|
|
Penwell Knights Raceway at Caprock Motorplex
Odessa, Texas - November 1st & 2nd, 2019
Odessa, Texas - November 1st & 2nd, 2019
Rodak's Custom Coffee 'A' Field Event Winner
|
Rodak's Custom Coffee 'A' Field Event Runner Up
|
PHOTO HIGHLIGHTS:
|
|
|
Thank you to the following contributors:
Wes Ramsey & Ken Bennett
Wes Ramsey & Ken Bennett
FINAL QUALIFYING ORDERS & ROUND BY ROUND RESULTS:
A-FIELD Final Qualifying Order:
1. Ken Singleton (Chickasha, OK) – 3.81 @ 200 2. Nick Poloson (San Antonio, TX) – 4.16 @ 181 3. Tod Barker (Marlow, OK) – 4.33 @ 162 4. Dustin Bradford (San Antonio, TX) – 4.37 @ 161 5. Jeff Cameron (Magnolia, TX) – 4.50 @ 153 6. Jordan Ballew (Bartlesville, OK) – 4.82 @ 146 7. Bill Ort (Lovington, NM) – 4.83 @ 143 8. Chuck Loftin (Seguin, TX) – 4.87 @ 150 Round 1 Elims: (W) Poloson (.086 rt) 4.07 @ 183 –vs- (L) Ort (.409 rt) 4.62 @ 150 (W) Loftin (.122 rt) 3.99 @ 179 –vs- (L) Singleton (.079 rt) 4.22 @ 178 (W) Bradford (.086 rt) 5.26 @ 138 –vs- (L) Cameron (.525 rt) 5.59 @ 142 (W) Ballew (.250 rt) 6.73 @ 65 –vs- (L) Barker (No Time – Broke) Semi-Final Elims: (W) Ballew (.058 rt) 4.84 @ 144 –vs- (L) Poloson (-.044 rt) 4.00 @ 189 (W) Loftin (.133 rt) 3.98 @ 164 –vs- (L) Bradford (.061 rt) 4.34 @ 164 Final Round Elims: (W) Ballew (.014) 4.85 @ 144 –vs- (L) Loftin (.173 rt) 16.41 @ 3 |
B-FIELD Final Qualifying Order:
1. Tera Graves (Princeton, TX) – 4.92 @ 102 2. Dave Gallegos (St. Marys, KS) – 5.39 @ 132 3. Lyle Greenberg (Albuquerque, NM) – 6.27 @ 144 4. Shane Blanton (Dumas, TX) – 6.78 @ 84 5. Eric Eoff (San Antonio, TX) – 11.46 @ 47 Round 1 Elims: (W) Gallegos (.235 rt) 5.20 @ 128 –vs- (L) Eoff (.543 rt) 5.06 @ 129 (W) Greenberg (.125 rt) 4.09 @ 182 –vs- (L) Blanton (.272 rt) 6.32 @ 106 (W) Graves (.210 rt) 4.27 @ 162 –vs- (L) Bye Run Semi-Final Elims: (W) Greenberg (.125 rt) 4.13 @ 181 –vs- (L) Graves (.136 rt) 4.76 @ 115 (W) Dave Gallegos (No Time – Shutoff) –vs- (L) Bye Run Final Round Elims: (W) Greenberg (.088 rt) 4.25 @ 171 –vs- (L) Gallegos (.101 rt) 5.57 @ 134 |
RACE RECAP:
Ballew & Greenberg Go All The Way in Odessa!
The 2019 Funny Car Chaos season officially concluded on November 1st & 2nd at Penwell Knights Raceway in Odessa, Texas with the "Oil Field Nationals" non-points, exhibition event. With the epic Best of Texas BBQ Sauce Championship battle concluded in September, the no pressure event satisfied the final Chaos fix for fourteen drivers who made the tow to West Texas and marked the return of nitro funny cars to the 53 year old facility located just off I-20 West of Odessa. Track owner Gary Gardenhire had taken notice of the Funny Car Chaos series throughout the 2019 season and jumped at the opportunity to squeeze this event in before the end of the season. Joined by the Dirty South Gassers, heads up shootouts, brackets and junior dragster the event had something for everyone as the pits filled on Friday afternoon for a fabulous weekend of drag racing.
