The Painless Performance Outlaw Fuel Altered Association invaded Mo-Kan Dragway in Asbury, Missouri just a few miles north west of Joplin, to headline the Labor Day Classic for the eighth consecutive year. The fans at Mo-Kan anticipate the return of the OFAA series all summer and have shown tremendous support for many years. This year, the series wanted to give something back to the Joplin community after the devastating tornado that hit in May.

Through the contributions of OFAA members, fans and staff at Mo-Kan Dragway and efforts of Brad Rigler & Kay Wright of team “Toxic”, Bobbi Joe of team “Grim Reeper”, Paulette of team “Free Spirit” and Suz from team “Shockwave” a combined total of $3,500 was raised to donate directly to the Bright Futures Relief Fund which supplies local students with the materials they need to succeed in the classroom. It was a sight that brought tears to the eyes of those closely affected by the tornado and big thanks goes out to all that were involved in the fund raising effort, which succeeded beyond expectations.

(Kay Wright was swarmed by fans who wanted to donate to the fund raising efforts at MoKan)

Sixteen teams were on hand to entertain the capacity crowd including the season debut of Mark Bowman’s “Blown Income”, McDonald & Donnelly’s “Booze Brothers” and Jim Overly’s “Fuelish Habit”. Rookie Terry Brian and the “II N’Tense” team came into the event leading the points over Jimmy Jones and Bobby Marriott. This was the first of a five race swing spanning over an eight week period. Consistency, durability and determination are key for those hoping to wear the Championship crown in 2011 and earn the biggest piece of pie in the Painless Performance Products year end points payout.

(OFAA's biggest fan, Clipper Wallace, was in the house and was lucky enough to sit in the cockpit of the "Thrill Factor" machine for the pre-race warm up!)

Mo-Kan is a special two day event, featuring two qualifying sessions on Saturday night and a 10 car field on Sunday afternoon with the four quickest winners advancing to a true elimination semi-final and final round. With air temperatures in the 100s throughout Saturday, conditions were tricky as the cars made their way to the lanes. Aaron Leyda in the Dale Wilkens owned and tuned “Hemi Hunter” rolled out along side Craig Donnelly behind the wheel of the “Booze Brothers” altered to kick off the opening round of qualifying. Leyda clicked off a 4.30 at 163 to Donnelly’s 4.58 at 150 mph.

(Aaron Leyda in "Hemi Hunter")

(Terry Brian in "II N'Tense")

Anthony Whitfield matched Leyda’s effort with a 4.30 at 164 mph in the Kansas based “Mighty Mouse” entry along side Mark Bowman who posted a 4.51 at 159 mph. Points leader Terry Brian was out next along side DoDad Burton’s “Free Spirit” entry. Brian clicked off a solid 4.16 at 169 mph to notch a spot in the top half with Burton along side with a 4.51 at 159 mph. Bobby Marriott and Chris Trussell were out and this one brought everyone to their feet. Marriott’s “Shockwave” nitro burner carried the front wheels most of the way down the track with Trussell and the “Assassin” machine thundering right along side. The front end settled down as the cars past the eighth mile clocks and Marriott drifted quickly to the centerline and took out the 1,000 foot cones, spraying Styrofoam through the air and into Trussell’s lane as he passed through the debris at over 170 mph. It was a true nitro snow storm at the top end as the drivers brought their cars to a safe stop at the big end. Marriott posted an off pace 4.53 at 164 mph to Trussell’s very strong 4.07 at 170 mph.

(Action from the top end as Marriott tags the cone)

(Marriott & Trussell in Q1)

Next out brought more excitement as Mary Reep had her hands full on a solo pass. The car launched very hard and shortly after made a hard right turn for the guardrail. Reep lifted but couldn’t tame the “Grim Reeper” before it made hard contact with the wall about a hundred feet out. After briefly going up on two wheels the car came back to Earth and Reep got it under control and safely exited the track. Reep climbed out wide eyed as the impact certainly got her attention and did damage the right front a-arm beyond repair, but more importantly Mary was safe and uninjured in the incident.

