Texas Raceway: TOPMA May Race

Text by Celeste Smith ~ Photo by Chris Graves

The Pro Mod Teams were out in droves Friday night. 20 teams showed up despite the overcast and humidity filled air. Everyone was giving it their all and here's what went down:

1 Gaylen Smith - 3.995 at 189 mph
2 Ken Thomas - 4.025 at 183 mph
3 Frankie Taylor - 4.028 at 187 mph
4 Heath Harvey - 4.077 at 179 mph
5 Gene Hector - 4.093 at 180 mph
6 Thomas Myers - 4.096 at 179 mph
7 Michael Browning - 4.147 at 171 mph
8 Steve Wiley - 4.262 at 170 mph
9 Rickey Cate - 4.280 at 173 mph
10 Steve Gorman - 4.304 at 165 mph
11 Eric Clark - 4.382 at 162 mph
12 David Baldwin - 4.413 at 161 mph
13 Jimmy Hector - 4.445 at 135 mph
14 H.T. Wilson - 4.514 at 160 mph
15 Doug Mangrum - 4.729 at 136 mph
16 Grant McCrary - 4.739 at 143 mph
17 Mike Jones - 4.749 at 149 mph
18 Kevin Hargett - 4.783 at 166 mph
19 Chuck Poindexter - 8.305 at 52 mph
20 Chuck Nuytten - 21.90 at 45 mph

First Round:

Thomas Myers (W) 4.156 at 177 mph (.019 RT)
Frankie Taylor (RU) 4.455 at 132 mph (.088 RT)

Thomas left the line first and never looked back meanwhile Frankie was in and out of the gas trying to catch him, unsuccessfully.

Gaylen Smith (W) 4.920 at 106 mph (.226 RT)
Steve Wiley (RU) NT

Not exactly sure what happened to Steve but he was counted out and red lit. Gaylen needed the break since he broke the 2nd set of wheelie bars tonight.

Heath Harvey (W) 4.084 at 176 mph (.067 RT)
Gene Hector (RU) 15.11 at 22 mph (.018 RT)

Gene was going for the win as he left the line first but it was all over about 30 feet out. Heath was on another stellar run and captures the win.

Ken Thomas (W) 4.016 at 184 mph (.108 RT)
Rickey Cate (RU) 4.234 at 174 mph (.072 RT)

Great side by side run but Team LenMar/Bad "Hell" Bird takes the win.

Semi Finals:

Ken Thomas (W) 4.051 at 180 mph (.082 RT)
Thomas Myers (RU) 10.453 at 50 mph (.086 RT)

I didn't see what happened to Thomas since we were in the staging lanes next out but it didn't look pretty on paper. Another round win for team LenMar/Bad "Hell" Bird!

Gaylen Smith (W) 4.024 at 190 mph (.038 RT)
Heath Harvey (RU) 4.087 at 177 mph (.024 RT)

Both cars left virtually dead even. Heath had the slight hole shot advantage but that HEMI went to hunting and snatches the win light away. We broke our third set of wheelie bars on this run. Which sets up an all Team LenMar final.

Finals:

Ken Thomas (W) 3.971 at 184 mph (.109 RT)
Gaylen Smith (RU) NT

Well, this didn't have the outcome we were looking for. We overcame breaking & repairing 2 valve springs first round qualifying, 3 sets of wheelie bars, and a wishbone. We fired up in the staging lanes and a $3.00 o-ring pushes out in the fuel pump and we were gushing fuel and therefore shut off. Ken stages and runs right down the center of the House of Hot Rods/LenMar Motorsports lane and claims back to back wins at TXR. Congratulations to Team LenMar/Bad "Hell" Bird for their victory and especially to team LenMar/TBH for their runner-up finish as well. The teamwork that was going on in our pits was second to none. Thanks to all those that gave a helping hand.