Tue, May 26, 10:37 PM BRUCE ALLEN, A professional Outlaw

Courtesy of Bob Brown

JOLIET, Ill. - True to the mystique that his Outlaw Pontiac portrays, Pro Stock driver Bruce Allen likes to ride into town and take what he wants. In 1998, Allen desires one thing above all else -- a National Hot Rod Association Winston Point Championship.

Ten times in his 13-year professional career in the a National Hot Rod Association, Allen has gunned down enough opponents over the course of a season to finish in the Top-10 of the sport's most-competitive division. He has finished the season-long points race in the runner-up spot once, the third-place position three times and the No. 4 hole twice. Allen also has proven that he has what it takes to eliminate every man standing with a career record of 12 national event wins in 31 final-round appearances. Still, the Outlaw wants more.

"I would like to have a line that says 'champion' on my resume," Allen said. "We've been close a lot in the past but I'm not really the type that thinks too much about yesterday. I keep my eyes forward. There's a saying among drag racers that you're only as good as your last race. And I believe in that."

Allen's last elimination race is worthy of remembering. He used a quick draw at the starting line in Dallas to eliminate points-leader Warren Johnson. Considering that Allen had qualified in the 16th spot and Johnson was No. 1, it was easily the biggest upset of the event. Prior to Dallas, Allen had reached the final race of the Fram Nationals on April 20 at Atlanta Dragway. With a nationwide audience looking on, the Outlaw used his superior reaction time at the starting line to squeeze off a two-hundredths of a second advantage against his challenger, Mark Osborne. But, Allen wound up being corralled at the other end of the quarter-mile strip and Osborne was able to steal away the win. The photo finish showed the margin of victory was less than a foot.

Allen has qualified for the elimination round in five of eight national events in 1998. Earlier this season, Allen also reset his career-best elapsed time and miles-per-hour records when he recorded one pass at 6.892-seconds and another at 198.80 mph.

With his guns loaded, the Outlaw continues his quest for the title of champion on May 28-31 at the brand-new Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Ill.