(Mary Reep in first qualifying session)

Defending event and series Champion David Purifoy clicked off a 4.21 at 167 mph in the “Thrill Factor” entry which put him fifth after session number one. Howard Knowles wheeled the “Cheaper Than Therapy” altered to a 4.34 at 164 mph along side John Broussard’s “Purple Haze” which posted a 4.39 at 162 mph. In the final pair of the opening session, Brad Rigler’s “Toxic” and Jimmy Jones “Tremor” lined up and the cars blasted hard off the line. Jones posted a 4.18 at 149 mph while Rigler jumped straight to the top of the pack with a stout 4.01 at 173 mph.

(Team "Toxic" wait in the staging lanes just before their 4.01 pass)

Heading into the final session, but bump spot was a 4.51 held by DoDad Burton. Bobby Marriott was outside looking in as he lined up with Howard Knowles to start the final qualifying round Saturday night. Weather conditions had improved as a cold front came through between sessions, offering better air but a challenge to the crew chiefs. Marriott blasted header flames high down the eighth mile to a 4.24 to secure a spot in the field while Knowles also improved to a 4.21 to qualify in the top half of the field.

This now put John Broussard on the bump with a 4.39 as Terry Brian and DoDad Burton rolled out next. Burton improved to a 4.41 at 162 mph but missed the cut by just two hundredths of a second, while Brian improved to a 4.13 at 163 to secure the fourth qualifying position. Mark Bowman and John Broussard brought their blown alcohol machines to the line as Bowman improved to a 4.46 at 161 mph, also coming up just short of the 4.39 bump held by Broussard, who smoked the tires at the hit and could only hope his first round elapsed time would hold.

(Mark Bowman in "Blown Income")

(Craig Donnelly in "Booze Brothers")

Craig Donnelly laid down another 4.58 which kept him from a spot in the top ten, although anytime the “Booze Brothers” team is in the house, a good time is had by all. Donnelly will be back in action at Tulsa on September 24th for the next outing for the OFAA series. In the opposite lane, Chris Trussell smoked the tires and would qualify number two with his 4.07 from session one.

(Jimmy Jones in "Tremor")

(David Purifoy in "Thrill Factor")

Jimmy Jones blasted to a 4.07 at 175 mph which secured him solidly in the field in third while Aaron Leyda struck the tires at the hit but used his first session elapsed time to qualify ninth. David Purifoy clicked off a 4.22 at 165 mph to secure his spot in the show while Raymond Dawson posted a best of a 5.29 at 150 in the “High Octane” machine which missed the cut. Anthony Whitfield blasted to a 4.28 at 162 mph to improve and secure the eighth qualifying position while Brad Rigler clicked it early on his final qualifying pass coasting to a 4.34 at 128 mph.

(Raymond Dawson in "High Octane")

(Jim Overly in "Fuelish Habit")

Jim Overly was the final car of the session and struck the tires at the hit in the “Fuelish Habit” nitro burner, providing plenty of nitro fumes but missing the cut as John Broussard held on to the final qualifying position with his 4.39 and Brad Rigler’s 4.01 led the field into eliminations on Sunday. Rigler earned the Napa Auto Parts and Competition Sales of Dallas #1 Qualifier Bonuses as the teams returned to the pits to end day one of the Labor Day Classic. DoDad Burton earned the Lenco Transmissions “Outside Looking In” Bonus as the first alternate.

Final Qualifying Order:

1) Brad Rigler (Heath, Texas) – 4.01 @ 173
2) Chris Trussell (Canton, Texas) – 4.074 @ 170
3) Jimmy Jones (Dallas, Texas) – 4.076 @ 175
4) Terry Brian (New London, Texas) – 4.13 @ 163
5) Howard Knowles (Carthage, Missouri) – 4.212 @ 152
6) David Purifoy (Texarkana, Texas) – 4.214 @ 167
7) Bobby Marriott (Pilot Point, Texas) – 4.24 @ 164
8) Anthony Whitfield (Elk City, Kansas) – 4.28 @ 162
9) Aaron Leyda (Bartlesville, Oklahoma) – 4.30 @ 163
10) John Broussard (Lake Charles, Louisiana) – 4.39 @ 162
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11) DoDad Burton (Tyler, Texas) – 4.41 @ 162
12) Mark Bowman (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) – 4.46 @ 161
13) Craig Donnelly (Kansas City, Missouri) – 4.58 @ 150
14) Raymond Dawson (Nevada, Texas) – 5.29 @ 150
15) Mary Reep (Austin, Texas) – 5.34 @ 73
16) Jim Overly (Oyster Creek, Texas) – 7.42 @ 118

