Marriott Wins 5th Outlaw Fuel Altered Championship

Text & Photos by Chris Graves

Bobby and Nancy Marriott’s “Shockwave” AA/Fuel Altered team from Pilot Point, Texas, notched their third consecutive and fifth overall Outlaw Fuel Altered Association Championship in 2009, along with their second consecutive Track Championship at North Star Dragway in Denton, Texas.  Ten years ago in 1999, Marriott won the first official Championship in a four race season that included only eight cars. 

In 2009, twenty two teams earned points and five different drivers took home event victories in seven events, but no one could match the consistency of Marriott and company.  Marriott advanced to the final round in the first three events of the season, catapulting him into the top spot where he stayed throughout the year.  Earning three wins (Denton, Crandall, Evadale) and appearing in five finals, Marriott proved consistency will win you races.  The team lived in the 4.0 and 3.90 zone all season with their 488 KB Hemi on 85% nitromethane and closed their season with a career best 3.90 at 192 mph lap in the final round of the final event of the year.

"It's basically a 1980's Top Fuel combination that gives us the consistency we need and doesn't require a lot of between round maintenance.  I want to thank my crew starting with my wife Nancy, Ray and Susan MacFarland, Allen Friar and Scott Milner.  I also would like to recognize all the fellow OFAA drivers, teams and all the fans who make this group such a unique and lively place to race.  We expect nothing more than the same strong competition and look forward to welcoming several new faces to our series in 2010," said Marriott. 

Marriott held off plenty of heat from Donny McSwain of Rockwall, Texas, who posted his best OFAA finish in second and won his first career OFAA event at North Star Dragway on July 4th.  Other notable moments of 2009 include the accomplishments of female driver Mary Reep, who recorded a 4.01 at 179 mph and became the first female to qualify at the top of the pack at an OFAA event in the "Grim Reeper" Austin, Texas based machine.  Terry Anglin and the "Psychotic Express" team also deserve recognition for earning their first win on August 15th at North Star Dragway in their first year on tour and finishing third in the standings, impressive.  The team plans to debut a second team car with son Keith behind the wheel in a new hot rod branded “Rat Patrol.” 

 
David Purifoy and the Herb Whisnant owned “Thrill Factor” team set career best marks dipping into the 4.0 zone in 2009 and claimed their first Top 5 finish for the team out of Texarkana, Texas.  Yorba Linda, California based runner Rich Howell and the “Power Play” team deserve note after setting low elapsed time and top speed of the entire season with a memorable 3.804 at 200.18 mph blast in August.  One final pat on the back goes to Tim Hay and the "High Voltage Hayride" team who not only won the non-OFAA affiliated 2009 World Fuel Altered Nationals in Eddyville, Iowa for the second time and after five years of trying, notched their first OFAA event win just two weeks later defeating Marriott in the final at the Labor Day Classic at Mo-Kan Dragway in Missouri.

Congratulations to the entire Outlaw Fuel Altered series on another memorable season of racing, where for the third straight time, Marriott proved he is the class of the field.  So raise your glasses and give a toast to Bobby Marriott and team "Shockwave" on their 5th OFAA Championship and 2nd North Star Dragway Track Championship!

Chris Graves
www.ofaa.net