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Date Posted: 10/11/10 8:37pm
Author:
Pundit
Subject:


"Longshot" Pearce Wins...

"Pig" pads points lead





The penultimate round of the 2010 TPSA Season on October 9th was also the last race of our season @ HMP. There was no hype needed or necessary to provoke interest in this race, as five teams were still very much alive in the Championship chase.

Many of the teams started arriving Friday nite to set up camp and get a couple of hits in before the main event. Encampments might be a better word as Team O members Otwell, Cowger, Pearce, and Ashe, staked their claim on a piece of real estate and circled the wagons in preparation for the war that was sure to take place on Saturday. Not to be out done, Joe and Roy Pigford set up the “PigPen” compound in a vantage point not far from Team O while Team Talley/Nickens, flying without a wingman or blockers, set up base camp closer to the staging lanes. AD Rigmaiden was out with his sharp David Bowie Firebird, Elliott was there in his Vette, and Aaron Hubbard rounded out the ten car field.

After both rounds of qualifying were completed, Joe Pigford’s 4.608 @ 151.01 topped Richard Otwell’s 4.623 @ 150.55, Larry Pearce’s 4.625 @ 150.96, Roy Pigford’s 4.651 @ 150.25, and the “Budman” Buddy Nickens rounded out the top half with a 4.656 @ 147.75.

1st Round…The first pair would feature Otwell, currently #2 in points, against the Randy Elliott driven ‘Vette. Team O would move on with a 4.615 to end Elliott’s nite. Second pair rolled out and it would be AJ Ashe vs Aaron Hubbard. Team O had put the Worley Grand Am together with a spare bullet and picked AJ to guest shoe it. Hubbard has been having handling issues with ‘Ol Blue lately and AJ’s 4.696 easily went to round 2. The third pair had major point implications as Roy Pigford would match up with Buddy Nickens. They rolled through the puddle, stabbed the pedal, and made ‘em sing like songbirds! Lots of sparks under the Pigford car during the long burnout, and Roy shut ‘er off and was pushed back. The Talley/Nickens ride got a competition bye and punched their ticket to the next round. Back in the pits, a flywheel malfunction was found to have been the culprit in the R Pigford dilemma. Points implications all around as Joe Pigford drew Rick Cowger in the next contest. The Cowger/Wood team was #4 in points and if they could take out #1 “Boss Hog” in the first round it would help them and their Team O, NRC/Slick Rick teammates. J Pigford was up to the task, and after nearly identical rt’s, the “Boss Hog” posted a winning 4.61 to Rick’s 4.69. Current TPSA Champion Larry Pearce drew the bye and lit up the board with a 4.62.

2nd Round…1st pair and teammates Ashe and Pearce would face off. No Championship points involved here, so the railbirds expected to see a drag race and they weren’t disappointed. AJ out first with a .415rt, but Larry’s .440rt, 4.61 would easily drive around Ashe’s 4.70. A major swing in points awaited the victor of the Otwell, Nickens pair which was next to stage. Richard’s driving has been much improved this year, and the “Budman’s” expertise behind the wheel is legendary in the NHRA Comp Eliminator ranks. Otwell had a performance advantage on paper but Nickens could make it close with a great lite. Burnouts and staging completed without issue, the engines are on the chip, Otwell out first with a big advantage and posts a 4.61 to advance. Buddy clicked it early and we were left to wonder if there was a malfunction, or did he just “miss” the tree? Happens to the best of ‘em at times. Joe Pigford drew the bye and posted a 4.60 to move into the semi’s.

Semi’s…Two NRC/Ricky McConethy powered teammates against the Reher-Morrison/Darin Morgan combination of the “Boss Hog”. All of the cars had run within .01 of each other the round before and the fans should see some very close racing. If the teammates drew each other would there be team orders?… opinions in the pits had the odds about 50/50, but the question would remain unanswered as Pearce drew the bye. This meant #1 Pigford would square off with his main challenger, and #2 in points, Otwell. As noted earlier, Otwell is a prime candidate for Most Improved Driver this year, but Pig had run low et, 4.603, of the event in the previous round, and top mph, 151.31, back in the 1st qualifier. Preparations complete, the cars stage, tree’s green, and Pig’s out first! Otwell’s 4.62 could not reel in the 4.607(0) that Billy and the crew had put together for Pigford, and Joe would be in the final. Meanwhile, Pearce ran a 4.607(9) of his own that removed any doubt about how close these cars are matched. Pearce has had a terrible year where everything that could go wrong has, but this event seemed to be a turning point for him. Slick Rick/NRC, Team O, Lump, Danny Leibham, and the crew had Larry’s performance back on track, and he’s plenty capable behind the wheel so an exciting final was guaranteed.

