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Date Posted: 09/27/10 8:42pm
Author: Pundit
Subject:
***Two in a Row for Team O***



Talley/Nickens Runner Up





The first double header weekend for the TPSA was scheduled to kick off at Ben Bruce Memorial on Saturday. Some of the teams had rolled in Friday nite, while the rest came in Saturday morning. The weather forecast had been bouncing around all week, but it looked promising early in the day and a couple of the teams took advantage of the open TT’s.

Just before the 1st round of qualifying was set to begin, it began to sprinkle, then it stopped, and it looked like we’d get if off after all. Around 6:30pm, it began to rain in earnest, and many of the spectators and a few of the bracket racers, and test n tuners headed for the front gate. The rain stopped at 7:30 and Mr. Bruce told the TPSA that Fred’s crew had the track dried and they would re prep it. He left the decision to the TPSA racers whether or not to continue. A decision was to be made by 8pm. After a meeting with all of the teams, it was decided to reschedule this race as most of the spectators and other racers had left by then. Fred, the crew, and Mr. Bruce enjoy their Texas Pro Stock racing as much as anyone, but that would have been an expensive ticket without any dollars coming in the gate. We certainly appreciate Mr. Bruce’s offer, and look forward to the 2010 season finale at Evadale on October 23rd. Be sure to mark your calendar now!



After the decision to reschedule the Evadale race, the TPSA traveling show loaded up and made the short haul to Houston Raceway Park in Baytown to compete at the Hurricane Alley MOTO FEST event. Sunday morning broke with clear skies, and a headwind, but none of the cooler temperatures that we were all looking for. After the two rounds of qualifying were completed around 1:45pm, sitting atop the pile was Team O’s, Richard Otwell with a 4.653 @ 151.37 (event low et) to just edge out Joe Pigford’s 4.658 @ 151.54 (event top speed). Roy Pigford was #3 at 4.676, and Buddy Nickens just an eyelash behind with a 4.677…both cars ran 150.03. Current Champ Larry Pearce, Rick Cowger, Aaron Hubbard, Junior Wilkerson, and Randy Elliott rounded out the field.

1st round…Still hot, humid, and a headwind. What did the random pairing have in store for the troops today?! 1st pair rolled under the tower and it would be the Talley/Nickens team with Nickens power under the hood takin’ on the Robinson/Wilkerson’s team Firebird. The “Budman” would move into round two uncontested as Junior was too quick out of the gate with a .386 redlite. Roy Pigford and Larry Pearce went through the puddle next and staged ‘em up. Tree comes down and it’s Pearce with a holeshot to send Roy back to the trailer; 4.718 to a 4.700. Next up was the Cowger/Wood team facing off with Randy Elliott’s Corvette. Randy’s #1 bullet is down for some updates and the C&W Team was having some gremlins today. Their Grand Am was not performing at it’s usual level so the outcome wasn’t certain. The “Dandy” Elliott had a sizeable lead at the hit but Rick drove around him to move into round 2. The 4th pair had major point implications. The current points leader, Joe Pigford vs Richard Otwell. Joe’s has enjoyed a comfortable, but not insurmountable points lead, but Richard’s been the one with the hot hand lately. They were staged, green in both lanes and it looked tight at half track. Win lite Otwell, and the scoreboard read 4.690 for Team O and a quicker, but later, 4.679 for the “Boss Hog”. Team O would pocket their own “Bounty Hunter” reward for taking out the current points leader. Aaron Hubbard and Ol’ Blue drew the bye and eased on to the next round.

2nd Round…Teammates and traveling partners, Otwell and Cowger were the first to come out under the tower. The C&W team was playin’ it close to the vest and nobody knew if they had found the problem that seemed to slow the car down each lap. Otwell looked to be on his game as his rt’s during qualifying had shown great improvement from his season average, and he had trailered J Pig with a holeshot in the opening stanza. Both cars staged and on the converter without issue, and Otwell’s out first again and never looked back. His 4.70 would move him into the semi’s. The “Budman” Nickens vs Aaron Hubbard duo would be the next pair. The Talley/Nickens team has been layin’ low, quietly sneaking up on the points leaders with improved performance over the course of the year. Aaron and Ol’ Blue didn’t have much of a chance on paper, but you never know what might happen on the dragstrip. A .000rt for Aaron had him leading to about half track but it appeared the Nickens HP would drive on by. About 500 ft, the ‘Vette made a hard move, and Hubbard lifted to save ‘er for another day. Nickens had motored by anyway, and his 4.703 would move on.

