Breazeal Banks at B.H.R.A. Nationals
Texas Raceway - Kennedale, TX
August 1st, 2008
Race Report - Chris Graves
Photos - Chris Graves & Jenny Hart
Each summer Texas Raceway hosts their largest event of the season, the B.H.R.A. Nationals, which honors the life and achievements of former track owner Bill Hielscher. It is the most anticipated drag racing event of the summer in North Texas and the Smiley’s Racing Products Southwest Junior Fuel Association came to do add to the nostalgic feel as a headlining series of the show. A total of eleven front motored diggers came to compete in the sixth event in the eight race SWJFA season. Following a pre-race parade which showcased all the participating racecars plus the “Mr. Bardahl” 1965 Corvette AHRA Championship car driven by Bill Hielscher, Bobby Langley’s “Scorpion” dragster and more. Fans were lined up at the front gate eager to see some nostalgic drag racing as well as the series of match races and jet car exhibitions all planned at the 6th Annual B.H.R.A. Nationals.
Series President and racer Mike Millsap came to Texas Raceway fresh off his first career series win a few weeks before at North Star Dragway, located just a few miles up I-35 in Denton, Texas. Qualifying results were no surprise, as Millsap claimed his fourth number one qualifying effort in a row. Millsap’s 4.85 led the field by almost a tenth of a second over number two qualifier Ken Hawkins at 4.94. Series points leader and defending champion Keith Breazeal also dipped into the fours with a 4.99 which qualified him third. After two completed qualifying sessions the field was set and it was time to start going some rounds, or go home.
(Ken Hawkins)
(Keith Breazeal - Steve Dunkin)
Final Qualifying Order:
1. Mike Millsap (Sachse, Texas) - 4.85
2. Ken Hawkins (Shreveport, Louisiana) - 4.94
3. Keith Breazeal (Cypress, Texas) - 4.99
4. Ricky Marshall (Burleson, Texas) - 5.05
5. Don Holley (Denton, Texas) - 5.06
6. Thomas Porter (Burleson, Texas) - 5.200
7. Steve Dunkin (Aledo, Texas) - 5.207
8. Logan Pursur (Sanger, Texas) - 5.44
9. Don Scott (Garland, Texas) - 5.62
10. Ron Muncy (Weatherford, Texas) - 6.02
11. Rick Grindstaff (Dickinson, Texas) - 6.21
(Ricky Marshall)
Steve Dunkin and his “Foolish Pleasure” dragster lined up with Don Holley’s “Lasting Impressions” machine in the first pair of first round eliminations. Dunkin got almost a tenth on Holley at the tree and needed it at the finish line as he took the win with a 5.19 at 131 mph over Holley’s quicker but loosing 5.15 at 124 mph. Next up was a monster match-up between the points leader Breazeal and the always strong Ricky Marshall. Both drivers were on their game at the tree, Breazeal with a slight advantage. It was a side by side battle to the line as Breazeal’s 4.99 took out Marshall’s 5.01 with a slight two hundredths of a second margin of victory. Ken Hawkins rolled up next along side Thomas Porter in the “Bone Peddler.” Porter knew he had to get all he could on the tree to defeat Hawkins who had the performance advantage. Porter went red by -.007 and gave the win to Hawkins who clicked off a 4.96 to take the win over Porter’s 5.26. Don Scott had the pleasure of facing the number one qualifier Millsap in the opening round. Despite getting over two tenths of a second advantage off the line, Millsap was able to run down Scott with a 4.86 to Scott’s 5.55. In the final pair of first round, Logan Pursur faced off with Rick Grindstaff’s “Quarter Flash” machine. Pursur reacted first to the green but his 5.57 lap was no match for Grindstaff’s nice 5.09 to advance.
