Southwest Heritage Racing Association
Matthews, Laird & Morrison Earn Victories At Old School Showdown
Texas Motorplex - Ennis, TX
The Southwest Heritage Racing Association presented by MalloryPrint.com held their second event of their freshman season at the 2nd Annual "Old School Showdown" at the historic Texas Motorplex in Ennis, Texas on Saturday, April 20th. A great crowd of drag racing enthusiasts came out to see how it was done in the old days and were welcomed with wonderful spring time Texas sunshine. The SHRA Nostalgia Eliminator teams had some time to talk with fans and sign some autographs before warming up their machines for qualifying.
(Mickey Smith)
(Staging Lanes)
With just one session to work with, the call went out to bring em' to the lanes as the Nostalgia Eliminator 3 teams were up first. Keith Darrow made his first appearance in the 5.30 index NE3 class and took his altered to the top spot with a 5.36 at 127 mph followed by Doug Morrison and Mickey Smith who secured spots in the top three.
In the 4.90 index Nostalgia Eliminator 2 class, Tommy Drozd took his altered to the top spot with a 4.99 at 138 mph followed by Bee Godwin and Thomas Hixson in their front engine dragsters. Johnnie Laird claimed the number four spot with a 4.899 pass just one thousandth of a second under the index with Richard Brady rounding out the field.
A 4.65 is the magic number in the Nostalgia Eliminator 1 class which was led by Steve Matthews' 4.73 at 147 mph. Wes Breiten and Chris Graves rounded out the top three qualifiers while Chris Stouffer's 4.64 and Steve Dunkin's 4.60 were just under the mark as the teams returned to the pits to prepare for eliminations.
Nostalgia Eliminator Qualifying Order:
(James Armstrong)
Nostalgia Eliminator 3 Qualifying Order:
1. Keith Darrow (Forney, Texas) - 5.36 @ 127 mph
2. Doug Morrison (Gainesville, Texas) - 5.42 @ 126 mph
3. Mickey Smith (Little Rock, Arkansas) - 5.75 @ 112 mph
4. Ron Walden (Kilgore, Texas) - 5.76 @ 113 mph
5. James Armstrong (Arlington, Texas) - 6.07 @ 117 mph
(Richard Brady)
Nostalgia Eliminator 2 Qualifying Order:
1. Tommy Drozd (Lake Dallas, Texas) - 4.99 @ 138 mph
2. Bee Godwin (Iowa Park, Texas) - 5.26 @ 127 mph
3. Thomas Hixson (Keller, Texas) - 5.71 @ 103 mph
4. Johnnie Laird (Ardmore, Oklahoma) - 4.89 @ 138 mph
5. Richard Brady (Ft. Worth, Texas) - 4.81 @ 142 mph
(Wes Breiten)
Nostalgia Eliminator 1 Qualifying Order:
1. Steve Matthews (Ardmore, Oklahoma) - 4.73 @ 147 mph
2. Wes Breiten (Wolfe City, Texas) - 4.84 @ 139 mph
3. Chris Graves (Carrollton, Texas) - 4.94 @ 142 mph
4. Chris Stouffer (Cleburne, Texas) - 4.64 @ 150 mph
5. Steve Dunkin (Aledo, Texas) - 4.60 @ 151 mph
Nostalgia Eliminator Eliminations:
Doug Morrison and Mickey Smith pulled their altereds to the line to kick off the first round of Nostalgia Eliminator 3. Smith had the advantage off the line but Morrison took the win light at the big end with a 5.33 at 128 mph to Smith's break out 5.19 at 130 mph. Number one qualifier Keith Darrow rolled out next against James Armstrong in the "Leprechaun Racing" machine as the two altereds pulled to the line. Armstrong was off the line first but Darrow quickly closed the gap and took the stripe with a 5.43 at 122 mph to Armstrong's 5.64 at 120 mph. Ron Walden benefitted from the competition bye run and posted a 5.89 at 110 mph in his injected front engine dragster to move into the next round.
(Ron Walden)
Number one qualifier Tommy Drozd lined up with Thomas Hixson's "One Wild Ride" injected slingshot dragster in the opening round of Nostalgia Eliminator 2. Drozd took the advantage off the line with a .002 reaction time and posted a 4.99 at 137 mph to advance while Hixson unfortunately blew the rear end gear in his dragster, but will be back in action at the next event and ready for revenge. Points leader Richard Brady pulled to the beams in the next pair up against veteran Johnnie Laird. Laird was off the line first and clicked off a 4.93 at 139 mph to advance over Brady's break out 4.84 at 132 mph. Bee Godwin earned the lucky bye run in the opening round and posted a 5.35 at 126 mph to move into the semi-finals.
