Purifoy Crowned 2010 OFAA Champion
Jones Takes Texas State Championship Win
San Antonio Raceway - October 23rd, 2010
Event #8 of 8
Report & Photos: Chris Graves, Max Cackle Photos
The season finale for the Outlaw Fuel Altered Association brought eighteen blown hell raising fuel altereds to San Antonio Raceway for the Texas State Championships presented by the Texas Timing Association. Not only was this the last dance of the season, but for two teams it was a battle for the 2010 OFAA Series Championship. David Purifoy and Nick Poloson were entering the most important race of their careers but the heaviest pressure was on Poloson and team owner / tuner Tom Wood who had to earn more than 36 points in this event to claim the OFAA Championship.
Coming into San Antonio, David Purifoy and the “Thrill Factor” team were the only team yet to drop a race (every team this season is required to drop an event with the decision required to be made less than twenty four hours after event completion) and therefore were required to drop San Antonio, regardless of the outcome. Being that Purifoy could not earn points in this event, Poloson knew he had to earn 37 points to pass Purifoy’s total of 282. Below is a look at the top five in points heading into San Antonio.
Top Five Heading Into San Antonio:
David Purifoy – 282
Nick Poloson – 246
Bobby Marriott – 228
Aaron Leyda – 199
Donnie Massey - 196
Purifoy and company were in San Antonio to support the OFAA and put on a show for the fans, knowing their points wouldn’t be counted in their required drop situation. Poloson had quite a task in earning 37 points, requiring that the team qualify in the top half and win first round, or qualify bottom half and advance to the final round.
First Qualifying Session:
With the stands full and the weather cooperating, the Texas State Championships event kicked off with the opening qualifying session as Terry Anglin wheeling the family owned “Texas Gold Rush” and Mike Wheeler in the “Rapture” machine. Anglin shook off the line but got back in it clicking off a 4.65 at 160 mph to Wheeler’s 5.05 at 140 mph.
(Terry Anglin)
Todd Simpson was out next along side Jimmy Jones in a battle of former Division 4 NHRA Alcohol Funny Car Champions. Simpson had a noticeable “cackle” to his tune-up as the cars pulled into the beams. They left together and Jones was pedaling early. Simpson was charging hard before a massive cloud of white smoked erupted from the headers, results from a dropped valve on a 4.56 pass to Jones’ 5.10. Simpson and team owner Roger Hennen have big plans for their 2011 campaign and plan to test soon getting ready for next season.
(Todd Simpson)
After a rather lengthy clean up, Bobby Marriott’s “Shockwave” fueler laid down a solid 4.02 at 188 mph with DoDad Burton’s “Free Spirit” clicking off a nice 4.36 at 171 in the other lane. Mary Reep rolled out battling a nasty case of the flu and wheeled the “Grim Reeper” to her career best and first three second pass, 3.98 at 179 mph, becoming the fifteenth and final member of the OFAA 3 Second Club! In the opposite lane, Jim West, in his second start in the “Wild Wild West” fuel Fiat, laid down their best pass to date with a nice 4.19 at 157 mph.
(DoDad Burton)
(Mary Reep)
David Purifoy also put down a 4.19 in the “Thrill Factor” on a solo pass as Aaron Leyda and Nick Poloson rolled out next. Leyda struggled to a 5.23 while Poloson could only muster a 4.39 at 166 mph in the “Sundown” ride. Donnie Massey and Jack Hodgson closed the session with Massey’s “Showtime” throwing up a 4.34 behind Hodgson’s nice 4.17 in the “Southern Outlaw” altered.
(Donnie Massey)
In testing passes prior to first session of qualifying, John Broussard and Kenny Trumble both hurt their cars ending their weekends prematurely (Trumble set to drive for Donny McSwain who had to miss the event due to previous commitments). Also out early was Mark Bowman who broke in the burnout in the first session after running very well in the last outing at North Star Dragway.
(Kenny Trumble)
Second Qualifying Session:
Mike Wheeler and Howard Farris got the second session of qualifying underway as Wheeler stepped up to a 4.47 and Farris clicked off a 4.40 at 162 mph with a cylinder out in the “War Wagon” fuel Fiat. Bobby Marriott was out next along side Aaron Leyda and both drivers improved with Marriott’s 3.96 leading Leyda’s 4.13 pass in the “Hemi Hunter” owned and tuned by Dale “Lurch” Wilkens. Chris Trussell and Jimmy Jones were next out and again both improved, Trussell clicking off a strong 4.06 at 172 mph to Jones’ 4.10 at 174 mph in the “Texas Tremor”.
