Rains Halts OTS Race at ADRL Flowmaster World Finals

Text and Photos by Danny and Gena White

Randal Reid ran a 4.89 in Darrell Reid's Nova.

Ed Roach ran 4.715 in qualifying.

The Outlaw Top Sportsmen were an added attraction to the ADRL Flowmaster World Finals at Texas Raceway last weekend. The group put on a great show before the rains put the kibosh on the racing activity. The cars got in two killer sessions before the first round Saturday evening. Two racers managed to run a perfect 4.700 in qualifying. Outlaw Top Sportsman points leader Mat Thomas got the top spot with 4.700 at 147.92. The other racer who went 4.700 was Richie Price in the Back Road Country Boys Camaro. Richie almost left the track in the morning when the rain would not lift!

Eric Clark won the lat OTS race at Noble, OK, but red lighted in the first round.

Former NHRA World Champ Jeff Hefler ran his Lumina.

The first round of qualifying went well and the order follows.

1 4.700 at 147.02 Mat Thomas

2 4.703 at 145.64 Kenny Duke

3 4.715 at 147.76 Eddie Roach

4 4.789 at 143.55 Charlie Matthews

5 4.795 at 145.16 Jeff Hefler

6 4.802 at 144.88 Bobby Fuentes

7 4.827 at 147.20 Alfred Whiteside

8 4.955 at 142.55 Nick Williams

9 5.298 at 128.11 Randall Reid

10 12.155 32.25 Steve Gorman

11 4.698 at 146.61 Brad Jones

12 4.679 at 152.52 Richie Price

13 4.658 at 148.25 David Smith

14 4.656 at 152.52 HT Wilson

15 4.654 at 149.86 Eric Clark

16 4.644 at 148.43 Michelle Wilson

DNQ

17 No Time Ron Curley

Kent Birkes had nothing but trouble and could not run.

David Smith ran under the index twice but could not make the first round.

The field began to tighten up in the second round of qualifying began. The racers were trying to jockey for certain qualifying positions. Ed Roach ran 4.697 at 148.71 next to HT Wilson who shut off to a 5.167 at 133.85. Mat Thomas ran 4.788 at 141.48 to Brad Jones’ shut off 4.815 at 122.88. Ron Curley got into the field with a 4.892 at 143.87 while Kenny Duke was steady with a 4.712 at 149.47. Charlie Matthews ran under the index with a 4.692 while Bobby Fuentes ran his best time of 4.712 at 149.28. Michele Wilson ran under again with a closer 4.67 at 140.99, but Richie Price ran a perfect 4.700 at 144.87 for the second spot.

Michele Wilson ran 4.700 in the first round to beat Mat Thomas!

Brad Jones in the Young Racing Neon won his first round race.

David Smith ran under with a 4.669 at 145.89 to beat Nick Williams who had problems on his 5.329 pass. Steve Gorman took a solo next and ran a 5.084 to get in the field. The last winner on the OTS circuit Eric Clark ran 4.757 at 130.67 on his solo pass. Alfred Whiteside ran 4.742 at 148.77 to better his qualifying position. Kennedale Jeff Hefler came out of his backyard to race ran 4.735 at 148.52. Newcomer Randall Reid ran his best ever of 4.890 at 134.23 and his competition Kent Birkes broke on the burnout in his blown Vega.

Ed Roach staging his Firebird.

HT Wilson lost in the first round to Richie Price.

The final field was tough to say the least with a 4.70 to 4.75 spreading the top haft of the field.

1 4.700 at 147.02 Mat Thomas

2 4.700 at 144.57 Richie Price

3 4.703 at 145.64 Kenny Duke

4 4.710 at 149.89 Bobby Fuentes

5 4.715 at 147.56 Eddie Roach

6 4.735 at 148.52 Jeff Hefler

7 4.742 at 148.77 Alfred Whiteside

8 4.757 at 130.67 Eric Clark

9 4.789 at 143.55 Charlie Matthews

10 4.815 at 122.58 Brad Jones

11 4.890 at 134.03 Randall Reid

12 4.892 at 143.57 Ron Curley

13 4.955 at 142.66 Nick Williams

14 5.089 at 142.96 Steve Gorman

15 5.160 at 133.56 HT Wilson

16 4.685 at 148.25 David Smith

DNQ

17 4.689 at 140.99 Michelle Wilson

18 No Time Kent Birkes

This looks like a Pro Stock race from the '80s, but it's number one Mat Thomas facing number two Michele Wilson.

Richie Price ran a perfect 4.700 for the number two spot.

The first round began with Nick Williams in his blown small block Camaro getting the holeshot win over Bobby Fuentes in his flamed Monte Carlo. Williams ran a 4.901 for the win, while Fuentes got out of the grove on a 4.862. Steve Gorman must been rubbing on his voodoo dolls big time as beat Kenny Duke. Gorman ran 4.706 at 143 in the Patriot K-9 Service Grand Am to Duke’s close 4.725 at 148 in the Polo Machinery Services Lumina.

Bobby Fuentes ran his best ever of 4.71, but lost in the first round.

Nick Williams won with a holeshot in the first round with the only blown car in the field.

Former NHRA World Champion Jeff Hefler took an easy win when rookie Randall Reid red lighted . Hefler ran 4.749 at 145.02 in his Lumina to Reid shut off at 11.02 in the former Playmate Nova of Bill Graziano. The next race was a big one as Michel Wilson took on Mat Thomas, they are number one and two in the points. Wilson was in the field for David Smith. Wilson took the win with a pedaling 4.700 at 135, as Thomas had troubles with the Nitrous Express Camaro running 4.898.

Steve Gorman had problems in qualifying but ran 4.70 in the first round.

The OTS burnout king Alfred Whiteside lays down a good one!

The Pool Man Charlie Matthews took the win over Eric Clark in the next pairing. Clark red lighted away a 4.738 in the Clark Bros Paint & Body Tran Am, while Matthews ran 4.779 for the win. Brad Jones took the holeshot win in the next race over Alfred Whiteside. Jones ran a shut off 4.786 at 132 in the Bernie Young own small block Neon to Alfred‘s 4.797 at 143 in the Mattress Express Da Dog Camaro.

Jeff Hefler lives in front of Texas Raceway.

Eric Clark can burnout with the best of them.

Richie Price won the next race over HT Wilson. Price ran a 4.716 at 149 pass with his Camaro to beat Wilson’s Bird of Prey Firebird 4.77 at 149. Ron Curley ended the round with a win over Ed Roach. Curley ran a 4.806 at 148.48 in his rare post Chevelle to Roach’s pedaling 4.79 at 143.51 in his Firebird.

David Smith ran tow 4.60's but could not make the first round.

Charlie Matthews won his first round race with the Pool Man Firebird.

The OTS Points leader Mat Thomas in the NX Camaro.

Shortly after the first round was done the rain returned again to end the ADRL Flowmaster World Finals at Texas Raceway for Saturday night. The rain continued the next day thus ending the ADRL Flowmaster racing for the year.

Ed Roach leaving the line.

Ron Curley won his first round with a 4.80 with his post Chevelle.

Charlie Matthews has a 707 inch Pontiac in his Haas built Firebird.