Ussery & Coker Win Wichita
Wichita, Kansas - July 19th, 2014

The fourth event of the 2014 Southwest Junior Fuel Association season brought the series to Kansas International Dragway in Wichita, Kansas for the Summer Nationals on Saturday, July 19th. Coming into the event, Ken Hawkins and the Charlie Smith owned "Whiz Kids" team held a slim 11 point lead over defending series Champion Odie Coker in the Ron Ussery owned and tuned dragster. Both were in attendance this weekend with a six car field ready to do some quarter mile heads up racing in the heat of a Kansas summer.

(Ken Hawkins)

Upon the completion of two qualifying rounds, Odie Coker wheeled his Hemi powered injected slingshot to his second pole of the season with a 7.36 at 182 mph followed closely by Ken Hawkins' 7.39 at 182 mph. Mike Millsap qualified third with a 7.52 at 177 mph with Ron Muncy, Mike Buchanan and Tony Patterson rounding out the field heading into eliminations.

(Tony Patterson)

Final Qualifying Order:

Final Qualifying Order:
1. Odie Coker (Dallas, TX) - 7.36 @ 182
2. Ken Hawkins (Pooleville, TX) - 7.39 @ 182
3. Mike Millsap (Sachse, TX) - 7.52 @ 177
4. Ron Muncy (Weatherford, TX) - 7.53 @ 175
5. Mike Buchanan (Wichita, KS) - 8.28 @ 162
6. Tony Patterson (Ponca City, OK) - 8.97 @ 139

(Odie Coker)

Eliminations:

In a stellar first round match-up, Odie Coker and Ken Hawkins drew to run eachother first round. At the hit, Hawkins took a very slight starting line advantage but it wasn't enough, as Coker pulled ahead with a 7.31 at 182 mph to take out Hawkins' close 7.38 at 178 mph. Mike Millsap improved to a 7.47 at 178 mph to knock out Mike Buchanan's 8.31 at 162 mph and Ron Muncy used a 7.55 at 176 mph to move into the semi-finals on a bye run after Tony Patterson was unable to make the call.

(Mike Buchanan)

(Mike Millsap)

First Round Results

(W) Odie Coker (.051 rt) 7.31 @ 182 vs. (L) Ken Hawkins (.044 rt) 7.38 @ 178
(W) Mike Millsap (.094 rt) 7.47 @ 178 vs. (L) Mike Buchanan (.086 rt) 8.31 @ 162
(W) Ron Muncy (.071 rt) 7.55 @ 176 vs. (L) Tony Patterson (No Time - Broke)

(Ron Muncy)

In the semi-finals, Ron Muncy wheeled his "Foolish Pleasure" dragster into the final round with a 7.61 at 169 mph on a bye run. Odie Coker and Mike Millsap were next out to decide who would face Muncy in the final. Coker took a slight starting line advantage and a nice 7.32 at 182 mph to defeat Millsap's 7.47 at 176 mph as Coker was looking to claim his third win of the season and re-gain the points lead in doing so.

Semi-Final Results

(W) Ron Muncy (-.034 rt) 7.61 @ 169 vs. (L) Bye Run
(W) Odie Coker (.051 rt) 7.32 @ 182 vs. (L) Mike Millsap (.064 rt) 7.47 @ 176

Ron Muncy was in his first final round appearance of the season aiming to take out the number one qualifier in the final. Muncy got the starting line advantage but his 7.57 at 174 mph came up short at the top end, as Coker took the win with a 7.37 at 181 mph to secure the Ussery & Coker team's third win of the season and position back atop the points standings.

Final Round Results

(W) Odie Coker (.083 rt) 7.37 @ 181 vs. (L) Ron Muncy (.041 rt) 7.57 @ 174

(Ussery & Coker - Wichita Winners)

(Ron Muncy - Wichita Runner Up)

The Southwest Junior Fuel Association would like to thank Lubrication Engineers Inc., Hayden Enterprises, Champion Spark Plugs and Hilborn Injection for their support of the 2014 racing season. The next event will be held August 30th at Ardmore Dragway's Hot Rod Reunion in Ardmore, Oklahoma.