(Howard Farris)
(Aaron Leyda)
(Jimmy Jones)
David Purifoy and Jim West had their shot at the track next, both also improving their qualifying times. Purifoy nabbed the number four spot with a 4.09 and West secured his seventh qualifying position with a 4.17. Donnie Massey and Terry Anglin were up next as Massey clicked off a 4.42 at 172 mph to Anglin’s 4.59 at 157 mph. Last in line, Nick Poloson fired up next in a solo last ditch effort to make the field with DoDad Burton on the bump with a 4.38 elapsed time.
(David Purifoy)
(Jim West)
(Nick Poloson)
Poloson’s car launched hard but cylinders started mixing and eventually the rods were hanging out from the oil pan as the engine expired just two passes before the season’s end. A devastating sight for team “Sundown” as they not only watched their engine destroy itself, but in the smoke they saw their Championship hopes disappear for this year. With a list of accomplishments in the 2010 season, Poloson & Wood and the entire “Sundown” team have nothing to hang their heads about as they set career best numbers, joined the OFAA 3 Second Club and went to two finals, winning at North Star Dragway in June.
With team “Sundown” sidelined, David Purifoy with team owner Herb Whisnant and crew chief Bill Burns became the Official 2010 Outlaw Fuel Altered Series Champions! To think a small block Chevrolet on alcohol could win a season championship over a stacked field of three second Hemi monsters and nitro burning ground pounders seems remarkable, because it is. The “Thrill Factor” team has had arguably the most consistent car in the last two seasons, consistently laying down low four second passes and earning first round wins at almost every event. Though they don’t own a three second time slip, their arsenal of low “four o” passes and killer reaction times from driver David Purifoy earned them their first OFAA event win this year at Mo-Kan Dragway and every point they’ve earned has been well deserved, finally paying off with an Outlaw Fuel Altered Championship under their belts. Purifoy become the first person not named Marriott to win the OFAA Championship since 2006, remarkable accomplishment and a job well done!
Final Qualifying Order:
1. Mary Reep (Austin, Texas) – 4.01 (3.98) @ 179
2. Bobby Marriott (Pilot Point, Texas) – 4.02 @ 188
3. Chris Trussell (Canton, Texas) – 4.06 @ 172
4. David Purifoy (Texarkana, Texas) – 4.09 @ 174
5. Jimmy Jones (Dallas, Texas) – 4.10 @ 174
6. Aaron Leyda (Independence, Kansas) – 4.13 @ 173
7. Jim West (Addison, Texas) – 4.17 @ 178
8. Jack Hodgson (Waco, Texas) – 4.17 @ 153
9. Donnie Massey (Little Elm, Texas) – 4.34 @ 170
10. DoDad Burton (Tyler, Texas) - 4.38 @ 171
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11. Nick Poloson (San Antonio, Texas) – 4.39 @ 166
12. Howard Farris (Springtown, Texas) – 4.40 @ 162
13. Mike Wheeler (Greenville, Texas) – 4.47 @ 155
14. Todd Simpson (Ponder, Texas) – 4.56 @ 120
15. Terry Anglin (Garland, Texas) – 4.59 @ 157
16. Kenny Trumble (Garland, Texas) – Broke
17. Mark Bowman (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) – Broke
18. John Broussard (Lake Charles, Louisiana) - Broke
With the Championship decided earlier than expected, all there was to do was battle it out for the win at the Texas State Championships. Mary Reep withdrew from the event feeling incredibly under the weather with the flu. DoDad Burton and Donnie Massey both also withdrew with mechanical breakage, which inserted Howard Farris, Mike Wheeler and Terry Anglin into the field as alternates.
(Mike Wheeler)
Bobby Marriott and Jim West were up first but West’s car failed to come to life. West finished the season with his two best passes in the new car and the team looks good heading into next season. Marriott blasted to a 3.98 at 186 mph solo win. Jimmy Jones and Mike Wheeler were out next and Jones had this one from the get go with a 3.95 at 179 mph to Wheeler’s 4.49 at 157 mph. David Purifoy and Howard Farris lined up next as Purifoy earned himself another holeshot win with a 4.70 victory over Farris’ 4.58 lap in a pedalfest. Chris Trussell and Jack Hodgson rolled up next with Trussell taking the starting line advantage and the win with a 4.69 at 174 mph over Hodgson’s 6.03. Aaron Leyda and Terry Anglin closed the first round with Leyda having the best reaction time of the round and clicking off a strong 4.11 at 173 mph to Anglin’s 5.35.
(Chris Trussell)
(Jack Hodgson)
(David Purifoy)
Following a first round two weeks ago where six of the ten cars made career best runs, it seemed several teams were off their game in San Antonio’s first round as Jones and Marriott advanced to the final as the quickest two winners. This marked Jones’ fourth straight final in four starts this season and Marriott’s third trip to the final.
