TIDWELL TACKLES
MIDLAND
The Southwest
Superchargers ran Desert Thunder Raceway Sept 8 in Midland,
TX. Race #8 of the 2007 SWSC season saw one of the largest
fields in our history.
Race day opened for the SWSC as 16 competitors
charged through the gates at Desert Thunder Raceway. With
the help of DTR management an all-run field was quickly
agreed upon to produce the most spectacular show ever.
Time trials started with Greg Powell's funster
and Julian Moody's dragster toasting the tires through the
bleach box. The SWSC 1/8 mile index for West Texas is 4.80,
and these two did not disappoint, recording 4.7994 (Powell)
and 4.7992 (Moody). Boy, is this a tough group! The
following pair was the dragster of Jack Bartlett and the
altered of Mike McCoy. Bartlett's 4.92 edged McCoy's 5.19.
Gary Hills dragster went sub-index 4.72 as Bill Norman ran
4.91 in the other lane. L.H Newlin's altered left before the
tree was activated (no time) when Mike Jones 23t made an
almost perfect pass 4.803/146 but ran off the end of the
track and SERIOUSLY into the sand trap. Newlin was heard to
say they were going to have to speed that thing up--he was
tired of out running the tree! Jones drove out of the sand
but the Voodoo Child was done for the
day. Sue Stringers first attempt only netted a 7.37 vs. Paul
Harris altereds 4.96. Eddie Tidwell's dragster made a nice
but sub-index 4.73. Jack Chapman's "Hoopie" aero 23t ran an
excellent 4.79 against Chris Stouffers altereds 5.55. Don
David's bantam went 5.32 as Gilbert Tejeda's dragster made a
4.98.
The Desert Thunder Raceway facility was
standing room only by the time Rd 2 TT for the SWSC started.
Moody went a consistent 4.78 vs. Powell's 5.24. McCoy
improved to a 4.73 against Bartlett's 5.03. Hill
made
a closer to index 4.764 to Normans 4.758 (.0060). Paul
Harris ran an excellent 4.82 to Sues 4.888. Chapman's 4.81
narrowly out ran Penner's 4.83. David's 6.19 trailed
Tidwell's 4.78. Stouffer stepped up admirably to a 4.76 vs.
Tejeda's 4.74. WHEW!
Southwest Superchargers Eliminations started
with fourteen drivers suited up for Rd 1. #1 Qualifier Greg
Powell met #14 Chris Stouffer. Stouffer gave away a
beautiful 4.81 (-006 rt) to Powells 4.78 win. And a salute
to Carl Meador and Chris Stouffer--great job in a short
time! #13 Don David lost to #2 Julian Moody, 5.28 to 4.86.
#12 Mike McCoy muffed the starting line vs. #5 Paul Harris
who got the light on a 4.81. #4 Jack Chapman ran under in Rd
1 (again) sending Sue Stringer to Rd 2 (again) 4.71 to 7.57.
#8 Gilbert Tejeda took a holeshot victory over #6 Jacob
Penner .005/4.84 to Penner's .092/4.81. #3 Eddie Tidwell
appeared to lose to #12 Jack Bartlett when Tidwell's tree
went red vs. Bartlett's 4.94. Finally #7 Gary Hill lost a
double breakout run to #8 Bill Norman, 4.75 to Bills 4.77.
Rd 2 was preceded by the discussion around the
SWSC pits of who would be reinstated to make the 8-car round
in a 7-winner field. It was discovered Eddie Tidwell's red
light was caused by deep staging which is allowed by SWSC
rules but had not been implemented on the tracks computer.
#1 Greg Powell prepared to run #3 Eddie Tidwell
as the first pair in Rd 2. Powell ran a sub-index 4.7961 to
Tidwell's winning 4.8063! #2 Moody took a reaction win over
#8 Norman .050/4.90 to .247/4.81. Another tip of the helmet
to Norman Bros/Fat Boys Racing--first time out with a new
motor/combo...Great job! Lastly, #5 Paul Harris out ran #11
Sue Stringer 4.90 to 4.99.
The semi-final round qued up with #12 Bartlett
squaring off with #2 Moody. Moodys sub-index 4.73
surrendered to Bartletts 4.99. #5 Harris lost a side by side
under index pass against #3 Tidwell 4.72 to a winning 4.77.
The SWSC final was two small block Chevrolet
rear motored dragsters. When the 'tree tried to go green,
Jack Bartlett foiled it by turning on one red light handing
Eddie Tidwell the win. Tidwell ran a sub index 4.72 to
Bartletts 4.95 after a -.08 rt.
Jack Bartlett Runner Up
Eddie Tidwell Winner!
To Black Viper Energy Services of West Texas,
Thank You and we hope we lived up to our billing
To the fans of the SWSC in the Midland/Odessa
area, we love ya! We hope to see you in 2008.
To the Management and staff of Desert Thunder
Raceway, congratulations on a well-prepped track and a
well-run race. Thank You from the SWSC.
Watch here as the Southwest Superchargers
Traveling Horsepower Show next arrives in Denton, TX. Oct.
13.
Remember, it's fine to do it in nine, great if
you're finished in 8, but it's Heaven to do it in 7!.
See you at the Races!
Passes less than 1/10 off index 33 (out of
a possible 58)
Closest races 4.7584-4.7644
(.0006)
4.8322-4.8175 (.0147)
4.7478-4.7600 (.012)
4.8457-4.8172 (.0285)
4.7740-4.7529
(.0211)
4.8063-4.7961 (.0102)
8-car spread (#1-#8) .0006--.0416 .041!
SWSC fans, if you haven't been to an SWSC race, come
on out and bring a friend!
F. Stringer
