SHRA Racers Rock Texas Raceway in Memory of Ron Muncy
August 27th - Kennedale, Texas
The Southwest Heritage Racing Association, presented by MalloryPrint.com, made it's first appearance at Texas Raceway for the Longhorn Nostalgia Nationals in Kennedale, Texas. This event was presented by Lone Star Forklift and held Saturday, August 27th. All six SHRA classes were in action and with only three races left, points battles were heating up under hot conditions on this late summer afternoon.
Friday night before the event, the racing community suffered a major loss in the life of Ron Muncy, who was involved in a test and tune incident. Muncy was an active supporter of the SHRA and is the only driver in series history to participate in all three of the Nostalgia Eliminator classes. Muncy wheeled his injected yellow altered in NE 3 winning at Little River Dragway in 2013. In 2014 he joined teammate Steve Dunkin in the NE 1 class driving the injected "Foolish Pleasure" slingshot dragster. In 2015, Muncy ran both NE 1 and NE 2 before committing to NE 2 in 2016 driving another injected altered. Of course, at the age of 77, the drag racing career of Ron Muncy spanned decades before SHRA existed and many wins and successes along the way. The SHRA staff and racers would like to send their sincere condolences to the Muncy family. The event at Texas Raceway was dedicated in memorial to our friend, Ron Muncy.
(In Memory of Ron Muncy)
Nostalgia Eliminator 1
In 4.65 AlkyDigger Nostalgia Eliminator 1 action Chris Graves entered with the points lead but by the slimmest of margins and was able to qualify number one with a 4.70 only to draw his wife, points hungry Tera Graves in round one. Tera took out the points leader showing no mercy in first round, then moved into the final round after defeating Top 5 player Jason O'Neill in the semi-finals.
(Tera Graves)
Opposing Tera in the NE 1 final was number two in points entering the event, Richard Brady and the Al Mallory tuned injected slingshot dragster. Brady had qualified number four and benefited from a bye run in first round over Larry Bradford who broke in qualifying. Brady then took out the Carl Johnson driven blown altered to move into the finals and take over the points lead.
(Carl Johnson)
(Richard Brady)
In the final, both drivers were on their game at the starting line with Brady taking a slight advantage. Wide open and white knuckle the cars were side by side with Brady holding a wheel on Graves through the lights for the win, Brady's first of the season. Brady's 4.70 at 145 was enough to hold off Graves' close 4.72 at 151 mph. Brady and Mallory now have a 14 point lead over Chris Graves who is just 10 points ahead of Carl Johnson and 16 points behind Jason O'Neill with two races remaining. Tera Graves moved into the Top 5 with her runner up finish and still stands a chance to make a move as five drivers hold a legitimate shot at the 2016 SHRA NE 1 Championship.
(NE 1 Winner - Richard Brady)
Nostalgia Eliminator 1 Results:
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Nostalgia Eliminator 2
The 5.00 AlkyDigger Nostalgia Eliminator 2 category hosted intense competition as points leader Jason Scott, a close friend to Ron Muncy racing with a heavy heart at Texas Raceway, qualified number one with a 5.01 and hoped to bring it home in this memorial event. Scott felt the pressure from number two in points, defending series Champion Bruce Dodson, with Dodson qualifying number two with a 5.03.
(Bruce Dodson)
Scott earned a first round win over Michael Renaker as did Dodson over Gary Riley. In the semi-finals, Scott lined up with Stephen Hansen, a Texas Raceway regular making his first return to SHRA competition this season. Hansen's car had been parked for two years until this weekend, literally on flat tires just a week before the event. Hansen blasted off the line in his injected altered with a .000 reaction time and used a 5.02 to take out Scott's quicker but losing 5.01. Dodson snuck past Joe Scarlata in the semi-finals with a 5.01 and was set to take on Hansen in the final round.
(Stephen Hansen)
The NE 2 final was on the line and Hansen was looking to close out an impressive run to the finals with a win while Dodson hoped to close the gap between himself and points leader Jason Scott. At the drop of the ambers, .005 separated the drivers off the line. Dodson's car quickly made a wicked move to the guardrail forcing him to pedal the throttle which is all Hansen needed to pull ahead and take the win with a 5.08 at 129 to Dodson's 5.13 at 135.
(NE 2 Winner - Stephen Hansen)
Nostalgia Eliminator 2 Results:
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Nostalgia Eliminator 3
The 5.50 AlkyDigger Nostalgia Eliminator 3 class has been semi-dominated by Josh Moseley and his wicked orange altered. Moseley has racked up three final round appearances, two top qualifiers and one win so far in 2016. Lucky Jones took the top qualifying spot with a 5.508 at 124 mph but bowed out in first round against the most recent class winner Bobby Bates. Moseley was knocked out in a pair of 5.51's by Robert Springstead in first round as the hits kept coming. Dusty Rose won an extremely close race with a pair of 5.48's against Doug Morrison.
