Brady Notches Second Win at North Star Dragway
North Star Dragway - Denton, Texas
Event #3 - June 3rd, 2010
Race Report by Chris Graves
Photos by Tex Pic Photos and
Bryant Motorsports Imaging
The Southwest Junior Fuelers battled a wet forecast on Independence Day Weekend at North Star Dragway in Denton, Texas and pulled off a successful event, the third of the season. The SWJFA series shared the spotlight with a pair of jet dragsters and an exhibition from the Texas Blown Fuel series as North Star Dragway hosted one of their biggest events of the season. The forecast was less than promising but that didn’t keep the fans away as cars were lined up past the finish line to see some holiday drag racing action under the lights. A brief shower delayed the first qualifying session until close to 10 p.m. and Holley Hot Rod Reunion winner Ricky Marshall led the field with a 4.77 at 145 mph.
(Ricky Marshall's Pit)
(Richard Brady)
(Mike Millsap)
Mike Millsap claimed the number two spot with a 4.94 at 139 mph and Evadale winner Richard Brady clicked off a 5.00 at 138 mph to qualify third in less than favorable track conditions. Ted McCord and Ron Muncy rounded out the top half of the field as the SWJFA drivers agreed to skip the second session of qualifying and go straight to first round as they battled the clock to finish the race after the late start.
(Ted McCord)
(Ron Muncy)
(Ross Laird)
Final Qualifying Order:
1) Ricky Marshall (Burleson, Texas) – 4.77 @ 145
2) Mike Millsap (Sachse, Texas) – 4.94 @ 139
3) Richard Brady (Ft. Worth, Texas) – 5.00 @ 138
4) Ted McCord (Claremore, Oklahoma) – 5.06 @ 135
5) Ron Muncy (Weatherford, Texas) – 5.18 @ 132
6) Ross Laird (Ardmore, Oklahoma) – 5.34 @ 101
7) Don Holley (Denton, Texas) – 5.41 @ 126
8) Thomas Hixson (Dallas, Texas) – 6.50 @ 102
9) Don Scott (Garland, Texas) – 6.98 @ 68
10) Ken Hawkins (Poolville, Texas) – No Time
11) Jay Briggs (Shreveport, Louisiana) - No Time
(Don Holley)
Mike Millsap drew the bye run in the odd numbered field and advanced with another 4.96 pass at 139 mph in the Sachse Rod Shop dragster. Richard Brady wheeled out the MalloryPrints.com machine against Don Scott in his beautiful new Scott’s Rods rail. Brady’s 4.89 at 141 mph got the nod over Scott’s 5.11 at 127 mph.
(Don Scott)
(Ricky Marshall)
(Thomas Hixson)
Ron Muncy came out in the “Foolish Pleasure II” and put down a 5.17 at 132 mph but left the starting line with the red bulb lit giving Thomas Hixson’s “One Wild Ride” digger the win with 5.65 at 127 mph to advance. Ricky Marshall laid down a strong 4.72 at 146 mph in a close match-up with Ross Laird’s 4.92 at 140 mph. Ken Hawkins, after posting an impressive runner-up finish in Bowling Green, put down a solid 4.84 at 142 mph in the last pair to take out Ted McCord’s red lighting 6.98. With five cars advancing and time running out, the remaining teams drew from a hat to decide who would advance to the final and the lucky pair was Richard Brady and Thomas Hixson.
(Ken Hawkins)
First Round Results:
(W) Mike Millsap (.084 rt) 4.96 @ 139 mph vs. (L) Bye Run
(W) Richard Brady (.111 rt) 4.89 @ 141 mph vs. (L) Don Scott (.429 rt) 5.11 at 127 mph
(W) Thomas Hixson (.027 rt) 5.65 @ 127 mph vs. (L) Ron Muncy (-.017 rt) 5.17 @ 132
(W) Ricky Marshall (.040 rt) 4.72 @ 146 mph vs. (L) Ross Laird (.093 rt) 4.92 @ 140
(W) Ken Hawkins (.015 rt) 4.84 @ 142 mph vs. (L) Ted McCord (-.017 rt) 6.98 @ 61
(Richard Brady)
(Thomas Hixson)
This marked Richard Brady’s second final in three races this season and Thomas Hixson’s first trip to the finals of a SWJFA series event. Brady had the performance advantage on paper as the cars crept into the beams for the final race of the night. Brady got off the line first and clicked off a 5.17 at 140 mph to take the win over Hixson’s 5.55 at 128 mph. Brady took his second win of the season in this weather shortened event, which will extend his points lead heading into the next event for the Southwest Junior Fuel series which will be held September 4th at Ardmore Dragway in Ardmore, Oklahoma.
Final Round Results:
(W) Richard Brady (.053 rt) 5.17 @ 130 mph vs. (L) Thomas Hixson (.108 rt) 5.55 @ 128 mph
