POWELL PUNISHES SWSC FIELD
The Southwest Superchargers
Traveling Horsepower Show assaulted the quarter mile at
Hobbs Motorsports Park July 1 and Hobbs own favorite son
Greg Powell took home top honors.
Thirteen SWSC cars made the trek to eastern New
Mexico to attend the history-laden Hobbs quarter-mile. With
the sun still high in the sky (and the temps and density
altitude) Alex Clements in Gary Hills "Quick Thrill"
squeezed out an 8.06/166. Eddie Tidwell's rail struggled to
a 9.43/119. Julian Moody's run was dis-allowed (7.27/184).
Any runs in time trials more than 1/10 second under the SWSC
index of 7.60 are ignored. Ray Stringers Alamogordo-based
small block went 7.82/170. A new SWSC driver Richard
Letourneau rode Mike Aton's Artesia-based "Comfortably Numb"
funny car to 8.66/150. Lubbock winner Jacob Penner went to
the top of the ladder with his 7.59/182. Bill Normans Fat
Boys- tuned "Flashback" blasted out to a 7.52/186. Don
David's bantam ran a very nice 7.56/183. Sue Stringer left
early, no time. Mike McCoy's "Flying Dinosaur" refused to
transfer power to the starter, no fire. Greg Powell's
funster made a potent 7.68/176. Gilbert Tejeda big block
consumed its starter, no pass. Finally, Mike Jones, Lubbock,
went slightly under with a 7.55/178.
As the clock approached 6: pm, our SWSC racers
moved out of the pits. Bill Normans team tuned him to a
7.64/178. Powell's small block slowed slightly 7.72/174. The
Letourneau/Aton flopper improved with an 8.43/161. Sues new
motor cooked a head gasket, 8.64/121. Tidwell's dragster
munched a low gear band and coasted through to a 22.43/75.
Mike Jones altered ran a sub-index 7.54/183. Mike McCoy's
Chrysler powered altered went 7.56/179. Ray Stringers small
block developed a small fire in the engine diaper , shut
off. Don David slowed from Q-1, 7.88/179. Penner's 427 took
its owner to a 7.82/180. And Julian Moody became the #1
qualifier when Henry "The Wizard" Keller coaxed "The
Pipeliner" to a 7.603/175. Very Nice!
Round 1 Eliminations began when #1 Julian Moody
decided to be first pair vs. #8 Ray Stringer. Moody's
mega-motored mount finished the burn out with no oil
pressure. Ray took a single to the semis 7.97/163. #4 Mike
Jones vs. #5 Mike McCoy rolled through next. Jones car could
only go 7.73/182 (!) and lost the pass to McCoy's 7.68/149.
#3 Norman Bros/Fabulous Fat Boys funster next lined up to
run #6 Don David (altered). David's car wouldn't wait, no
time. Bill Norman moved to Rd 2 on his 8.43/159. The last
pair in Rd 1 was #2 Jacob Penner and #7 Greg Powell. These
two have a history of running close and this pass didn't
disappoint. Powell won with his 7.61/177 when Penner ran
under the SWSC index 7.57/176.
In the semis the funsters of Bill and Jerry
Norman and Greg Powell would face off. Bills Hemi ekes out a
losing 7.69/169 to Powell's 7.62/176. The other half of Rd 2
was Mike McCoy vs. Ray Stringer. Rays Small block sounded
rough after the burn out. The wounded dragster struggled to
a losing 8.25/155 as McCoy's B-1 ran a soft 7.73/145.
Around 10:pm density altitude was down to 5000' or
so and Mike McCoy and Greg Powell were ready. Powell funster
fired and moved to the box but McCoy's altered would only
run on the primer bottle. Powell politely did his pre-race
ritual, prepared to stage but still no competition. Greg
Powell took a single in the final for the win, 7.66/175.
Greg won this one on consistency. Runs of 7.68, 7.72,7.62,
7.61, and 7.66 took the trophy. Congrats to Greg Powell and
the team!
Thanks to the staff of Hobbs Motorsports Park for
a great race.
Extra Special thanks to the Management and staff
of Chili's of Hobbs a great host to our display!
SWSC fans come join us in Roswell July at Area 51
Dragway.
7-sec runs 25
170 mph runs 13
180+ runs 7
Qualifying spread .220 (#1 7.603 to #8 7.823)
! COOL!
