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[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] Date Posted: 06/29/09 8:39pm Author: . Subject:   J. Pig cool as a cucumber... The TPSA troupe started rollin' in to Edinburg International Racetrack early Friday evening. Yep, it was hot, but when the sun went down an amazing transformation occured, and it was actually comfortable outside. Mid 80's and as promised by the track manager, Isaac Ebrom, a nice breeze helped cool things off. We all hoped it would be the same for Saturday. Team "Pigpen" was out in full force Friday nite and made 4 hits in the Grand Am, driven by Joe Pigford, and Roy made 2 hits in the GXP. The last pass in the GXP resulting in a broken stator support for Roy. Team NRC/Slick Rick arrived a bit later with their 3 cars (Pearce, Otwell, Cowger/Wood) and Jeff Naiser made a couple of hits in Larry Pearce's ride. Larry had other commitments and was unable to make this race so Naiser was there to represent. The Cavalier broke a planetary on it's last TT and that sent the Naiser Nation scramblin' for parts to be able to make Saturday's event. Saturday's qualifying and all the broken cars were repaired. Team "Pig" installed a spare gearbox in Roy's entry, and in a philanthropic gesture, loaned their #1 rival, Team NRC, a planetary that would allow Jeff (in Pearce's car) to make eliminations. The Naiser team had one more gremlin as Jeff broke a rocker arm on the Cavalier in the first qualifying session, but the team had that quickly repaired before the next hit. When the smoke cleared, it was Joe Pigford's 4.740 @ a booming 149.26 (top mph of the event) at the top of the heap. Just behind was Jeff Naiser's 4.747 @ 147.22. The weather conditions had all of the teams checking their summer tuneups and the "super" tuners, Billy Stocklin of Team Pig, and Kenny Hubbard of Team NRC were workin' overtime. 1st round...The sun had set and the conditions were temp's in the mid 80's and 60% humidity...quite pleasant compared to what feels like a blast furnace in the mid afternoon in the Valley. First pair out was the Conrad/Winscott GTO vs. the Roy Pigford GXP. Eddie was just a tad too quick and redlit with a -.004 and Roy eased 'er down into round 2. Donald the "Boxman" Hughes and David Hubbard are Hill Country Boyz teammates, and often travel together, but the draw pitted them against each other in the opening stanza. As expected, the "Boxman" was out first, but DH had enough to move by and into the next round. The next pair saw Jeff Naiser in the Pearce Cavalier line up with Ben Worley in his Grand Am that is usually driven by Richard Otwell. Ben had flown in from the left coast to make his 2nd TPSA event of the year while Richard was celebrating his anniversary at the lake. When the tree came down, Naiser gave Ben the move and that would cost him, as his best pass of the event, a 4.726, crossed the stripe behind Ben's 4.82. The black 'Vette of the Hanson family, once again with Chad in the chair, came around the corner of the staging lanes. He had the unenviable chore of facing the #1 qualifying J. Pig. Pig showed the field the way to do it with his first 4.69(5) low et of the nite, that sent Chad back to the trailer.The Cowger/Wood team drew the bye and would move on. 2nd round...The luck of the draw, or lack of it... The "Pigpen" was empty as J Pig drew R Pig and they rolled up to stage. Roy won the last event @ HMP and had to go through Joe to do it. He would not be able to duplicate that result this time as Joe's 4.71 easily parked Roy's out of shape 4.94. The random draw continued and teammates Rick Cowger and Ben Worley brought 'em to the waterbox. Ben would use his best pass of the nite, a 4.75 to cover Rick's 4.79. DH drew the bye and moved into the semi's. Semi's...Joe Pigford drew the bye so DH and Worley would be first up. DH pre-staged first and waited for Ben. Ben lit the pre-stage and neither could find low gear to finish staging...LOL. Word was DH's crew got tired of standing behind the car, flipped the data recorder on, and stepped away. The crowd was into it but finally DH rolled in, followed quickly by Ben. Great rt's by both, advantage DH, but Ben's 4.75 was too much for him to hold off. Back at the trailer, both racers were having a laugh about the staging battle and DH's racpak showed he sat there 26 seconds before staging...remember they sat there awhile before the crewman activated the recorder. It was a hoot for everyone involved. Meanwhile, back at the tree, the "Pigman" calmly lays down his second 4.69 of the event, this time with a "7" and waits for the crew to come pick him up. Final...Reher-Morrison vs. NRC/Slick Rick power. Burnouts complete, both prestaged and.... would there be another "staging duel"? Nope, the "Pigman" says "I'm #1 qualifier come get ya sum" and rolls into the stage beam. Ben follows him in and when the tree comes down, J Pig is headed to the Winner's Circle on the basis of Ben's redlite. Ben was just .009 too early but Pig's 4.71 would have been a tough row to hoe. Another great outing for "Big" Ben and maybe we'll see him again before the end of the season. Congratulations to both Teams and to all of the TPSA competitors that made the trip. Gracias to the Cantu family, Mr. Isaac Ebrom, the entire staff @ Edinburg, and especially the South Texas fans for their warm hospitality. The TPSA will be back @ Edinburg September 12...mark your calendars now. PS...thanks to the Hanson family for their work @ the scales and also to Randy Elliott and his family for taking some time out of their trip to the beach to give us a hand!  Ben Worley and his crew  [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] Replies: [>  ***Correction on the 1st round race between Naiser & Worley***...Ben ran a 4.782 NOT 4.82. Isaac @ Edinburg put together the run sheets and they're posted along with the updated points over on the homepage... -- ., 06/29/09 10:03pm [ Post a Reply to This Message ] [Edit] [> Kudo's to Pigford and Worley, wished I could have been there -- fan, 06/30/09 11:54pm [ Post a Reply to This Message ] [Edit]
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