BARTLETT WINS IN
WICHITA FALLS
The Southwest Superchargers have
concluded the third race of their 2007 season, run May 5th at
Wichita Falls Raceway in Wichita Falls, Texas.
A well-filled field of SWSC cars (13) started the
first round of qualifying around 5:30
under threatening skies with a stiff but manageable cross-wind.
Ray Stringer and Greg Powell chose to pair up first and fired
their respective small blocks. The result was a glimpse of good
things to come... a sub-index 4.67/147 for Ray, a great 4.71/146
for Powell. Next was the big-blocks of Mike McCoy and Sue
Stringer. Sues lackluster 8.69 was no match for McCoy's game
4.76/146. LH Newlin's small block paired with Ken Reierson's
like-motored slingshot. Newlin's 23t came out on top, 5.68/123
to Kens 5.87/136. Julian Moody got a bye when the funny car
style Fiat of Bobby Everett and Todd Odohm broke on the burn
out, a sub-sub index 4.59/148 for Julian. (Sub-sub to remind
everyone any runs more than .10 under the official index are
officially ignored.) The altereds of Jack Chapman and Mike Jones
showed and ran 5.21/134 and 5.14/142 respectively. Neighbors
Jacob Penner and Bill Norman drew each other for the next pair.
Penner's quick 4.62/153 (!) out ran Bills 4.76/147. Finally part
time SWSC driver Jack Bartlett put up a #1 qualifying 4.71/146.
Q-2 began with everyone swapping lanes from their Q-1
positions. Powell quickened but
did
not improve his position, 4.66/146 against Rays 4.66/148. Mike
McCoy went consistent 4.81/138 as Sue stepped up 5.09/138.
Newlin improved with a 5.23/131 vs. Reierson's better 5.72/134.
Mike Jones slowed to a 5.56/137 alongside Jack Bartlett's
4.79/145. Moody's crew got the motor on track, 4.73/142 when
Bill Norman had an "equipment malfunction" and rolled the
starting line after staging, no time. Penner got closer to the
index with his 4.75/150 as Chapman ran 5.13/142.
SWSC eliminations started with #1 Greg Powell pairing
up with #8 Sue Stringer. Sue moved on to Rd #2 when Powell
wasted a 4.79/142 with a red light start. #4 Julian Moody and #5
Jacob Penner next assumed their positions. Moody's 4.69/145 won
when Penner double-lost, red light start and farther under the
index, 4.68/144. #3 Ray Stringer met #6 Bill Norman next and
another red light decided the outcome at the line, this time in
favor of Ray who ran 4.65/147 vs. Bills 4.77/146. And Jack
Bartlett advanced when Mike McCoy went sub-index, 4.69/133 to
Jacks 4.72/146.
The semi-final round was run as Sue Stringer and
Julian Moody came to the Wichita Falls
Raceway starting line. Sue was ahead for .012 seconds until
Moody took a decisive win 4.75 to Sues troubled 7.06. Next Jack
Bartlett (sbc) and Ray Stringer (sbc) fired to see who would
meet Moody in the final. Bartlett won with a 4.77/145 against
Rays fourth 4.60 (4.68) under- index pass of the day.
In the final, it was as much a mechanics race as a
drivers. Henry "The Wizard" Keller for Julian Moody had brought
their new combo along well to this point. Greg Powell produced
both #1 and #2 qualifiers. But on the line it was all
driver...Moody's near-perfect 4.707/146 lost on a hole-shot to
Bartlett's 4.713/146. Jack Bartlett got his first win with the
Southwest
Superchargers in convincing fashion 4.71, 4.79, 4.72,
4.77, and a 4.71. Congratulations to all involved!
Kudos to the Management and Staff of Wichita Falls
Raceway. One of our racers called it "the perfectly prepped
track...great traction AND fantastic burn-outs." We hope to
return.
Thanks to all the SWSC teams who made this East Texas
triple a success. Stay with us as we move on to Amarillo,
Tucson, Pueblo, Lubbock, and Hobbs. We'll see you there!
FRiS
Best Pass (closest to index) 4.7073 Moody/Keller
Best Reaction Time . 4129 Greg
Powell
Best MPH 153.11
Jacob Penner
