Massey Scores Second Straight Win
For Team "Showtime" at Mo-Kan
Event 6 of 8 – MoKan Dragway – Asbury, MO – Sept 2nd, 2012
Report: Chris Graves - Photos: Steven & Dallas Wilson

The Painless Performance Outlaw Fuel Altered series invaded Mo-Kan Dragway just north west of Joplin, Missouri to headline for the ninth consecutive year, the annual Labor Day Classic. This event is one area fans anticipate all season and is the most northern stop on the OFAA schedule. Year after year, the fans pack the stands and tailgate past the finish line ready to see the wildest show on the schedule at Mo-Kan Dragway and this year was no exception. Despite heavy rains from Hurricane Isaac in the days before the event, the show went on flawlessly with some stellar numbers posted from the altered teams.

(DoDad Burton warming up the "Free Spirit" entry)

(Nick Poloson warming up the "Sundown" entry)

Terry Brian and the “II N’Tense” team tuned by Kenny Trumble entered the event as the points leader, fresh of his impressive win just a few weeks ago at the World Fuel Altered Nationals in Eddyville, Iowa, an event dominated by OFAA teams. The pressure was on Brian and company as a fleet of high horsepower teams were nipping at his heels, with just fifteen points separating Brian from the number four points position held by John Broussard. Defending series Champion Jimmy Jones and multi-time OFAA event winner Nick Poloson held their positions in second and third respectively as every round was crucial as the points battle heats up.

(Anthony Whitfield waits in the staging lanes for his first pass)

First Qualifying Session:

The familiar call went out from Carl Blanton to bring the altereds to the lanes for the first qualifying session and right off the bat the Wood & Poloson “Sundown” team proved they were ready to play hard ball. Poloson blasted to a 3.97 at 176 mph to set the pace with DoDad Burton clicking off a 4.38 at 160 mph in the opposing lane. Points leader Terry Brian was out next alongside local favorite Howard Knowles in his “Cheaper Than Therapy” entry. Brian laid down a clean 4.05 at 174 mph to Knowles’ 4.76 at 149 mph.

(DoDad Burton)

(Howard Knowles in "Cheaper Than Therapy")

A powerhouse blown alcohol match up came to the line next featuring Jimmy Jones “Texas Tremor” entry lined up with Brad Rigler’s “Toxic” machine. Rigler led this one with a strong 4.08 at only 159 mph alongside Jones’ 4.11 at 168 mph. Mark Bowman posted a 4.19 at 169 mph in his “Blown Income” altered to secure his spot in the field while Bobby Marriott broke a throttle cable halfway down the track coasting to a 4.89.

(Mark Bowman)

(Brad Rigler in "Toxic")

Donnie Massey’s “Showtime” nitro burner was out next alongside John Broussard’s “Purple Haze” Louisiana based entry. Massey clicked off a 4.16 at 156 mph while Broussard had engine troubles with rods exiting the block, ending the day for team Broussard, a major setback in their efforts to fight for the 2012 Championship. Aaron Leyda’s “Hemi Hunter” and Anthony Whitfield’s “Mighty Mouse” closed the session as Leyda posted a 4.30 at 166 mph with Whitfield also having engine troubles with a 4.44 at 135 mph.

(John Broussard in the "Purple Haze" entry)

(Anthony Whitfield)

Second Qualifying Session:

In the final qualifying session, Bobby Marriott and team “Shockwave” stepped up to a 4.15 at 173 mph to qualify number six. Donnie Massey wheeled the "Showtime" to a nice 4.00 at 170 mph to qualify number one for the first time this season. Jimmy Jones improved to a 4.07 at 161 mph and looked good heading into eliminations. Howard Knowles posted a 4.23 to qualify number nine and Aaron Leyda stepped up to qualify number eight with a 4.21 at 170 mph. With Broussard and Whitfield sidelined with engine damage, the ten remaining cars returned to the pits to prepare for eliminations, led by number one qualifier Donnie Massey.

(Aaron Leyda in the "Hemi Hunter")

(Donnie Massey)

Final Qualifying Order:

1. Donnie Massey (Little Elm, Texas) – 4.00 @ 170 mph
2. Nick Poloson (San Antonio, Texas) - (3.973) 4.027
3. Terry Brian (New London, Texas) - 4.05 @ 174 mph
4. Jimmy Jones (Cleburne, Texas) - 4.07 @ 161 mph
5. Brad Rigler (Heath, Texas) - 4.08 @ 159 mph
6. Bobby Marriott (Pilot Point, Texas) - 4.15 @ 173 mph
7. Mark Bowman (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) - 4.19 @ 169 mph
8. Aaron Leyda (Bartlesville, Oklahoma) - 4.21 @ 170 mph
9. Howard Knowles (Carthage, Missouri) - 4.23 @ 164 mph
10. DoDad Burton (Tyler, Texas) - 4.38 @ 160 mph
11. John Broussard (Lake Charles, Louisiana) - 4.441 @ 134 mph
12. Anthony Whitfield (Elk City, Kansas) - 4.444 @ 135 mph

After two strong rounds of qualifying, it was time for the all important first round of eliminations where the two quickest winners would advance straight to the final round, under the lights, at Mo-Kan Dragway. In the opening pair, Brad Rigler blasted to his best pass of the night with a winning 3.99 at 178 mph on a solo pass after DoDad Burton lost fire on the burnout.

(Brad Rigler)

Nick Poloson and Mark Bowman were out next, Poloson in definite need of a round win here to contend for the series title, while Bowman hoped to play spoiler. Bowman had problems early and Poloson was forced to pedal after severe tire shake that destroyed the rear wing and rear end gears, yet Poloson got the win with a 4.15 at 171 mph.

