Old School Showdown Ends In A Draw
S.W.J.F.A. Looks Ahead to San Antonio
Texas Motorplex - Old School Showdown - April 21st

Photos by Max Cackle Photography

The Southwest Junior Fuel Association kicked off the 2012 racing season with a full field of injected front engine dragsters to entertain a strong crowd at the famous all concrete Texas Motorplex quarter mile. The S.W.J.F.A. series shared the stage with the Texas Blown Fuel Association, two jet dragsters and two nitro nostalgia funny cars to put on the “Old School Showdown” in an effort to turn back the clock and showcase nothing but nostalgia on a sunny spring afternoon at the Plex.

(Ricky Marshall squirts a little fuel into the injectors ready to warm-up for qualifying)

(The Muncy Mafia preparing for qualifying)

Sixteen slingshots filled the pit area and teams began warming up their machines in preparation for the first qualifying session of the new season. A handful of drivers volunteered their time to sign autographs for eager fans who came out to see the unique show on a beautiful North Texas afternoon.

(SWJFA drivers signing autographs before the event)

Qualifying went smoothly for most as the surface at the Texas Motorplex provided plenty of traction during the first two rounds. Odie Coker laid down the quickest pass of the opening round with a 7.27 at 182 in the Ron Ussery owned and tuned dragster.

(Odie Coker)

Ricky Marshall clicked off a series elapsed time record, 7.261, to steal the top spot during the second qualifying session, flexing his newly found ponies to lead the field into eliminations. Congratulations to the entire team on a stellar pass.

(Ricky Marshall)

Ron Muncy, 2011 Points Championship Runner-Up, claimed the third qualifying spot with a 7.55 at 174 mph and Richard Brady’s 7.58 at 173 mph was quick enough to claim the number four spot.

(Richard Brady)

Jeff Jones, now driving the R&D Motorsports “Off Shore Flash” claimed a spot in the top half of the field along with Brian Briggs, Don Scott and Mike Millsap as the teams wrapped up their two qualifying sessions and returned to the pits to make final adjustments and draw pairings for eliminations.

(Brian Briggs)

(Don Scott)

(Mike Millsap)

(Ross Laird)

Final Qualifying Order:

1) Ricky Marshall (Burleson, Texas) – 7.26 @ 181
2) Odie Coker (Dallas, Texas) – 7.27 @ 182
3) Ron Muncy (Weatherford, Texas) – 7.55 @ 174
4) Richard Brady (Ft. Worth, Texas) – 7.58 @ 173
5) Jeff Jones (Garland, Texas) – 7.72 @ 171
6) Brian Briggs (Lake Charles, Louisiana) – 7.78 @ 171
7) Don Scott (Garland, Texas) – 7.85 @ 170
8) Mike Millsap (Sachse, Texas) – 7.90 @ 165
9) Michael Renaker (Arlington, Texas) – 7.98 @ 159
10) Brandon Lewis (Tulsa, Oklahoma) – 8.17 @ 162
11) Mike Buchanan (Goddard, Kansas) – 8.23 @ 162
12) Chuck Rearick (Arlington, Texas) – 8.44 @ 155
13) Tera Wendland (Commerce, Texas) – 8.49 @ 109
14) Ross Laird (Ardmore, Oklahoma) – 8.64 @ 126
15) Thomas Hixson (Keller, Texas) – 9.14 @ 147
16) Ken Hawkins (Pooleville, Texas) – No Time

(Ross Laird & Brian Briggs in the lanes)

First Round Eliminations

A pair of youngsters started eliminations with Ross Laird and Brandon Lewis pulling to the line, both out of Oklahoma. Lewis jumped the tree with a -.060 reaction time as Laird used a 9.28 at 119 mph to advance over Lewis’ 8.12 at 163 mph. Lewis debuted a gorgeous new paint job on the Charlie Smith owned and tuned machine and will be at the next event in San Antonio on May 5th.

(Brandon Lewis)

Jeff Jones rolled out next along side Brian Briggs. Briggs’ machine lost fire after the burnout and he was unable to re-start and climbed out of his car to allow Jones to make the solo pass. Jones took the green light and clicked off an 8.23 at 173 mph to advance.

