By Deborah Woodard, August 2010
http://www.worldsfastestorganization.com
Bluebaugh Racing’s Team Magna Fuel is back in action after a long battle of hard breaks with a strong showing. The team captured the number one qualifying position and a long overdue win on home turf at the West Coast Hot Rod Association’s Shoot Out at Sundown in Phoenix August 13-14, 2010. The event as well marked a hard earned personal triumph and a large stir of excitement for local fans. In the wee hours of the night, Bluebaugh struck 30’s for the first time ever in the Magna Fuel Monte Carlo with a 6.37 @ 221 mph to take the number one spot in the last round of qualifying. It was the first of several upsets for the Pro Street class.
Bluebaugh said “At that point we knew we were back though we still have a long journey ahead. We really need to be in the 20’s. It has been nearly one year since we upgraded our engine in the Magna Fuel Monte Carlo and that decision in itself has been a wild ride of one challenge after the next to regain our consistency. We are just now at a point where we can really start working on our engine tuning.” The team has been concentrating on mastering the first 100 feet of the track in testing and ran a best of 1.02 60 ft. time during the event.
The WCHRA Shootout began running straight into qualifying with no test time presenting challenges for competitors on the hot summer track at the Speedworld Dragway. Crew Chief Deborah Woodard said “We ended up having to take some power out of the car to finally reach the third qualifier with the 37 pass. Position in the line up can make or break chances at reaching the final round. We simply tuned for the condition and hoped for the best.” While it seems odd to try and go slower to win, it paid off earning the team a free pass to the final. Bluebaugh did run for lane choice for the final earning it with a 6.44 @ 220 mph making for the second upset of the evening.
In the final round Bluebaugh and the team were faced with the toughest competitor on the lot, Randy Walker in his Charles Carpenter tuned Procomp Nitrous powered El Camino. Walker and team have been winning nearly every event and they are the current reining WCHRA Pro Street Champion. It would be a battle of nitrous versus nitrous between old rivals and good friends. Woodard said, “Just before the final, Crew Chief Duane Walker told me to look out for the California thunder, meaning they were ready to claim another win. We both smiled and laughed.”
Bluebaugh’s team Magna Fuel was the home town favored to win and he did not disappoint putting yet a third upset on the reigning Champ. It was a wild final with neither driver wanting to let up. As the lights went down, both cars were lit up with hot white nitrous flames making for a spectacular night show. Walker in unfamiliar territory was out of the groove and giving it everything he had to try and recover. Bluebaugh was dancing on the big end and not about to leave anything on the table. Fans cheered wildly in delight. Speedworld’s historic old track rarely sees a full on Pro Nitrous showdown anymore, but it sure still has it in it to hold its own. When it was all over, Bluebaugh put down an imposing 6.42 @ 219 mph to Walker who had to lift with an 8.78 @ 100 mph. The event will be forever known amongst friends as the day Arizona sent the California thunder packing.
Bluebaugh Racing would like to thank Magna Fuel for being our title sponsor for a second year. We want to give special appreciation to our media sponsor Speed Scene Racing for giving the team and all sponsors great media coverage. Thanks to JE Pistons for helping us make this race and win possible. JE Pistons worked with us to create the perfect set of pistons for our 784 cubic inch nitrous engine. As most people know, DJ Safety has joined us this year and big thanks goes out for the custom fit driver’s suit. We will have a full catalog of items from DJ Safety, Magna Fuel, Hughes Performance,
Arrow Track GPS, and other manufacturers available for sale on our Web Store project http://www.1320racer.com WFO Skull T-shirts are now available. Special thanks to Friction Unlimited for supplying the team with awesome clutch discs. Thanks for continuing support from W. W. Williams who also made special contributions for our attendance at this event, Special thanks to Dave at Goodyear Racing.
Bluebaugh Racing is supported by the World’s Fastest Organization, LLC along with WFO Racing and Machine, and 1320 Racer.com.
Again Much Thanks to our Sponsors and Supporters
Magna Fuel, Speed Scene Racing, JE Pistons, DJ Racing Safety Equipment, Friction Unlimited, Fast Forward, W.W. Williams, Highway 69 Racing Products, Hughes Performance, SI Valves, Charles Carpenter Racing, Cubic Flow Modifications, Chris Patrick of Automated Racing Technologies, and Dave at Goodyear Racing.
