes and anticipation to win! The points leader coming into the race was Larry Reep, also known as the “Grim Reeper.” Reep has been to the finals at Houston Raceway Park, Wichita Raceway Park, and Tulsa Raceway Park.

Tim Hay in the nitro burning "High Voltage Hayride".

Bobby Marriott standing beside the "Shockwave." Look for Chuck Landers in the background.

Donnie Massey and the "Showtime."

The first round began at 8:00 p.m. with Jack Heslink taking on Nick Poloson. The track temp was very high, making for a tricky track to navigate. Both Heslink and Poloson are newcomers to the Outlaw Fueled Altereds this year. Heslink’s “Punisher” left the line in a massive wheelstand that he carried for several hundred feet down the track. The wheelstand made Heslink lift out of throttle and shut down to a 4.86 at 126.48 mph. Poloson ran a 4.70 at 142.59 mph in Tom Woods’ “Sundown Racing” ‘32 Bantam.

The second pairing was 2005 champion Brad Rigler in the Danny Wright-tuned “Toxic” 29 Model A taking on Bobby Marriott in his “Shockwave” 23-T. Rigler ran a 4.36 at 163.70 mph while Marriott was all over the track past the half track point, recording an amazing 4.49 at 127.18 mph. The crowd went wild on this run, because Marriott did everything but hit the rail!

Kevin Broussard's "Purple Haze" out of Louisiana.

Gary Wheeler's "Slayer."

Paula Dogget's "Time Warp" driven by John Tappan

The next pairing was Jack Hodgson and Larry Reep. Hodgson ran the low E.T in this round with a 4.31 at 170.75 mph while Reep ran a troubled 4.62 at 128.15. Donnie Massey ran 4.34 at 152.54 in his “Showtime” 23-T, taking on Tim Hay who broke on the line in his nitro-burning “High Voltage Hayride.” John Tappan in the “ Time Warp” 23-T which is powered by a true Ford wedge engine, raced Jimmy Todd’s Chevy powered 48 Fiat. Tappan won this round with a 4.87 at 122.98, with Todd trailing at 5.09 at 119.33.

Two out of state cars were next, as Gary Wheeler out of Oklahoma took on Kevin Broussard from Louisiana. Wheeler in his “Slayer” 32 Bantam ran 4.69 at 145.68 to Broussard’s shut off 4.73 at 114.63 mph. The final pairing of the first qualifying round was Donnie McSwaim’s brand new ET Automotive 32 Bantam against Travis Bouchey in his nitro burning “Excitation” Fiat.  McSwaim won with a 4.73 at a 148.11 mph while Bouchey shut off to a 7.72 at 54.95.

Jack Hodgson ready to race!

Nick Poloson facing off with Jack Heslink.

Bobby Marriott and Brad Rigler in the first round.

First round qualifying order was as follows:

1 4.31 Hodgson
2 4.34 Massey
3 4.35 Rigler
4 4.49 Marriot
5 4.62 Reep
6 4.69 Wheeler
7 4.70 Poloson
8 4.73 McSwaim
9 4.70 Boussard
10 4.86 Heslink
11 4.87 Tappan
12 5.09 Todd
13 7.57 Bouchey
14 N/T Hay

The "Southern Outlaw" coming up to burnout.

Larry Reep against Hodgson.

Tim Hay broke in the far lane against Donnie Massey.

After the sun went down, the track got much cooler and made for better racing conditions. Two cars broke after the first round. Kevin Boussard broke his torque converter, while Tim Hay had a backfire on the line. In the first pairing, Marriott ran a 4.29 at 164 against Jack Hodgson who ran 5.03 at 150 mph. Rigler ran a track record 4.11 at 171.89 to take out Tappan’s 4.74 at 141.69. Reep then ran a 4.20 against Donnie Massey’s close 4.26 at 163 mph. Reep ran a 174.18 mph for a new Red Line Raceway track record.

Heslink ran Poloson again with Poloson running his best ever at 4.33, 153. Donnie McSwaim ran 4.38 at 151 mph, but trailed Gary Wheeler’s 4.26 at 159 mph. The final pairing had Johnny Todd running a best ever 4.37 against Bouchey’s troubled 4.55 at 149.29. This was a very popular pairing with both cars putting out flames as they went down the track.

John Tappan against Jimmy Todd.

The "Slayer" versus "Purple Haze."

Jack Heslink in the near lane against Poloson.

Final qualifying order was as follows:

1 4.11 Rigler
2 4.20 Reep
3 4.26 Massey
4 4.26 Wheeler
5 4.27 Marriott
6 4.31 Hodgson
7 4.33 Poloson
8 4.37 Todd
9 4.38 McSwaim
10 4.50 Heslink
11 4.55 Bouchey
12 4.73 Boussard
13 4.74 Tappan
14 N/T Hay

Gary Wheeler against Donnie McSwaim.

The nitro burning Fiat of Travis Bouchey.

The first round started with the top 10 qualifiers from the two qualifying rounds. The number 1 qualifier, Brad Rigler, ran 4.16 to put out Jack Hodgson’s 4.76. Nick Poloson ran another best ever 4.27, putting out Larry Reep’s first gear only 4.47. Jack Heslink stepped up with a holeshot to beat Bobby Marriott, 4.28 to 4.27. Donnie Massey won his round with 4.29 against Jimmy Todd’s red lighting 4.89. And Gary Wheeler qualified for the final round with a 4.23 at 167 mph run to beat Travis Bouchey’s tire smoking 6.40 pass at 73 mph. Bouchey was the first alternate, in for the broken McSwaim.

The "Toxic" car ready to fire before its 4.11 run!

Gary Wheeler sets off on its 4.26 pass.

The final round pairing would be defending Outlaw Fuel Altered champion Brad Rigler racing against Gary Wheeler. Rigler’s best run of the night was a 4.11, but his first round 4.16 qualified him for the final round. Similarly, Gary Wheeler’s winning 4.23 from round one put him into the final. Wheeler cut a great .405 light to Rigler’s .428 light, but Rigler drove around Wheeler’s holeshot to win with a 4.26 run to Wheeler’s trailing 4.47.

The brand new ET Automotive AA/FA driven by Donnie McSwaim.

In the final, Rigler wins with a 4.26 to beat Wheeler's 4.47.

Draglist.com would like to thank Jerry Lee Goss and the Redline Raceway staff for allowing us to cover the Outlaw Fuel Altereds Race. We would also like to thank Bobby Lee Marriott and the Outlaw group for the OUTSTANDING SHOW they performed. You ALL were GREAT! For more information about Redline Raceway, go to www.redlineraceway.com. For more information about Outlaw Fuel Altereds go to www.ofaa.net