Larry Pearce drew the bye and it seemed, at least for a day, that his luck had changed. Larry has suffered through a bad luck spell this year that would see a lesser man call it a day. Like a true Champion, Larry has soldiered on and tried to turn it around. He took out Roy Pigford in the first round which helped his teammate’s, Otwell, run at the Championship and now he sits in the shade under the tower. The lane master gives him the sign to fire ‘er up. The railbirds are watching as LP’s ride refuses to start, and finally is towed back to the pits. In an unusual turn of events, there would be no semi finals, and Otwell and Nickens would meet in the final.

Team O and NRC/Slick Rick power could make a huge dent in Joe Pigford’s point lead. In the other lane, the Talley/Nickens team with Nickens Power and Slick Rick Heads were also making big strides in the point chase. As the afternoon shadows had lengthened, the performance of the two teams was nearly identical. Richard had run a 4.706 in the semi’s and Nickens, a 4.703. Should be a whale of a final! Big burnouts and staging procedures were complete. Motors come up, tree flashes, and Nickens has left the big red bulb hanging as Otwell’s streaking for the stripe. Budman’s .377 red lite negates any chance his better 4.693 had to take Otwell out. Richard posted a 4.734 after getting crossed up late in the pass. Congrat’s to Richard, NRC, Slick Rick, and Team O on two in a row, and the Talley/Nickens team for their runner up.

Thanks to Gary Lidiak and Wes from Bumbera’s Performance for maning the scales, and to all of the TPSA teams for making the haul.

Also, special thanks to Mike Bruce, Fred, and the crew at Evadale for offering to complete the race on Saturday, in spite of it being a losing proposition for them, and for hosting the finale on October 23rd.

Wayne Van Orden of Hurricane Alley deserves our appreciation as well. Even though it didn’t rain Sunday at Baytown, the rain Saturday and uncertainty of what the weather would do on Sunday, kept many of his racer’s from showing up and severely impacted the spectator count. He could have told the TPSA he was pulling the plug and go home, but he completed our event as well as the scheduled motorcycle racing and other special events. Thanks Wayne!



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Replies:

[> ***That should have been Eric Fanning from Bumbera's that was at the scale house with Gary Lidiak. Thanks again guys!***


POINTS, RESULTS, and the HOMEPAGE have been updated for your pleasure. We shore nuff got us a points race now.... -- ,, 09/27/10 9:26pm

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[> Glad to see the pundit is back! -- Lurker, 09/28/10 8:45am

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[> Want to take a minute to congratulate "Sir Richard" on his win and James, Samantha, Robert, Buddy and all the rest of the Talley/Nickens crew on their runner-up. Richard and I had a good race but I shore didn't have nothin' for a .002 light. Gotta tell ya' his drivin' has seriously improved and their car is runnin' really strong to boot. Reckon this could be Richard's year ??? NOT IF I CAN HELP IT !!!! Problem is he's not the only guy in striking distance. Also gotta' worry about Buddy, Rick and my brother. Oh well, if it was easy it wouldn't mean much. Better go now, need to find a couple of hundred's and work on my drivin'. See ya'll at HMP !!! -- Boss Hog (Payin' attention NOW), 09/28/10 10:52am

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[>


Slick Rick and NRC had a set of their brand new TPSA inspired cylinder heads on hand @ HRP for a sneak peek. Rick has sold all of the original batch, but has 5 sets of castings on order that will be here in time for YOU to be ready for 2011. Give him a call today to reserve a set for your team!




-- ., 09/28/10 12:21pm

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[> Want to congradulate Mr. Otwell on his great perfomance this weekend, as well as the Talley/Nickens team. Also want to thank DH for promoting the new cylinder head project, and hope that I can do a little part in maybe rekindling this class and help to push the envelope on the conventional big block chevy engine. Thanks again to all my guys that run my stuff, and allow me to be part of yall's program. -- Ricky McConathy "Slick Rick Racing Heads", 09/28/10 8:57pm

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