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August 25, 2004 Division 6 Race #6 Lucas Oil TAFC, Acton Montana

Bucky Austin, after his dominating record setting performance at Sonoma, this race was almost a matter of how much quicker would he be that the rest of the field than who would win this event. In qualifying he only lead the field by 3/100th's after qualifying , as Hank Coolidge is showing he is more of a contender every race he attends. In round one, Austin had an easy time in dispatching Roger Bateman with his third low 5.80, a 5.830 to Bateman's 7.175. Clint Thompson defeated Ken Kraus by just over a tenth with a 5.93 to 6.06. The other two semis, saw singles as Coolidge's dance partner Bob Hurley broke and Weaver's opponent Robert Kanenwisher busted his crankshaft in his only bullet, sending him packing early.

The semi finals had the expected participants competing, but both ended in upset victories. Bucky Austin had Clint Thompson in one semi final and Clint has actually had Bucky's number this season with two wins against the NW Hitter. He did it again here when Bucky go real loose and was completely sideways at one point before giving up the chase. Thompson's 6.11 victory was not the number everyone expected in this semi final race. The other semi also had a surprise ending, as #2 in points John Weaver, shook and clicked it early as Hank Coolidge ran a solid 5.920/236 to get lane choice over Thompson.

The final round looked like a bracket race as Thompson left .148 ahead of Coolidge, who was looking for his no-doze at the starting line. The amazing part is that, if the track was 1350 feet instead of 1320, Coolidge would have caught Thompson. It isn't, and he didn't catch Clint, and the Oregon driver collected his first ever victory in the class. The win by Thompson moved him into 3rd place in the standings. Bucky added three points to his total to stay in first by 22 points and Weaver added 11 points to his total to stay 2nd. The points for TAFC in division 6, 7 and the national standings are here.

1) Bucky Austin, Fife, Wash., '02 Firebird, 5.830, 248.02 def. 8) Roger Bateman, Calgary, Alb., '99 Firebird, 7.175, 146.00

4) Clint Thompson, Klamath Falls, Ore., '02 Camaro, 5.932, 240.64 def. 5) Ken Kraus, Great Falls, Mont., '02 Trans Am, 6.063, 241.11

2) Hank Coolidge, Sunburst, Mont., '98 Firebird, 8.602, 118.99 def. 7) Bob Hurley, Ledger, Mont., '00 Camaro, broke

3) John Weaver, Orting, Wash., '00 Firebird, 5.895, 237.96 def. 6) Robert Kanenwisher, Conifer, Colo., '00 Avenger, broke

Thompson, 6.111, 235.97 def. Austin, 7.033, 146.40

Coolidge, 5.920, 236.51 def. Weaver, 6.299, 176.44

Thompson, 6.121, 235.68 def. Coolidge, 5.979, 237.75

 

1) Bucky Austin, Fife, Wash., '02 Firebird, 5.817 seconds, 248.43 mph
2) Hank Coolidge, Sunburst, Mont., '98 Firebird, 5.846, 244.87
3) John Weaver, Orting, Wash., '00 Firebird, 5.898, 240.98
4) Clint Thompson, Klamath Falls, Ore., '02 Camaro, 5.980, 242.02
5) Ken Kraus, Great Falls, Mont., '02 Trans Am, 6.106, 238.76
6) Robert Kanenwisher, Conifer, Colo., '00 Avenger, 6.109, 236.63
7) Bob Hurley, Ledger, Mont., '00 Camaro, 6.151, 235.56
8) Roger Bateman, Calgary, Alb., '99 Firebird, 6.268, 232.67

 

 

 

August 3, 2004 The Bucky Austin coming out party!

(photos courtesy dragraceusa.com)

Buck Austin Racing turned it around big time at Sonoma after struggling through the first 60% of the National event season. He would run well in qualifying and then loose on a hole shot or break something on the run or shake the tires bad enough where a lower qualified car (and they were usually slower) would take the win light. At Seattle last week, he qualified #1 but lost to the #16 qualifier.

This past weekend at Sonoma, he struggled in qualifying (if running 5.70's is struggling) ending up in the #8 spot with a 5.706. He ran great mph through qualifying, showing the potential that if the car could get out of the one-two shift without major tire shake, it would haul the mail. It took until the first round of elimination's to start getting the clutch tune-up on the right track. When the team finally got the clutch right, well it flat out flew!

