Marshall Remains Undefeated Heading Fall Swing
Ardmore Hot Rod Reunion - Sept 1st, 2012
Report & Photos by Max Cackle Photography
For the fifth consecutive season, the Southwest Junior Fuel Association rolled into Ardmore Dragway as a feature attraction of the annual Hot Rod Reunion in Ardmore, Oklahoma. Despite the triple digit air temperatures and track temperatures reaching almost 150 degrees, eleven teams came to battle the conditions and entertain the crowd in Ardmore joined by the famous “Blue Max” Nostalgia Funny Car, a nostalgia “Cacklefest” and an impressive line-up of old school racing classes and exhibition machines.
(Ardmore Hot Rod Reunion "Cacklefest")
The call went out to bring the junior fuelers to the staging lanes for the opening round of qualifying. Ron Muncy led the list after the first session with a 4.83 at 140 mph in the “Foolish Pleasure II” dragster with Ross Laird posting the second quickest pass with a 4.87 at 140 mph in the “Rain Maker” machine. Gary Isom made his return to S.W.J.F.A. competition in Ardmore and posted a 4.95 at 136 mph in the first qualifier.
(The "Muncy Mafia")
(Gary Isom)
In the second session, Odie Coker jumped to the top of the pack with a 4.68 at 148 mph in the Ron Ussery owned and tuned Hemi powered machine. Richard Brady stepped up to a 4.86 at 141 mph and hoped for a solid outing at this event which he posted a runner-up finish at last season. Tera Wendland wheeled the “Walden Power Equipment” dragster to a 4.87 at 142 mph to qualify in the top half of the field.
(Odie Coker)
(Michael Renaker)
(Brian Briggs suiting up)
Brian Briggs posted a 4.89 at 140 mph in his Louisiana based entry and Mike Millsap laid down a 4.93 at 140 mph in his “Sachse Rod Shop” dragster. Mike Buchanan laid down career best numbers in qualifying in his “Lou Anne” entry and qualified 9th with a 4.94 at 139 mph. Michael Renaker also made his return to competition in Ardmore and laid down a 5.11 at 133 mph. Thomas Hixson encountered unfortunate engine damage during qualifying and his “One Wild Ride” team was sidelined for the remainder of the event as Odie Coker led the field into eliminations.
(Thomas Hixson)
Final Qualifying Order:
1) Odie Coker - 4.68 @ 148 mph
2) Ron Muncy – 4.83 @ 143 mph
3) Richard Brady – 4.86 @ 141 mph
4) Ross Laird – 4.871 @ 140 mph
5) Tera Wendland – 4.875 @ 142 mph
6) Brian Briggs – 4.89 @ 140 mph
7) Gary Isom – 4.90 @ 135 mph
8) Mike Millsap – 4.93 @ 140 mph
9) Mike Buchanan – 4.94 @ 139 mph
10) Michael Renaker – 5.11 @ 133 mph
11) Thomas Hixson – No Time
First Round Eliminations
Opening the first round of eliminations, Tera Wendland and Brian Briggs started the action in a rematch from round one at the last event in Denton, Texas. This one went down to the wire as Wendland took the win by .003 of a second, her 4.95 at 138 mph was enough to hold off Briggs’ 4.96 at 137 mph.
(Brian Briggs)
In the next round, Ron Muncy and Michael Renaker were set to do battle but Renaker lost fire on his burnout and Muncy was given the signal to make a solo pass to advance to the next round.
(Ron Muncy)
Ross Laird and Richard Brady were out next as eliminations continued, this one decided by just one hundredth of a second. Laird had a stellar .010 reaction time and coupled that with a 4.89 at 139 mph to narrowly defeat Brady’s quicker but loosing 4.88 at 140 mph.
(Richard Brady)
Odie Coker and Gary Isom were out next in a pair of beautiful front engine machines. Both drivers had good reaction times but by half track the Ussery horsepower was pulling ahead and Coker took the win with a 4.63 at 149 mph to Isom’s 4.89 at 139 mph.
