The Outlaw Fuel Altereds headed to Redline Raceway on June 10th to compete in the fourth event of the fast paced 2006 racing season. This is the second of three races in a five week span for the altereds and fourteen beautiful ground pounders showed up to fight for the crown in Caddo Mills, TX. Larry Reep seems unstoppable so far this season with two wins and a trip to the final in each event so far. Holding a huge thirty three point lead over Jack Heslink, the only other driver to win a race this season, the "Grim Reeper" planed to continue haunting the competition here tonight and make it to four final rounds in a row. Donnie McSwain debuted his beautiful E.T. Automotive sponsored "Pure Delight" Ace Chassis car here and at the tick of eight o clock the first session of qualifying got underway.

Hot and tricky track conditions made it difficult for most of the teams to get down the Redline Raceway eighth mile. Bobby Marriott clicked off a wild 4.49 to place him fourth after session one. Donnie Massey tripped the clocks with a 4.39 and Brad Rigler threw up a 4.35 good for the number two spot. Tim Hay blew the burst panel out on the "High Voltage Hayride" which unfortunately sidelined him for the rest of the event. Ironically, this was Hay's debut event last year and the exact same thing happened in the exact same lane in the exact same session so hopefully the Hayride will be ready for action in two weeks in Lufkin and Hay can forget his back luck in Caddo Mills. Jack Hodgson claimed the top spot after first session with a 4.31 at 170 mph and many teams knew after the sun went down the track conditions would come around and the teams could throw down some real power and go after the Meyer Enterprises Low Qualifier award.

The second session was simply amazing. Every single car that went down the track improved and the field was wide open. Bobby Marriott kicked things off by dipping into the 20's as many teams did with a 4.29. Next up in the same lane Brad Rigler blew up the scoreboards with a 4.11 at 171 mph to set the Redline Raceway altered elapsed time track record along side John Tappan's 4.74 which was just short of making the field. Larry Reep thundered to a 4.20 at 174 mph setting the track altered speed record along side Donnie Massey who stepped up to a 4.26 good for the number three spot, his best qualifying effort of the season. Nick Poloson clicked off a career best 4.33 in the Tom Wood owned "Sundown" altered which put him seventh and Jack Heslink crept into the field with a 4.50 which would end up being the bump spot. Gary Wheeler's 4.26 put him number four heading into eliminations and in the other lane McSwain clicked off a career best 4.38. Travis Bouchey's nitro burning "Excitation" missed the quick ten with a best of a 4.55 and Jimmy Todd also set his career best with a 4.37 at 159 mph. Brad Rigler's outstanding 4.11 held up for the poll and Rigler's astonishing third Meyer Enterprises low qualifying effort in a row.

Final Qualifying Order:

1) Brad Rigler - 4.11
2) Larry Reep - 4.20
3) Donnie Massey - 4.26
4) Gary Wheeler - 4.26
5) Bobby Marriott - 4.29
6) Jack Hodgson - 4.31
7) Nick Poloson - 4.33
8) Jimmy Todd - 4.37
9) Donnie McSwain - 4.38
10) Jack Heslink - 4.50
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11) Travis Bouchey - 4.55
12) Kevin Broussard - 4.73
13) John Tappan - 4.74
14) Tim Hay - Broke

Back in the pits McSwain was sidelined with a wheelie bar malfunction and Bouchey jumped in his place as the first alternate and eliminations were underway by eleven with the stands packed and fans lined up past the finish line on the spectator side screaming for more wild and wacky altered action.

In the first pair Brad Rigler ran a beautiful 4.16 at 168 mph to take out Hodgson who fell off to a 4.76. Next up Nick Poloson did what not many people have done this season, beat the Reeper. Not only did he take out Reep but he lowered his career best again to a 4.27 in the winning effort over Reep's 4.47. Reep's steak of final round appearances came to an end but with a huge points lead he will still be atop the championship hunt in two weeks at Lufkin. Next, Jack Heslink stepped up to a 4.28 and took out Marriott on a hole shot win over Marriott's quicker 4.26 at 165 mph. Donnie Massey dipped into the 20's with a 4.29 putting the red lighting Jimmy Todd on the trailer and in the final pair of first round Gary Wheeler's 4.23 sent Bouchey packing which advanced Wheeler to the final and blew Poloson's hopes of his first Outlaw Fuel Altered final. The two quickest winners Rigler and Wheeler advanced to square off in the glory round.

(Nick Poloson)

First Round Results:

(W) Brad Rigler (.492 rt, 4.16 at 168 mph) vs. (L) Jack Hodgson (.498 rt, 4.76 at 147 mph)

(W) Nick Poloson (.481 rt, 4.27 at 167 mph) vs. (L) Larry Reep (.472 rt, 4.47 at 134 mph)

(W) Jack Heslink (.424 rt, 4.28 at 144 mph) vs. (L) Bobby Marriott (.563 rt, 4.26 at 165 mph)

(W) Donnie Massey (.486 rt, 4.29 at 166 mph) vs. (L) Jimmy Todd (redlight, 4.89 at 161 mph)

(W) Gary Wheeler (.436 rt, 4.23 at 167 mph) vs. (L) Travis Bouchey (.581 rt, 6.40 at 73 mph)

The final pair of altereds fired up just past midnight and many fans stuck around to see who would earn the event crown. Gary Wheeler was off the line first with a stout .408 reaction time, but Rigler's "Toxic" chased down the "Slayer" and the scoreboards lit up with a 4.26 at 171 mph winning effort by Rigler to Wheeler's 4.46 at 151 mph. Brad Rigler and the "Toxic" team put together yet another low qualifying effort and finally topped it off with a much deserved win and made up precious ground in points which Rigler will need if he hopes to repeat his championship season from last year.

Final Round Results:

(W) Brad Rigler (.426 rt, 4.26 at 171 mph) vs. (L) Gary Wheeler (.408 rt, 4.46 at 151 mph)

The conclusion of this event marked the halfway point of the 2006 Outlaw Fuel Altered season. The first half was all Larry Reep but it is obvious the competition is hungry for revenge. With his first final of the season Gary Wheeler and the team from Oklahoma jumped from seventh to fourth in the points standings. Donnie Massey who has been silently lingering with consistent showings at each event and is due for a final round or two is now tied with Heslink in third and Rigler jumped to second shaving off ten points from Reep's lead which is now twenty three heading to Pine Valley Raceway in Lufkin, TX on June 24th. For more information visit www.ofaa.net

Low Elapsed Time - Brad Rigler, 4.11
Top Speed - Larry Reep, 174 mph

For photos from this event, click here.