We don't think Steve Gifford and John Leslie Jr. had it planned at Reynolds, but both racers had an interesting weekend. As part of the race-within-a-race format in the NMRA, it was Factory Stock's chance at extra cash to make up for increased fuel prices. The shootout gave qualifying a new meaning. Instead of running for position, Factory Stock racers wanted that money. Though Steve showed he had the power with 118- to 119-mph trap speeds, John took the shootout. However, Steve redeemed himself in eliminations, gaining a tenth over his qualifying times. That may not sound like much in the real world, but in drag racing, it's everything. In the Factory Stock final, Steve and John once again lined up against each other, but Steve saved his best run of the weekend for the final with an 11.46 to exact revenge from the shootout.
John Leslie Jr. has thrown a wrench into the otherwise happy-go-lucky Factory Stock class. The JPC Racing crew figured 2008 would be its year with Tommy Godfrey at the wheel of Michael Washington's whip once again in a battle with Steve Gifford. However, John, with Rich Groh Racing handling the engine-building duties, has stepped up in a big way. Speaking of the JPC crew, Justin Burcham wasn't too happy when John squeaked by Tommy in the shootout thanks to a holeshot, but what's worse is that John beat Tommy again in eliminations even though Tommy had a tenth on John thanks to his own holeshot. John was able to beat Steve in the Factory Stock Shootout to make the ride home more manageable, but unlike Tommy, Steve would turn the tables on John in the final to win the event.
We have a feeling the final-round...
We have a feeling the final-round match-up in Modular Muscle between Tom Motycka and Susan McClenaghan won't be the last time these two will face each other in the money round. Both hail from Michigan, both run every NMRA race, and both are great racers. This time around, Tom got the win against Susan, even when she got out quick with a 0.519 light (0.500 being perfect), but Tom countered with an even better 0.505 reaction time en route to running a 12.458 against a 12.47 dial. Usually that means an automatic loss, but Susan broke out by a larger margin so Tom went back to Michigan with the win.
No one was going to get in...
No one was going to get in Mike Olencheck's way in winning Open Comp at Reynolds. Mike ran right on his 10.26 dial four rounds in a row during eliminations, including the final round against Danny Towe. Mike runs a 427 in his '82 Fairmont, the other Fox white meat.
Two out of three isn't bad....
Two out of three isn't bad. By winning Truck and Lightning, Mike Motycka made the Motycka family two for three in their respective classes. They could've gone three for three had Robert Motycka not blown his engine while competing in Open Comp, but he was trying something different with his big-block '88 LX. Mike, however, had his big-block Uncle Jesse special dialed in to 12.03 index. His worst run was a 12.113 against the 12.03, and combined with stellar reaction times, that's hard to beat. Johnny Lightning was unable to put Uncle Jesse on the trailer in the final