Mon, 29 Jul 2013, 13:41 PM Mayhem at the Creek is in the Books!

Courtesy of X-DRL Communications Photo copyright 2013 Roger Richards

BUDDS CREEK, Md. -- After the rain delayed action Saturday, race fans were treated to an incredible showdown as the stars of the X-DRL stayed through Sunday to finish what they started and give the Budds Creek fans what they deserved. Royce Miller, the legendary track operator of MIR led the combined track team from 4:00 am Sunday morning to replicate the incredible track surface from the previous two days of qualifying.

Racing action began under cloudy skies with a fast track. Fans hoped the conditions were good for some quick runs and Stupid Fast Racing's Paul Taylor confirmed the numbers were favorable with 2100 foot air conditions. The team kept turning screws on the Mesquite Logistics Corvette all weekend, doing everything they could to get into the 3.50's. Despite their best effort the 50's were not to be had, but the two 3.604 passes in qualifying were the fastest of the event and produced a new Pro X-Treme record for the X-DRL while capturing the track record for the famed Budds Creek facility.

Frankie Taylor Winner's Circle

"We changed our combination to pick up the 60-foot time - we thought it was enough to get us into the 3.50's but the car shook in the middle. The track was phenomenal all week-end long. We just didn't have enough in the car for the track," said Taylor.

The fans were not disappointed as the drivers put on a great show with some close racing. Masters Entertainment was at Budd's Creek to film for the X-DRL Velocity TV show and brought the "High Speed" photo-finish camera to shoot the 660"stripe producing awesome frame-by frame film for the show. The X-DRL racers put them to good use in the Pro X-Treme semi-finals when Frankie took the hole shot win over Todd Martin with a 0.033 reaction time to Martin's 0.069. The elapsed times were close with Taylor going 3.641 to Martin's 3.629.

Tim Tindle was hoping to make it to his second X-DRL Pro X-Treme final in a row but came up short against Terry "Legbone" Leggett who ran his career best 3.610 in qualifying Friday night and followed it up with impressive times all weekend long. His 3.693 in the semi-final round was just enough to edge out Tindle's 3.712.

The action in the pits almost trumped the action on the track as the "Madman" broke a rocker arm in his 3.641 semi-final and needed a new set of lifters as well. The Lethal Threat team of Pesz and Martin along with his opponent in the final Terry Leggett came to his aid and helped him get the famed Corvette back on the track producing another close match.

"Legbone" ran 3.693 in the heat at 207.11 mph but it wasn't enough as Taylor ran a blistering 3.613 at 207.59 mph. Frankie said he always wanted to win a close one and he certainly got his wish. He also got his first X-DRL trophy to go with his new X-DRL record of 3.604.

Bob Rahaim Winner's Circle

Pro X-Treme wasn't the only close racing. Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous low qualifier Danny Perry ran great all week-end long, qualifying with a 3.847 but losing to the X-Treme Gateway Showdown winner Bob Rahaim in the final round with a 3.838. Bob qualified number three and kept working on the car making it faster as the event progressed.

"We tried some new things to make the car run the 60 foot better and they worked out. We've been good on the back half, so we knew if we could improve our performance early we were going to be tough to deal with," said Rahaim.

Cary Goforth Winner's Circle

No one was more surprised with the outcome in the X-Treme Pro Stock class than the winner. "I thought we would win this year, but after last night I was ready to go fishing," said Cary. "It's like a hundred pound weight has been lifted from my shoulders."

The Holdenville, OK resident had his work cut out for him, defeating his dad in the semi's and then low qualifier John Deflorian in the final. It was rewarding for Cary to win one for the team. They had their patience tried this season and he was happy to bring the win home to Brian Self, Chuck Samuel, Chris Goforth, Jason Roberts, Keith Harr, Matt McKee and team owner, Dean Goforth (points leader) who has been supportive all season long as the team has worked to get things right. Cary's winning time was 4.134 at 174.28 mph.

Jim Bell Winner's Circle

Jim Bell, from Edmonton, Alberta was the only Precision Turbo & Engine Pro Turbo car but did his best to put on a show for the fans all week-end long. He qualified his Pro-Line powered Mustang with a 4.148 at 187.26 mph and kept tuning on the car to run a 4.098 at 191.29 in the final round.

Kevin Rivenbark Winner's Circle

X-Treme Pro Mod was tightly contested between two previous winners, low qualifier and "Bash on the Bayou" winner T.J. Tindle and "X-Treme Gateway Showdown" winner and points' leader Kevin Rivenbark. Tindle had the performance advantage on paper early in the weekend, but races are won on the track with Rivenbark's Galot Motorsports car getting stronger throughout the contest.

"We missed two qualifying rounds to work on the car and it gained power with each pass. It was extremely smooth," said Rivenbark. His 3.936 against Gray in the semis was an improvement over his qualifying and the 3.906 in the final was his best time of the week-end.