With a new day brought new conditions for the crew chiefs with much more favorable air conditions and the first pair of eliminations brought Bobby Marriott and Chris Trussell to the line, number two and four in points. Trussell got the jump off the line but shortly after started smoking the tires as Marriott blasted to a 4.07 at 180 mph to take the win. Trussell backed his car down as the same thing happened in the final qualifying session, but couldn’t find the traction he needed to take out Marriott, who posted his best run of the event so far.

(Chris Trussell in "Assassin")

Brad Rigler and David Purifoy were out next as Purifoy hoped to defend his title from last season by taking out the number one qualifier. Purifoy had the starting line advantage but shook early in the run and had the best seat in the house to watch Rigler click off a career best 3.95 at 180 to take the win.

(Brad Rigler on a career best pass in "Toxic")

Jimmy Jones and Anthony Whitfield lined up next in a good side by side drag race. Jones had the jump and held the lead all the way through, blasting down the eighth mile to a 3.99 at 179 mph but Whitfield gave him a solid run, clicking off his best pass of the event with a 4.16 at 165 mph but it came up just short at the stripe.

(Anthony Whitfield in "Mighty Mouse")

(Jimmy Jones & Anthony Whitfield - Rd 1)

Howard Knowles rolled out next scheduled to face John Broussard. Broussard’s car fired up but never moved forward through the water box as the team struggled to get the car in forward while Knowles backed up and patiently waited, idling on the starting line. The crew gave word that Broussard couldn’t make the call and signaled Knowles to proceed on a competition single. Knowles had his “go fast” tune up in and the track couldn’t hold it as he shook very hard right off the line, pedaled it and clicked off a 4.67 at 159 mph to win the round.

(Howard Knowles in "Cheaper Than Therapy")

Broussard got his car fired up after Knowles exited the top end and laid down a long and surely somewhat frustrating burnout to put on a show for the fans at Mo-Kan. Broussard staged the car and launched hard with both wheels carrying to almost two hundred feet before he quickly pedaled it and blasted through the traps to a 4.06 at 174 mph. That time slip would have not only won the round, but also advanced him to the semi-finals as one of the four quickest winners. It was all for not, but a solid effort and impressive pass for team “Purple Haze” as they re-group for Tulsa.

(John Broussard's "Purple Haze")

Closing the first round of eliminations, Terry Brian and Aaron Leyda brought their machines to the line. Leyda got a slight advantage at the start as the cars streaked side by side past half track. Brian took the stripe with a nice 4.05 at 173 mph to advance over Leyda’s solid 4.21 at 171 mph. As the four quickest winners, Marriott, Rigler, Jones and Brian advanced to the semi-final, which would be a true elimination round as the teams returned to the pits to battle for a spot in the finals. Dodad Burton made a test hit following the first round and clicked off a strong 4.19 pass in the “Free Spirit” machine, which would have qualified him number five.

(Terry Brian & Aaron Leyda in Rd 1)

(DoDad Burton in "Free Spirit")

First Round Eliminations:

(W) Bobby Marriott (.159 rt) 4.07 @ 180 vs. (L) Chris Trussell (.103 rt) 11.27 @ 35
(W) Brad Rigler (.127 rt) 3.95 @ 180 vs. (L) David Purifoy (.084 rt) 5.30 @ 109
(W) Jimmy Jones (.077 rt) 3.99 @ 179 vs. (L) Anthony Whitfield (.114 rt) 4.16 @ 165
(W) Howard Knowles (.227 rt) 4.67 @ 159 vs. (L) Broussard (Competition Bye – No Time)
(W) Terry Brian (.094 rt) 4.05 @ 173 vs. (L) Aaron Leyda (.076 rt) 4.21 @ 171

