<center>***Season Finale*** <img src="http://www.texasprostock.com/evadale.jpg"> Evadale Raceway</center> -- Texas Pro Stock Association Message Board

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Date Posted: 10/25/10 10:42pm
Author:
Pundit
Subject: ***Season Finale***

Evadale Raceway

Only one race remained in what had been an exciting season with a very close points battle, and several teams had gone all in preparing for the final race to determine the 2010 Champ, and the final points standings. To have a great closing event required a Championship caliber racing surface, and to entertain the fans, some controversy, intrigue, suspense, and of course, close side by side racing� a TPSA trademark, was necessary. Fred and his crew @ Evadale started prepping the track on Monday, and by Thursday evening declared it to be race ready. By the time the teams started arriving on Friday, the track was obviously in premier condition, and the pride Fred puts into his track prep cannot be overstated. Now it was up to the teams to provide the other elements.

Friday�s weather conditions were pleasant enough, temp in the mid 80�s with a sometime gusting southerly breeze, but with a low barometer and high humidity, record setting performances seemed unlikely . Most of the teams took advantage of the open TT�s prior to official qualifying, and the top half of the field looked to be very evenly matched. The Platt/Hughes Team made their debut with the beautiful �63 Corvette and ran some impressive numbers on a shake down pass, but a problem with the front tire clearance on the brand new ride would prevent them from entering eliminations.

After qualifying was complete, Joe Pigford was #1 @ 4.602 151.92. Richard Otwell @ 4.619 150.75, Roy Pigford @ 4.622 150.05, defending Champ Larry Pearce @ 4.6414 150.55, Rick Cowger @ 4.6416 150.20, and Budman Nickens @ 4.642 150.60 were bunched together and Aaron Hubbard, Junior Wilkerson, and Randy Elliott rounded out the field.

1st round� The random draw always sparks a good debate, but it�s a TPSA tradition and provides some very interesting pairings. The first pair to roll under the stands was Roy Pigford and the Talley/Nickens team Camaro. Major points implications with the first pair as Roy could pass Budman with a good showing here, and every team that Roy could take out would make it easier on brother Joe�s Championship run. Both cars staged, tree flashes, great rt�s in both lanes, looks very close at the stripe, but Roy�s 4.63 (.417 rt) would stop Budman�s 4.65 (.409 rt) to end the Talley/Nickens nite, and their 2010 season. The Talley/Nickens team made big strides through the year, winning one race and one runner up, and they will be presented the #3 award at the Banquet. 2nd pair and current points leader, J. Pig would face the New Guys, Robinson & Wilkerson. The �Boss Hog� would move on with another 4.60 @ 151.87. This was the first season for the Robinson/Wilkerson Team who will claim the #8 spot, and rumors have them stepping up in the hp department for next year. 3rd pair would feature team mates, and current #2, Richard Otwell and Rick Cowger in the Cowger/Wood entry. Remember, the fans want some intrigue and controversy and this pair might provide it. Would team orders be in effect as they had watched Joe win already and Otwell had to win to keep pace? They roll through the puddle and go through the staging ritual. Everything looks normal until Rick goes to stage and rolls through the first beam and nearly through the second beam. The tree comes down, the red�s on in Cowger�s lane and Otwell�s 4.62 will move into the 2nd round uncontested. Back in the pits, the report was the button didn�t hold on the C&W ride. Cowger now had no chance to catch the Talley/Nickens team for 3rd in the standings, and would finish in the # 4 spot for the year with three runner ups to their credit. Back at the burnout box, Aaron Hubbard is ready to get it on with Randy Elliott. Vette�s a pair on the line, engines on the chip, Aaron with a slight rt advantage and would move on into round 2. Randy�s main bullet has been down all year but he has continued to support the TPSA by bringing his car out and helping at the scales when necessary. Thanks Randy! Back to the race, defending Champ Larry Pearce drew the bye and would insure an even field for the next round with two Team Pigford cars with Reher-Morrison power, and two Team O, NRC/Slick Rick rides. Hubbard�s Houston Engine & Balancing entry is neutral in the team wars, and could only be cast in the spoilers role.

