Mat Thomas Wins Caddo Mills Outlaw Top Sportsman Go

Text and Photos by Gena White

 

Brad Jones and the Young Racing Neon.

David Hauk's brand new OTS 55 Chevy.

Steve Gorman ran a perfect 4.700 for the number one spot, then ran two more 4.70s to take runner up.

During the Memorial Day weekend, there was a lot of excitement at Red Line Raceway in Caddo Mills, Texas. Out of 20 participants, there were 16 lucky Outlaw Top Sportsman racers that met the 5.20 minimum and qualified for the final field.

The Wilsons brought both cars to race at Caddo Mills. Michelle qualified number five, while HT was number six.

Nick Williams' super clean '68 was the number 16 qualifier.

The Clark Bros, and their Trans Am out of their paint and body shop.

Stan and Mat Thomas beside the winning car of the night.

Greg Curley and the Curley Bros. rare post Chevelle.

After two qualifying rounds, Steve Gorman qualified in the number 1 spot. Gorman ran a perfect 4.700 in his former Jim Yates Grand Am on the 4.70 index. Chassis builder Brad Jones qualified number 2 in the Young Racing Dodge Neon. The 406 cubic inch small block powered Jones to a 4.71. The number 3 qualifier was the NX Camaro driven by Mat Thomas with a 4.72. Joe Baldobino took the number 4 spot with a 4.750 in his Beretta.

Randy Locke's beautiful Blood, Sweat & Tears II Firebird.

Alfred Whiteside's Da' Dog Camaro out of Side Race Cars.

Melvin Goss and his brand new Maverick, the recent winner at San Antonio.

Ed Roach and Big Ed Prater beside their Firebird.

Michelle Wilson came number 5 with a 4.75 at 148 mph. Michelle’s husband HT Wilson followed behind her with a 4.801 at 144 in his Firebird. Chuck Poindexter qualified in his full spirited LUV with a 4.808 at 145 mph. Rounding out the top half of the field was Eric Clark with a 4.83 ET in the Clark Brothers Paint and Body Trans Am.

Mat Thomas and HT Wilson in qualifying, The duo later raced in the second round with Thomas winning a side by side 4.73 to 4.73 nail biter.

Michelle Wilson and the author.

Bobby Fuentes and his new Monte Carlo.

Chuck Poindexter's wild XS Chevy Luv.

Ed Roach earned the number 9 spot with his ET of 4.85 at 145 mph. The Curley Brothers rare Chevelle ran 4.89 with Ron Curley at the wheel. Melvin Goss ran a 4.90 in his new Maverick for the number 11 spot. The Da’ Dog Camaro of Alfred Whiteside was number 12 with a run of 4.91. Rick Cates drove Jackie Deaver’s King of the Hill Camaro to the number 13 spot with a 4.93 in his first time in the car. Bart Jetton ran his best ever with a 5.017 at 142 mph in his Trans Am. Keith Anglin shoed the Anglin Brothers Beretta in to the number 15 spot with a 5.01. Nick Williams was the final qualifier at 5.18 in his blown ‘68 Camaro.

Terry Anglin and the Anglin Bros. Beretta.

Bart Jetton ran his best ever with a 5.01.

Eric Clark and Steve Gorman.

Non-qualifiers included Randy Locke in the Blood, Sweat and Tears II Firebird with a 5.33. David Hauks ran 5.38 in his new 55 Chevrolet. Bobby Fuentes ran 5.45 in his Monte Carlo, and Gaylen Smith ran a surprising shut off 6.21 in his Camaro. The qualifying list was as follows.

1 Steve Gorman 4.700 at 153 mph
2 Brad Jones 4.71 at 149 mph
3 Mat Thomas 4.72 at 147 mph
4 Joe Baldobino 4.750 at 148 mph
5 Michelle Wilson 4.754 at 148 mph
6 HT Wilson 4.801 at 144 mph
7 Chuck Poindexter 4.808 at 145 mph
8 Eric Clark 4.83 at 149 mph
9 Ed Roach 4.85 at 145 mph
10 Ron Curley 4.89 at 138 mph
11 Melvin Goss 4.90 at 144 mph
12 Alfred Whiteside 4.91 at 149 mph
13 Rickey Cate 4.93 at 150 mph
14 Bart Jetton 5.015 at 142 mph
15 Keith Anglin 5.017 at 141 mph
16 Nick Williams 5.18 at 137 mph

17 Randy Locke 5.33 at 126 mph
18 David Hauk 5.38 at 131 mph
19 Bobby Fuentes 5.46 at 107 mph
20 Gaylen Smith 6.21 at 92 mph

Bobby Fuentes was a DNQ in his first OTS race.

Bart Jetton and Chuck Poindextyer in qualifying.

Joe Baldobino won this forst round match when Rick Cates redlighted.

Number one qualifier Steve Gorman won his first round race with a 4.70 to beat Nick Williams’ red lighting 5.13. The 4.70 run earned Gorman a $400 bonus from Hans Fuestal Racing Engines. Brad Jones took an easy win with a shut off 4.85 to Keith Anglin’s troubled 5.92. Mat Thomas’s holeshot 4.72 beat Bart Jetton’s trailing 5.04. Joe Baldobino took an easy 4.92 win when Ricky Cates redlighted. Alfred Whiteside ran a 5.08 to beat Michelle Wilson’s tire shaking 5.83. HT Wilson beat Melvin Goss 4.74 to 4.92. Greg Curley red lighted away a better 4.82 to Chuck Poindexter’s winning 4.85. Ed Roach won his first round with a 4.75 to 4.94 of Eric Clark.

In round 2, Gorman ran a 4.69 breakout but Ed Roach had already red lighted, giving Gorman the win. Brad Jones also advanced to the semis with a 4.69 breakout when Chuck Poindexter red lighted on a 4.78 run. In the closest race of the night, Mat Thomas and HT Wilson both ran 4.73 with Thomas taking the win. Baldobino beat Whiteside 4.72 to 4.85 when Whiteside red lighted.

Brad Jones in the semi finals against Mat Jones.

The finals with Thomas staging against Gorman.

The semi-finals had the 4 top qualifiers facing off. Gorman narrowly defeated Joe Baldobino’s fishtailing run, 4.71 to a 4.73. Mat Thomas then took an easy 4.73 win when Brad Jones red lighted.

In the final, Mat Thomas took a holeshot win over Steve Gorman with a 4.72 to Gorman’s excellent but late 4.70.

All these great racers worked hard, but at the end of the night Mat Thomas walked away as the king of Outlaw Top Sportsman – until next time at least!

Gena White