Smith Tops 200 and Takes Holeshot Win!

Text by Celeste Smith ~ Photo by Gena White

OMG what a night! Being that this is a new track, you could almost figure that every run would be a new track record and it dang near was. Team TBH showed up Thursday night to test and get a feel for the newly poured track and left there with a 3.98 at 193.99 mph record and that was surely not going to hold up after the rest of the outlaws stormed in on Friday... and it didn't! After 2 rounds of qualifying, here's how everything unfolded:

#1 Gaylen Smith - 3.909 at 194 mph **Record**
#2 Frankie Taylor - 3.914 at 198 mph **Record**
#3 Ken Thomas - 3.952 at 190 mph
#4 Grant McCrary - 4.120 at 191 mph
#5 Heath Harvey - 4.187 at 172 mph
#6 Jackie Deaver - 4.299 at 169 mph
#7 Chuck Nuytten - 4.318 at 153 mph
#8 Rickey Cate - 4.345 at 147 mph
#9 Wes Johnston - 4.604 at 136 mph **DQ** Hit cones

Other drivers on hand that didn't qualify were Charlie Phillips, Kevin Hargett, Chuck Poindexter & Steve Wheeler.

First Round:

Heath Harvey (W) 4.093 at 179 mph (.037 RT)
Grant McCrary (RU) 4.319 at 178 mph (.013 RT)

Grant was going for the win as he left the line first but the hard charging HEMI in the Twisted Texan got to the finish line first.

Frankie Taylor (W) 3.921 at 197 mph (.149 RT)
Chuck Nuytten (RU) 4.367 at 142 mph (.090 RT)

Chuck had the slight hole shot advantage, but the mad man stormed by Chuck and grabs the win.

Gaylen Smith (W) 3.908 at 200.8 MPH (.104 RT) **Personal Best and Both ends of the Track Record**
Kevin Hargett (RU) 4.818 at 160 mph (.173 RT)

Congratulations to Gaylen & TEAM TBH at becoming only the 7th driver in the world to run 200 mph in the 1/8 mile. Your hard work and perseverance definitely paid off. Great job guys.

Ken Thomas (W) 3.897 at 190 mph (.096 RT) ** Track Record **
Jackie Deaver (RU) 12.812 at 64 mph (.101 RT)

Both cars left virtually even but it was all over for Jackie shortly after take off. All he could do is watch Ken Thomas sail on by for the win.

Semi Finals:

Ken Thomas (W) 3.860 at 191 mph **Track Record**
Frankie Taylor (RU) 5.447 at 87 mph (.105 RT)

Ken runs straight down the center of the lane while Frankie's having to pedal in his lane.

Gaylen Smith (W) 3.896 at 196 mph (.075 RT)
Heath Harvey (RU) 4.735 at 110 mph (-.019 RT)

Heath knew he was going to have to take a shot at the tree and he left a little too soon. Meanwhile, Gaylen was in the other lane on his way to his 2nd final round appearance this season.

Finals:

Gaylen Smith (W) 3.887 at 195 mph (.041 RT)
Ken Thomas (RU) 3.857 at 191 mph (.090 RT) **Track Record**

Congratulations to Gaylen Smith and Team TBH for their first victory in 2009. (Hopefully many more to come). My baby got his swagger back! LOL.

Congratulations to Ken & Susan Thomas and the entire Bad Bird/LenMar team for their runner-up finish. Ken still hasn't broken his streak. 5 races and 5 finals (3 wins).

TOPMA would like to extend congrats to Dallas Raceway for a top notch facility. Looking forward to running there again.

Celeste Smith
www.texasoutlawracing.com