Marriott Flawless at Fall Nationals
Ben Bruce Raceway - Evadale, TX
September 19th, 2009
Event #7 of 8
Report: Chris Graves
Photos: Joe McHugh
Ben Bruce Raceway in Evadale, Texas annually hosts the Royal Purple Outlaw Fuel Altered series and provides a unique, friendly and fast place to race each year. In 2008, numerous teams posted career best times including John Broussard’s first three second lap for team “Purple Haze”. Also, Bobby Marriott was your number one qualifier with a 4.01 and posted top speed of the meet at 193.72 mph, but lost in first round to Donnie Massey when Massey’s 3.91 took out Marriott’s 3.92! Massey and the “Showtime” team went on to defeat Broussard in the final round and posted low elapsed time of the meet at 3.89. This year, Broussard’s luck took a drastic change this year as a mechanical issue presented itself on the warm-up and crew chief Kevin Broussard opted to sit out the event to prevent further damage to the Lake Charles, Louisiana based hot rod.
(OFAA pits at Ben Bruce Raceway)
As the 2009 OFAA season closes, excitement and anticipation flood the pit area as hard working crews, focused drivers and dedicated fans all realize there are only two more events left in the season, this being the seventh in the eight race schedule. Coming into action in Evadale, Bobby Marriott held a twelve point lead over the “II N’Tense” team of Donny McSwain, with current sub-driver Brad Rigler also wheeling the machine here as he did in Mo-Kan two weeks prior. McSwain and company need to at least keep up with Marriott in this one to keep their hopes of a first OFAA series championship alive. This proved to be quite a task as Marriott opened up the first qualifying session with a 3.93 blast at 191.41 mph, along side was Nick Poloson at 4.23 at 169 mph.
(The "II N'Tense" team preparing for qualifying)
(Bobby Marriott opens OFAA qualifying with a 3.93 at 191 mph!)
Paired with Donnie Massey, Brad Rigler rolled out and put down a nice 4.04 at 176 mph but Massey upped the ante with a “perfect” 4.00 at 185 mph. Next up, Chris Trussell wheeled the “Assassin” machine to a career best 4.08 at 164 mph while Mary Reep lost the blower belt in the “Grim Reeper” ride. DoDad Burton clicked off an entertaining 4.27 at 171 mph in the “Free Spirit” after a quick pedal job to bring the wheels down as they carried past the 330” cone. In the other lane, Jack Hodgson made his return to competition in the “Southern Outlaw” but struggled to a 4.78 in the opening session. Red hot Tim Hay and the “High Voltage Hayride” crew put up a solid 4.11 at 177 mph coming fresh off a big win in Eddyville, Iowa and their first OFAA event win two weeks ago at Mo-Kan Dragway.
(Tim Hay sporting a new sticker on his AA/FA)
(Jack Hodgson in the "Southern Outlaw")
(DoDad Burton in "Free Spirit")
As the final qualifying session started, Jack Hodsgon and Jim Overly were outside looking in. Hodgson failed to improve in his second pass and would sit out eliminations, but it surely was nice to have “Outlaw” Jack and the Waco based gang back in the OFAA action. Hopefully their luck will change at the OFAA Finals in two weeks at North Star Dragway. Jim Overly bested a 5.63 and also missed the cut, a bump of 4.46, nothing like the season low 4.17 bump spot from the last event.
(Jim Overly in "Fuelish Habit")
Terry Anglin wheeled the “Psychotic Express” to a 4.32 at 165 mph to qualify ninth. Mary Reep squeezed in on the bump with a 4.46 after pitching another blower belt along side Donnie Massey, who ripped off a stout 3.94 at 189 mph. Tim Hay followed that up with a double up career best pass of 4.03 at 183 mph along side “Bradley McRigler” (Brad Rigler / Donny McSwain) who went 4.08 at 175 mph. The “II N’Tense” group did their job in qualifying one position ahead of Marriott after the corrected field was set, gaining a point prior to first round. David Purifoy rolled out next in Herb Whisnant’s “Thrill Factor” and blasted to a strong career best 4.10 at 172 mph to qualify sixth. Chris Trussell made another solid pass at 4.12 at 173 mph and for the first time this season, Donnie Massey and team “Showtime” led the field into eliminations.
(David Purifoy in "Thrill Factor")
(Terry Anglin looses the laundry in qualifying)
(Nick Poloson in "Sundown")
Final Qualifying Order:
1) Donnie Massey (Little Elm, Texas) – 4.00 at 185 mph
2) Tim Hay (Burleson, Texas) – 4.03 at 183 mph
3) Brad Rigler (Heath, Texas) – 4.04 at 176 mph
4) Bobby Marriott (Pilot Point, Texas) – 4.06 (3.94) at 189 mph
5) Chris Trussell (Athens, Texas) – 4.08 at 164 mph
6) David Purifoy (Texarkana, Texas) – 4.10 at 172 mph
7) Nick Poloson (San Antonio, Texas) – 4.23 at 169 mph
8) DoDad Burton (Tyler, Texas) – 4.27 at 171 mph
9) Terry Anglin (Terrell, Texas) – 4.32 at 165 mph
10) Mary Reep (Austin, Texas) – 4.46 at 124 mph
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
11) Jack Hodgson (Waco, Texas) – 4.78 at 129 mph
12) Jim Overly (Houston, Texas) – 5.63 at 129 mph
13) John Broussard (Lake Charles, Louisiana) – No Time
The first round brought some great pairings to battle as Donnie Massey and David Purifoy got the action started in a great race. Purifoy, with a blown alcohol Chevy powered ride combined with a Powerglide transmission, improved on his career best with a 4.08 at 173 mph but couldn’t hold off Massey’s tough 3.91 at 187 mph, low elapsed time so far. What an outing for the “Thrill Factor” gang as they run their career best, twice, but loose first round in a tough draw against Massey. Mary Reep earned her first round win of her rookie season, posting a 4.40 after loosing yet another blower belt but still beating Chris Trussell who red lit.
