Dallas Raceway: TOPMA

Text by Celeste Smith

The Texas Outlaw Pro Mod Association was invited to come play with IHRA at Dallas Raceway in Crandall, TX, and boy did we come to play. Seventeen teams rolled into the concrete palace looking to make it into the top 8 and here's what went down. After two rounds of qualifying on Saturday here's how the ladder ended up:

#1 Frankie Taylor - 3.874 at 195 mph
#2 Gaylen Smith - 3.898 at 187 mph
#3 Ken Thomas - 3.946 at 189 mph
#4 Michael Browning - 4.067 at 177 mph
#5 Gene Hector - 4.095 at 157 mph
#6 Heath Harvey - 4.102 at 179 mph
#7 Rickey Cate - 4.189 at 173 mph
#8 Steve Wiley - 4.323 at 175 mph
#9 Grant McCrary - 4.328 at 180 mph
#10 Clyde Scott - 4.331 at 177 mph
#11 Jackie Deaver - 4.364 at 166 mph
#12 Doug Mangrum - 4.431 at 156 mph
#13 Wes Johnston - 4.469 at 146 mph
#14 Eric Clarke - 4.550 at 164 mph
#15 Chuck Nuytten - 4.604 at 147 mph
#16 Michael Jones - 4.932 at 149 mph
#17 Barry Wade - 5.032 at 142 mph

First Round:

Ken Thomas (W) 4.346 at 167 mph (.088 RT)
Heath Harvey (RU) 7.529 at 59 mph (.067 RT)

At the hit of the throttle, Heath's car went into tire smoke and Ken was in and out of the throttle all the way down the 1/8 mile but comes away with the win.

Gaylen Smith (W) 3.934 at 188 mph (.114 RT)
Grant McCrary (RU) 5.271 at 110 mph (.032 RT)

Grant filled in for Rickey Cate who broke a crank during qualifying and was unable to make the call. Grant was going for the upset win but it was soon over after take off for him as he shook the tires and hopped down his lane meanwhile the boss was in his lane getting the job done.

Frankie Taylor (W) 3.900 at 195 mph (.117 RT)
Jackie Deaver (RU) 11.978 at 62 mph (.764 RT)

Jackie filled in for Steve Wiley who dropped a valve and damaged the head and a couple of pistons during qualifying and was unable to make the call. I did not see this run as I was on the return road picking up Gaylen, but Frankie gets the win and I'm not sure what happened to Jackie.

Michael Browning (W) 4.107 at 175 mph (.076 RT)
Gene Hector (RU) 4.088 at 182 mph (.118 RT)

Gene was caught napping at the line and Michael takes advantage of it. Gene was hard charging trying to catch Browning but it wasn't enough to get the win.

Semi Finals:

Gaylen Smith (W) 3.908 at 201.19 mph (.093 RT)
Ken Thomas (RU) Left Before Tree Activated

Ken had trouble with the clutch while he was staging and he left before the tree activated giving the win to Gaylen but I'm not sure he saw what was going on and must have thought he was way late leaving as he charged down his lane re-setting his personal best (and 1/8 mile Dallas Raceway) track speed record.

Frankie Taylor (W) 3.970 at 191 mph (.071 RT)
Michael Browning (RU) 7.097 at 64 mph (.049 RT)

Not sure what happened to Browning but it must have been over shortly after the hit. Frankie was in and out of the throttle going for lane choice in the finals but he had to settle for the win (without lane choice).

Finals:

Gaylen Smith (W) 3.937 at 195 mph (.096 RT)
Frankie Taylor (RU) 4.076 at 163 mph (.106 RT)

Both cars left pretty much at the same time with Gaylen having a slight hole shot advantage. Frankie was hard charging on the first half of the 1/8 mile but then he started having problems staying stuck getting all kinds of sideways while Gaylen was consistent as he had been every round and cruises right by Frankie for the win.

Congratulations to Gaylen and the entire TEAM TBH for their back to back TOPMA (and Dallas Raceway) wins. Keep up the great work guys! I'm very proud of you (even though some people aren't)!!!

Congrats to Team Taylor for their runner-up finish as well. TOPMA was well represented at the Amalie Oil IHRA Nationals. Thanks to the other teams representing TOPMA as well. We had a kick-@$$ showing in the Outlaw Pro Mod category.