First Round Results:
(W) Steve Dunkin (.025 rt) 5.19 at 131 mph vs. (L) Don Holley (.120 rt) 5.15 at 124 mph
(W) Keith Breazeal (.036 rt) 4.99 at 135 mph vs. (L) Ricky Marshall (.042 rt) 5.01 at 134 mph
(W) Ken Hawkins (.123 rt) 4.96 at 136 mph vs. (L) Thomas Porter (-.007 rt) 5.26 at 126 mph
(W) Mike Millsap (.349 rt) 4.86 at 162 mph vs. (L) Don Scott (.130 rt) 5.55 at 122 mph
(W) Rick Grindstaff (.077 rt) 5.09 at 134 mph vs. (L) Logan Pursur (.052 rt) 5.57 at 113 mph
(Don Holley)
(Keith Breazeal Wheels Up Launch)
(Keith Breazeal taking the first round win)
The four quickest winners from the first round advanced to the four car semi-final round. Can you say battle of the big dogs? Mike Millsap and Keith Breazeal battled it out to start off the semi. Breazeal was amped for this one as he cut a stellar .008 reaction time and clicked off a 4.96 to take out Millsap who fell off to a 6.91. Breazeal advanced to his series leading fourth final round of 2008 and would face the winner between Ken Hawkins and Rick Grindstaff who were up next. Grindstaff ran into problems on the line and was forced to abort the run to Hawkins who clicked off his best lap of the night with a career best 4.90 at 136 mph and took lane choice into the final. Despite Breazeal’s stout statistics and final round record, he was the underdog heading into this one after being outrun by Hawkins in both elimination rounds.
Second Round Results:
(W) Keith Breazeal (.008 rt) 4.96 at 136 mph vs. (L) Mike Millsap (.091 rt) 6.91 at 73 mph
(W) Ken Hawkins (.076 rt) 4.90 at 136 mph vs. (L) Rick Grindstaff (No Time, Broke)
The fans couldn’t ask for a better final round as both cars were running great all night and this re-matched the final round from the second event of the season where Ken Hawkins got his first and only series win over Breazeal. Hawkins is competing in his first season with the tour and has come on strong. The Hawkins Brothers are based in Shreveport and have become a contender in a short period of time on tour and brother Keith is also a licensed driver in the car.
Breazeal on the other hand was no stranger to the pressures of final rounds as he has collected five wins in seven final rounds in the series’ two year history. It is hard to believe Breazeal has never been the number one qualifier for an SWJFA event. Meanwhile, Mike Millsap has seven number one qualifying efforts with only one event win. This just goes to show you that the quickest car likely won’t be the winning car as consistency is what usually wins races. Breazeal is quick, but more importantly he and his team are consistent. Combine a good team and a good car and you will win yourself some races. Both these teams have been consistent at the B.H.R.A. Nationals and the final round was sure to be a great battle for the event win and those important Smiley’s points.
Hawkins was ready for the challenge in his second final round appearance of his rookie year. It was the final race of the night and the fans were still packed in the stands. Anticipation proved to be Hawkins’ enemy as he gave it away on the starting line with a -.014 reaction time to Breazeal’s .024. At the stripe the cars couldn’t be much closer. Breazeal’s 4.999 got the win over Hawkins’ 5.000. What an unbelievable final round race from both teams.
(Keith Breazeal)
(Ken Hawkins goes red in the final round)
Final Round Results:
(W) Keith Breazeal (.024 rt) 4.999 at 136 mph vs. (L) Ken Hawkins (-.014 rt) 5.000 at 134 mph
Under the eyes of a record breaking crowd at Texas Raceway the Southwest Junior Fuel Association wrapped up their B.H.R.A. Nationals event with Breazeal coming out on top for his second win of the year. Breazeal extended his points lead margin to 71 over Ken Hawkins, who is in a tight battle with Don Scott, Rick Grindstaff and Steve Dunkin who all hold spots in the Smiley’s Top 5. The SWJFA series will head to Pine Valley Raceway in Lufkin, Texas on September 13th to compete in their seventh of eight points races this season.
Browse event photos:
Chris Graves Gallery
Jenny Hart Gallery
