Purifoy Notches First OFAA Win
MoKan Dragway - Asbury, MO
September 4&5th, 2010
Event #5 of 8
Report: Chris Graves - Photos: Erik Anderson
The 2010 Labor Day Weekend Classic at Mo-Kan Dragway was one of the most memorable and successful events in OFAA history. For the seventh year in a row, the OFAA headlined the annual event and for the third year in a row, someone went home with their first OFAA win! In 2008, John Broussard notched his first win in the “Purple Haze” machine, on a hole shot. Last year, Tim Hay claimed his first OFAA win in the “High Voltage Hayride” on a hole shot. This year, David Purifoy took home the title over Jimmy Jones, you guess it, on a hole shot! Mo-Kan never fails to disappoint and this year’s event was yet again one of the most thrilling and emotional events of the season.
The OFAA family was hit hard with the tragic loss of friend and mentor to many, Tim Hay, just two weeks before the Mo-Kan event. The Hay family made the drive to Asbury, Missouri to not only support their OFAA family but also pay tribute to last year’s winner, Tim Hay.
The last event for the series was June 5th in Denton, Texas where points leader Nick Poloson took the win over Donny McSwain. With such a long break during the almost unbearable Texas heat and humidity, there were some eager teams ready to get back to action on the strip as five teams have an honest shot at the 2010 OFAA Championship.
(Donnie Massey in the tribute pass to Tim Hay)
Opening the qualifying session was Donnie Massey in the “Showtime” nitro burner. A close friend of Tim Hay’s, Massey fired-up on a solo run, made in silence as a tribute to Tim. Every fan in the house came to their feet and every member of the OFAA gathered on the starting line in the opposing lane as Massey staged up and took the green. It was an emotional, heart felt and unforgettable moment for everyone in attendance as Massey clicked off a thundering 4.45 at 160 mph.
Highlights from the first qualifying session included a 4.09 at 172 mph by David Purifoy in the “Thrill Factor” BBC machine. Bobby Marriott’s “Shockwave” fueler laid down a strong 3.97 at 187 mph for low elapsed time of the session. Jimmy Jones, making his OFAA debut after years of successful alcohol funny car racing, laid down a perfect 4.00 in the first session. Welcome aboard Jimmy! Howard Knowles, winner of the “B” field at the World Fuel Altered Nationals two weeks before, laid down a nice 4.37 at 159 mph and Nick Poloson wheeled the “Sundown” to a 4.20 at 170 mph.
(Jimmy Jones "Texas Tremor")
In the final qualifying session under the lights on Saturday night, a capacity crowd came to their feet as number one and two in points, Nick Poloson and Bobby Marriott, started off the session with a pair of strong passes. Poloson’s 4.08 at 172 mph qualified him third and Marriott’s 4.03 at 171 mph qualified him second. Aaron Leyda, winner of the “A” field at the World Fuel Altered Nationals, laid down a nice 4.21 at 169 mph, good for the number five spot.
(Aaron Leyda "Hemi Hunter")
(Bobby Marriott "Shockwave")
(Donnie Massey "Showtime")
DoDad Burton wheeled the “Free Spirit” machine to a 4.36 at 162 mph to slide into the sixth spot. Donnie Massey’s “Showtime” improved slightly to a 4.41 at 163 mph to claim the eighth and final qualifying position. Mo-Kan is a special, two day, eight car, full elimination style event, unlike all other OFAA races. Instead of a ten car Chicago style field, a true eight car field is qualified with three rounds of eliminations.
(DoDad Burton "Free Spirit")
(Mark Bowman "Blown Income")
(Howard Farris "War Wagon")
Unfortunate for Howard Farris and Mark Bowman, who gave it all they had but qualified ninth (4.78) and tenth (5.65). Jimmy Jones’ 4.00 from first session held up for number one and his 4.03 from second session proved he and the “Texas Tremor” team were ready for eliminations in his debut event.
Final Qualifying Order:
1) Jimmy Jones (Cleburne, Texas) – 4.00 @ 178
2) Bobby Marriott (Pilot Point, Texas) – 4.03 @ 171
3) Nick Poloson (San Antonio, Texas) – 4.08 @ 172
4) David Purifoy (Texarkana, Texas) – 4.09 @ 172
5) Aaron Leyda (Independence, Kansas) – 4.21 @ 169
6) DoDad Burton (Tyler, Texas) – 4.36 @ 162
7) Howard Knowles (Carthage, Missouri) – 4.37 @ 159
8) Donnie Massey (Little Elm, Texas) – 4.41 @ 163
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9) Howard Farris (Springtown, Texas) – 4.78 @ 123
10) Mark Bowman (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) – 5.65 @ 110
(Nick Poloson and Tom Wood warming up "Sundown")
Opening the first round of eliminations on Sunday was Jones, paired up with Aaron Leyda. Leyda got considerable starting line advantage and laid down his best pass of the weekend with a 4.18 at 168 mph but Jones drove around him to take the win with a 4.02 at 176 mph. Bobby Marriott rolled out next along side DoDad Burton. Marriott blasted to a 4.10 at 168 mph to take out Burton’s 4.65 at 165 mph. David Purifoy and Donnie Massey lined up next and Purifoy took this one from start to finish with a 4.14 at 172 mph over Massey’s 4.20 at 173 mph. Closing the round, Nick Poloson clicked off a strong 4.06 at 176 mph to take out Howard Knowles who struggled to a 5.34.