(Tommy Drozd)
In the first round of eliminations for the Nostalgia Eliminator 1 class, Steve Dunkin rolled through the water box and laid down a long smoky burnout in his "Foolish Pleasure" blown front engine dragster alongside Wes Breiten's "Bad O'Man" blown altered. Dunkin took this round from start to finish posting a strong 4.71 at 134 mph to advance. Steve Matthews and Chris Graves pulled their blown front engine dragsters to the line in the next pair, as Graves jumped the gun at the starting line going -.019 red and had the best seat in the house to watch Matthews click off a 4.71 at 148 mph to take the round win. In a competition bye, Chris Stouffer and team "Defiant" tuned by Carl Meador posted a near perfect 4.652 at 150 mph to move into the semi-finals.
(Steve Dunkin)
(Chris Graves vs. Steve Matthews)
Nostalgia Eliminator First Round Eliminations:
Nostalgia Eliminator 3:
(W) Doug Morrison (.047 rt) 5.33 @ 128 mph vs. (L) Mickey Smith (.020 rt) 5.19 @ 130 mph
(W) Keith Darrow (.146 rt) 5.43 @ 122 mph vs. (L) James Armstrong (.113 rt) 5.64 @ 120 mph
(W) Ron Walden (.846 rt) 5.89 @ 110 mph vs. (L) Competition Bye
Nostalgia Eliminator 2:
(W) Tommy Drozd (.002 rt) 4.99 @ 137 mph vs. (L) Thomas Hixson (.061 rt) 9.97 @ 41 mph
(W) Johnnie Laird (.022 rt) 4.93 @ 139 mph vs. (L) Richard Brady (.105 rt) 4.84 @ 132 mph
(W) Bee Godwin (.051 rt) 5.35 @ 126 mph vs. (L) Competition Bye
Nostalgia Eliminator 1:
(W) Steve Dunkin (.199 rt) 4.71 @ 134 mph vs. (L) Wes Breiten (.298 rt) 5.16 @ 144 mph
(W) Steve Matthews (.054 rt) 4.71 @ 148 mph vs. (L) Chris Graves (-.019 rt) 4.98 @ 137 mph
(W) Chris Stouffer (.060 rt) 4.65 @ 150 mph vs. (L) Competition Bye
Nostalgia Eliminator 3 semi-finalist Ron Walden ran into injector issues in the pits as he prepared for the round, so the two remaining entrants Keith Darrow and Doug Morrison opted to skip the semi-final round and move straight into the final as Morrison looked to secure back to back wins in NE 3.
(Doug Morrison)
The semi-finals of Nostalgia Eliminator 2 brought Bee Godwin and Tommy Drozd to the line. Godwin took the starting line advantage and just past the sixty foot mark Drozd car made a move to the wall and despite a great pedal job, he ran out of track at the eighth mile and Godwin's 5.27 at 127 mph was just enough to hold off Drozd's 5.38 at 126 mph. Johnnie Laird benefitted from the competition bye run and posted a solid 4.91 at 139 to advance to the final round against Godwin.
(Bee Godwin)
In semi-final action of Nostalgia Eliminator 1, Steve Dunkin looked to end Chris Stouffer's day as the two blown front engine dragsters crept into the beams. Stouffer took a small starting line advantage and laid down a 4.66 at 151 mph to advance over Dunkin's 4.79 at 139 mph. Steve Matthews moved into the final round on a competition bye run and clicked off a 4.63 at 149 mph to meet Chris Stouffer in the final, a re-match of the season opener final as Matthews hoped to string together back to back wins in NE 1.
(Chris Stouffer)
Nostalgia Eliminator Semi-Final Eliminations:
Nostalgia Eliminator 2:
(W) Bee Godwin (.020 rt) 5.27 @ 127 mph vs. (L) Tommy Drozd (.099 rt) 5.38 @ 126 mph
(W) Johnnie Laird (.007 rt) 4.91 @ 139 mph vs. (L) Competition Bye
Nostalgia Eliminator 1:
(W) Chris Stouffer (.069 rt) 4.66 @ 151 mph vs. (L) Steve Dunkin (.085 rt) 4.79 @ 139 mph
(W) Steve Matthews (.031 rt) 4.63 @ 149 mph vs. (L) Competition Bye
It was time to crown event champions at the Texas Motorplex's "Old School Showdown" as the finalists returned to the staging lanes and got strapped in their machines. NE 3 finalists Keith Darrow and Doug Morrison were out first and just past sixty feet Darrow's car was making a move to the wall and Darrow wisely lifted, allowing Morrison to streak to the win on a 5.36 at 118 mph to secure his second straight win in NE 3 this season and remain undefeated in SHRA competition.