"After Mo-Kan we came back to the shop and adjusted the front wing and added nose weight hoping that would keep the front wheels on the ground. In Evadale, the car drove perfect! Our career best 4.08 then we backed that up with a 4.12. In first round, I simply jumped the tree and left too soon, but we had a great time and are very happy with the car. Thanks to my crew Rebekah, Ken, Steve, Jose and crew chief Terry Darby. I also want to thank Evadale Raceway, the entire OFAA family and my sponsors STM Awnings, Celi Corp, Trussell Welding and Assassin Chassis Works," said Trussell.
Bobby Marriott got a bye run after Terry Anglin’s car ran into drivetrain issues after the burnout, with Marriott posting a nice 3.97 at 187 mph for the win. Brad Rigler rolled out next along side Jim Overly, who took the place of DoDad Burton who couldn’t answer the call with oil pressure issues. Rigler had to not only win the round, but run quicker than Marriott’s 3.97 to have a chance at the final round. Rigler got the win light, but broke a rocker arm early in the pass and clicked off a 4.01 at 176 mph down on power and just short of the mark. Tim Hay and Nick Poloson did battle in the last pairing of the round, the winner needed to also better Marriott’s 3.97 to advance to the final. Hay clicked off a 4.12 at 179 mph in a solo victory as Poloson ran into mechanical troubles on the line. Another strong outing for Hay and company as they take home a round win and new career best numbers. Marriott and Massey advanced to the final as the two quickest winners, both with wins already this season.
(Donnie Massey in "Showtime")
First Round Eliminations:
(W) Donnie Massey (.497 rt) 3.91 at 187 mph vs. (L) David Purifoy (.555 rt) 4.08 at 173 mph
(W) Mary Reep (.653 rt) 4.40 at 128 mph vs. (L) Chris Trussell (Foul) 5.21 at 168 mph
(W) Bobby Marriott (1.54 rt) 3.97 at 187 mph vs. (L) Terry Anglin (No Time)
(W) Brad Rigler (.548 rt) 4.01 at 176 mph vs. (L) Jim Overly (1.27 rt) 7.29 at 71 mph
(W) Tim Hay (.622 rt) 4.12 at 179 mph vs. (L) Nick Poloson (No Time)
(Bobby Marriott)
For Marriott, this was a chance to basically lock up the Championship battle with one event remaining and the “Shockwave” team hoped to claim their third win of the season in their fifth final round appearance in seven events. For Massey, defending their Evadale title was goal number one as they were not in the Championship battle, but hungry for a win. This marked their second final of the season after winning the season opener.
Nitro fumes filled the starting line as the two ground pounders rolled into the beams and got off the line almost dead even. “We were side by side past the 330” cone,” said Marriott, then Massey was forced to lift as he drifted dangerously close to the wall. Marriott clicked off low elapsed time and top speed of the meet with a 3.90 at 192 mph over Massey’s 4.03 at 151 mph. These are career best numbers for Marriott and company.
Final Round Results:
(W) Bobby Marriott (.543 rt) 3.902 at 192.64 mph vs. Donnie Massey (.538 rt) 4.038 at 151.41 mph
(Team "Shockwave" and "Showtime" celebrate their strong performances in Evadale)
“We want to thank Ben Bruce Raceway and their staff for giving us a great place to go race each year we come to Evadale. We may have won the race, but a lot of our competitors also ran career bests and deserve accolades. We know the field will be strong in Denton at our last race and the guns will be loaded, we can’t wait!” said Marriott.
Win their win, team “Shockwave” now take a 21 point lead into the final event of the year, October 3rd at North Star Dragway. If Marriott struggles in qualifying and the “II N’Tense” team of Rigler/McSwain can win the race, they will be the champions. If not, Marriott will claim his third consecutive championship. Don’t miss the action as the OFAA season comes to an end and a 2009 Series Champion will be crowned. Only 17 points separate third place Terry Anglin from seventh place Donnie Massey in the standings and teams will be battling for position at the OFAA Finals in Denton, Texas. The OFAA will be joined by the Southwest Junior Fuel Association who will be competing in their final points race of 2009 as well. Be There!
Click Here to see photos from this event by Joe McHugh.
Low Elapsed Time - Bobby Marriott (3.90)
Top Mile Per Hour - Bobby Marriott (192 mph)
Bonus Winners:
Marriott's Progressive Qualifier - #7 Nick Poloson
Rigler's RSI Last Man Standing - Bobby Marriott
Massey's Top Speed DNQ - Jim Overly