Literally none of the fourteen entered Chaos drivers had ever raced down Penwell Knights Raceway, making the learning curve equal for everyone as both drivers and their crew chiefs did their best to provide the best performance. Friday night's two qualifying sessions resulted in hot and cold results for many, certainly hot for one driver, your 2019 Funny Car Chaos Champion. Ken Singleton ripped off a jaw dropping track record elapsed time of 3.82 at 188 mph in the "High Risk" screw blown Monte Carlo to lead the charts and raise the eyebrows of the Penwell Knights Raceway staff as their track record had already been beat!
Literally none of the fourteen entered Chaos drivers had ever raced down Penwell Knights Raceway, making the learning curve equal for everyone as both drivers and their crew chiefs did their best to provide the best performance. Friday night's two qualifying sessions resulted in hot and cold results for many, certainly hot for one driver, your 2019 Funny Car Chaos Champion. Ken Singleton ripped off a jaw dropping track record elapsed time of 3.82 at 188 mph in the "High Risk" screw blown Monte Carlo to lead the charts and raise the eyebrows of the Penwell Knights Raceway staff as their track record had already been beat!
|
|
Nick Poloson clicked off a 4.16 at 181 mph in the Doak family owned “Bucket List” nitro burner to score the second qualifying position and Dustin Bradford posted a career best 4.37 at 161 mph in the San Antonio based “American Dream” to claim the number three spot. Jeff Cameron’s 4.50 rounded out the top half of the Rodak’s Custom Coffee ‘A’ Field after two of three qualifying rounds. Singleton flexed his muscle yet again as he improved on the track record in the final qualifier with a 3.81 at a booming 200 mph, clearly the car to beat heading into eliminations.
Funny Car Chaos welcomed three new teams to the series as Bill Ort made his debut in the “Giddy Up & Go” Ford Mustang bodied alcohol burner from New Mexico. Ort was joined by fellow newcomer Shane “Smokey” Blanton” who debuted his “Bad Company” alcohol burning 1991 Chevy Lumina from Dumas, Texas. Finally, Gary Smith’s “Seismic Activity” entry was on hand but mechanical issues kept the car from taking the track, but we look forward to Smith’s 2020 ‘on-track’ debut with his flopper from Lubbock, Texas.
Funny Car Chaos welcomed three new teams to the series as Bill Ort made his debut in the “Giddy Up & Go” Ford Mustang bodied alcohol burner from New Mexico. Ort was joined by fellow newcomer Shane “Smokey” Blanton” who debuted his “Bad Company” alcohol burning 1991 Chevy Lumina from Dumas, Texas. Finally, Gary Smith’s “Seismic Activity” entry was on hand but mechanical issues kept the car from taking the track, but we look forward to Smith’s 2020 ‘on-track’ debut with his flopper from Lubbock, Texas.
|
|
An overnight cold front brought a chilly Saturday morning to Penwell Knights Raceway, but consistent sunshine helped warm things up to a comfortable 63 degrees as the final qualifying session was on tap as teams battled for their final positions. Tod Barker’s “Back in Black” alcohol Hemi from Oklahoma clicked off a solid 4.33 at 162 mph to jump into the ‘A’ Field and was joined by Jordan Ballew, Bill Ort and Chuck Loftin who’s 4.87 at 150 mph rounded out the top eight. AlkyDigger ‘B’ Field action was led by Tera Graves who wheeled the Keith Jackson owned “High Heaven” to a best of 4.92 in qualifying. Nitro-a-plenty in the big power ‘B’ Field as Graves was joined by fellow CH3NO2 burners Dave Gallegos, Lyle Greenberg and Eric Eoff with the lone alcohol burner Shane Blanton joining the mix heading into eliminations.