(Keith Darrow "Near Lane" vs. Doug Morrison "Far Lane")
(Nostalgia Eliminator 3 Winner - Doug Morrison)
"My team and crew had a great time at the Texas Motorplex. Our car ran well, the weather was perfect and we had some luck on our side. I would like to thank my son Wes for his help, my wife Lorie and daughter Ranee for their support and also all of our friends who support our race team," said Morrison.
Johnnie Laird and Bee Godwin were out next in their front engine dragsters to crown a winner in NE 2. Laird took a small starting line advantage and coupled that with a strong 4.91 at 131 mph to take the win light over Godwin's 5.71 at 109 mph. Laird claimed his first win in SHRA competition in his "Rain Maker" injected dragster and now holds a ten point lead in the NE 2 points standings over Richard Brady.
(Johnnie Laird "Near Lane" vs. Bee Godwin "Far Lane")
(Nostalgia Eliminator 2 Winner - Johnnie Laird)
"We would like to thank all the people that came by with kind words and handshakes. We would like to recognize Rod Bales of Performance Parts & Machine in Yukon, Oklahoma for a reliable engine and longtime friend Lonnie Sears for a dependable transmission that helped us run well and get the win today. The SHRA for a program provides us with an affordable means to play with the toys and we love the race track operators that invite us to be part of the show. Most of all, I want to thank the good Lord for his blessings of me being able to have my wife and three generations of Laird's on the starting line of a drag strip with me," said Laird.
In the final round of NE 1, Chris Stouffer and Steve Matthews rolled their silver blown dragsters into the stage beams. Nerves got the best of Stouffer on the line as he left the line before the tree came down and Matthews' streaked to a 4.59 at 150 mph to claim his second straight SHRA win in NE 1.
(Nostalgia Eliminator 1 Winner - Steve Matthews)
"I'd like to thank my mom and dad for their support. Also I'd like to thank Anthony, Gerald and the Oklahoma Heart Hospital. We are very lucky to be able to race and to win back to back races with the SHRA is a great start to our season!" said Matthews.
Nostalgia Eliminator Final Round Results:
Nostalgia Eliminator 3:
(W) Doug Morrison (.031 rt) 5.36 @ 118 mph vs. (L) Keith Darrow (.222 rt) 10.47 @ 38 mph
Nostalgia Eliminator 2:
(W) Johnnie Laird (.035 rt) 4.91 @ 131 mph vs. (L) Bee Godwin (.060 rt) 5.71 @ 109 mph
Nostalgia Eliminator 1:
(W) Steve Matthews (-.030 rt) 4.59 @ 150 mph vs. (L) Chris Stouffer (Foul)
It was another successful outing for the Southwest Heritage Racing Association presented by MalloryPrint.com and the SHRA staff and racers would like to thank the following sponsors for their support: Mallory Screen Print & Embroidery, Robinson Restoration & Service and Meyer Enterprises. The SHRA series would also like to recognize our Bonus Program partners: Good Vibrations Motorsports, Harry's Hot Rod Truck & Accessories, Triple C Agency, North Texas Diesel, AlkyDiggers and Competition Sales of Dallas. The SHRA will take the month of May off before heading to the next event on the schedule at Little River Dragway's "Summer Nostalgia Nationals" in Temple, Texas on Saturday June 1st where the Nostalgia Eliminator teams will return to action.
Click Here to see photos from the Old School Showdown!
Good Vibrations Motorsports
"Quick Reaction Time Bonus"
Nostalgia Eliminator 1 - Steve Matthews (.054)
Nostalgia Eliminator 2 - Tommy Drozd (.002)
Nostalgia Eliminator 3 - Mickey Smith (.020)
Harry's Hot Rod Truck & Accessories
"Closest To Index Runner Up"
Ron Walden - NE 3
Triple C Agency
"Long Haul Bonus"
Mickey Smith - Little Rock, AR
North Texas Diesel Automotive & Performance
"Closest To Index Nostalgia Eliminator Rd. 1 Loser"
Chris Graves - NE 1
Competition Sales of Dallas "Luck of the Draw"
Steve Dunkin - NE 1
Alky Diggers Nostalgia Eliminator "Luck of the Draw"
Thomas Hixson - NE 2
