Rain Delays Blown Alcohol Battle Royal In Lufkin
Event 9 of 9 – October 6th, 2007
Pine Valley Raceway - Lufkin, Texas

The Outlaw Fuel Altered Association returned to Pine Valley Raceway for the fourth straight year of the East Texas Fuel Altered Nationals. Bobby Marriott clinched the 2007 season championship, his third, at the previous event in Denton, Texas and did it by earning more points than any OFAA driver in the circuit’s eleven year history (394). Eleven teams came to run final event and all the teams looked to throw down big numbers in the last go for 2007. The rain was a threat for this event but sunshine peeked through the heavy clouds a few hours before qualifying and not long after action was underway in Lufkin.

Marriott started things off with a nice 4.07 at 174 mph. Wayne Lewis was the big story in Herb Whisnant’s “Thrill Factor” when the team threw down at 4.01 at 162 mph to take the top spot early in the first session. Travis Bouchey, who will post his second runner-up spot this year in the points standings, hazed the tires and clicked off a 4.48 at 122 mph. Tim Hay bested a 4.80 while trying a new fuel system set up in the “High Voltage Hayride.” Donnie Massey laid down his best time with a new nitro combination in the “Showtime” with a 4.42 at 153 mph. Larry Reep returned to action in the “Grim Reeper” with a solid 4.20 at 172 mph. Brad Rigler went into a huge wheelstand in his "Toxic" machine and thankfully caught it in time causing no damage to the car or himself.

In second session action Nick Poloson took Tom Wood’s “Sundown” machine to a career best 4.06 at 174 mph. Bouchey discovered that both the left and right side rear wing struts on the “Excitation” Fuel Fiat had cracked due to tire shake in the first session and he was out early along with Marriott who withdrew due to piston damage on the “Shockwave.” Jack Hodgson bumped Lewis off the top spot with a stout 3.98 at 180 mph in the “Southern Outlaw” machine out of Waco. Brad Rigler wheeled the “Toxic” to a 4.16 at 157 mph. DoDad Burton went 4.52 in his “Free Spirit” and Chris White rounded out the qualifiers with a 5.09. Jack Hodgson scored his second low qualifying effort of the season and had some stiff competition from the other blown alcohol cars heading into eliminations.

Final Qualifying Order:

1) Jack Hodgson – 3.98
2) Wayne Lewis – 4.01
3) Nick Poloson – 4.06
4) Bobby Marriott – 4.07
5) Brad Rigler – 4.16
6) Larry Reep – 4.20
7) Donnie Massey – 4.42
8) Travis Bouchey – 4.48
9) DoDad Burton – 4.52
10) Tim Hay – 4.80
11) Chris White – 5.09

What a huge match-up to start eliminations. Jack Hodgson and Brad Rigler pulled into the water box and as “Toxic” crew chief Danny Wright hung the starter the sprinkles set in and soon became a downpour. The rain gods put an end to the fuel altered action at Lufkin and ended the 2007 season sooner than expected. The final eliminations for this event will be held at the first event of 2008 during the first and second sessions of qualifying. The points for 2007 are final and no points will be awarded for the Lufkin make-up rounds next year. You can look forward to seeing the following match-ups during the first session of qualifying at next year’s first event.

(1) Jack Hodgson vs. (5) Brad Rigler
(2) Wayne Lewis vs. (6) Tim Hay
(3) Nick Poloson vs. (7) Donnie Massey
(4) DoDad Burton vs. (8) Chris White

Lufkin Qualifying Award Winners:

P&M Speed & Machine Low Qualifier - $250.00 - Jack Hodgson DallasMachineShop.com (Meyer Enterprises) - $100.00 - DoDad Burton #9 Disciple Cycles - $50.00 - Travis Bouchey #8 Marriott’s Progressive - $100.00 - DoDad Burton #9

To see photos from this event click here.