Redline Raceway: Thomas Wins OTS Finale! 

Text and Photos by Danny & Gena White

Eric Clark was happy despite going out in the first round due to runs of 4.70, 4.71, 4.73, and a shut off 4.79. The Clark Bros. also sponsored the hard luck of the night award which went to David Baldwin.

Gaylen Graylick ran his best ever in his Volvo with a 4.96, that left him outside of the field.

The action was wild at the final race of the year for the Outlaw Top Sportsman at Redline Raceway. It took a amzing 4.742 to get into the eight car field and there were four 4.70 runs in qualying alone. In the winner circle  it was Mat Thomas out of  Witchita Falls in the Auto Shop powered Thomas Racing Firebird. Thomas was on a tear tonight with a 4.70 in qualifying and ran a 4.71, 4.71, and a 4.71 to win!  You back that up with a .420, .410, and a .400 light it was a amazing night for the Witchita Gang and there second season of the Reign of Terror.

Barry Williams missed the the field with a 4.87, but later came back to run a 4.76.

Rex Underwood has solved recent problems running a 4.88 best.

Thomas beat fellow Witchita Falls racer Chris Dollar in the final, Dollar clinched the 2008 OTS championship earlier that night by qualifying for the field. Dollar in the Witchita Tank Firebird barely did that landing in the eighth spot with second place David Baldwin landing outside of the field by one-thousandths of a second.      

Here is the other side of the CTS small block Corvette.

Chris Gulitti ran his first OTS race making it to the semis.

Thirteen cars showed to race in the final race of the year with two newcomwers to the OTS circuit came to Caddo Mills. Bob and Chris Gulitti made their OTS debut inspite of recent diffculties with Hurricane Ike, they would make their presence known tonight. The final show would be made up of  7 Pontiacs and the one Ford of Melvin Goss! David Moser ran about a extra 100 feet it seemed to take the top spot with a 4.705. Thomas, Eric Clark, and Eddie Roach were right behind with 4.70's of their own. Chris Gulitti and Melvin Goss were right behind with 4.72's and Bob Gulitti ran a 4.73. Dollar ran a 4.74 to shore up the field.  David Baldwin, Dave Smith, Rex Underwood, Barry Williams and Gaylyn Graylick ended up on the outside looking in.      

David Baldwin was a surprise DNQ.

Chris Gulitti ran a 4.72 best tonight.

1.David Moser 4.7055 148.66
2.Mat Thomas 4.7056 152.91
3.Eric Clark 4.708 157.12
4.Eddie Roach 4.709 149.80
5.Chris Gulitti 4.721 149.95
6.Melvin Goss 4.727 151.92
7.Bob Gulitti 4.73 146.82
8.Chris Dollar 4.7427 151.01
9.David Baldwin 4.7428 144.60
10.Dave Smith 4.75 140.41
11.Rex Underwood 4.85 148.17
12.Barry Williams 4.87 147.98
13.Gaylon Gradick 4.96 142.50

David Moser was the number one qualifier tonight with a 4.70.

Chris Dollar won the 2008 OTS championship.

In the first round, the first race was between Chris Dollar and David Moser. Moser redlighted the race away at the hit to Dollar , Dollar chased Moser out the back door with a index breaking 4.69 to Moser's 4.72.  In the next race, Mat Thomas ran a 4.70 to beat the breaking-out 4.67 of Bob Gulutti. Chris Gilutti got the instant win Eddie Roach redlighted, Gulitti ran 4.72 for the win and Roach ran a 4.73 on his loosing run. Melvin Goss beat Eric Clark in the final race of the first round  4.72 to Clark's late leaving 4.71.     

Eric Clark before running 4.70.

David Baldwin ran .001 too slow tonight.

First Round

Chris Dollar 4.69 151.82 .416
David Moser 4.72 148.03 .231

Mat Thomas 4.70 153.95 .420
Bob Gulitti 4.67 147.73 .442

Chris Gulitti 4.72 150.85 .432
Eddie Roach 4.73 149.50 .396

Melvin Goss 4.72 146.68 .444
Eric Clark 4.71 159.52 .594

Ed Roach ran 4.70 to qualify fourth, but went red in the first round.

Bob Gulitti broke out in the first round with a 4.67.

Chris Dollar and Chris Gulitti faced off in the closest race of the night with both hitting four'o lights  and running pealing 4.75's, Dollar eeked out the win! Mat Thomas beat Melvin Goss with a pedaling 4.71 to Goss' close 4.74.

Rex Underwood is being staged by Tim Cruce.

Melvin Goss had the only car that wasn't a Pontiac to make the field!

Semi Final

Chris Dollar 4.75 144.56 .402
Chris Gulitti 4.75 150.30 .405

Mat Thomas 4.71 146.39 .410
Melvin Goss 4.74 147.83 .431

Mat Thomas had it together to win tonight.

The Graylick Volvo is a one of a kind!

In the battle of the Wichita Gang with both cars running Auto Shop power in their Firebirds. There would be no coin flips tonight in the final!  Thomas took the win rather easily when Dollar car bobbled at the green light. Thomas stab the throttle a couple of times at the finish line taking the win with another 4.71 to Dollar's  coasting 5.64. 

Goss barely made it to race tonight after rebuilding the engine.

David Smith let off the gas too early on his 4.75 run keeping him out of the field.

Final

Mat Thomas 4.71 148.51 .400
Chris Dollar 5.64 87.21 .537

Moser's high C burnouts are amazing!

Mat and Stan Thomas in the winner circle.

Mat Thomas won another Outlaw Top Sportsman race at Redline Raceway in the family's Firebird. The Auto Shop powered Firebird was flawless tonight in the great air at Redline.