Brian Booze burst onto the Hot Street scene last year, packing Jim Kuntz power in Joe Morgan's TRZ-built chassis. Brian won the championship, and he must have enjoyed himself, 'cause he talked his brother Charlie into joining the HS ranks. Early on at Ennis, Brian appeared the one to beat. He qualified at the top of the list thanks to a 9.38/146. Charlie was number two. A bye in round one took Brian into round two against the formidable Who Killed Kenny Compton. Brian had the better reaction time and e.t., and it was over. Heading into the final to avenge his brother's second-round loss, Brian just didn't have the beans to hold off Shane Long despite getting the jump off the Tree.
All the classes might have been called Hot Street in Ennis, but the warm air would do no favors for the high-rpm, naturally aspirated crowd. Low 9s had been the norm, but the heat pushed that back a few tenths. We've been told by Jon Bennett that the engine in Shane Long's gorgeous silver '87 coupe made a ton of power. Well, that edge finally paid off on the hot and greasy Ennis 1,320. Shane qualified midpack with a 9.44/144 fourth-place pass. On Sunday, he yanked the Welds in the air and put just enough on each opponent to win. Nick Bacalis fell in round one. In round two, Charlie Booze had already used up his near-perfect light in round one. All that was left was the final versus last year's champ Brian Booze. Brian got the jump, but Shane ran him down and took his first win of the year.
Kurt Gallant has been on a tear this season, winning races, running 8s, and generally having a good time. Kurt credits his team's success to constant testing and R&D. He and Ron Sharp of Advanced Airflow (who does Kurt's engines, heads, and nitrous tuning) hit the strip at least twice a week. From those test sessions, they log how the car performs in different weather conditions. Thanks to all this research, Kurt was easily able to dial-in the car and run consistently in the Texas sizzle. He scored the top-qualified spot with a 9.16/149 pass, which earned him a bye in round one. Then he trailered Mike Post and Scott "Swill" Lovell on his way to a clash with Randy Rogers in the final. There Kurt Tree'd Randy and ripped off a 9.15 to ensure the win.
Nitrous newcomer Randy Rogers injected the EFI Renegade field with a 9.20 consistency that was tough to beat. He landed his '94 Cobra in the second qualified spot thanks to a 9.24/149 pass that was hot on the heels of Kurt Gallant. Once Randy rolled into eliminations, he might as well have taken home some bracket money too, 'cause he ran 9.20s in every round but his bye run. A 9.23 dispatched Brad Sease, a 9.28 edged B.K. Meyers, and then it was a bye to the finals. There Randy ran an 9.29, but he could've used a 9.09 against Kurt Gallant.
Another racer who was actually closer to Ennis than most other NMRA events was Dwayne Barbaree of Eldorado, Arkansas. He has been in the Pure Street chase all season, but his exploits have been overshadowed by the Hendricks/Hindman battles. The shorter drive also allowed Dwayne to bring the whole clan with him to Texas. With the family for motivation, he qualified number one with a 10.89/123. From there it was a fairly easy road for Dwayne. He dispatched Rich Groh in round one and took a bye in round two. In the finals he squared off against the previously undefeated Darin Hendricks. It was a close one. Darin left first, but Dwayne had enough power to make it to the big end first, with a 10.974 versus Darin's 10.990.
The tough thing about streaks is there's always the looming danger they might end. Darin Hendricks set the Pure Street world on fire, mostly using guile and driving skill to best competitors with quicker cars. He's been the nemesis to last year's champ Gene Hindman, but at Ennis they would meet before the finals. Darin qualified Steve Moberly's ride in the third spot thanks to a 10.97/122 hit. Jeff Chandler gave him the win in round one, then Darin and Gene lined up in round two. As has been the case all year, Darin won the race at the Tree, jumping out and holding Gene off despite a slower 10.92-versus-10.91 e.t. Darin must have been distracted not to see Gene in the finals, 'cause upstart Dwayne Barbaree won one for his home team. Despite the loss, Darin still held a commanding points lead heading into the Grove.