First Round Eliminations:
(W) Bobby Marriott (.223 rt) 3.98 @ 186 mph vs. (L) Jim West (No Time)
(W) Jimmy Jones (.066 rt) 3.95 @ 179 mph vs. (L) Mike Wheeler (.122 rt) 4.49 @ 157 mph
(W) David Purifoy (.018 rt) 4.70 @ 171 mph vs. (L) Howard Farris (.335 rt) 4.58 @ 123 mph
(W) Chris Trussell (.078 rt) 4.69 @ 164 mph vs. (L) Jack Hodgson (.466 rt) 6.03 @ 78 mph
(W) Aaron Leyda (.014 rt) 4.11 @ 173 mph vs. (L) Terry Anglin (.038 rt) 5.35 @ 94 mph
(Bobby Marriott)
A pair of three second cars were set to duke it out for the Texas State Championships title in a nitro vs. blown alcohol battle. Just three hundredths of a second separated their first round elapsed times as Marriott and Jones crept into the beams. Jones got the jump on the starting line and he needed every inch at the stripe as Marriott’s 3.91 at 191 mph lost to Jones’ 3.95 at 181 mph (mov: .022).
Final Round Results:
(W) Jimmy Jones (.066 rt) 3.95 @ 181 mph vs. (L) Bobby Marriott (.125 rt) 3.91 @ 191 mph
(Bobby Marriott (Near) and Jimmy Jones (Far) in the final round)
(Team "Texas Tremor" in the Winners Circle)
Jimmy Jones claimed his second win in his fourth consecutive final in his fourth start of the season. Needless to say, Jones will be a contender in his first full season in 2011. Marriott advanced one point past Nick Poloson with his runner-up finish stealing the second place position in the final standings and Terry Anglin stole the number five spot from Donnie Massey. Aaron Leyda posted a fourth place finish in his first full season driving for Dale Wilkens, the only car in the top eight finishers to not advance to a final round this season. Leyda also led the series with four Good Vibrations “Quick Reaction Time Bonuses” with the best reaction time of first round.
The OFAA crowned six different winners in the eight race season and nine teams advanced to the final round at least once. Purifoy and company ended their Championship season with yet another round win and the bragging rights of being Outlaw Fuel Altered Series Champions, an incredible accomplishment that is well deserved.
“Wow, what a season this has been! God really blessed the ‘Thrill Factor’ team this year. I can hardly believe we won a race, much less the Championship. I mean ‘we’ in every sense of the word. Bill Burns makes this car run fast and consistent without hurting the motor. This without really saying anything makes us all hold ourselves at a higher standard. Ronnie Stewart Jr. does everything and works harder than any of us. Randy, J.R., and Jimmy take care of the smaller yet equally important things on the car and Herb has allowed us all to live our dream. He is one of the nicest people I know and that makes this Championship even more special. These guys always give me a car completely ready to run. All I do is hit the throttle and close my eyes!” said Purifoy.
“I look around the pits and pinch myself. The level of competition out here amazes me. Tom and Nick had a great season and their car can win at every race. Just like every other OFAA team, they are also great people. Thank you to everyone in the OFAA for letting us come play with you and a special thanks to Bobby & Nancy Marriott for making it all happen behind the scenes,” Purifoy said in closing.
OFAA Top 10:
1) David Purifoy – 282
2) Bobby Marriott – 267
3) Nick Poloson – 266
4) Aaron Leyda – 234
5) Terry Anglin – 220
6) Donnie Massey – 218
7) Chris Trussell – 214
8) Donny McSwain – 187
9) DoDad Burton – 186
10) Jimmy Jones – 181
It’s been an emotional year for the Outlaw Fuel Altered Association with severe highs and lows. The tragic loss of Tim Hay devastated the spirit of the association but everyone pulled together to show support in a time of need and Tim will always be remembered as a role model and for the great things he did behind the wheel of the “High Voltage Hayride”. Several teams were forced to regroup in 2010 and next season will bring those teams back with a new attitude. The OFAA closed the doors on the 3 Second Club in the final race of the season with Mary Reep claiming the final spot, joining her husband Larry Reep in the club. Several new cars are in the works and new faces are surely expected to join the OFAA with welcome arms as the competition gets stronger and the best outlaw racing series in the southwest charges into the 2011 racing season.
Click Here to see photos from this event.
Low Elapsed Time - Bobby Marriott (3.91)
Top Mile Per Hour - Bobby Marriott (191 mph)
Good Vibrations Quick Reaction Time - Aaron Leyda
