Mo-Marriott at Mo-Kan
Mo-Kan Dragway - September 1st & 2nd, 2007
Event #7 of 9
Story & Photos - Chris Graves
Mo-Kan Dragway is always a favorite stop on the Outlaw Fuel Altered Association tour because well, what’s better than outlaw fuel altered drag racing on an outlaw drag strip that has been around since the sixties? Mo-Kan is a very unique track with the “old school” feel that any nostalgic drag racing fan appreciates. Some of the most dedicated fans I’ve ever seen flood the gates each and every labor day weekend to see the fuel altereds do their thing; it’s an awesome sight that cannot be equaled. The OFAA teams always enjoy their visit to headline this classic event and this year was no different. Brad Rigler needs to have his own road named after him on the property as he has owned the winner’s circle for three consecutive years but a new engine and clutch combination has “Toxic” crew chief Danny Wright scratching his head and the team hopes to turn their luck around. The stands were at maximum capacity as a field of twelve blown fuel altered lined up to make their first of two qualifying attempts on Saturday evening. Twelve cars fighting for a spot in the quick eight meant four teams would be sidelined on Sunday.
(The crowds at Mo-Kan are always great. I'm not sure the teams had any t-shirts left after this year's event)
The cackle from the headers meant it was time to go racing as the first pair came to life. Bobby Marriott and Brad Rigler laid down side by side burnouts and launched together before Rigler got into tire shake and drifted towards the centerline which forced him to abort the run. Marriott also shook the tires as he passed the 330’ cone and coasted to a 4.37 at only 135 mph. A pair of Chevrolets rolled up next in John Broussard and Tom Butherus. Broussard clicked off a 4.52 at 153 mph while Butherus could only muster a 5.67. Next up Nick Poloson wheeled the “Sundown” machine to a 4.38 along side DoDad Burton’s 4.56. Ted Elrod made his OFAA return in fine fashion going to the top of the pack with a blistering 4.09 at 177 mph. Elrod looked strong at the World Fuel Altered Nationals a few weeks prior in Eddyville, Iowa and hopefully he will show up more frequently with the outlaw circuit. As the sun set behind the grandstands Jack Hodgson’s “Southern Outlaw” thundered to a 4.28 at 163 mph to claim the number two spot temporarily. Wayne Lewis drove the “Thrill Factor” to a career best 4.34 at 158 mph lap to put him in the top half of the field after one session. That big bad fuel fiat of Travis Bouchey came out next and launched hard out of the gate heavy with clutch dust. The “Excitation” machine started hazing the tires as he neared the traps and Bouchey was out of it early. Through tire smoke, clutch dust and a pedal job Bouchey still went 4.02 at 183 mph to take the spot after one. A quick, safe and exciting session in the books with one to go left Chris White, John Broussard, Tom Butherus and Brad Rigler outside looking in.
A nine o clock call went out to crank the first pair of the final qualifying session and Marriott got things started with Nick Poloson along side. Poloson improved slightly with a nice 4.36 at 159 mph but saw nothing but “Shockwave” rear end as Marriott blasted to a stout 4.01 at 186 mph to knock Bouchey off the pole. Marriott’s nitro combination has proved itself all season and these statistics can back that up: five final rounds and three wins in only six events, whoa! Brad Rigler and Tom Butherus rolled out next and both were looking to get into the quick eight field. Rigler had to make it down the track here or his weekend would come to an early end. Rigler’s 4.33 at 163 mph was good enough to bump him from twelfth to fifth but Butherus’ 4.83 was not quick enough to make the field. Howard Knowles’ “Cheaper Than Therapy” machine clicked off a very strong 4.33 on his hometown turf but sparks shooting from the headers as he tripped the clocks meant trouble and resulted in a blown piston and early exit from this year’s Labor Day Classic. John Broussard wheeled his “Purple Haze” to a career best 4.46 at 157 mph but fell short of the bump spot which DoDad Burton claimed on his career best pass of 4.35 at 160 mph. Wayne Lewis was the most consistent car in qualifying after he went 4.34 in the first session and 4.35 in the second earning him the number seven qualifying position and a match-up with Ted Elrod in first round on Sunday. With three career best passes from Broussard, Lewis and Burton it looks as though the boys were on their game. Nitro cars held the top two spots with Elrod and Hodgson claiming the third and fourth positions in the top half of the field. Chris White had the help of Dale “Lurch” Wilkens this weekend but fell short of the quick eight field in his “White Lightning” Chevrolet but did click off a career best 4.91 in testing on Sunday.
Final Qualifying Order:
1) Bobby Marriott (Pilot Point, TX) - 4.013
2) Travis Bouchey (Stephenville, TX) - 4.028
3) Ted Elrod (O.P., Kansas) - 4.090
4) Jack Hodgson (Waco, TX) - 4.288
5) Brad Rigler (Heath, TX) - 4.331
6) Howard Knowles (Carthage, MO) - 4.333
7) Wayne Lewis (Texarkana, TX) - 4.348
8) DoDad Burton (Tyler, TX) - 4.355
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9) Nick Poloson (San Antonio, TX) - 4.369
10) John Broussard (Lake Charles, LA) - 4.467
11) Tom Butherus (Goddard, KS) - 4.830
12) Chris White (Ft. Worth, TX) - 5.333
(DoDad Burton's career best 4.35 held on for the bump spot in the quick eight)
The qualifiers worked all day on Sunday to prepare their cars for an eight car three round elimination event. Poloson was bumped into the field taking the place of Knowles who broke on his second qualifying pass and he would face Bouchey in first round. Marriott lined up with Rigler in a heavyweight battle to start eliminations.
