Redline Raceway: Outlaw Top Sportsman

Text and Photos by Danny and Gena White 

OTS newcomer Barry Williams brought his small block Corvette, but did not qualify.

Ritchie Price made it to the second round in his Camaro.

Mike Jones is catching up after getting off to a late start.

The Outlaw Top Sportsman series returned for their fourth race of the year at Redline Raceway in Caddo Mills. The race last month was halted by a storm. A different kind of storm hit Caddo Mills this time with David Baldwin leaving with the win as well as the points lead. Chris Dollar, the winner of the first two races here, was the number one qualifier with two 4.70 runs in qualifying, but a redlight in round one put him out.    

Randy Reshner had his game face on in the Money Shot, but came up the first alternate.

Gaylon Gradick used to race Pro mods in the 90's, he made his OTS debut in this unique Volvo.

 

David Smith had a bad night in the family's cool looking 55 Chevy.

Final Qualifying Order

1. Chris Dollar 4.723 @ 151.31
2. Mat Thomas 4.732 @ 149.45
3. Mike Jones 4.743 @ 149.11
4. Eddie Roach 4.750 @ 149.85
5. David Moser 4.762 @ 147.54
6. David Baldwin 4.774 @ 129.46
7. Richie Price 4.806 @ 148.32
8. Jerry Helfrich 4.867 @ 145.73

Ed Roach can burnout with the best of the OTS.

Chris Dollar was the number one qualifier with 4.723.

David Moser is laying down the rubber in his ex-Pro Stocker.

9. Randy Rencher 4.956 @ 141.42
10. Barry Williams 5.001 @ 144.69
11. Gaylon Gradick 5.044 @ 132.43
12. Chuck Poindexter 5.211 @ 135.09
13. Dave Smith 7.054 @ 91.26
14. Charlie Phillips 8.418 @ 89.23

Jerry Helfrich made to the semis only to redlight.

Longtime Super Gas racer Charlie Phillips could not get his Camaro up to power tonight.

Ed Roach made it to the finals.

First Round

The shocker of the first round was Dollar redlighting to Helfrich. Dollar had run two 4.72's in qualifying. Moser got the holeshot but Roach got the win next. Price upset Thomas with a .418 light and Thomas ran out the backdoor with a 4.69 breakout. Mike Jones had to shutoff giving Baldwin a solo.    

David Baldwin beat Ed Roach in the finals and took the points lead.

David Moser lost in the first round to Ed Roach.

Gaylon Gradick's awesome looking Volvo ran a 5.04 best.

W Jerry Helfrich--4.863 @ 144.83 (.416)
L  Chris Dollar-- 4.921 @ 118.64 (-.394)

W Eddie Roach-- 4.742 @ 141.46 ( .425)
L  David Moser-- 4.799 @ 146.58 (.418)

W Richie Price -- 4.757 @ 149.55 (.413)
L  Mat Thomas -- 4.696 @ 153.74 (.485)

W David Baldwin --4.737 @ 134.57 (.477)
L  Mike Jones --Broke

Baldwin has gone 4.30 with the Corvette but tamed it down for OTS action.

Mat Thomas runs the Stars and Stripes on every burnout.

Mike Jones staging right before he had to shut off the cool looking Jones & Frost Camaro SS.

Semi Finals 

Eddie Roach got the easy win when Jerry Helfrich redlghted in his Calais. Roach got the lane choice with a 4.72 pass. Price got holeshot by Baldwin and David ran a better 4.74 to win by a car length.

W Eddie Roach -- 4.721 @ 150.25 (.420)
L  Jerry Helfrich-- 5.332 @ 96.48 (-.397)

W David Baldwin-- 4.745 @ 136.28 (.446)
L   Richie Price-- 4.773 @ 150.00 (.486)

Chris Dollar and Ritchie Price leaving the line.

The other side of Charlie Phillips' nice '81 Camaro.

A test past after the first round.

Final Round

The final round was anticlimactic as Roach left too early. Baldwin ran it out the back door to a 4.67 victory. The win gave a one point lead in the points chase for 2008.

W David Baldwin 4.678 @ 145.87 (.483)
L  Eddie Roach 4.783 @ 147.96 (-.263)

Jerry Helfrich in the near lane took the win when Dollar redlighted.

Ed Roach and the Red Oak Gang got the runner up position.

David Baldwin proudly accepting the trophy from the Redline Raceway Trophy Girl.

Thanks goes out to the OTS and their racers for putting on a great show. For more info go to www.texasoutlawracing.com and to Redline Raceway at www.redlineraceway.com .