TOPMA at Texas Raceway, September 2009

Text By Celeste Smith ~ Photo by Gena White

Mother nature was in a much better mood this weekend and most of the 19 cars that showed up last weekend were here again to try their luck at Texas Raceway. After 2 rounds of qualifying here's what went down:

#1 Dwayne Watkins - 3.928 at 189 mph
#2 Steve Wiley - 4.006 at 173 mph **Personal Best**
#3 Ken Thomas - 4.071 at 177 mph
#4 Perry Dunn Racing - 4.145 at 173 mph
#5 Frankie Taylor - 4.169 at 160 mph
#6 Jackie Deaver - 4.251 at 169 mph
#7 Michelle Wilson - 4.259 at 164 mph
#8 David Baldwin - 4.419 at 161 mph
#9 HT Wilson - 4.499 at 160 mph
#10 Barry Wade - 4.527 at 157 mph
#11 Doug Riesterer - 4.535 at 176 mph
#12 Chuck Poindexter - 4.659 at 151 mph
#13 Heath Harvey - 4.870 at 108 mph
#14 John Sheffield - 4.919 at 157 mph
#15 Gaylen Smith - 7.658 at 62 mph

First round:

Frankie Taylor (W) 3.860 at 184 mph (.122 RT) **New track record**
Jeremy Brown (Perry Dunn Racing) (RU) 5.496 at 76 mph (.074 RT)

Jeremy left on Frankie but it was over shortly after take-off as Frankie was on a record setting run.

Jackie Deaver (W) 4.966 at 132 mph (.065 RT)
Chuck Poindexter (RU) 4.874 at 118 mph (-.004 RT) Red light

Chuck was in as an alternate for Ken Thomas who broke a rod during qualifying. Jackie said he didn't see the red light and thought he was way late but saw his win light on about half track and got out of it.

Steve Wiley (W) 4.013 at 168 mph (.064 RT)
Doug Riesterer (RU) 5.701 at 90 mph (.060 RT)

Doug was in as an alternate for Michelle Wilson. Both cars left almost dead even but Riesterer encountered traction problems and aborted the run meanwhile Steve was on a very nice run in Jimmy Hector's Corvette capturing the win light.

Dwayne Watkins (W) 3.912 at 191 mph (.113 RT)
David Baldwin (RU) 4.751 at 115 mph (.041 RT)

David had the holeshot advantage but that didn't matter as Dwayne was on another great looking run and takes the win.

Semi Finals:

Steve Wiley (W) 4.027 at 182 mph (.033 RT)
Jackie Deaver (RU) 4.451 at 160 mph (.017 RT)

Jackie was going for the upset win with the holeshot advantage but Steve wasn't having any part of that. He came thru the finish line traps teeter tottering on the zoomies and claims the victory.

Frankie Taylor (W) 3.893 at 192 mph (.106 RT)
Dwayne Watkins (RU) 3.968 at 185 mph (.046 RT)

This race could of very easily gone in Dwayne's favor with his better reaction time but Frankie denys Watkins of the win nipping him in the lights.

Finals:

Frankie Taylor (W) 3.995 at 191 mph (.093 RT)
Steve Wiley (RU) 4.078 at 179 mph (.102 RT)

Time was running out on the Kennedale curfew and both of the cars packed the chutes from the round before, zero'd the clutch and was back in the lanes (probably with the oil boiling over) before the deadline. Steve gave Frankie the move and Frankie took advantage of it and captures the win. Both cars having a little traction problems which made for an interesting final round for those that stuck around to see.

Congratulations to Frankie Taylor and the entire Taylor/Hanning crew for your win and also to Steve Wiley and the Wiley/Hector Red Reaper crew for your runner-up finish. I know Great Granny was proud!