Brady Back In Action With Win In Odessa
Penwell Knights Raceway - Odessa, Texas
Event #1 of 8 - March 21st, 2009
Race Report by Chris Graves
Photos by Lisa Thomas
The 2009 Southwest Junior Fuel Association season got started in Odessa, Texas at Penwell Knights Raceway. Check out their website at www.penwellknights.com, which has to be the best track website on the net. The Junior Fuelers headlined the dragway’s first feature show of the season along with the West Texas Ten Five Association.
Dunkin has advanced to three final rounds in his twelve starts, but has yet to take home the winner’s plaque presented to each event champion by SWJFA President and racer Mike Millsap. Breazeal, well he has done it all with three wins in 2007 and four trips to the final round in 2008 claiming two wins at Evadale and Shreveport.
Three of the seven cars in attendance were brand new machines including the Coker & Hawkins team with a 2005 Boulton Chassis and 406 CI SBC. Mike Millsap debuted his new Ace Chassis car with a 400 CI SBC, and Johnnie Laird raised eyebrows with a brand new 225” Dave Tuttle built rail with a 406 CI SBC with grandson Ross now behind the wheel. Richard Brady made his return to competition after a season off, with a new 406 CI SBC Raymack Racing Engines combination in the Mallory / Brady / Fields machine. The two time SWJFA Champion Keith Breazeal, Steve Dunkin and Rick Grindstaff also made the tow to the Long Haul Nationals to compete in the first of eight points this season.
Breazeal and Hawkins lined up to start the first qualifying session and laid down two nice opening laps, Brezeal’s 7.97 at 164 mph to Hawkins’ better 7.93 at 167 mph. Mike Millsap suffered rear end troubles on his first hit, which unfortunately turned out to be a destroyed rear end which obviously ended his day early at Penwell. Richard Brady laid down a 7.96 at 163 mph in his opening pass on an untested combination. Steve Dunkin clicked off an 8.28 at 156 mph in the second session to qualify fourth. Ross Laird’s 8.45 at 156 mph earned him the number five starting spot. Rick Grindstaff claimed the sixth position with a 10.27 at 112 mph and Ken Hawkins’ 7.93 held up for the number one spot heading into first round. Unfortunately, they kicked a rod on their second qualifying pass and would have to watch from the sidelines. The Hawkins & Coker team looked strong in their debut but unfortunately lost the war with the aluminum gods from above.
(Penwell Knights starting line)
(Ross Laird)
Final Qualifying Order:
1) Ken Hawkins (Shreveport, Louisiana) – 7.93 at 167.35
2) Richard Brady (Ft. Worth, Texas) – 7.96 at 167.64
3) Keith Breazeal (Cypress, Texas) – 7.97 at 164.11
4) Steve Dunkin (Aledo, Texas) – 8.28 at 157.51
5) Ross Laird (Ardmore, Oklahoma) – 8.45 at 156.09
6) Rick Grindstaff (Dickinson, Texas) – 10.27 at 112.22
7) Mike Millsap (Sasche, Texas) – No Time (Broke)
(Richard Brady)
Breazeal and Grindstaff lined up to open eliminations. Breazeal advanced with an 8.07 at 154 mph over Grindstaff’s 8.87 at 94 mph. The next pair featured Dunkin versus Laird, Dunkin advancing with an 8.22 at 158 mph over Laird’s 8.44 at 156 mph. Richard Brady drew the bye run and soloed to a 8.05 at 161 mph to advance. Grindstaff was brought into the semi-final as the quickest looser to form a true four car semi-final round.
(Rick Grindstaff)
First Round Results:
(W) Keith Breazeal (.533 rt) 8.07 at 154 mph vs. (L) Rick Grindstaff (.490 rt) 8.87 at 94 mph
(W) Steve Dunkin (.438 rt) 8.22 at 158 mph vs. (L) Ross Laird (.240 rt) 8.44 155 mph
(W) Richard Brady (.411 rt) 8.05 at 161 mph vs. (L) Bye
Grindstaff capitalized on this second chance when Dunkin left too soon with a .397 reaction time. Dunkin’s 8.22 at 157 mph would have advanced over Grindstaff’s 12.27 at 67 mph. Grindstaff would take on the winner between Breazeal and Brady in the final. In the closest race of the event, Brady was off the line first and he needed it as his 8.00 at 162 mph defeated the quicker but loosing 7.97 at 163 mph from Breazeal (MOV: .007 seconds).
Semi-Final Round Results:
(W) Rick Grindstaff (.424 rt) 12.27 at 67 mph vs. (L) Steve Dunkin (.397 rt) 8.22 at 157 mph
(W) Richard Brady (.424 rt) 8.00 at 162 mph vs. (L) Keith Breazeal (.461 rt) 7.97 at 163 mph
Grindstaff had been plagued with ignition issues all day and now found himself advancing to his second career final round, Brady was making his first SWJFA final round appearance and the fans were guaranteed to witness one of these teams earn their first Southwest Junior Fuel win! Brady was off the line first and never looked back, tripping the clocks with a 8.01 at 163 mph to Grindstaff’s 9.26 at 110 mph. For Grindstaff, a trouble plagued racecar turned out to post a runner-up finish and he will head to the next event at Ben Bruce Raceway in Evadale, Texas on April 25th second in the points standings. Brady and company had a great weekend, debuting a new and untested combination, making strong runs in each round and claiming their first SWJFA event win!
(Richard Brady)
Final Round Results:
(W) Richard Brady (.441 rt) 8.01 at 163.10 mph vs. (L) Rick Grindstaff (.519 rt) 9.26 at 110.24 mph
(Richard Brady and team celebrate!)
“I’d like to honor my son with this win, Sergeant Andrew Scott Brady, a purple heart recipient in Operation Iraqi Freedom II, December 14th, 2008. I want to give thanks to Al Mallory who is my partner, crew chief, and great friend. Without Al none of this would be happening. I want to thank all of our sponsors especially Ray Little and all of the guys at Ray Mac racing engines. It was really an unbelievable win-taking off last year to build a new motor, staying up all night to make the race, and not testing before the first race. The track had a good starting line, but the strong cross winds brought a lot of dust onto the track causing it to be slippery. As a driver it was a blast. The owners of the track put on a great race, and we are looking forward to the Southwest Junior Fuel Association returning to Odessa,” said Brady.
The Long Haul Nationals presented by Smiley’s Racing Products and Champion Spark Plugs is now in the books. Congratulations to the team of Brady, Mallory and Fields on their strong performance in Odessa. Hopefully the problems for Millsap and Hawkins will be an easy fix and their hot rods will be back in action at the next event April 25th at Ben Bruce Raceway in Evadale, Texas.
Event Low Elapsed Time – Ken Hawkins (7.935)
Event Top Speed – Ken Hawkins (167.35 mph)
