Southwest SuperChargers

Stringer Family Racing's First Win in New Car

After a complete rain-out of Race 4 (Odessa) June 28, the Southwest Superchargers again were pounding the new concrete pavement in Texas, this time at Abilene Dragway July 5.

With a FULL field of cars on the Abilene property, it was gonna be a long night as Q-1 began @ 6:00 p.m. Points leader Julian Moody (dragster) and Andy Mears (dragster) were the first SWSC pair

down the new Abilene racing surface and both produced sub-index runs; Moody's 4.674/149 quicker than Mears' 4.682/151. Next Jack Bartlett (dragster) ran his cars former owner/builder Greg Powell (funster). Bartlett's 5.023/135 was easily out-distanced by Powell's 4.862/140. LH Newlin's 23T faced Ray Stringers dragster in pair 3 but LH's 5.378/134 was no match for Rays 4.895/140. Two SWSC "newbie's" were next, Frank Sharon (23T) and Mark Winger ('62 Chevy Pro Mod). Sharon's tune-up needed a little polishing as evidenced by his 10.56/45 to Wingers 4.925/144. Don David (bantam altered) squared off with Glen "Pa" Powell (slingshot) next. Powell, at 69 years young, was attempting to break in his brand new Competition drivers license that hadn't even been raced on yet. In his first pass in 39-odd years in competition "Pa" produced a respectable 5.278/132 to David's

5.082/148. Jacob Penner (dragster) ran Mike Jones (23T) subsequently. Penner's sub 4.610/152 was over-shadowed by Jones' superior 4.7062/153. Cody Cypert's sharp '70 Nova Pro Mod fired to duel with Paul Harris' 23T. Harris' nice 4.769/148 took control over Cypert's 5.387/131. Finally Sue Stringer (dragster) and Bill Norman (funster) closed Q-1. Bill took the Fat Boys-tuned car to a 4.742/148 over Sue's close 4.804/146.

Q-2 arrived as the small blocks of "Pa" Powell and Greg Powell began to make heat and horsepower. "Son" outran "Pa", Greg's near perfect

4.7086/147 over Dads 5.203/131. We suspect a special pass for both. Mark Winger received the "Best Burnout" cash award for his tire-frying exercise before a solo 4.867/145. Paul Harris pulled out a 4.710/148 vs. Frank Sharon's much-improved and impressive (compared to Q-1) 4.848/140. Andy Mears went sub-index 4.636/148 against Jack Bartlett's 4.911/138. Francis Newlin got LH's 23T down to a 5.109/141 vs. Mike Jones' 4.633/156. Jacob Penner's sub-index 4.665/143 outstripped Ray Stringers 4.830/137. Bill Normans near-perfect 4.7065/145 over-

shadowed Sue Stringers 4.821/137. Don David's final attempt was 4.917/149. And local Abilene racer Otis Crumpton brought his all-steel Vega small block from basically around the corner in Abilene but equipment woes restricted him to 9.430/61.

The SWSC Elimination rounds initiated with #1 Qualifier Mike Jones getting a bye since both #16 Cypert and #17 Crumpton came up lame in Rd 1. Jones' ride went 4.693/155 solo. Next #3 Greg Powell faced #14 LH and Francis Newlin. Powell led start to finish 4.745/130 to LH's 5.162/135. #5 Andy Mears vs. #12 Jack Bartlett next fired their respective mounts. A squeaker of a pass ended with Mears advancing with a 4.849/131 over Bartlett's 4.894/138. #7 Jacob Penner pulled out to run #10 Frank Sharon. Sharon's mount slowed to 5.666/128 giving Penner's 4.835/122 the win. #8 Sue Stringer next ran #9 (former #1 Son) Ray Stringer. Rays 4.801/143 beat Mom's 4.994/136. ( In five years of racing the SWSC the second time these two have met in competition). #6 Julian Moody met #11 Mark Wingers impressive '62 Pro Mod next. Moody's uncharacteristic foul (-.031 r.t.) was ignored when Wingers Chevy sashayed over the center stripe,

Wingers 5.042/126 vs. Moody's sub 4.631/148. A double foul and still won the pass...incredible. Next out of the lanes were #2 Bill Norman and #15 "Pa" Powell. Powell strapped a hole-shot on Bill but couldn't hold off the Hemi, Norman advancing 5.042/126 vs. "Pa"s 5.169/133. Finally Paul Harris got a bye when Don David's bantam refused to fire. Harris produced a mildly sub-index 4.691/149 to go to Rd 2.

Take a deep breath, here comes SWSC Rd 2! Cackling across the burn-out box came #3 Greg Powell and #6 Julian Moody. Powell's sharp .037/4.684/145 fell to Moody's better .017/4.737/147. Next #4 Paul Harris defeated #5 Andy Mears 4.769/146 to a sub 4.6946/150 (.0054 under). #1 Mike Jones next surrendered a nail-biter to #9 Ray Stringer. Ray red-lighted (-.030) only to watch Jones cross the center line and lift, 7.773/53 to Rays 4.747/145. Lastly #2 Bill Norman/ Norman Bros/ Fat Boys Racing ran neighbor #7 Jacob Penner. Penner's 7.655/141 proceeded over Bills more flagrant 4.638 147. Beautiful pass!

In the SWSC Semi final round, a triple foul occurred in the pass between #6 Moody and #7 Penner. Both drivers ran sub-index; Moody's 4.660/148 better than Penner's 4.589/151...but Moody "bulbed"! Penner to the final! The other half of the round was also decided on the line, this time #4 Paul Harris had a foul start and a 4.967/140 to Rays 4.748/145.

Around 3:00 a.m. #7 Jacob Penner's team woke him up to do battle with #9 Ray Stringer. After a double red-light start (on the computer, Penner-.035 vs -.021 Rays nice 4.780/144 won over Penner's sub index 4.638/148. Not for lack of trying!

Congrats to Ray Stringer and the Family on their first win in a couple years. Preparation yielded performance and results.

Congrats to Jacob Penner and team on a great final round appearance.

Driver Bounty to remain on Ray Stringer

Best Pass

Mike Jones 4.7062

Franks Race Results