(Nick Poloson)

Jimmy Jones lined up next alongside Howard Knowles. Knowles had troubles while Jones pedaled his way to a 4.14 at 164 mph to earn the round win points and temporarily earn a spot in the final round with two pairs remaining.

(Jimmy Jones)

Terry Brian and Aaron Leyda rolled through the water and crept into the beams after side by side burnouts. Brian had to win this round to keep a grip on his points lead, while Leyda hoped his Dale Wilkens owned and tuned machine could take out the points leader at their home track. Leyda had the advantage off the line and clicked off his best pass of the night, a strong 4.15 at 171 mph, but Brian had more horsepower and needed all he could get to earn the win at the stripe with a 4.02 at 179 mph, bumping Jones from the final with one pair to go.

(Terry Brian)

Donnie Massey and Bobby Marriott were the final pair to go as the pair of nitro burners crept into the beams, both fully capable of sub four second passes. Massey had this one from start to finish, taking a slight starting line advantage and coupling that with low elapsed time of the event with a stellar 3.89 at 185 mph to take out Marriott's 4.16 and put the "Showtime" car into the final round to face off with Brad Rigler.

(Bobby Marriott)

First Round Eliminations:

(W) Brad Rigler (.137 rt) 3.99 @ 178 mph vs. (L) DoDad Burton (No Time)
(W) Nick Poloson (.079 rt) 4.15 @ 171 mph vs. (L) Mark Bowman (.190 rt) 7.30 @ 60 mph
(W) Jimmy Jones (.111 rt) 4.14 @ 164 mph vs. (L) Howard Knowles (.076 rt) 8.63 @ 71 mph
(W) Terry Brian (.096 rt) 4.02 @ 179 mph vs. (L) Aaron Leyda (.060 rt) 4.15 @ 171 mph
(W) Donnie Massey (.150 rt) 3.89 @ 185 mph vs. (L) Bobby Marriott (.162 rt) 4.16 @ 176 mph

Rigler was looking for his first OFAA win since the 2007 season, despite numerous top qualifying efforts and three runner-up finishes in the last seven events. Massey was enjoying a hot streak he hoped to continue, looking to string together two wins in a row after his win at the previous event in Denton, Texas. Under the watchful eyes of a loyal crowd eager to see the conclusion of the Labor Day Classic at Mo-Kan, the signal went out to fire em' up for the final round.

(Donnie Massey)

Rigler had almost a tenth of a second advantage off the starting line and at half track held the lead by a slim margin, but at the stripe Massey's nitro powered entry took the lead with header flames high in the air and got the win by .072 of a second. A great side by side final round, as expected from two high caliber race teams, to conclude another successful Labor Day Classic event.

Final Round Results:

(W) Donnie Massey (.123 rt) 3.90 @ 184 mph vs. (L) Brad Rigler (.039 rt) 4.06 @ 170 mph

(Team "Showtime" - MoKan Dragway Labor Day Classic Winners)

"I'd like to thank Carl Blanton for making this event such a fun deal for our series each year. We always enjoy coming to Mo-Kan. I'd also like to thank my crew for their hard work and especially Bobby Marriott who helped us get our car ready for first round, when we thought we were done for the day. It's not very common to have the guy you are racing against in round one over in your pit fixing your car before the round. It was a lot of fun, we're all smiles and looking forward to Houston where we hope to repeat our win from last season," said Massey.

The Painless Performance Outlaw Fuel Altered Association will have a few weeks off before heading south to Royal Purple Raceway Park in Baytown, Texas to headline the exhibition portion of the Super Chevy Show. Last year, Donnie Massey defeated Brad Rigler in the final at Baytown, so we can expect some intense drag racing at this one as there are two events remaining in the 2012 OFAA season with the points battle wide open with four serious contenders and only four rounds of eliminations left in the season. With his win, Massey jumped from seventh to fourth in the standings and Terry Brian held his lead by just eight points over Jimmy Jones and thirteen over Nick Poloson.

With his .032 reaction time in the final, Brad Rigler claimed the Good Vibrations Racing "Quick Reaction Time" bonus at Mo-Kan. Other bonus winners include: North Texas Napa Auto Parts "Top Speed" to Donnie Massey, B&J Transmissions "Outside Looking In" to John Broussard, Lone Wolf Machining "Luck of the Draw DNQ" to John Broussard, Fuelish Habit Racing's "Final Cut" to DoDad Burton, Competition Sales of Dallas "Luck of the Draw" to Mark Bowman, and last but not least the North Texas Diesel & Wizards Warehouse Winner & Runner Up bonuses went to non-other than Donnie Massey and Brad Rigler. Stay tuned to www.ofaa.net to keep track of this heated points battle!

Low Elapsed Time - Donnie Massey (3.89)
Top Mile Per Hour - Donnie Massey (185 mph)

North Star Dragway Bonus Winners:

Good Vibrations Quick Reaction Time - Brad Rigler (.032)

DFW Napa Auto Parts Top Speed - Donnie Massey (185)

B&J Transmissions "Outside Looking In" - John Broussard

Competition Sales of Dallas "Luck of the Draw" - Mark Bowman

Lone Wolf Custom Machining "Luck Of The Draw DNQ" - John Broussard

Wizards Warehouse Finalists - Donnie Massey & Brad Rigler

Fuelish Habit Racing's "Final Cut" - DoDad Burton

North Texas Diesel's Finalists - Donnie Massey & Brad Rigler