WOOLEN "WOWS 'EM" @ AMARILLO
The Southwest Superchargers took a shot @ the Amarillo Dragway eighth mile June 2 and Buck Woolen of Alamogordo took home the "Jerry" @ the end of the day. Qualifications began at High Noon at this historic track. Sue Stringer (Alamogordo) and Don David (Odessa) made up the first pair. But both got "antsy" enough to jump the starter and got no time from the clocks. Next up Lyle Byrum (El Paso) made a sweet 4.6657 @ 149 mph pass. Mike Jones (Lubbock) sashayed to a soft 6.1272/74. Joe Navar (Dell City) ran a decent 4.8382/145. Jacob Penner (Seminole) went even closer to the 4.70 index with his 4.7720/145. Buck Woolen (Alamogordo) made a nice 4.7459/147. And Clay Cunningham (Dumas) made the best pass of Q-1 with his 4.7271/147. Eight cars made this unusual Sunday event.
Q-2 started with Don David and Sue Stringer again squaring off on the Amarillo starting line. This time Don went a very nice 4.6783 @ 146 vs. Sues 5.0240/141. They were followed by Buck Woolen and Jacob Penner. One of the closest passes of the year went by as evidenced by
Jacobs 4.7763/145 vs. Bucks 4.7868/145. Nice pass! Next Clay Cunningham and Mike Jones tried the asphalt. Clays consistent 4.7330/148 outdistanced Mikes 4.7863/150. Then SWSC 2012 Points Champion Lyle Byrum and Joe Navar made a pass. Joe went 4.7899/145 to Lyles outstanding 4.7012/139. Sweet!
Our magic educated pencil (for doing calculations and pairings) came up with the ladder for Rd1 Eliminations. #1 Lyle Byrum (@ just .0012 off the index) would meet #8 Sue Stringer (.3024). #2 Don David (.0217) would run #7 Joe Navar (.0899). #3 Clay Cunningham (.0271) would go off vs. #6 Mike Jones (.0863). And #4 Buck Woolen (.0459)would meet #5 Jacob Penner (.0709).
By 1:30 p.m. the weather was near-perfect and the racers and Amarillo fans were ready for the show-down. #4 Buck Wololen vs. #5 Jacob Penner rolled through the water box and made ready to go. Buck took a holeshot victory over Jacob when his 4.8052/146 got the stripe to Jacobs 4.7922/145. Next #7 Joe Navar and #2 Don David fired up. Joe likewise got a hole shot win over Don, a winning 4.8802/128 to 4.7482/147. OUCH! Next #1 qualifier Lyle Byrum and #8 Sue Stringer came through. Lyle got the win light early as Sue rolled the starting line (no time) and Lyle put up a 4.7451/133. The final pair in Rd 1 was #3 Clay Cunningham and #6 Mike Jones. Clay won with his 4.8101/143 vs Mikes tardy 4.7410/155!.
Rd 2 Eliminations started off as #1 Lyle Byrum and #4 Buck Woolen lined up. This time Lyle rolled the starting line handing Buck the win on a 4.7672/146 vs. no time for Lyle. Next #1 Clay Cunningham and #7 Joe Navar prepared their respective rides for the task at hand. But Joe jumped the start (no time) and Clay took the win to advance to the final on a 4.8277/147.
So, we come to the final SWSC pass of the day. #1 Clay Cunningham has been running well and consistent all day, and has the advantage of being the top of the heap today. But Buck hadn't run more than .046 off all day. Clays tune-up let him down in the final as witnessed by his off-pace 4.8520/146 to Bucks winning 4.7461/148 mph. Congratulations to both SWSC combatants on a hard-fought final! Well done! And to Buck and Lanette on their first SWSC win (ever?).
Winner in Amarillo Buck & Lanette Woolen!
Runner Up Clay Cunningham and his crew! Send me the names Clay Ill post'em
Alright, let’s do some bonus awards!
ATI Jet Quick Qualifier Bonus Don David
Good Vibrations Quick Light Award Clay Cunningham (.017 r.t.)
SWSC/Gary Smith Best Pass-to-Index Mike Jones (4.7410 in elims)
Mears Mazda Winner Bonus Buck Woolen
Mears Mazda R/U Bonus Clay Cunningham
1Seven West Photo Winner Award Buck Woolen
1Seven West R/U Award Clay Cunningham
Special Thanks to Gary Smith for the use of his “GO PRO”, check out the video on the front page.
And watch here and 1seven west photo for some great photos from Amarillo!
Go to One Seven West.com for the rest of the pictures from Amarillo!
Stick around as the SWSC takes its traveling horsepower show to Desert Thunder Raceway/Midland June 22! We’ll See You There!
Floyd