Rigler was out of the gate first with a huge advantage and repeated his 4.33 from the prior session but Marriott drove around him with a nice 4.05 at 184 mph to advance. Hodgson drilled Burton off the line and never looked back advancing with a 4.38 at 160 mph to Burton’s 4.52 at 151 mph. Poloson had a tenth on Bouchey off the line but fell back with a 5.09 while Bouchey ran low elapsed time of the round with a monstrous 3.86 at only 168 mph carrying the front wheels in the air as he cleared the traps. Elrod was up next and clicked off a 4.18 at 174 mph to defeat Lewis’ career best 4.33 at 160 mph. It was a great weekend for Herb Whisnant’s “Thrill Factor” team as they set their career best twice and have made big steps this season in performance while Lewis has been doing a great job behind the wheel in his first season.
(Travis Bouchey's "Excitation" fuel Fiat was a crowd favorite at this year's Labor Day Classic)
First Round Eliminations:
(W) Bobby Marriott (.132 rt) 4.05 at 184 mph vs. (L) Brad Rigler (.068 rt) 4.33 at 145 mph
(W) Jack Hodgson (.026 rt) 4.38 at 160 mph vs. (L) DoDad Burton (.283 rt) 4.52 at 151 mph
(W) Travis Bouchey (.159 rt) 3.86 at 168 mph vs. (L) Nick Poloson (.064 rt) 5.09 at 99 mph
(W) Ted Elrod (.021 rt) 4.18 at 174 mph vs. (L) Wayne Lewis (.104 rt) 4.33 at 160 mph
(Wayne Lewis improved on his career best twice at this event but could not hold off Ted Elrod in first round)
Marriott and Elrod squared off in the first pair of the semi-final. Elrod jumped the gun and went red off the line while Marriott stepped up to a very nice 3.99 at 185 mph to advance to his fifth final round of the season. Hodgson tattooed Bouchey off the line but his 4.57 at 151 mph was no match for Bouchey’s jaw dropping career best pass, 3.78 at 186 mph. Marriott and Bouchey advanced to face each other in the final for the third time this season with Bouchey coming out on top both prior matches. Bouchey was making his fifth career final round appearance and with a perfect 5-0 record and low elapsed time of the both rounds of eliminations was definitely the favorite on paper. Marriott has played the consistency game all season racking up numerous 4.0 and 3.9 second passes and at this event broke Brad Rigler’s record for most final rounds in a single season with five, a record Rigler set in his dominating season last year. This should be a dandy of a final round!
Semi-Final Eliminations:
(W) Bobby Marriott (.095 rt) 3.99 at 185 mph vs. (L) Ted Elrod (-.066 rt) 4.19 at 173 mph
(W) Travis Bouchey (.148 rt) 3.78 at 186 mph vs. (L) Jack Hodgson (.013 rt) 4.57 at 151 mph
(Ted Elrod made his return to OFAA competition in the "Killin Time" machine and with a semi-final finish looked very strong)
The call went out to fire up the last pair of fuel altereds to wrap up the 42nd Annual Mo-Kan Labor Day Classic in fine style with two nitro powered cacklers set to do battle. After their burnouts the fumes were thicker than Missouri molasses but problems set in for Bouchey. An oil line fitting back backed off and caused a leak that forced him to shut off prior to staging and Marriott got the signal to take the win on a solo. The “Shockwave” launched hard and skated around, Marriott pedaled it and clicked off a 4.21 at 175 mph to claim his fourth win and all but wrap up the 2007 Outlaw Fuel Altered championship.
Final Round Eliminations:
(W) Bobby Marriott (1.57 rt) 4.21 at 175 mph vs. (L) Travis Bouchey (no time)
Marriott’s fifth straight final round appearance resulted in yet another win for the “Shockwave” team and extended their points lead to 66 over Bouchey in second. With two events remaining in the 2007 OFAA season the biggest battle to settle is for second place between Bouchey and Hodgson who are separated by only 15 points. The next stop on the tour is at North Star Dragway in Denton, Texas on September 15th.
Click here to see more photos from this event.
(The "Shockwave" team celebrates their fourth win of 2007.
Left to Right: Ray "Snorter" and Susan MacFarland, Bobby and Nancy Marriott and Allen Friar)
Low Elapsed Time – Travis Bouchey (3.78)
Top Speed – Bobby Marriott (186.95 mph)
Event Bonus Winners:
Lone Star Forklift Bonus - Bobby Marriott
Meyer Enterprises Bonus – Nick Poloson
Marriott Progressive Bonus – Wayne Lewis
Cen-Tech Scale Quick Reaction – Jack Hodgson (.013)
Disciple Cycles Roll of the Dice - DoDad Burton
