After an action packed season opener at Redline Raceway, the Outlaw Fuel Altereds headed to Ben Bruce Dragway in Evadale, TX on May 7th for the second event of the new season. Travis Bouchey held the points lead with Eric Buchanan and Gary Wheeler tied for second just a few points behind. The fans were ready for fuel altered action and at five o'clock the call went out to begin the battle down the Ben Bruce Dragway quarter mile.

Qualifying began with a nice straight 6.74 at 200 mph pass by the "Shockwave" of Bobby Marriott then Kevin Broussard, a Louisiana resident in his first Outlaw Fuel Altered event, followed with a 7.50 at 177 mph in his gorgeous "Chaos" Chevrolet powered altered. Eric Buchanan took his "Texecution" altered to the top spot with a 6.68 at only 172 mph and Travis Bouchey clicked off a best of 7.06 at 197 mph. Tom Butherus had his hands full after drifting towards the centerline just before halftrack but luckily gathered it back up and clicked off a 9.50 at 118 mph.

The second session of qualifying stared out almost exactly like the first when Marriott came out right where he left off with a 6.79 at 201 mph while Rigler stepped up in the other lane to a 6.87 at 198 mph to qualify him fourth. Jack Hodgson's "Southern Outlaw" carried the front wheels past the christmas tree on his solid 6.81 at 196 mph pass which qualified him third. Gary Wheeler managed a 7.33 at 183 mph to qualify him sixth and LaDonna Caulk skipped the second session and took her 8.45 at 98 mph from first session and headed into eliminations on the bump.

Final Qualifying Order:

1) Eric Buchanan 6.68
2) Bobby Marriott 6.74
3) Jack Hodgson 6.81
4) Brad Rigler 6.87
5) Travis Bouchey 7.06
6) Gary Wheeler 7.33
7) Kevin Broussard 7.50
8) LaDonna Caulk 8.45
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9) Bob Voirin 8.83
10) Tom Butherus 9.50

The first round pairings: Buchanan vs. Bouchey, Marriott vs. Wheeler, Hodgson vs. Broussard, and Rigler vs. Caulk.

Eliminations got started around ten o'clock with Rigler and Caulk starting things off. Rigler was off the line first and Caulk quickly made up ground but by halftrack Caulk was forced to lift and the fire in the pipes went away as Rigler took the win with a 6.97 at 184 mph to Caulk's 7.47 at 128 mph. It turns out a front seal broke and Caulk was showered with oil and wisely aborted the run. Buchanan took care of business against points leader Bouchey with a 6.94 at 160 mph to Bouchey's 9.08 at 83 mph. Up next was a repeat of the first round at Redline between Marriott and Wheeler where Wheeler took the win. Marriott came out and thundered down the quarter to set low elapsed time with a 6.59, set top speed at 206 mph, and re-set the track speed record but it was all for not as the big red bulb was shining bright. Marriott had a .3989 lite disqualifying him and handing Wheeler the win who coasted to a 11.81 at 64 mph. Broussard and Hodgson were the final pair left of the first round eliminations. Hodgson had his hands full when his car smacked the guardrail at halftrack in a shower of sparks, the chutes deployed, and Jack coasted to a safe stop. Broussard took the win with a 8.13 at 154 mph and had a great first outing with the Outlaw Fuel Altereds. The two quickest winners Buchanan and Rigler both advanced to battle in the final.

1st Round Results:

(W) Rigler (6.97 at 184 mph) vs. (L) Caulk (7.47 at 128 mph)
(W) Buchanan (6.94 at 160 mph) vs. (L) Bouchey (9.08 at 83 mph)
(W) Wheeler (11.81 at 64 mph) vs. (L) Marriott (6.59 at 206 mph)
(W) Broussard (8.13 at 154 mph) vs. (L) Hodgson (13.08 at 40 mph)

After a quick turn around back in the pits the final round was underway with side by side burnouts from "Toxic" and "Texecution." Buchanan was out of the gate first and never looked back tripping the clocks with a 6.74 at 188 mph to Rigler's 6.91 at 166 mph in the closest final round yet this season.

Buchanan, in his seventh season with the circuit, finally made the well deserved trip to the winner's circle. Buchanan has been #1 qualifier at both the first two events of 2005 and is currently the new points leader heading into the next event in Wichita Falls on June 18th. The fans came to see fire, smoke, nitro fumes, and crazy altereds battling down the track and that is exactly what they got. Fortunately everyone was safe, had fun and watch out for the "E-Man" in Wichita!

Low Elapsed Time - Buchanan - 6.59
Top Speed - Buchanan - 206 mph