|
FINAL QUALIFYING ORDER: Rodak’s Custom Coffee ‘A’ Field - 1. Ken Singleton (Chickasha, OK) – 3.81 @ 200 2. Nick Poloson (San Antonio, TX) – 4.16 @ 181 3. Tod Barker (Marlow, OK) – 4.33 @ 162 4. Dustin Bradford (San Antonio, TX) – 4.37 @ 161 5. Jeff Cameron (Magnolia, TX) – 4.50 @ 153 6. Jordan Ballew (Bartlesville, OK) – 4.82 @ 146 7. Bill Ort (Lovington, NM) – 4.83 @ 143 8. Chuck Loftin (Seguin, TX) – 4.87 @ 150 AlkyDigger.com ‘B’ Field – 1. Tera Graves (Princeton, TX) – 4.92 @ 102 2. Dave Gallegos (St. Marys, KS) – 5.39 @ 132 3. Lyle Greenberg (Albuquerque, NM) – 6.27 @ 144 4. Shane Blanton (Dumas, TX) – 6.78 @ 84 5. Eric Eoff (San Antonio, TX) – 11.46 @ 46 |
|
Nick Poloson and Bill Ort kicked off eliminations as Poloson stepped up to a 4.07 at 183 mph to best Ort’s 4.62 at 150 mph. Chuck Loftin was out next alongside top qualifier Ken Singelton. Loftin has proved his ability to run in the 3.80 zone in his nitro burner, but had struggled thus far to find their tune-up, while Singelton clearly had a handle on his track record setting entry. At the flash of amber, Singelton blasted off the line first with Loftin charging hard with the front wheels in the air. At half-track they were side by side and Singleton’s car broke loose sending him wildly close to the wall as dust and debris scattered, while Loftin had the loud pedal smashed through the floor and drove around with an impressive 3.99 at 179 mph to defeat Singleton’s wild 4.22 at 178 mph. What a drag race! Rodak’s Custom Coffee ‘A’ Field eliminations continued as Dustin Bradford got the best of Jeff Cameron in a pedal fest and Jordan Ballew soloed into the semi-finals after his opponent Tod Barker was unable to make the call with a burnt piston.
AlkyDigger ‘B’ Field action got underway with Eric Eoff and Dave Gallegos taking the line. Eoff drove all morning and pulled into Penwell Knights Raceway just a few hours before final qualifying to earn his spot in the show, but needed another cup of coffee in first round as his 5.06 came up short to Gallegos’ hole shot 5.20 round win. Lyle Greenberg is usually found wheeling his own “Cone Hunter” Corvette nitro burner, but this weekend was handling the driving duties for the Stringer family’s “Blown Cent-less” nitro powered Chevy. Greenberg sent the crew into a wild celebration as they posted a career best 4.09 at 182 mph to take the first round win over Shane Blanton. Tera Graves benefitted from the bye run in the odd numbered ‘B’ field and posted her best time thus far with a 4.27 at 162 to move into the semi-finals.
AlkyDigger ‘B’ Field action got underway with Eric Eoff and Dave Gallegos taking the line. Eoff drove all morning and pulled into Penwell Knights Raceway just a few hours before final qualifying to earn his spot in the show, but needed another cup of coffee in first round as his 5.06 came up short to Gallegos’ hole shot 5.20 round win. Lyle Greenberg is usually found wheeling his own “Cone Hunter” Corvette nitro burner, but this weekend was handling the driving duties for the Stringer family’s “Blown Cent-less” nitro powered Chevy. Greenberg sent the crew into a wild celebration as they posted a career best 4.09 at 182 mph to take the first round win over Shane Blanton. Tera Graves benefitted from the bye run in the odd numbered ‘B’ field and posted her best time thus far with a 4.27 at 162 to move into the semi-finals.