After taking out John Patton in round one with a good but still not great 5.66 (a closer that it should have been, 1/100th of a second win), we had a real tough test in the 1/4's finals.

Round one (W) Bucky Austin (Becky's Muffler Firebird) 0.130 5.663 252.05
(L) John Patton (Foolish Money II Firebird) 0.100 5.703 245.09

Bucky had #1 qualifier and national point leader Jay Payne (the luck of being the #8 qualifier) in round two. It turned out to be possibly the best run in the history of the class. Neither driver had terrific lights (Bucky's was okay a .099 but Jay was true to his nickname 'Thunder Slug' as his .166 was bad!), but the run made up for the rt's. Bucky streaked to record breaking 5.530/261.42 to defeat an almost as great 5.556/261.47 by Payne. The margin of victory was not that close .093 but it was the quickest side by side in history. That run was the first leg of a new national ET record.

Second round (W) Bucky Austin (Becky's Muffler Firebird) 0.099 5.530 261.42
(L) Jay Payne (Valvoline Camaro) 0.166 5.556 261.47

In the semi finals, he still had a tough task, as he took on one of his nemesis' in 2004, Dennis Taylor. Taylor had run low 5.60's all weekend, and was cutting great lights as well. Bucky had to be fairly sharp and try and keep the 'Centennial Batteries' Firebird in the 5.50's. He did just that, backing up his previous run with a 5.571 (good enough to back up the record run) to defeat Dennis' 5.645. The rt was not that great, a .120 but Austin finally got to the finals, and that is still the bottom line.

Semi Finals (W) Bucky Austin (Becky's Muffler Firebird) 0.120 5.571 258.22
(L) Dennis Taylor (Plumbing Concepts Camaro) 0.059 5.645 252.80.

In the final, Doug Gordon possibly the best leaver in the class was the opponent, and was mired in the 5.70's so the odds were finally in Austin's corner to get a National event win in 2004. The team was not denied, as Bucky ran another good lap, in the hottest part of the day in bright sunlight. The 'Hitter' got left on again but had more than enough power to drive by Gordon.

Final round (W) Bucky Austin (Buckys Muffler Firebird) 0.104 5.617 255.24
(L) Doug Gordon (Morro Bay Cabinets Camaro) 0.055 5.736 247.57

Will the win and a good handle on the tune-up give the "Hitter" enough momentum to challenge for the title in the last third of the season? The odds are stacked against Bucky, but you know he will give it every effort possible.

Here are the number from the weekend including qualifying and elimination's.

Final Qualifying

1. Jay Payne Valvoline Camaro 5.539 261.07 2. Mark Woznichak Rancho Framing Camaro 5.597 257.19 3. Marc White Randy Goodwin Racing Firebird 5.627 255.05 4. Dennis Taylor Plumbing Concepts Camaro 5.654 252.76 5. Jon Capps Jackson Racing Camaro 5.657 255.24 6. John Weaver Valvoline/NGK/Palace Casino Fi 5.682 250.83 7. Bret Williamson Team Eagle Corvette 5.699 250.00 8. Bucky Austin Buckys Muffler Firebird 5.706 256.94 9. John Patton Foolish Money II Firebird 5.709 252.10 10. Bernie Harrington Harrington M'Sports Avenger 5.737 250.04 11. Shawn Jones Dash For Cash Camaro 5.743 253.52 12. Steve Gasparrelli Prisms Unlimited Firebird 5.763 253.47 13. Hannes Wernhart Firebird 5.772 250.64 14. Mert Littlefield Littlefield Racing Trans Am 5.790 248.25 15. Doug Gordon Morro Bay Cabinets Camaro 5.795 249.39 16. Clint Thompson Cascade Chevrolet Camaro 5.811 248.89 --------- Not Qualified --------- 17. Jeff Carroll Y Be Normal.com Firebird 5.812 249.76 18. Robert Lee Camaro 5.860 247.20 19. Ron August Jr Camaro 5.887 247.29 20. Bil Gallio Gallio Motorsports Camaro 6.534 228.46

Marc White won in the second round but had engine damage and elected not to run the semis.

