Sat, 18 Nov 2006, 11:49 AM Bobby Marriott Haunts the Field at Abilene

Courtesy of Chris Graves Photo copyright 2006 Chris Graves

Halloween weekend is a time for spooks, goblins and pumpkin carving for most people. For the members of the Outlaw Fuel Altered Association Halloween is just a good excuse to go racing! These boys would rather carve trails of rubber down the Abilene Drag Strip eighth mile and when they throw in a costume contest and candy for the trick or treaters it makes for a great night at the drag races. Although the points championship was wrapped up by Brad Rigler and this event was not for points, thirteen altereds came to play and put on a show for the nitro hungry fans that packed the stands as usual in Abilene.

First round of qualifying got underway with Tim Hay's "High Voltage Hayride" clicking off a 4.46. Hay's hot rod looked great in testing a few weeks prior at Texas Raceway where he laid down two runs in the four-teen zone taking out some cones along the way. Donnie Massey followed up with a 4.40 in the next pair along side a 4.59 at 154 mph by Tom Butherus who made the tow from Goddard, Kansas. Eric Buchanan got back behind the wheel in Abilene as he took over driving duties for veteran pilot Bob Voirin and clicked off a 4.94 at 154 mph in the "American Flyer" nitro burner. Jack Heslink came out in the "Punisher" and took the poll with a stout 4.24 at 167 mph and circuit President Bobby Marriott tripped the clocks with a 4.34. Heslink was still on top with one car left in the water box, Travis Bouchey's "Excitation." Bouchey had also been testing recently trying to tame his naughty Fiat on 85% and he must have found something because his career best 4.02 at 183 mph pass easily took the pole from Heslink by over two tenths of a second.

Donnie Massey

Adam Leigh kicked off the second and final qualifying session with a 4.52 at 149 mph in his beautiful "Final Call" machine along side Tom Butherus' 4.47 at 160. Nick Poloson stepped up to a 4.47 at 147 mph in Tom Wood's "Sundown Racing" 1932 Bantam bodied altered. In the other lane, Bobby Marriott proved he had a good handle on the track with 4.36 at 166 mph backing up his 4.34 from first session. Big Bad Travis Bouchey was up next and that naughty Fiat kept the candles lit to a very strong 4.04 at 178 mph. These two runs by the "Excitation" team were their two best of the season and this car looked very strong heading into eliminations. Herb Whisenant and his "Thrill Factor" bumped into the field with a 4.50 at 149 mph while Jack Hodgson struggled to a best of 4.62 in the "Southern Outlaw" which held up to get him in on the bump spot at number ten. Brad Rigler's "Toxic" car was not in attendance but Rigler got behind the wheel of Donny McSwain's ride for this event and struggled with tire shake issues which caused them to miss the field along with Eric Buchanan and John Tappan. Travis Bouchey's gargantuan 4.02 easily held up as the Meyer Enterprises low qualifying effort and Bouchey faced Butherus in first round.

Final Meyer Enterprises Qualifying Order:

1)  Travis Bouchey - 4.02
2)  Jack Heslink - 4.24
3)  Bobby Marriott - 4.34
4)  Donnie Massey - 4.40
5)  Nick Poloson - 4.47
6)  Tom Butherus - 4.47
7)  Herb Whisenant - 4.50
8)  Tim Hay - 4.51
9)  Adam Leigh - 4.52
10) Jack Hodgson - 4.62
-------------------------------
11)  Eric Buchanan - 4.94
12)  Brad Rigler - 8.37
13)  John Tappan - Broke

Bobby Marriott

Side by side burnouts by Poloson and Hodgson got eliminations underway. Owner and crew chief Tom Wood stepped up the "Sundown Racing" machine and Poloson wheeled his way to their best run of the night, 4.37 at 152 mph to take out Hodgson who had the best reaction time of first round with a .012. Hodgson's season was over but finishing in the top five with two finals, one win and one #1 qualifying effort the 2006 wasn't too bad for the Waco based team. Donnie Massey was up next in "Showtime" paired against Adam Leigh in only his second Outlaw Fuel Altered start. Massey laid down his best run of the evening and lit the scoreboard bulbs with a 4.31 at 160 to park Leigh's 4.74 effort. Jack Heslink's "Punisher" laid down a nasty tire smoking burnout and then clicked off a 4.34 at 162 mph to trailer Herb Whisenant. Tom Butherus pulled off the biggest upset of first round taking out that naughty Fiat of Travis Bouchey after the clutch let go in the header flaming "Excitation" machine sending a spectacular sparks shower into the cockpit. Butherus' 4.62 at 156 mph bested Bouchey's 5.03 at 104 mph. Massey and Heslink held the two quickest winning passes with one final pair to go waiting in the water box. Tim Hay treed the president but his 4.48 at 151 mph was not enough to hold off Marriott's low elapsed time of first round, 4.24 at 171 mph. Marriott advanced to the final against Massey bumping out Heslink, who had a great debut season with the Outlaw Fuel Altereds finishing third in points proving consistency pays off in drag racing. Bobby Marriott and his crew were also a picture of consistency with three four-thirty passes in a row and took lane choice into the final.

First Round Results:

(W) #5 Nick Poloson (.055 rt, 4.37 at 152 mph) 
(L) #10 Jack Hodgson (.012 rt, 7.83 at 55 mph)

(W) #4 Donnie Massey (.089 rt, 4.31 at 160 mph) 
(L) #9 Adam Leigh (.152 rt, 4.74 at 128 mph)

(W) #2 Jack Heslink (.128 rt, 4.34 at 162 mph) 
(L) #7 Herb Whisenant (.295 rt, 4.59 at 148 mph)

(W) #6 Tom Butherus (.102 rt, 4.62 at 156 mph) 
(L) #1 Travis Bouchey (.179 rt, 5.03 at 104 mph)

(W) #3 Bobby Marriott (.131 rt, 4.24 at 171 mph) 
(L) #8 Tim Hay (.108 rt, 4.48 at 151 mph)

Marriott celebrates win.

Marriott has enjoyed success in the past at Abilene when he won this event last year over Tim Hay. Donnie Massey was making his well-deserved and long overdue first final round appearance of the season. Massey's last final round appearance was his last win at Texas Raceway in 2004 and he along with crew Paul Smithart and Les Witherspoon were hungry for another win.

The call went out to fire up the final pair of the night and it turned out to be a great final round bout! Massey drilled Marriott on the starting line with a .056 reaction time followed up with a 4.38 at 159 mph. Marriott made up the advantage on the track with a blistering 4.19 at 176 mph to drive around Massey for the win by just over a tenth of a second. The "Shockwave" team including Nancy Marriott, Ray "Snorter" and Susan McFarland and Allen and Diana Friar celebrated their win and ended a great season on a positive note. Marriott's team finished number four in points and was the only team in the top five to not tally a final round appearance or number one qualifying effort proving a consistent hot rod is just as good as a less consistent really fast one.

Final Round Results:
(W) Bobby Marriott (.138 rt, 4.19 at 176 mph)
(L) Donnie Massey (.056 rt, 4.38 at 159 mph)

The Outlaw Fuel Altereds would like to thank Meyer Enterprises, Wizard's Warehouse and Pro Nitro for their support in the 2007 season. Congratulations to Brad Rigler on his second season championship and to Bobby Marriott on his season ending win. Catch up on more Outlaw Fuel Altered action at http://www.ofaa.net

Event Stats:
Top Speed - Travis Bouchey, 183 mph
Low Elapsed Time - Travis Bouchey, 4.02