|
|
FIRST ROUND RESULTS:
Rodak’s Custom Coffee ‘A’ Field –
(W) Nick Poloson (.086 rt) 4.07 @ 183 –vs- (L) Bill Ort (.409 rt) 4.62 @ 150
(W) Chuck Loftin (.122 rt) 3.99 @ 179 –vs- (L) Ken Singleton (.079 rt) 4.22 @ 178
(W) Dustin Bradford (.086 rt) 5.26 @ 138 –vs- (L) Jeff Cameron (.525 rt) 5.59 @ 142
(W) Jordan Ballew (.250 rt) 6.73 @ 65 –vs- (L) Tod Barker (No Time – Broke)
AlkyDigger.com ‘B’ Field –
(W) Dave Gallegos (.235 rt) 5.20 @ 128 –vs- (L) Eric Eoff (.543 rt) 5.06 @ 129
(W) Lyle Greenberg (.125 rt) 4.09 @ 182 –vs- (L) Shane Blanton (.272 rt) 6.32 @ 106
(W) Tera Graves (.210 rt) 4.27 @ 162 –vs- (L) Bye Run
Rodak’s Custom Coffee ‘A’ Field –
(W) Nick Poloson (.086 rt) 4.07 @ 183 –vs- (L) Bill Ort (.409 rt) 4.62 @ 150
(W) Chuck Loftin (.122 rt) 3.99 @ 179 –vs- (L) Ken Singleton (.079 rt) 4.22 @ 178
(W) Dustin Bradford (.086 rt) 5.26 @ 138 –vs- (L) Jeff Cameron (.525 rt) 5.59 @ 142
(W) Jordan Ballew (.250 rt) 6.73 @ 65 –vs- (L) Tod Barker (No Time – Broke)
AlkyDigger.com ‘B’ Field –
(W) Dave Gallegos (.235 rt) 5.20 @ 128 –vs- (L) Eric Eoff (.543 rt) 5.06 @ 129
(W) Lyle Greenberg (.125 rt) 4.09 @ 182 –vs- (L) Shane Blanton (.272 rt) 6.32 @ 106
(W) Tera Graves (.210 rt) 4.27 @ 162 –vs- (L) Bye Run
Semi-final rounds were paired in the lanes and on time as the sun started to set on Penwell Knights Raceway. A full day of non-stop drag racing action resumed as the ‘A’ field competitors pulled into the waterbox. Jordan Ballew brought the “Ballew Thunder” to the line against Nick Poloson in the “Bucket List” and this one was over at the start as Poloson’s -.044 red light threw away a nice 4.00 at 189 mph as Ballew clicked off a 4.84 at 144 mph and was final round bound in Odessa. Loftin and Bradford fired up next and Bradford gave it his best shot with a reaction time advantage and career best 4.34 at 164 mph, but came up just short at the stripe to Loftin’s 3.98 at 164 mph as Ballew and Loftin were headed to the last dance in ‘A’ field competition.
Greenberg and Graves came thumping to the starting line in their nitro burners as the ‘B’ field semi-finals were underway and they blasted off the line together. Around the 330 foot mark Graves started spinning the tire which allowed Greenberg to charge ahead with a 4.13 at 181 mph to take the win. Dave Gallegos benefitted from the bye run and simply fired up and took the green light to claim the legal round win, literally running on his last few gallons of nitromethane and saving it for the final round.
Greenberg and Graves came thumping to the starting line in their nitro burners as the ‘B’ field semi-finals were underway and they blasted off the line together. Around the 330 foot mark Graves started spinning the tire which allowed Greenberg to charge ahead with a 4.13 at 181 mph to take the win. Dave Gallegos benefitted from the bye run and simply fired up and took the green light to claim the legal round win, literally running on his last few gallons of nitromethane and saving it for the final round.
|
|
Semi-Final Elimination Results:
Rodak’s Custom Coffee ‘A’ Field –
(W) Jordan Ballew (.058 rt) 4.84 @ 144 –vs- (L) Nick Poloson (-.044 rt) 4.00 @ 189
(W) Chuck Loftin (.133 rt) 3.98 @ 164 –vs- (L) Dustin Bradford (.061 rt) 4.34 @ 164
AlkyDigger.com ‘B’ Field –
(W) Lyle Greenberg (.125 rt) 4.13 @ 181 –vs- (L) Tera Graves (.136 rt) 4.76 @ 115
(W) Dave Gallegos (No Time – Shutoff) –vs- (L) Bye Run
Rodak’s Custom Coffee ‘A’ Field –
(W) Jordan Ballew (.058 rt) 4.84 @ 144 –vs- (L) Nick Poloson (-.044 rt) 4.00 @ 189
(W) Chuck Loftin (.133 rt) 3.98 @ 164 –vs- (L) Dustin Bradford (.061 rt) 4.34 @ 164
AlkyDigger.com ‘B’ Field –
(W) Lyle Greenberg (.125 rt) 4.13 @ 181 –vs- (L) Tera Graves (.136 rt) 4.76 @ 115
(W) Dave Gallegos (No Time – Shutoff) –vs- (L) Bye Run
The sun was down; it was time to crown winners in Odessa under the lights as four flip top floppers returned to the staging lanes for the final time. It had been a thrash for both ‘B’ field finalists as Greenberg’s team missed the final qualifier while welding a rocker arm back together and Gallegos had been chasing ignition issues which they seemed to have fixed as the cars came to life and nitro fumes filled the sky. Burnouts were complete and it was time to stage as crew chiefs made their final adjustments and sent their drivers into the stage position. Greenberg blasted off the line first and with a trickle of header flame through the eighth mile lit the scoreboards with a 4.25 at 171 mph win as the starting line went wild in celebration from the “Blown Cent-less” team, who scored their first career Funny Car Chaos win after a runner-up ‘B’ field finish in Amarillo in 2018. Congratulations to Ray Stringer, Lyle Greenberg and the entire team from Alamogordo, New Mexico on a great finish to the season.