(Jeff Jones)

Ron Muncy wheeled the “Foolish Pleasure III” slingshot out next along side Mike Buchanan’s “Lou Anne” dragster tuned by Gary Roushkolb. Buchanan jumped the tree by -.043 and gave Muncy the win as Muncy ran a 7.68 at 172 mph to move on.

(Mike Buchanan)

Ken Hawkins battled transmission issues throughout qualifying, putting his crew to the test which they passed with flying colors in first round with a strong 7.46 at 176 mph to defeat Thomas Hixson’s 11.53 at 82 mph. Hawkins clicked off the quickest pass of the round, bouncing back nicely. Back in the pits after the round, Thomas Hixson discovered the issues that were plaguing him, so expect more from the “One Wild Ride” team at San Antonio.

(Ken Hawkins)

(Thomas Hixson)

Don Scott lined up with Odie Coker as the round continued. Coker had a clear performance advantage but jumped the tree with a -.023 reaction time, giving Scott the automatic win as Scott tripped the clocks with a 7.84 at 170 mph to advance over the number two qualifier.

(Odie Coker vs. Don Scott)

Number one qualifier Ricky Marshall came to the line next facing Michael Renaker. Renaker also went red on the line, with a -.007 as his 8.02 at 144 mph lost to Marshalls 7.91 at 131 mph.

(Michael Renaker)

(Ricky Marshall vs. Michael Renaker)

Richard Brady closed the first round of eliminations with a competition bye run as a result of thirteen cars entering the round. Mike Millsap, Chuck Rearick and Tera Wendland weren’t able to answer the call for first round while resulted in the odd numbered elimination field. Richard Brady clicked off a 7.54 at 175 mph to advance to the next round on his solo pass as the teams returned to the pits to prepare for round two.

(Tera Wendland)

First Round Results

(W) Ross Laird (-.014 rt) 9.28 @ 119 mph vs. (L) Brandon Lewis (-.060 rt) 8.16 @ 163 mph
(W) Jeff Jones (.119 rt) 8.23 @ 173 mph vs. (L) Brian Briggs (No Time)
(W) Ron Muncy (.105 rt) 7.68 @ 172 mph vs. (L) Mike Buchanan (-.043 rt) 8.18 @ 162 mph
(W) Ken Hawkins (.007 rt) 7.47 @ 176 mph vs. (L) Thomas Hixson (.074 rt) 11.53 @ 82 mph
(W) Don Scott (.107 rt) 7.84 @ 170 mph vs. (L) Odie Coker (-.023 rt) 11.46 @ 96 mph
(W) Ricky Marshall (.056 rt) 7.91 @ 131 mph vs. (L) Michael Renaker (-.007 rt) 8.02 @ 144 mph
(W) Richard Brady (-.035 rt) 7.54 @ 175 mph vs. (L) Competition Bye Run

As the teams were preparing for the second round the call was made by the staff at the Texas Motorplex to pull the plug on the remainder of the event due to a rapidly cooling racetrack surface and increasingly tiring track crew who were in the middle of a three day weekend of NHRA Divisional racing. The remaining seven winners including Don Scott, Ricky Marshall, Jeff Jones, Ken Hawkins, Richard Brady, Ross Laird and Ron Muncy will all be awarded equal points for eliminations and the teams will take one week off before heading south to San Antonio Raceway for the second event of the season.

Ricky Marshall left the Texas Motorplex with a series elapsed time record in his pocket and the points lead to carry into San Antonio. Tera Wendland, in her first event driving the Darrell Walden owned junior fuel dragster, became the first female to race in the S.W.J.F.A. series and hopes to continue to gain experience behind the wheel and give the boys a run for their money. A full field of junior fuelers is expected on May 5th as the Texas Timing Association hosts the “Texas Nostalgia Nationals” at San Antonio Raceway. You won’t want to miss this spectacular event featuring the best nostalgia drag racing machines in the southwest. Be There!

Click Here to see photos from the "Old School Showdown!"