(Howard Knowles "Cheaper Than Therapy")
(David Purifoy "Thrill Factor")
First Round Eliminations:
(W) Jimmy Jones (.119 rt) 4.02 @ 176 mph vs. (L) Aaron Leyda (.040 rt) 4.18 @ 168 mph
(W) Bobby Marriott (.220 rt) 4.10 @ 168 mph vs. (L) DoDad Burton (.130 rt) 4.65 @ 165 mph
(W) David Purifoy (.122 rt) 4.14 @ 172 mph vs. (L) Donnie Massey (.184 rt) 4.20 @ 173 mph
(W) Nick Poloson (.082 rt) 4.06 @ 176 mph vs. (L) Howard Knowles (.041 rt) 5.34 @ 101 mph
Three of the top four drivers in the points standings advanced to the semi-finals, along with the red hot new comer Jimmy Jones. The semi-final was a battle of heavy weights as Purifoy and Marriott got the action started. Purifoy was off the line first and never looked back, clicking off a solid 4.09 at 173 mph to Marriott’s close 4.11 at 177 mph. This advanced team “Thrill Factor” to their first OFAA final.
(Jimmy Jones "Texas Tremor")
(David Purifoy "Thrill Factor")
Nick Poloson and Jimmy Jones squared off next in a battle of big power blown alcohol machines in what would be the closest race of eliminations. Poloson got a slight advantage off the line and clicked off his best pass of the night with a 4.05 at 177 mph. Jones played catch-up and caught Poloson right in the lights with a quicker 4.03 at 177 mph to take the win and advance to the final round in his debut event, guaranteeing a first time winner again at Mo-Kan Dragway.
Semi-Final Round Results:
(W) David Purifoy (.034 rt) 4.09 @ 173 mph vs. (L) Bobby Marriott (.141 rt) 4.11 @ 177 mph
(W) Jimmy Jones (.103 rt) 4.03 @ 177 mph vs. (L) Nick Poloson (.098 rt) 4.05 @ 177 mph
With Tim Hay watching from above and the hype of two first time OFAA finalists advancing to the last dance, the final round was as exciting as it gets. It was no secret that Jimmy Jones would prove to be a heavy hitter with years of experience driving and tuning blown alcohol funny cars. It was also no secret that David Purifoy could win his first race at anytime as car owner Herb Whisnant brings one of the most consistent and quicker cars to the game at each and every outing. Jones had the performance advantage on paper but Purifoy is always tough on the tree and it was time to crown a champion at the 2010 Labor Day Nationals.
The cars crept into the beams and brought up the RPMs as the ambers fell and they were off! Purifoy got a huge advantage off the line with a .049 light to Jones’ .223 bulb. Jones started making up ground quickly and blasted to his best pass of the event with a 3.98 at 178 mph but it wasn’t enough as Purifoy went 4.09 at 174 mph and the “Thrill Factor” lit the score boards with the win light and the team erupted in celebration on the starting line.
Final Round Results:
(W) David Purifoy (.049 rt) 4.09 @ 174 mph vs. (L) Jimmy Jones (.223 rt) 3.98 @ 178 mph
(Final Round Video by Clipper Wallace)
(Team "Thrill Factor" celebrating their first OFAA win with Candy Hay in the winner's circle)
“We had a great weekend at MoKan! It probably looked easy to most but Bill (Burns) had a lot to consider when tuning the car. We were actually lost going into the first round. Bill made all the right calls and made it look easy. Thanks to Bill for the great job easing this car into contention over the last few years without burning up all our vast supply of parts! Also, thanks also to Ronnie, J.R., Randy, and Ben for their help. We couldn't do this without Ronnie Stewart and the considerable help from the rest of the crew. I want to give a special thanks to Herb Whisnant. I was surprised when he asked me to drive because I always thought he could do a better job than me. He has given me the chance of a life time! I never dreamed I'd get the chance to drive a blown altered! Finally, thanks Bobby and Nancy Marriott for doing this for us all. Congrats to Jimmy Jones on an amazing first event! He is going to make it tough on us,” said Purifoy.
A long overdue win for David Purifoy, Herb Whisnant and the entire “Thrill Factor” team and a big congratulations to Jimmy Jones and company for their impressive success in their debut event. Nick Poloson and Bobby Marriott came into Mo-Kan separated by only ten points. After Mo-Kan, Poloson’s points lead decreased to only nine points, now over Purifoy, who leapfrogged over Marriott into second place. Marriott currently sits in third place just five points behind Purifoy, although, everyone in the points chase has already taken their “drop” race except for the top four. Strategy will place a big key in how the points chase ends up with three races remaining.
“Racing Jimmy Jones and the Texas Tremor team, we knew we had to do our absolute best. Talk about a close race! I got out on Jimmy by two hundredths, and Jimmy ran two hundredths quicker than me. We were never more than a couple of inches apart throughout the run. Tom (Wood) and I are still very pleased about the performance of the Sundown altered this weekend. We've got a fast and consistent car and will carry the points lead into the next race. Congratulations to Herb (Whisnant) and David (Purifoy) and the Thrill Factor team on a well deserved win!” said points leader Poloson.
Low Elapsed Time - Bobby Marriott (3.97)
Top Mile Per Hour - Bobby Marriott (187 mph)
Bonus Winners:
Good Vibrations Quick Reaction Time - David Purifoy