Mo Hall Winner's Circle

The inaugural running of the 10.5 Outlaw category was memorable in many ways. Not only did the fans enjoy seeing the new class perform, they were astounded to see that these door slammers could produce ET's in the mid 4 teens, at speeds over 188 MPH on 11.2" of Mickey Thompson rubber! With the variety of combinations allowed in the class, the 10.5 racers at MIR brought the "best of the best". Big Block Nitrous and Twin Turbo combinations dominated the first time field, with the Nitrous injected Camaro of Mo Hall leading the pack and taking home the trophy. Qualifying with a stellar 4.162 elapsed time, Hall showed the X-DRL fans all about 10.5 Outlaw dominance taking down Steve Willingham and Buck Jarvis for the win. "We've had an up and down season taking a bunch of #1 qualifiers but few wins. This is the deal we've been working for" stated Hall. Mo continued, "The team had a great time this weekend racing with the X-DRL and truly enjoyed being a part of the event. To win an inaugural is very special and nobody else will ever be able to duplicate it."

Charlie Cooper Winner's Circle

Supercar Showdown put on a great show with the largest field this season for the X-DRL including the legendary Roy Hill. Charlie Cooper was impressive all week-end long despite being fairly new to racing with only a couple of years of experience. Charlie had fun, but he put it best when he said it is always fun when you win. But it was his daughter Liddie Ann who stole the show at the trophy presentation. When asked what she thought about Charlie's win she replied, "I love him."

Glenn Teets III Winner's Circle

Mickey Thompson Top Sportsman winner Glen Teets III is also fairly new to racing - the 20-year-old has only been racing two years but you couldn't tell it from watching him drive his GTO. Glen charmed the crowd by thanking his mom and dad for letting him race.

Teets had a tough road to the final, facing the low qualifier Woodard in the semi final round and defeating him with a 4.956 at 139.78. In the final round, he faced Campbell who had been strong through-out eliminations but edged him out with a 4.963 at 140.65 mph.

Pat Musi Racing sponsored half of the Top Sportsman entry fees and put up an additional low qualifier award making it an exciting week-end for sportsman racing. Pat was also on the property to support all of his racers.

Clint Mills Winner's Circle

Top Dragsters also had sponsorship for the Mayhem at the Creek, theirs from ATI Performance, who sponsored half of the Top Dragster class entry fees. Clint Mills qualified number three and thrilled the crowd with consistent runs. Mills defeated Teets in the semi final and then Collinson in the final. His winning time was 4.498 at 149.81 mph.

Morgan Torres Winner's Circle

Morgan Torres got her second X-DRL Pro Junior Dragster win at her first time at Maryland International Raceway. Torres got stronger throughout eliminations with times of 7.957 in the first round, 7.924 in the quarter final, and a 7.914 against the low qualifier and Bash on the Bayou winner Jackson Core in the semi-final. She saved her best time of the day for the final defeating Weatherford with a 7.907. "It feels good to get away from home, meet new people and have fun racing," Torres said.

"It was great to be at Budds Creek. Royce Miller and his group run a top-notch organization and we were thrilled with our first time at MIR. We can't thank Royce enough for his help as interim race director and the fantastic job he did with this event," said X-DRL president and owner Jeff Mitchell.

"This was our first event with Blue04 as our title sponsor and I think we will see great things in the future with this partnership. We were able to pay the purse at the event and I think it went smoothly and the racers were pleased with the process, " said Mitchell.

The next stop on the 2013 tour is September 20-21 at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis for the Thunder in the Heartland. The X-Treme Shoot-out will be contested at this event. Top eight finishers at the Bash on the Bayou in Pro X-Treme, Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous and X-treme Pro Stock will compete for a $75,000 purse in addition to the regular event purse. Look for more exciting announcements about this event in the coming weeks.

Final results from the Mayhem at the Creek at Maryland International Raceway:

PRO X-TREME: Frankie Taylor, Chevy Corvette, 3.613, 207.59 def. Terry Leggett, Ford Mustang, 3.693, 207.11

SWITZER DYNAMICS PRO NITROUS Bob Rahaim, Chevy Camaro, 3.824, 196.39 def. Danny Perry, Camaro, 3.838, 197.05.

X-TREME PRO STOCK Cary Goforth, Pontiac GXP, 4.134, 174.28 def. John Deflorian Jr., Chevy Camaro, 7.592, 61.68.

PRECISION TURBO & ENGINE PRO TURBO Jim Bell, Mustang, 4.098, 191.29 was unopposed.

X-TREME PRO MOD Kevin Rivenbark, Pontiac Firebird, 3.906, 188.81 def. T.J. Tindle, Ford Mustang, 3.940, 187.99.

OUTLAW 10.5 Mo Hall, Camaro, 4.179, 179.90 def. Jarry Buck Jarvis, Camaro, DQ.

TOP DRAGSTER Clint Mills, Dragster, 4.498, 149.81 def. David Collison, Dragster, 4.357, 162.39.

SUPERCAR SHOWDOWN Charlie Cooper, Ford Mustang, 5.499, 128.21 def. Craig Hankinson, Mustang, 5.804, 121.80.

TOP SPORTSMAN: Glenn O Teets III, GTO, 4.963, 140.65 def. Mark Campbell, Chevy Corvette, 4.916, 141.98

PRO JUNIOR DRAGSTER: Morgan Torres, Halfscale, 7.907, 82.90 def. Patrick Weatherford, Halfscale, 7.891, 80.49