Great Googly Moogly
Nitro Member
The WFA held its second race of the season at Barona Dragstrip in southern California. With cool air conditions and high humidity, eleven teams battled the slick track conditions. The crowd got their money’s worth of thrilling, sideways, tire smoking, two wheel action as the drivers did everything they could to get into the 8 car payout.
First pair out was Jerry Hall and new comer Rick Ackerman. Ackerman, apparently using an Oberg tune-up, sacrificed a burst panel on the burnout, allowing Hall to experience his new found horsepower, blowing the tires off several times during the long 1/8 mile trip. Local favorite Eric Gates was the only driver that decided a visit to the beach was in order as he made a trip into the sand. While most teams found the conditions rather challenging, it was Danny Levitt Jr. who put on a clinic running a nice 4.32 followed closely by the 9000 rpm, burnout “King” Ed Middlebrook.
Second round the track got colder and conditions worsened. This time Dean Oberg was the only car to improve, knocking Middlebrook from his pedestal. According to the crowd response it was the thrill show of Howell and Maroney that highlighted the second round. Both cars smoked the tires about 100 ft out sending the cars sideways. As the pedalfest continued the crowd held their breath as the drivers took a good look at the wall and the centerline with both only using 2 of the 4 wheels available, finally ending with both cars stopping safely at the end of the track. That paired up Oberg and Levitt for the final round.
With the moisture gathering on the track, the teams squared off with what seemed to be a driver’s battle. When the lights dropped, it was Levitt out front with the quickest reaction time of the night. Unbelievably both cars made great 4 second passes in the closest race of the weekend. Levitt’s 4.499 at 143 mph was good enough to hold off Oberg’s hard charging 4.501 at 157 mph. Levitt proved to pick up where he left off last year by taking the win, the Torco Quick Reaction Time award and the RBS Superchargers Low Qualifier bonus. Not to be outdone, Dean Oberg has shown he’s the man to beat this year by winning the FantaZ “Whose Got Game?” award for having the most consistent car at the event and leaving with the series points lead.
Overall the times weren’t as quick as expected, but definitely a fuel altered show!
Event Photos:
Gallery
See everyone in Tucson on June 4th. Western Fuel Altereds Series 2011
Final Qualifying Order:
1. Danny Levitt 4.32 152 mph
2. Dean Oberg 4.53 156 mph
3. Ed Middlebrook 4.54 150 mph
4. Sheldon Lofgreen 4.69 142 mph
5. Robert Winefsky 4.75 138 mph
6. Jim Maroney 4.77 144 mph
7. Eric Gates 5.01 130 mph
8. Jerry Hall 5.67 110 mph
9. Rich Howell 6.23 81 mph
10. Hal Rishton 6.34 77 mph
11. Rick Ackerman 12.67 35 mph
First pair out was Jerry Hall and new comer Rick Ackerman. Ackerman, apparently using an Oberg tune-up, sacrificed a burst panel on the burnout, allowing Hall to experience his new found horsepower, blowing the tires off several times during the long 1/8 mile trip. Local favorite Eric Gates was the only driver that decided a visit to the beach was in order as he made a trip into the sand. While most teams found the conditions rather challenging, it was Danny Levitt Jr. who put on a clinic running a nice 4.32 followed closely by the 9000 rpm, burnout “King” Ed Middlebrook.
Second round the track got colder and conditions worsened. This time Dean Oberg was the only car to improve, knocking Middlebrook from his pedestal. According to the crowd response it was the thrill show of Howell and Maroney that highlighted the second round. Both cars smoked the tires about 100 ft out sending the cars sideways. As the pedalfest continued the crowd held their breath as the drivers took a good look at the wall and the centerline with both only using 2 of the 4 wheels available, finally ending with both cars stopping safely at the end of the track. That paired up Oberg and Levitt for the final round.
With the moisture gathering on the track, the teams squared off with what seemed to be a driver’s battle. When the lights dropped, it was Levitt out front with the quickest reaction time of the night. Unbelievably both cars made great 4 second passes in the closest race of the weekend. Levitt’s 4.499 at 143 mph was good enough to hold off Oberg’s hard charging 4.501 at 157 mph. Levitt proved to pick up where he left off last year by taking the win, the Torco Quick Reaction Time award and the RBS Superchargers Low Qualifier bonus. Not to be outdone, Dean Oberg has shown he’s the man to beat this year by winning the FantaZ “Whose Got Game?” award for having the most consistent car at the event and leaving with the series points lead.
Overall the times weren’t as quick as expected, but definitely a fuel altered show!
Event Photos:
Gallery
See everyone in Tucson on June 4th. Western Fuel Altereds Series 2011
Final Qualifying Order:
1. Danny Levitt 4.32 152 mph
2. Dean Oberg 4.53 156 mph
3. Ed Middlebrook 4.54 150 mph
4. Sheldon Lofgreen 4.69 142 mph
5. Robert Winefsky 4.75 138 mph
6. Jim Maroney 4.77 144 mph
7. Eric Gates 5.01 130 mph
8. Jerry Hall 5.67 110 mph
9. Rich Howell 6.23 81 mph
10. Hal Rishton 6.34 77 mph
11. Rick Ackerman 12.67 35 mph