(Josh Moseley)
(Bobby Bates)
Moving into the semi-finals, Bobby Bates kept his winning streak alive using a 5.50 at 113 mph to take out Dustin Bradford's 5.53 at 117 mph. Bates would take on Gary Mitchell who benefited from the bye run and was looking to earn his first career SHRA win at his home track.
(Gary Mitchell)
A pair of center steer altereds came to the line in the final of NE 3 and Bates was off the line first. Mitchell did all he could to run Bates down, but it was no match as Bates' 5.57 at 117 mph held off Mitchell's break out 5.45 at 124 mph. This marks the second straight NE 3 win for Bates in only his third SHRA event. You've been warned! Moseley holds his spot atop the points standings, now just twenty seven points ahead of Dodson and with two events remaining as the points chase has tightened up.
(NE 3 Winner - Bobby Bates)
Nostalgia Eliminator 3 Results:
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Old School No Electronics
Old School No Electronics found a familiar face in the final round as Jim Baughan wheeled his feared blue 1937 Chevy Coupe to the line ready to score his third win of the season. Baughan took out Roger Johns, Steve Tate and Joe Elmore on his march to the final round. Baughan faced first time SHRA finalist John Goetz Jr and his 1968 Dodge Charger who had defeated Michael Rhea, Roy Cullison, Robert Rankin and Michael Graves to earn his spot in the last dance.
(Jim Baughan)
(John Goetz Jr)
Goetz got caught sleeping on the tree and had the best seat in the house to watch Baughan drive around and claim victory with a 6.01 on a 5.97 dial. Baughan looks to be well on his way to defending his 2015 Old School No Electronics Championship with a comfortable 93 point lead over Jason Marshall.
(Old School No Electronics Winner - Jim Baughan)
Old School No Electronics Results:
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Old School Electronics
Old School Electronics welcomed two first time SHRA racers to the final round in Curtis Wells and Michelle Riedel. Wells behind the wheel of a 1974 Chevy Vega knocked out Aaron Boon, Leon Dudley and Dean Johnson in his final round march while Riedel wheeled her 1969 Ford Mustang past Roy Cullison, David Lancaster, Anthony Jack and Billy Key to earn a spot in the final.
(Michelle Riedel)
Wells took the starting line advantage and posted a 6.92 on a 6.91 dial at 89 mph to narrowly defeat Riedel's dead on 7.56 at 89 mph. What a final round to close out the Old School Electronics competition. Class points leader Alex Garca bowed out in first round to Michael Rhea and had to sit and watch his competition close the gap. Dean Johnson's semi-final finish moved him into a solid second, just 33 points behind the lead. Ricky Marshall is hot on their heels in third just one point behind Johnson as the points battle heats up in No Electronics.
(Old School Electronics Winner - Curtis Wells)
Old School Electronics Results:
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Nostalgia Super Stock
Continued points drama unfolded in Nostalgia Super Stock as points leader Doug Watkins got put on the trailer first round by David Ardoin. Number two in points, Tony Smith, met his match in round two against Kent Morris and in semi-final action it was Morris lining up with defending series Champion Vic Corlett. Corlett posted a 7.07 on a 7.05 to move into the final round against David Ardoin who benefited from a semi-final bye run.
(Vic Corlett)
(David Ardoin)
In the Nostalgia Super Stock final, Corlett was off the line first and dead on with a 7.05 to take his second straight win and move himself to the top of the standings. Doug Watkins is just ten points behind Corlett and Tony Smith is just one point behind Watkins while David Ardoin lurks quietly in fourth just 22 points from the top.
(Nostalgia Super Stock Winner - Vic Corlett)
Nostalgia Super Stock Results:
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The next stop on the 2016 SHRA tour will take the series to Wichita Raceway Park for the Bee Godwin Memorial Nationals in Wichita Falls, Texas on Saturday, September 10th. This event will be presented by Don Hardy Racecars and Hot Rod Shop. The SHRA will host the Championship Finals and AlkyDigger Nostalgia Eliminator Shootout presented by Dooley & Sons Hot Rod Shop on Saturday, October 1st at North Star Dragway in Denton, Texas. It is there that all the points battles will be decided and six SHRA Champions will be crowned.
The SHRA would like to thank Mallory Print.com, AlkyDigger, Dooley & Sons Hot Rod Shop, Lone Star Forklift, Mears Mazda Volvo, Passtime GPS, Meyer Enterprises, Don Hardy Race Cars, Stroud Safety, Equipment Sales and Service of Texas, Neil & Parks Racing Enterprises, Bubba's Tow, Lenamond Auto Supply, Gary's Muffler, Bad Behavior Racing, Hagerty Vintage Motorsports Insurance, Competition Sales of Dallas, Harry's Hot Rod, Competition Products and Howards Cams for their support in the 2016 racing season.
Click Here to see photos from Texas Raceway!