Two down, two to go. David –vs- Goliath. Jaws –vs- Nemo. Call it what you will, but Jordan Ballew and Chuck Loftin were up next and we all know you don’t drag race on paper, you drag race on the strip! Ballew’s team fired up and proceeded with their patented and crowd pleasing dry hops while Loftin backed up from his burnout pumping big nitro power from the pipes. The cars pulled into pre-stage and it was soon evident Ballew had no intentions of going in first. After an entertaining staging duel, Loftin pulled in first and Ballew immediately followed. The ambers dropped and a quick flash of header flame from Loftin went away instantly as the car was now coasting due to a transmission failure, giving Loftin the best seat in the house to watch the little Nova that could streak away with a 4.85 at 144 mph to take the win and huge $5,000 payday as the Rodak’s Custom Coffee ‘A’ Field win went to Jordan Ballew and team “Ballew Thunder” to the delight of many of the fellow Chaos teams who had gathered on the line. Congratulations to Jordan and the team, who capped off their 2019 season with a big boost after they finished a very respectable 4th place in the overall season points standings out of 51 teams.
Two down, two to go. David –vs- Goliath. Jaws –vs- Nemo. Call it what you will, but Jordan Ballew and Chuck Loftin were up next and we all know you don’t drag race on paper, you drag race on the strip! Ballew’s team fired up and proceeded with their patented and crowd pleasing dry hops while Loftin backed up from his burnout pumping big nitro power from the pipes. The cars pulled into pre-stage and it was soon evident Ballew had no intentions of going in first. After an entertaining staging duel, Loftin pulled in first and Ballew immediately followed. The ambers dropped and a quick flash of header flame from Loftin went away instantly as the car was now coasting due to a transmission failure, giving Loftin the best seat in the house to watch the little Nova that could streak away with a 4.85 at 144 mph to take the win and huge $5,000 payday as the Rodak’s Custom Coffee ‘A’ Field win went to Jordan Ballew and team “Ballew Thunder” to the delight of many of the fellow Chaos teams who had gathered on the line. Congratulations to Jordan and the team, who capped off their 2019 season with a big boost after they finished a very respectable 4th place in the overall season points standings out of 51 teams.
|
|
|
|
Final Round Elimination Results:
Rodak’s Custom Coffee ‘A’ Field –
(W) Jordan Ballew (.014) 4.85 @ 144 –vs- (L) Chuck Loftin (.173 rt) 16.41 @ 39
AlkyDigger.com ‘B’ Field –
(W) Lyle Greenberg (.088 rt) 4.25 @ 171 –vs- (L) Dave Gallegos (.101 rt) 5.57 @ 134
Rodak’s Custom Coffee ‘A’ Field –
(W) Jordan Ballew (.014) 4.85 @ 144 –vs- (L) Chuck Loftin (.173 rt) 16.41 @ 39
AlkyDigger.com ‘B’ Field –
(W) Lyle Greenberg (.088 rt) 4.25 @ 171 –vs- (L) Dave Gallegos (.101 rt) 5.57 @ 134
The Funny Car Chaos series would like to thank Gary Gardenhire, Barbara Hughes and the entire staff at Penwell Knights Raceway for their hospitality and support as the “Oil Field Nationals” proved West Texas has a home for Funny Cars and fans and racers can expect this to be an official points event in the 2020 Funny Car Chaos Championship season. Two days filled with track records, huge upsets and funny car fun concluded a historic season for the Funny Car Chaos series. Thank you to all the racers, sponsors and fans who have made this such a special drag racing venue for so many. It will be a busy winter for most, as teams prepare for a full on assault on the 2020 Funny Car Chaos Championship Tour and many teams plan to make their series debut next season! Until then, have a wonderful off-season and we look forward to seeing you next year…at the CHAOS!
|
|
|