Fun Ford Weekend In Texas - Havin' A Blast In Baytown

The new ProCharger Renegade class rules have turned out a parade of sharp, new race cars, led by Angel Padilla's bright-red coupe looking like it just rolled out of the winner's circle in the UPR Car Show Spectacular. Padilla's new Pony showed lots of potential with an 8.10 in qualifying, though his weekend was cut short when he ended up on the losing end of a close 8.28 to 8.32 in the first round of competition.

Engineer David Sheppard built his car to showcase his well-rounded talents. He has no intention on chasing a championship; he just likes to build stuff and go fast. Between rounds, Sheppard sat back in his easy chair, evaluated each run, made changes, and picked up a couple of tenths throughout qualifying. His solo efforts carried him into the second round where he lost 8.22 to 8.01 to eventual runner-up Kenjo Kelley.

Winner
Retired police officer Mac Sibley has won the Mod Comp class for the past two years. This year he ran in the 10.60-index Borla Street Bandit class. His 514-powered Fairmont ran a dead-on 10.60 to top the starting grid. He then utilized 0.015 and 0.018 starting bulbs enroute to the final where he outpowered Mike Harris, 10.71 to 10.85.

Mike Harris and his amazing, stock-block, NOS-powered coupe ousted a quicker Dan Brodahl who broke out with a 10.55 at only 97 mph in the 10.60-index Street Bandit. This nitrous-enhanced combo is simple; it includes a set of ported stock E7 heads, a Trick Flow intake, a 73mm Pro Flow mass air, an Art Carr C4 transmission, and a set of 3.73s. Since the car has run only a 10.75 best in a 10.60-index class, it would take great lights if Harris was to be competitive. He answered the calling with a 0.039, a 0.029, a 0.032, and a nearly perfect 0.007 Tree in the final. Unfortunately, his 10.85 wasn't enough for the consistent, big-tire Fairmont of Mac Sibley.

Winner
Multiclass champ Joe Parisi took an 0.022 to 0.069 starting line advantage over Paul Rankin's 306-powered '40 Mercury and never looked back. He took home the $2,000 American Racing Headers Mod Comp top prize.

Knoxville's golden boy Shane Williams was on the mark in Houston. He never ran more than 0.02 second off his e.t. all weekend. If that wasn't enough, he posted a 0.003, a 0.006, and lastly a 0.005 reaction time in his semi loss.

Ford Racing Performance Parts/RPM Outlet Ultra Stang champ SD Wheeler forced Chris Matters' hot 11-second Saleen to break out after laying down an 0.006 to 0.106 bulb. Wheeler continued his winning ways in his new '07 GT, gathering another tenth advantage at the Tree over Joe Cram's '06 GT enroute to the class finale, where he breezed to the win with an 0.017 with a 14.17 on his 14.09 package.

Christopher Gunderson has the performance bug. He wanted his Boss beauty to run as good as it looks, so he added the CDC Shaker hood and a JLT cold-air package to make it functional. Next, he added a Stainless Works exhaust, 3.73s, and an upgraded BMR suspension. Gunderson's new performance goodies helped him reach the FRPP/RPM Outlet Ultra Stang finals, where he lost in a close contest with last year's champ.

Although the weather was gloomy at times, more than 60 competitors in the Tremec True Street class had no problems during the 30-mile cruise, as the clouds saved the precipitation for the p.m. hours after a full day of racing.

James Meredith's '03 Mach I stomped through a handful of other 12.50-index cars in the Saleen Speedlab Street Stang class to capture yet another class win.

Don Justus and his wife, P.J., don't save up their money from the family trucking business for fancy vacations in exotic places. They get more enjoyment from traveling the FFW racing series and tearing up the tarmac in their latest racing machines. Don races his 9-second-capable, JDM-powered Lightning, while P.J. races her 11-second '06 Mustang. What a life! Don ran a pair of 10.540 passes on his 10.53 qualified time, never more than 0.02 off his index all weekend. Of course he won the JDM engineering Tough Truck class.