The semi-finals got underway as Terry Brian and Brad Rigler lined up a pair of heavy hitting blown alcohol machines. Brian hoping to continue to go rounds, keeping his points lead over Jones and Marriott, while Rigler searched to capitalize on his top qualifying effort and career best performance in first round with a trip to the finals. The cars laid down side by side burnouts and moved into the pre-stage bulbs. Brian bumped into the stage beam and Rigler moved in but just enough to flicker the bottom bulb. With automatic start in effect, Rigler was timed out and given a red light as he tried to get the car completely pulled in the beams. The ambers flashed in Brian’s lane and he blasted through the traps with a 4.28 at 162 mph to advance to the final.

(Terry Brian and Brad Rigler in Rd 1)

In the final pair of the round, Jimmy Jones squared off with Bobby Marriott. Jones had a tenth of a second advantage off the line and led Marriott to the stripe. Despite Jones getting way out of shape at the top end, his 4.02 at 176 mph got the nod over Marriott’s close 4.05 at 183 mph. The 183 mph lap by Marriott earned him then Napa Auto Parts Top Speed Bonus as Jones advanced to his second final of the season in search of his second win and possible points lead, while Terry Brian looked to secure his second straight win and maintain his lead in the standings.

(Bobby Marriott and Jimmy Jones)

Semi-Final Eliminations:

(W) Terry Brian (.414 rt) 4.28 @ 162 vs. (L) Brad Rigler (No Time)
(W) Jimmy Jones (.097 rt) 4.02 @ 176 vs. (L) Bobby Marriott (.194 rt) 4.05 @ 183

After a long weekend of racing at Mo-Kan Dragway, the final round of the Outlaw Fuel Altereds were called to the lanes as the number one and two position holders in the points standings squared off in the last dance of the night.

Brian and Jones crept into the beams and brought up the RPMs as the ambers flashed and they were off the line almost dead even. Jones trucked right down broadway to a 4.07 at 174 mph to take the win over Brian’s 4.26 at 162 mph.

(Jimmy Jones & Terry Brian in the Final Round)

Final Round Results:

(W) Jimmy Jones (.089 rt) 4.07 @ 174 vs. (L) Terry Brian (.082 rt) 4.26 @ 162

Jones and company secured their second win of the season and did claim the points lead, by only two points, over Terry Brian. Jones and company were presented with the usual OFAA event winner plaque but in addition they received a custom mounted piston “trophy” made by Walt and Cheryl Meger.

(Jimmy Jones and team "Tremor" with Walt Meger)

"Track conditions were tricky for us but we pulled out the win despite not having the quickest car in the pits. I especially want to thank all the participants of the fund raiser for the Joplin area schools. I also want to thank my wife, my partner Paul Kelly, my hard working crew, Walt for the awesome trophy and Goodyear Tires for their support of our team as well as all the series sponsors that support us throughout the season. There are a lot of other teams that will have a shot at the title this season with these four races coming up in five weeks and we just hope to stay in the hunt," said Jones.

The OFAA series has a two week break before heading to Tulsa Raceway Park for their Annual Nitro Nationals event to be held Saturday, September 24th. There will be four races in a five week span starting at Tulsa which will keep the OFAA teams on their heels in the battle for the Championship. Congratulations to all that participated in this year’s Labor Day Classic at MoKan Dragway and to team "Tremor" on their win and new position in the standings! Stay tuned to www.ofaa.net for all the latest updates, results and photos!

Click Here to see photos from this event.

Low Elapsed Time - Brad Rigler (3.95)
Top Mile Per Hour - Bobby Marriott (183 mph)

Texas Raceway Bonus Winners:

Good Vibrations Quick Reaction Time - Aaron Leyda (.076)

DFW Napa Auto Parts Top Speed - Bobby Marriott (183)

DFW Napa Auto Parts #1 Qualifier - Brad Rigler (4.01)

Competition Sales of Dallas #1 Qualifier - Brad Rigler

Lenco Transmissions Outside Looking In - DoDad Burton

Wizards Warehouse Finalists - Jimmy Jones & Terry Brian