Booth’s Consistency Takes Victory!

Text and Photos by Gena White

On June 24th the blazing wheels of the Texas Outlaw Pro Mod Association heated up Caddo Mills’ Redline Raceway. As always there was a buzz of excitement in the air as 10 cars tried to make an 8 car field. Although it was very hot and humid, the weather did not seem to affect the excellent track conditions.

Perry Dunn's "Fire Chicken" was out for its second appearence of the year, but with "Twisted Lemon" driver Jeremy Brown at the wheel tonight.

In the pits and on the jackstands is Thomas Myers' Firebird.

The first qualifying round began with Chuck Poindexter’s “XS-LUV” taking on race car builder Jackie Deaver. Deaver’s nitrous ‘68 Camaro ran a shut off 4.73 at 156.52 mph to Poindexter’s 4.79 at 150.20. The next pair was Jeremy Brown and Thomas Myers. Brown was driving the “Fire Chicken’’ for Perry Dunn because the “Twisted Lemon” Corvette was broken. “Tom Slick’’ Myers ran a wild wheelstanding 4.26 at 165.26 mph that he shut off early, while Brown was forced to shut off due to an oil leak.

Ken Thomas' "Bad Bird" ready to run before the first round.

Thomas and Rebecca Myers beside the "Tom Slick" Firebird.

The next pair featured Ken Thomas and his “Bad Bird’’ Firebird and Chuck Nuytten in his “CN Blocks’’ Corvette. Thomas ran a strong 4.33 at 166.42 mph, while Nuytten ran a troubled 5.80 at 96.98. Frankie Taylor and Gaylen Smith were the next pair to the line. Taylor amazed the crowd when he shook the tires and got sideways, but was still able to run a 4.09 running 178.78 mph! Smith had problems and could only manage a 5.91. The final pair of the first round of qualifying had Bobby Booth and Ed Roach pairing off. Booth pedaled his blown Corvette to a 4.30 flying down the track at 164.71 mph, while Ed Roach ran a struggling 5.33 at 136.03 mph.

Ed Roach and Ed Prater were out racing with the Pro Mods tonight.

The Taylor family posing for the camera.

First Round Qualifying List

1 Frankie Taylor 4.09 178.78

2 Thomas Myers 4.26 165.26

3 Bobby Booth 4.30 164.71

4 Ken Thomas 4.33 166.42

5 Jackie Deaver 4.73 156.52

6 Chuck Poindexter 4.79 150.20

7 Eddie Roach 5.33 136.03

8 Gaylen Smith 5.41 98.53

Not Qualified

9 Chuck Nuytten 5.80 96.98

10 Jeremy Brown N/T

The winner before the night was over Bobby Booth next to his Corvette.

Sunset overlooking the track.

The second qualifying round started just as the sun began to set. The air became cooler and made for better racing conditions. The first contenders were Ed Roach and Chuck Poindexter. Poindexter ran his very best ever of 4.709 at 151.67 while Roach improved to a 5.094 at 142.45 mph. Next were the two orange nitrous cars of Jackie Deaver and Thomas Myers. Deaver’s “Under Dawg II’’ ran a good 4.349 at 168.10 to “Tom Slick’s’’ shut off run of 9.41 at 63.51.

Battle of the orange nitrous Pro Mods. Deaver won this one with a 4.333.

The sunlight brings out the colors on the "Bad Bird."

Ken Thomas and Chuck Nuytten faced off again in the second round of qualifying. Both cars had problems on the run. Thomas suffered parts failure and could only run 5.40 at a coasting 90.20 mph. Nuytten’s tire shake caused him to run 5.57 at a bumpy 120.23. The side by side match of the night was next, as Frankie “The Mad Man’’ Taylor and Bobby Booth seared the track with outrageous runs. Taylor ran a very impressive 4.028 at 174.28 while Booth was right there with a 4.070 at 176.89! The crowd went wild after the times appeared on the scoreboards.

Perry Dunn's TA has run in the 4 teens, Brown ran a 4.21 at Redline.

Booth's Vette in the lanes waiting to run.

The final pair in qualifying, Gaylen Smith and Jeremy Brown were now both on the outside of the quick 8 field. But not for long. Brown ran a 4.250 at 171.36 for the number 3 spot, while a troubled 4.578 at 157.76 mph landed Smith in the number 7 spot.

