Southwestern International Raceway

Tucson, AZ

Sept. 22, 2007  

 September 22 was the day Team SIR worked for all year.  Saturday was the final team race and the crowning of the 2007 season champions.  We added a Jr. Dragster make-up race as a great extra to an already exciting evening.

 The Jr. Dragster 8-12 final was decided at the starting line when James Roye from Avondale, AZ turned on the red light by .057.  James dialed a 9.80 and ran a 9.786 at 68.70 MPH for the number two spot.  The victory went to Ray Olsson.  Ray dialed a 10.21 and he ran a 10.271 at 61.27 MPH after his .130 reaction time.  The 13-17 year old Jr. Dragster race was a break-out win for Eric Dockins with an almost identical reaction time against Jordan Hart.  Eric ran an 8.178 on his 8.14 dial at 79 MPH.  Jordan went under his 8.22 dial by only 7 thousandths of a second with an 8.217 at 76.86 MPH. 

 The #12 race for the High School Team was won by Brian Smedley from Sahuarita HS over Erik Lundvall of Pueblo HS.  Brian dialed the purple ‘96 Mustang to 15.38 and had a very nice .022 light and ran a 15.559 at 76.33 MPH.  Erik drove his 1970 Mustang to a 15.325 ET on his 15.05 dial at 88.72 MPH, but the .139 reaction time put him in the runner-up spot.

 Motorcycle was one of the toughest categories run during the season.  George Berry got his first ever victory on his Honda CB1100F with a hole shot over the quick turbo powered Honda of Rodney King.  George dialed an 11.22 and ran an 11.319 at 114.45 MPH after the .017 reaction time.  Rodney left a little late with a .142 and could not run his 7.95 dial with an 8.185 at 161.17 MPH. 

 The Sportsman final saw the past High School champion, Brad Hawk face 2005 Pro champion, Joe Kidd.  Brad dialed his Mustang to a 13.19 and ran a 13.215 at 103.93 MPH after his .061 reaction time.  Joe left about two hundredths at the starting line with a .087 light.  He dialed a 12.53 and went under with a 12.524 at 106.06 MPH trying to catch up. 

 The Pro final was another hole shot victory.  Varner Cooke had a beautiful .007 light to Fred Stout’s .047.  Varner dialed his ’67 Camaro to an 11.28 and ran an 11.312 ET at 113.36 MPH.  Fred drove his ’73 Nova to the number two spot with an almost on the number 12.276 ET on his 12.27 dial at 108.91 MPH. 

 After six tough rounds of Super Pro competition, Jay Axtell’s big block Chevy was not able to make the final call.  The win went to his friend and boss, Don Toia, in his ’33 Chevy Roadster.  Don decided to save his equipment and just break the beams and collect the check.

 At the end of the evening, run-offs were held to determine the end of season champions and those racers eligible for the Division 7 race of champions.  The Super Pro title went to Chuck Hawk, Jr.  Victor Sandoval was crowned the Pro champion.  The Sportsman champion was Kevin Terlecki.  Tom Lannie received the Motorcycle title and Matt Hawk won the overall High School title.  All of these winners and the complete Team SIR are looking forward to the Division 7 ET Finals in Las Vegas on Oct 11-14. 

 The next event at SIR is an Open Test and Tune on Friday, Sept 28th.  Gates are at 4 PM.  On Saturday, Sept. 29th we will again feature the Super Association races and a Box / No Box Gambler along with a Jr. Dragster Team race.  Gates for Saturday will be at 3 PM. 

 Bruce Mabry, track announcer