Finals…The fans are on the rail for this one, as are the racers from all of the various classes. Two beautiful GXP’s roll though the lanes and thunder through the burnout. Crews back ‘em up, line ‘em up, double check the wheelie bar settings, arm the data logger and step back. Staging is completed without any drama… it’s up to the “shoe’s” now! Tree flashes green in both lanes, looks like Pearce has the edge, but the “Boss Hog” is making a serious top end charge. Win lite Pearce, and the numbers show a holeshot victory, 4.61 to a loosing 4.59 @ 151.31 (low et of the event, top mph) for Pigford. Larry also claimed the Team O “Bounty Hunter” Award with this win over Pig. Joe pads his points lead with one race remaining on the schedule, but Otwell still has a chance at the Championship. The two scenarios are: An Otwell win and a 1st or 2nd loss by Pigford; or, an Otwell runner up and a 1st round loss by Pig at the Season Finale. The other contenders have been mathematically eliminated from the Title, but there’s still plenty of movement possible in the top five.

This was our final event for 2010 @ HMP and our thanks to John Mandabach, Dean, Graham & the entire Baker family, the staff, and of course the fans, for another outstanding year of racing at Houston Motorsports Park. We are pleased to announce that HMP is including the TPSA as part of their 2011 program, and three dates have been selected. Mark your calendars now!

June 4th
August 13th
October 8th

All of the TPSA teams thank HMP for providing us a great venue to play at, their hospitality, and continuing support.

Thanks again to Lidiak Motorsports, Gary, and his family, for manning the scales and keeping things in order. Also want to tip the cap to Bob Mungle and Sammy Mahan for the expert and entertaining announcing at our HMP events, and to all of the TPSA teams and family that make it all possible!

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[>
Graham Baker, far right blue shirt, presented the trophy to Larry Pearce & crew


Not just a great shot of Team O's kingpin, Richard Otwell. The back story is this pic was taken just minutes after a gut wrenching loss to Joe Pigford. RO took it all with a smile and said "Pig put a package together that I didn't have anything for. I walked over & congratulated him".
I've been around racing all of my life, and that kind of sportsmanship is rare!


Talley/Nickens is another team that had a rough weekend.
Their performance has improved steadily over the year and look for them to bounce back quickly.


AD Rigmaiden brought his sharp David Bowie built Firebird out for HMP.
AD's been testing and hopes to make more TPSA events.
 -- ., 10/11/10 8:45pm

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[> [> Great Job -- Mark Bramhall (Happy), 10/13/10 4:13pm

Congrats Larry on your win. Also congrats to Mr. "O" on his runner up finish. As usual, you guys are doing a great job.

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[> looks like the house did well with the Pundits Picks. Congratulations to all. -- fan of the Pundit, 10/11/10 8:48pm

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[> Congrats to Larry on his win at HMP. He was long overdue and I knew it was just a matter of time, but it would have been nice if he'd waited just a little bit longer. My sloppy lite (.0466) just wasn't gonna' get the job done against Larry's stellar .0066. One things for sure, the pressure is definitely still ON !! Richard will be lookin' for "payback" at Evadale and I expect he'll have a fresh "bullet" to boot . Add AJ into the mix along with Larry's resurgence and it becomes obvious that I'll have to have a superb performance to win THIS championship. Wouldn't hurt to have a little "Luck of the Draw" either. LOL..... Gotta' go now. See ya'll at "The 'Dale" !!! -- Boss Hog, 10/12/10 1:50pm

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[> Tpsa -- Sammy Mahan, 10/23/10 11:49am

I want to take a minute to tell all the teams of The TPSA how much Bob Mungle and I have enjoyed attending and announcing the TPSA races at Houston Motorsports Park and to thank John,Graham,Dean and the whole HMP family for letting us be a part of the excitement .
I also want congradulate the teams running tonight for the championship and to with them luck and a safe race !

Sammy Mahan

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