In the final pair, Mike Millsap and Mike Buchanan lined up in yet another very close race. Despite running a career best 4.92 at 140 mph, Buchanan lit the red bulb at the starting line giving Millsap the win as he posted a 4.93 at 140 mph to advance.
(Mike Buchanan)
First Round Results
(W) Tera Wendland (.178 rt) 4.95 @ 138 mph vs. (L) Brian Briggs (.186 rt) 4.96 @ 137 mph
(W) Ron Muncy (No Data) vs. (L) Michael Renaker (No Data)
(W) Ross Laird (.010 rt) 4.89 @ 139 mph vs. (L) Richard Brady (.035 rt) 4.88 @ 140 mph
(W) Odie Coker (.076 rt) 4.63 @ 149 mph vs. (L) Gary Isom (.057 rt) 4.89 @ 139 mph
(W) Mike Millsap (.107 rt) 4.93 @ 140 mph vs. (L) Mike Buchanan (-.012 rt) 4.92 @ 140 mph
Second Round Eliminations
Mike Millsap earned the lucky competition bye run in the second round and clicked off a 4.89 at 140 mph to advance to the semi-finals. Odie Coker and Ross Laird were out next and this one was decided on the starting line, as Laird went -.017 red while Coker blasted down the eighth mile to a 4.64 at 149 mph to advance.
(Tera Wendland)
Tera Wendland and Ron Muncy were out next in the final pair of the round and re-match of the Bowling Green semi-finals. Muncy took this one easily as Wendland had engine troubles off the starting line and Muncy posted a 4.88 at 140 mph to take the nod.
Second Round Results
(W) Mike Millsap (.318 rt) 4.89 @ 140 mph vs. (L) Competition Bye
(W) Odie Coker (.191 rt) 4.64 @ 149 mph vs. (L) Ross Laird (-.017 rt) 4.88 @ 140 mph
(W) Ron Muncy (.327 rt) 4.88 @ 140 mph vs. (L) Tera Wendland (.305 rt) 13.16 @ 41 mph
Semi-Final Round Eliminations
In the semi-finals, Ron Muncy was the benefactor of drawing the lucky competition bye run into the finals and started the round with an early shut off 5.09 at 110 mph. Odie Coker and Mike Millsap were out next to see who would face Muncy in the finals. This one was also over the starting line, Millsap also going -.017 red on the starting line, while Coker laid down a stout 4.62 at 149 mph to advance to the finals.
(Mike Millsap)
Semi-Final Round Results
(W) Ron Muncy (.035 rt) 5.09 @ 110 mph vs. (L) Competition Bye
(W) Odie Coker (.039 rt) 4.62 @ 149 mph vs. (L) Mike Millsap (-.017 rt) 4.84 @ 142 mph
Final Round Eliminations
By advancing to the finals, Ron Muncy had made up some major ground in the points chase over leader Ricky Marshall who wasn’t in attendance at Ardmore. Coker also was making his way up the points listings with his top qualifying effort and round wins as it was time to crown a champion at the Ardmore Hot Rod Reunion after a long day of nostalgia drag racing.
Coker’s horsepower continued to pressure the drivers in the opposing lane, as Coker had two been red lighted against in the previous two rounds and now again in the final, as Muncy went -.006 red on the starting line. Coker took the win and in doing so posted one of the quickest passes in series history, a 4.58 at 150 mph to claim victory in fine fashion and become the first repeat winner in junior fuel at the Ardmore Hot Rod Reunion.
Final Round Results
(W) Odie Coker (.083 rt) 4.58 @ 150 mph vs. (L) Ron Muncy (-.006 rt) 5.60 @ 87 mph
(Ussery & Coker - Ardmore Hot Rod Reunion Winners)
(Ron Muncy - Ardmore Hot Rod Reunion Runner Up)
Coker now sits number five in the points standings and Muncy is now just seven points out of the lead which is still held by Ricky Marshall. The Southwest Junior Fuel Association will have a few weeks off before heading north to Tulsa, Oklahoma for their annual appearance at the “Nitro Nationals” on September 22nd.
Click Here to see photos from Ardmore.