The first round pairings were Taylor vs. Poindexter, Booth vs. Smith, Brown vs. Deaver, and Myers vs. Nuytten (who replaced Ken Thomas in the field after Thomas broke a intake valve in the “ Bad Bird.’’)

The first pair of qualifying, Deaver ran 4.70 and Poindexter ran 4.79.

Chuck Poindexter and Ken Thomas staging at Redline Raceway.

Final Qualifying List

1 Frankie Taylor 4.028 174.28*

2 Bobby Booth 4.070 176.89 *

3 Jeremy Brown 4.250 171.36 *

4 Thomas Myers 4.263 165.26

5 Ken Thomas 4.331 166.42

6 Jackie Deaver 4.349 168.10

7 Gaylen Smith 4.578 155.76*

8 Chuck Poindexter 4.709 151.67*

Did Not Qualify

9 Eddie Roach 5.094 142.45

10 Chuck Nuytten 5.576 121.23

*denotes blown

Frankie Taylor ran a 4.09 here, Gaylen Smith shut off.

Getting ready to rumble!

The first round began with Myers taking on Nuytten. The pair was neck and neck past the half track mark, until Nuytten got crossed up and shut off. Myers took the victory with a 4.247 at 173.39 mph while Chuck trailed with a 4.600. Jeremy Brown then defeated Jackie Deaver with a solid 4.214 at 171.89 pass to Deaver’s 4.333 at 168.92 mph.

This was a constant scene in the Smith's pit, as they thrashed on the Texas Bounty Hunter all night.

Chuck Nuytten got in as a alternate and ran a wild 4.600 in the first round.

Chuck Poindexter tried to cut a perfect light but came up red with a .397. This sent Frankie Taylor on a 4.276 win at only 144.40 mph. Before the red light, Poindexter had two .40 lights in qualifying. Finishing the first round were Bobby Booth and Gaylen Smith. Booth ran the low E.T. of the round with a winning 4.076 at 179.21 to beat Smith’s trans-braking 5.123 at a coasting 97.04 mph. The 179.21 pass by Booth would stand up as top speed of the meet.

Poindexter ran a best ever of 4.709 in the XS-LUV while Roach was a DNQ at 5.09.

The semi-finals with Booth winning over Brown with another 4.07.

First Round:

W Thomas Myers 4.247 at 173.39 (.479 RT)

L Chuck Nuytten 4.600 at 127.51 (.465 RT)

W Jeremy Brown 4.214 at 171.89 (.444 RT)

L Jackie Deaver 4.333 at 168.92 (.459 RT)

W Frankie Taylor 4.276 at 144.40 (.468 RT)

L Chuck Poindexter 4.733 at 151 (.397 RT)

W Bobby Booth 4.076 at 179.21 (.495 RT)

L Gaylen Smith 5.123 at 97 .04 (.491 RT)

In the semifinal, Bobby Booth ran his third straight 4.07 of the night to beat Jeremy Brown, this one a 4.075 at 174.35 to Brown’s 4.301 at 169.11. The other semifinal match-up was a wild race to behold! Thomas Myers carried the front wheels WAY PAST the 330’ mark to barely defeat Frankie Taylor, who was fishtailing all over the last part of the track! Myers ran a 4.265 at 177.65 to Taylor’s close 4.283 at 168.60.

Tom Slick had the Mad Man's number this time in a wild,wild race.

The final round, Booth runs 4.05 to beat Myers' trailing 4.28.

Semifinals:

W Bobby Booth 4.075 at 174.35 (.496 RT)

L Jeremy Brown 4.301 at 169.11 (.469 RT)

W Thomas Myers 4.265 at 177.65 (.430 RT)

L Frankie Taylor 4.283 at 168.60 (.481 RT)

The final race of the night was a classic blown vs. nitrous race. Booth had lane choice and had run three straight 4.07s. He chose the spectator lane and ran even quicker at 4.059 at 173.59 to defeat Thomas Myers’ 4.271 at 163.76. The win ended a streak of three straight runner-up finishes for the Booth family, prompting Don Booth to exclaim, “We are happy to win one.”

Boobby Booth and crew in the winner's circle.

Thomas Myers is congratulated by Bobby Booth.

Finals:

W Bobby Booth 4.059 at 173.59 (.486 RT)

L Thomas Myers 4.271 at 163.76 (.442 RT)

The next TOMPA race is at Houston Motorsports Park on July 8th, while the Outlaw Top Sportsmen return to Caddo Mills July 29th . For more information about this race, go to www.redlineraceway.com.

Gena White