The Mouse Roars at Kennedale

Text by Celeste Smith ~ Photo by Gena White

Gene Hector won the TOPMA race at Texas Raceway while setting Low ET at 3.88.

Well, it was a little windy but at least the sky wasn't leaking or we weren't having snowball fights. Eleven Pro Mod teams rolled into Texas Raceway on Friday night in hopes of having their picture taken in the winner's circle. Here's what went down after 2 rounds of qualifying:

#1 Gene Hector - 3.887 at 189 mph **Low ET of the race**
#2 Steve Wiley - 3.975 at 191 mph **Top MPH of the race**
#3 Frankie Taylor - 4.107 at 138 mph
#4 Ken Thomas - 4.254 at 157 mph
#5 Michelle Wilson - 4.278 at 170 mph
#6 Gaylen Smith - 4.419 at 135 mph
#7 Eric Clark - 4.491 at 161 mph **Best Reaction time** .002
#8 Chuck Poindexter - 4.533 at 157 mph
#9 Steve Gorman - 4.560 at 158 mph
#10 Barry Wade - 4.847 @ 149 mph
#11 Randell Reid - 8.067 at 65 mph

First Round:

Michelle Wilson (W) 5.334 at 133 mph (.073 RT) **Upset win**
Ken Thomas (RU) 22.513 at 40 mph (.028 RT)

Well it wasn't a pretty win but a win's a win, right Michelle? Ken got off the line first but a broken belt stopped him from doing anything with the holeshot. He also had an oil problem. I don't know if was a line off or damage to the engine.

Frankie Taylor (W) 3.943 at 160 mph (.097 RT)
Gaylen Smith (RU) 4.062 at 157 mph (.054 RT)

This was the first pair of cars down the freshly oiled / cleaned lane. Both Gaylen and Frankie drifted towards the center stripe. Gaylen lifted to keep from going into Frankie's lane. Frankie makes his best pass of the night and takes the win.

Gene Hector (W) 4.061 at 184 mph (.176 RT)
Chuck Poindexter (RU) 4.996 at 115 mph (.058 RT)

Chucks gets a huge holeshot but can't do anything with it. Gene was on an off-paced pass but it was enough for the win.

Eric Clark (W) 4.470 at 164 mph (.046 RT) **Upset win**
Steve Wiley (RU) Left before tree activated

Semi-Finals:

Eric Clark (W) 4.401 at 166 mph (.014 RT) **Upset Win**
Frankie Taylor (RU) 7.060 at 79 mph (.184 RT)

Going for the upset win, Clark mowed the tree down on Frankie but it was Frankie losing traction that gave it away so Eric Clark comes away with another upset win.

Gene Hector (W) 4.043 at 186 mph (.273 RT)
Michelle Wilson (RU) 6.817 at 67 mph (.077 RT)

If Michelle could have repeated her qualifying number, she might have snuck away with an upset win but the that wasn't the case and Gene cruises down the center of his lane and takes the win.

Finas:

Gene Hector (W) 3.947 at 186 mph (.273 RT)
Eric Clark (RU) 4.395 at 163 mph (.003 RT)

Eric did his job on the tree but the horsepower from the Small Block Mafia Vette was too much and ended Eric's lucky streak. Congratulations to Gene Hector and the Small Block Mafia Boyz on their victory and also to Eric & Scott Clark for their runner-up finish as well (which is their highest TOPMA finish to date).