2nd Round�Here we go, the tension�s building. For Otwell to catch Pig for the Championship he�s got to go to the final, and Pig has to lose this round. The drawings done, and the first pair out is Joe Pigford and Richard Otwell! This is it, the season for both teams. Otwell must win and go to the final� a �Boss Hog� win here seals the deal for 2010 and he�s a 3x TPSA Champ. The fans are on the fence, the announcer is making sure everyone on the property knows what�s fixin� to happen, and both teams have heavy support on the starting line. Routine burnouts and pre stage procedures by both and they approach the beams. They�re both in, motors on high C, tree comes down, both out cleanly and looks like Richard�s first to the �60 foot cone but here comes Pig, very close @ 500 ft, too close to call�.win lite Joe Pigford! Margin of Victory .0036! Pig�s numbers .4228 rt, 4.6093 to an oh so close .4183, 4.6174 for Otwell. Tremendous race and a great year for Team O & Richard Otwell as they overcame some early season trouble to make a serious run at the Championship. He won three races, had one runner up, and will finish as # 2 for 2010. Next pair saw the remaining Team O, NRC/Slick Rick car of the defending Champ, Larry Pearce roll out. His opponent would be A. Hubbard in Ol� Blue. The fans had been treated to some suspense, intrigue, and some great racing already, but this was the last chance for them to see a major upset. With Pearce�s clear performance advantage that wasn�t likely, but this is drag racing. Pearce is staged first, Hub follows him in, and is first away from the line with a big jump! Half track and Hubbard�s still ahead and got a chance, but Pearce�s power is making the gap smaller..and quickly. At the stripe, the win lite glows in Hubbard�s lane, and he�ll move on. Even though Pearce won one race this year, it�s been a very frustrating year, and he finishes # 7 in the points. Look for a big rebound from the �09 Champ next year. Meanwhile, Roy Pigford, makes a clean 4.62 hit to mosey on to the semi�s.

Semi�s� Newly crowned Champ, Joe Pigford, draws the bye which means an all Pig final is likely between the two brothers, but a full moon is shining brightly and Hubbard will give it all he�s got in his match with Roy. Back in the lanes Roy and Aaron are given the signal to fire �em up, and Hub�s Vette rolls toward the water. Roy�s headlites are on but the car isn�t moving. Aaron is waiting in the water box, but when Roy�s car won�t fire, Hub's sent on a competition bye. Hubbard completes the run and will face Joe in the final. The problem with Roy�s car was found to be a starter drive that wouldn�t engage. Roy won one race this year and will finish #5.

Finals�Both Pigford and Hubbard had turned on the redlite in the semi�s, but everyone knew with the performance advantage Joe enjoyed he would have the �box� on with plenty to cover it. Hubbard on the other hand, had been on the tree all nite and the smart money figured he�d take a whack at the tree now as well. Hubbard was also trying to keep his streak alive of winning at least one race in each of the TPSA seasons he�s competed in. Both cars stage without any drama, Hubbard�s Vette out first�but the red lite is left hangin� and 2010 Champ Joe Pigford wins for the 5th time this year. This was Aaron's lone final round appearance of the year, and he ends up #6.

Congratulations to Joe and the �Pig Pen� for an outstanding year and a tremendous effort. Thanks to all of the TPSA teams for providing a sensational season with many twists and turns along the way, with plenty of drama, and a points battle that kept us on the edge of our seat. Great job by all of the guys.

So to recap, the fans wanted suspense, intrigue, controversy, close racing, and maybe an upset�they got all of that and more. The racers wanted a superior racing surface so that performance would determine the outcome of the race, and Fred and his crew delivered that in spades. Thanks to Mike Bruce and the Bruce family, Fred & his track crew, the staff @ Evadale, and of course, the devoted East Texas fans! See you back here in 2011!

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Joe Pigford...Winner and 2010 TPSA Champ

Runner Up...Aaron Hubbard

Semi's...Roy Pigford

#2 for 2010...Richard Otwell

Outgoing Champ...Larry Pearce

The Talley/Nickens team..

Team C&W...

Randy the "Dandy" Elliott...

The Robinson/Wilkerson Team...

The "Tomcat" Platt/Hughes Team...

Photo's courtesy of texasboderlinephotography.com -- ., 10/25/10 11:30pm

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