Ron August failed toqualify despite a 5.88 best

Elimination's Round 1:

Bucky Austin, Fife WA, '02 Firebird, Left lane, (0.130) 5.663 252.05 def. John Patton, Peoria
AZ, '03 Firebird, (0.100) 5.703 245.09

Doug Gordon, Paso Robles CA, '02 Camaro, Right lane, (0.083) 5.755 249.53 def. Mark Woznichak,
Ontario CA, '02 Camaro, (0.136) 6.064 179.95

Jay Payne, Claremont CA, '02 Camaro, Left lane, (0.359) 5.571 256.16 def. Clint Thompson,
Klamath Falls OR, '02 Camaro, (0.068) 6.242 214.52

Marc White, Glendale Hts. IL, '02 Firebird, Left lane, (0.111) 5.634 255.43 def. Mert
Littlefield, Garden Grove CA, '02 Trans Am, (0.050) 5.799 242.71

Dennis Taylor, Anaheim CA, '02 Camaro, Left lane, (0.078) 5.635 250.74 def. Hannes Wernhart,
Bakersfield CA, '02 Firebird, (0.036) DQ-Outer Boundary

Jon Capps, Las Vegas NV, '00 Camaro, Left lane, (0.072) 5.677 253.56 def. Steve Gasparrelli,
West Covina CA, '02 Firebird, (0.063) 5.750 252.28

Shawn Jones, Albuquerque NM, '02 Camaro, Right lane, (0.067) 8.087 152.87 def. John Weaver,
Orting WA, '00 Firebird, (0.059) 9.070 82.04

Bret Williamson, Campbell CA, '01 Corvette, Left lane, (0.132) 5.639 251.44 def. Bernie
Harrington, Apple Valley CA, '00 Avenger, (0.098) 5.730 248.07

Round 2:

D Gordon, Right lane, (0.052) 5.711 250.64 def. B Williamson, (0.084) 5.736 253.09

D Taylor, Left lane, (0.085) 5.636 251.58 def. J Capps, (0.018) 5.727 252.71

M White, Left lane, (0.084) 5.600 254.76 def. S Jones, (0.066) 5.657 256.60

B Austin, Right lane, (0.099) 5.530 261.42 def. J Payne, (0.166) 5.556 261.47

Round 3:

D Gordon, Right lane, (0.143) 5.729 250.64 def. M White, NT-No Show

B Austin, Right lane, (0.120) 5.571 258.22 def. D Taylor, (0.059) 5.645 252.80

Finals

B Austin, Right lane, (0.104) 5.617 255.24 def. D Gordon, (0.055) 5.736 247.57

The points are posted

August 3, 2004 Results from Div. 1 Numidia TAFC

Round one 1) Frank Manzo, Morganville, N.J., '03 Firebird, 6.010, 248.48 def.
8) Sam Leland, Jarrettsville, Md., '00 Corvette, 6.291, 222.38

2) Bob Newberry, Schenectady, N.Y., '02 Camaro, 6.036, 244.10 def.
7) Chris Brown, Ivyland, Pa., '00 Avenger, broke

6) Dan Pomponio, Berlin, N.J., '99 Camaro, 6.324, 230.17 def.
3) Darrel Cox Sr., Whiteford, Md., '01 Firebird, 6.510, 220.91

4) Billy Gibson, Chaptico, Md., '04 Firebird, 6.197, 237.78 def.
5) Frank Schuster, Columbus, Ohio, '02 Camaro, 7.933, 112.12

SEMIFINALS
Manzo, 5.939, 244.83 def. Gibson, foul
Newberry, 5.927, 245.76 def. Pomponio, 6.362, 227.33

FINALS
Newberry, 5.867, 247.38 def. Manzo, 6.991, 132.64

Texas Motorplex Div 4 TAFC results

ROUND ONE
1) Tate Branch, Artesia, N.M., '03 Camaro, 5.846, 249.86 was unopposed

2) Jackie Stidham, Chickasha, Okla., '00 Camaro, 5.930, 239.23 def.
7) Steve Burck, Corpus Christi, Texas, '98 Avenger, 6.473, 222.58

5) Jimmy Jones, Cleburne, Texas, '99 Camaro, 6.020, 243.63 def.
4) Eddie McDow, Waco, Texas, '00 Camaro, 6.103, 237.13

3) Richard McClain, Lake Dallas, Texas, '02 Trans Am, 6.085, 226.01 def.
6) Ron Morrison, Oklahoma City, '97 Camaro, foul

SEMIFINALS
Branch, 5.849, 249.81 def. Jones, foul
Stidham, 5.866, 244.25 def. McClain, 6.497, 179.83

FINALS
Stidham, 5.915, 245.94 def. Branch, 5.946, 220.48

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