The Outlaw Fuel Altered Association kicked off the 2006 season by invading new territory and paid a visit to Houston Motorsports Park for the first time. The drivers had great things to say after seeing the two hundred foot extension to the HMP track among other renovations over the winter. Tom Wood debuted his new “Sundown Racing” machine with Nick Poloson behind the wheel. Jack and Sue Heslink’s brought out their beautiful altered “The Punisher” and Mitch King and the “Bone Bucket” showed up to defend his home turf and try to repeat his victory from the season ending event in 2005. Travis Bouchey plugged a few ears with is “Excitation” now running a Brent Fanning tuned nitro combination and Bob Voirin debuted his nitro burning “American Flyer.” A total of thirteen cars came to claim the first HMP victory and with favorable air conditions and low altitude came good fast racing!

A battle had been brewing between Tim Hay and Jim Pruett via the website chat board and the score was settled first pair of first round of qualifying. The loser had to wax the other driver’s car after the run. This might as well have been a final round for these two. Pruett got the starting line advantage but Hay’s 4.16 at 174 was just enough to drive around Pruett’s 4.20 at 171 mph. Check the website photos from Houston to see the wax job. Next up Travis Bouchey threw up a ground pounding 4.10 at 170 mph. Rigler kicked him off the top spot with a career best 4.07 in the “Toxic” machine. Jack Heslink tripped the timers with a 4.20 at 164 mph and Mitch King triple pedaled the “Bone Bucket” in a wind 4.12 at 154 mph.

Around an hour went by and after thrashing in the pits they were ready for second session of qualifying. Bobby Marriott threw up a 4.88 at 170 mph and Jack Hodgson put together a great 4.17 at 169 mph in the Waco based “Southern Outlaw.” Larry Reep flirted with the three’s with a 4.01 at 181 mph, but Mitch King stole the track record with a blistering and header flaming 3.92 at 166 mph claiming the Meyer Enterprises low qualifier award.

Final Qualifying Order:

1) Mitch King - 3.92
2) Larry Reep - 4.01
3) Brad Rigler - 4.17
4) Travis Bouchey - 4.10
5) Tim Hay - 4.16
6) Jack Hodgson - 4.17
7) Jim Pruett - 4.20
7) Jack Heslink - 4.20 (Broke)
8) Donnie Massey - 4.37
9) Bobby Marriott - 4.88
10) Gary Wheeler - 4.95
11) Kevin Broussard - 4.96
12) Nick Poloson - 8.39

Eliminations got started with the “Bone Bucket” against the “Cone Shark.” King failed to gain oil pressure and wisely shut off in the water box. Pruett soloed to a 4.47 at 148 mph. Hay took out Poloson with a 4.31 at 169 mph and Bobby Marriott put together a stout career best 4.08 but with a red-light on the tree handed the win to Gary Wheeler who ran a 5.75 at 90 mph. Larry Reep laid down another scorching 4.01 at 169 mph taking out Massey. In the final pair, the champ Brad Rigler cut a .4008 light and bumped Hay from the final with a 4.07 at 169 mph defeating a blower banging 4.34 by Bouchey.

First Round Results:

(W) Jim Pruett (.441rt, 4.47 at 148 mph) vs. (L) Mitch King (broke)

(W) Tim Hay (.636rt, 4.31 at 169 mph) vs. (L) Nick Poloson (10.02 at 59 mph)

(W) Gary Wheeler (.694rt, 5.75 at 90-mph) vs. (L) Bobby Marriott (Red-light, 4.08 at 171 mph)

(W) Larry Reep (.476rt, 4.01 at 177 mph) vs. (L) Donnie Massey (Broke)

(W) Brad Rigler (.4008rt, 4.07 at 169 mph) vs. (L) Travis Bouchey (.555rt, 4.34 at 138 mph)

The final round paired up two beautiful Ace Chassis 1929 T Altereds. Rigler and Reep paired up in a rematch from the final last year at Mo-Kan. In a white knuckle side by side guardrail to centerline bout Larry Reep took out Brad Rigler. Reep got a slight starting line advantage and towards the finish line drifted towards the centerline actually crossing it inches after the finish line. Rigler experienced his fair share of driving duties coming inches from tagging the guardrail in the left lane. The winning 4.04 at 179 mph defeated the loosing 4.15 at 138 mph and Larry Reep and the “Grim Reeper” team returned to the winner’s circle after somewhat of a drought after their stellar 2001 championship season. The Reeper earned his victory putting together four straight 4.0 elapsed times and definitely look the strongest in the battle for the 06 season crown. For race photos, team profiles and more information check out www.ofaa.net.

Final Round – (W) Larry Reep (.476 rt, 4.04 at 179 mph) vs. (L) Brad Rigler (.502 rt, 4.15 at 138 mph)

Click here for photos from this event.

Low Elapsed Time – Mitch King, 3.92
Top Speed – Larry Reep, 181.74 mph