Breazeal Lands Third Straight SJFA Victory
Pine Valley Raceway - June 9th, 2007
Event #3

The Southwest Junior Fuel Association made their third stop of the 2007 racing season at Pine Valley Raceway in Lufkin, Texas. Mike Millsap has been doing a great job running this new association while also competing in it. Millsap’s machine has claimed the top qualifying spot at each event this season but he is yet to take a trip to the winner’s circle mainly due to Keith Breazeal’s dominance during eliminations. Breazeal has not lost an elimination round yet in his route to back to back wins at Shreveport and Caddo Mills. Seven Jr. Fuelers came to rock the quarter mile at Lufkin and battle for those Smiley’s Racing Products points!

Roy Rogers made his first appearance with the S.J.F.A. and clicked off a 7.87 at 165 mph pass to open things up in qualifying. Mike Millsap went low for the first session with a 7.77 at 162 mph. Steve Dunkin ran an 8.56 at 150 mph with Brett Steinberg right behind with an 8.67 at 150 mph. Rick Huckabee also made his first appearance of the season at Lufkin and laid down an 8.89. Breazeal left before the tree activated which left him with one pass to get in coming up in the second session.

Millsap stepped up to a nice 7.71 at 171 mph to claim his third straight number one qualifying position of the year. Rogers dropped off to an 8.15 in his second pass and Breazeal jumped into the number three spot with an 8.21 at 161 mph to get him in the show. Steve Dunkin improved to an 8.54 at 152 mph to claim the number four qualifying position. Don Scott rounded out the field of seven with a 9.28 and it was time to draw cards and pair up dragsters for first round.

Final Qualifying Order:

1) Mike Millsap – 7.71 2) Roy Rogers – 7.87 3) Keith Breazeal – 8.21 4) Steve Dunkin – 8.54 5) Brett Steinberg – 8.67 6) Rick Huckabee – 8.76 7) Don Scott – 9.28

Roy Rogers discovered a broken mag drive belt and had to sideline himself for the rest of the event and could not make the call for first round. Don Scott had engine troubles and also had to retire from the event early. Millsap drew the bye run and advanced to the semis along with Breazeal, Dunkin and Steinberg.

Millsap and Breazeal lined up in the first semi-final pair. Millsap got caught sleeping on the tree with a .538 rt to Breazeal’s .426. Millsap struck the hides right off the line and pedaled it trying to play catch up. Breazeal’s 8.14 at 161 mph was just enough to hold off Millsap’s 8.24 at 170 mph. Steve Dunkin’s “Fuelish Pleasure” lined up with Brett Steinberg’s “Hemi Hunter” in the other semi-final. Dunkin got a slight starting line advantage which proved to be the deciding factor as both cars ran 8.54 elapsed times in a very close drag race with a margin of victory of .007.

Semi-Final Results:

(W) Keith Breazeal (.426 rt) 8.14 at 161 mph vs. (L) Mike Millsap (.538 rt) 8.24 at 170 mph (W) Steve Dunkin (.435 rt) 8.548 at 152 mph vs. (L) Brett Steinberg (.505 rt) 8.541 at 152 mph

In a repeat of the Shreveport final Dunkin and Breazeal lined up for the last drag race of the night. Breazeal was off the line first and never looked back. Both drivers repeated their semi-final round times with an 8.14 taking out Dunkin’s 8.54. This is the third consecutive win for Keith Breazeal and the crew from Houston, Texas. These boys sure know how to put it together on raceday!

Final Round Results:

(W) Keith Breazeal (.426 rt) 8.14 at 161 mph vs. (L) Steve Dunkin (.435 rt) 8.54 at 152 mph

“Wow, three in a row! I know these guys are going to knock some reality back into me soon, but for now we are having the time of our lives! Pine Valley is a great facility to race at and other than the heat we couldn't have asked for a better day. We're looking forward to the Tulsa Nitro Nationals, that should be another fun race,” said Breazeal.

With a substantial point lead Breazeal will lead the Southwest Junior Fuel Association into the second half of the 2007 season. The SJFA was well represented at the 5th Annual Holley Hot Rod Reunion in Columbus, Ohio two weekends later. Member drivers Odie Coker defeated Mike Millsap in the Jr. Fuel B Final Round. Congratulations to both Breazeal and Coker on their recent victories and thanks to Smiley’s Racing Products for their support this season.

Low Elapsed Time – Mike Millsap (7.71)
Top Speed – Mike Millsap (171)