Braezeal Wins Shreveport!
Red River Raceway - April 21st, 2007
Event #1

Braezeal Takes First SJFA Win At Shreveport Eight Jr. Fuel Dragsters rolled into Red River Raceway on April 21st for the first official Southwest Junior Fuel Association event ever. Mike Millsap has been the brain works behind the circuit and also competes in the series. The SJFA show followed up the Outlaw Fuel Altered series rounds and together provided a great show of nostalgia drag racing for the fans. A clear sky turned to dusk and stars started to peek through the sunset as the call went out for the first round of qualifying. The show was underway with side by side burnouts from Odie Coker and Mike Millsap. Millsap clicked off a nice 7.69 at 170 mph to open things up along side Coker’s 8.49 at 137 mph. Keith Braezeal and Mike Mauldin laid down side by side 8.50’s passes in their diggers. All the dragsters made quality runs in the first session but after getting a look at the track the times all improved in the second qualifying session. Mike Mauldin went 8.493 at 155 mph and Richard Brady stepped up to an 8.24 at 157 mph. Millsap and Don Scott both had issues in second session but were already in the field. Steve Dunkin lit up the scoreboards with an 8.58 at 155 mph but Keith Braezeal improved the most with an 8.24 at 154 mph. All eight dragsters had two laps under their belts and it was time to pair up cars for eliminations.

Final Qualifying Order:

1. Mike Millsap - 7.69 @ 170.54 mph
2. Keith Braezael - 8.245 @ 154.35 mph
3. Richard Brady - 8.249 @ 157.01 mph
4. Mike Mauldin - 8.493 @ 155.72 mph
5. Odie Coker - 8.493 @ 137.30 mph
6. Steve Dunkin - 8.494 @ 155.31 mph
7. Brett Steinberg - 8.58 @ 157.28 mph
8. Don Scott - 10.78 @ 92.78 mph

(Mike Millsap lead qualifying with a 7.69)

Braezeal and Brady kicked off eliminations with a very close drag race. Both drivers ran their best time of the night to this point and Braezeal’s 8.12 was enough to run down Brady’s 8.17 after Brady got a two hundredths advantage on the tree. Steinberg found himself matched up against Millsap. Steinberg’s 8.59 was not enough to run down Millsap’s slower but winning 8.79. Steinberg left over five tenths at the tree to give Millsap a huge starting line advantage, something you usually don’t want to give Millsap who is always quick on the tree. Dunkin was also caught sleeping on the tree with a .402 rt, but was able to run down Don Scott’s 9.10 with an 8.71 at 154 mph. Mauldin got off the beams first in his match up with Odie Coker, but Coker drove around at the top end with an 8.32 at 169 mph to Mauldin’s 8.54 at 153 mph.

First Round Results:

(W) Keith Breazeal (.061 rt, 8.12 at 162 mph) vs. (L) Richard Brady (.041 rt, 8.19 at 157 mph)
(W) Mike Millsap (.037 rt, 8.79 at 114 mph) vs. (L) Brett Steinberg (.549 rt, 8.59 at 149 mph)
(W) Steve Dunkin (.402 rt, 8.71 at 154 mph) vs. (L) Don Scott (9.10 at 124 mph)
(W) Odie Coker (8.32 at 169 mph) vs. (L) Mike Mauldin (8.54 at 153 mph)

Braezeal and Millsap lined up to fight for the first spot into the finals. Millsap and Brazeal were the two best running cars at the event and the winner would be the favorite heading into the final. Millsap got a slight starting line advantage but smoked the tires and Breazeal again improved to an 8.09 at 163 mph to Millsap’s 9.04. Braezeal obviously had the car to beat heading into the first final of the season as he continued to run quicker throughout the night. Coker and Dunkin fired up to see who would take the other ticket to the finals. Coker’s transmission let go at the hit and Dunkin soloed to the final with an 8.53 at 155 mph.

Semi-Final Results:

(W) Keith Brazeal (.079 rt, 8.09 at 163 mph) vs. (L) Mike Millsap (.073 rt, 9.04 at 107 mph)
(W) Steve Dunkin (8.53 at 155 mph) vs. (L) Odie Coker (Broke)

(Steve Dunkin in "Foolish Pleasure")

The SJFA final lined up right before the OFAA final round under the lights in Shreveport. Breazeal’s performance trend continued when he clicked off an 8.08 at 163 mph to defeat Dunkin who struggled to a 9.65 at 154 mph. Braezeal had a great race and took home the first ever official SJFA event trophy supplied by Smiley’s Racing Products.

“It was my first race back after a five year break so I guess it wasn’t a bad way to get back into racing. First of all, I want to thank Mike Millsap for spearheading the SJFA. This group of racers has the right attitude about racing and it’s great because they just want to keep it fun! If you had asked me after the first run of the day what our chances of winning were I would have said slim, we had nothing but problems. We got everything sorted out before eliminations and somehow we managed to put together the win! It was a lot of fun for everyone and I can't wait for the next race at Caddo Mills,” said Breazeal as he reflected back on the weekend.

“For a new association hosting their first race things went pretty good. Timing was the only issue we really had to deal with. Ken Hall, Red River Raceway owner and manager, was extremely pleased with the show and we look forward to going back. Bobby Marriott of the OFAA really enjoyed us being a part of their show and even their racers enjoyed our cars. The “luck of the draw” race process worked well and resulted in some good racing. It is a challenge to be a president of a circuit and a racer trying to tune his car between rounds. We tried to step up after first qualifying session and the track couldn’t hold what we threw at it. I’ll be ready to go at Caddo Mills,” says President Mike Millsap.

The SJFA will continue to pound the ground all season and the next stop is on May 12th at Redline Raceway in Caddo Mills, Texas. For more information please visit www.southwestjrfuelers.com

Points Standings After Shreveport:

# 1. Keith Braezael = 59
# 2. Steve Dunkin = 50
# 3. Mike Millsap = 45
# 4. Odie Coker = 41
# 5. Richard Brady = 33
# 6. Mike Mauldin = 32
# 7. Brett Steinberg = 29
# 8. Don Scott = 28

Low Elapsed Time – Mike Millsap (7.69)
Top Speed – Mike Millsap (170.54)