The Southwest Superchargers latest gathering of 2009 was a rare Friday night duel July 3 at Abilene Raceway, Abilene, TX. Sixteen SWSC cars appeared to take a shot at the 8-car field. What resulted was an expectedly tight field of windmill warriors.

          First pair out for Q-1 was Don David and Sue Stringer, each flying our national colors in a SWSC Salute to the Troops on the 4th of July weekend. Dons altered veered right, 6.06/92 to Sues 4.948/141. Next LH Newlin's 23T met a new car, another big block altered from a fella known to me only as "Russ". Russ ran a 6.114/114 to LH's 5.946/89, as Newlin seemed to surrender past half track. Ray Stringer ran Andy Mears as Pair 3. Mears' early leave still netted him a 4.886/147 to Rays 4.920/140. Julian Moody brought the fresh funny car out to play and his first pass was a great 4.779/146. Clay Cunningham's first appearance with the SWSC was a nice 4.684/147 alongside Bill Normans 4.830/146. By the way Bill, brother Jerry and The Fabulous Fat Boys Racing Team of Bennett and Oliver just returned from a very successful nostalgia event in Beech Bend Raceway in Bowling Green, KY. In a class with an index of 7.0, our very own "Flashback" team was runner-up! Congratulations! Jacob Penner made an officially-ignored 4.550/154 with Mike Jones in Lane 2 (4.910/145). Doug Kelley made the SWSC field with his 4.615/150. And the last pass of Q-1 was Greg Powell who ran a great 4.720/145.

          Q-2 began with Sue Stringer pounding out a 4.705/151 for the top spot on the ladder. The small blocks of Jack Bartlett and Ray Stringer next ran 4.791/143 and 4.828/142 respectively. Clay Cunningham went a consistent 4.732/146 against Andy Mears, 4.757/149. J Collier brought another welcome funny car to this SWSC race and struggled to a 13.14/117 vs. Bill Normans 4.734/147. Don David's Q-2 pass was 5.150/141 beside Mike Jones' 5.342/150. The altereds of Doug Kelley and LH Newlin met with Doug's 4.775/143 outpacing LH's 5.659/88. Jacob Penner bye'd to a 4.720/148. And Greg Powell out-ran Julian Moody in the last pair 4.731/145 to 4.788/146. 

          In Rd 1 Eliminations for the SWSC #1 Qualifier Sue Stringer was ready to run #8 Julian Moody. As she idled toward the water box, Sues Kuhl  8-71 swallowed a rock and seized, bringing her day to a premature end and installing #9 Jack Bartlett to run Moody. Moody's fresh flopper left late but caught Bartlett's dragster and won with a 4.774/145 vs. 4.828/141. #4 Greg Powell met #5 Bill Norman in the closest battle of elims. Bill won with his 4.718/146 against Greg's 4.725/145. In so doing Greg Powell collected the Mears Mazda "Oh-So-Close" Award for losing by the closest margin in eliminations, .0061 sec!  #2 Clay Cunningham ran #7 Doug Kelley next. Doug's valiant 4.987/142 was no match for Clays 4.795/146. Finally #3 Jacob Penner met #6 Andy Mears. Mears foul start negated his 4.790/150 in favor of Jacobs 4.663/150.

          Rd 2 started with #2 Clay Cunningham out running #3 Jacob Penner in a double-breakout pass. Cunningham's less offensive 4.673/148 won over Jacobs 4.658/141 (brakes!). The other finalist would be either Julian Moody or Bill Norman. Both drivers left early (first or worst) but Bills light was .-038 to Julian's .-012, Moody's 4.675/147 taking the win over Bills 4.909/129.

          The SWSC final came up at the decent hour of 9: pm and #2 Clay Cunningham met #8 Julian Moody. Cunningham's first SWSC final was a Runner-Up finish as his red-light start surrendered to Moody's 4.836/139 winning pass (4.681/142 for Clay). Kudos to Moody and the Team! 

  Julian Moody and Team winner in Abilene

  Clay Cunningham and Team runner up in Abilene

          The Harpers Oil Pan Oil Retention Advantage Best Burn Out Award went to Mike Jones and The Voodoo Child altered.

          Bill Norman collected the Jerry Norman Race Cars Driver Bounty on Greg Powell by having a better reaction time than Greg in Rd 1.

          The SWSC Qualified field was one of the quickest (if not THE quickest) in history, .005 off (#1 Sue) to .079 off (#8 Julian) a spread of .074!

          35 4-second passes were made, 20 over 145 m.p.h., 5 over 150 in the eighth mile.

          As most of you know July 4 the SWSC was rained out at Wichita Falls. So watch the SWSC schedule as dates are being juggled and reassigned.

          Stay in touch, and we'll see you at the races!

 

Floyd Stringer