RACE #1 (4-27)
The 9.90 class came out to in full force from day one of the 2014 season. 16 cars came out but only one racer came out of qualifying putting up a 9.90 pass...Chris Hyatt was your HEMLY TOOL #1 Qualifier for his 9.903 pass. His lucky streak was not meant to last long as he went down in rd #1 of eliminations to Jim Mikesina.
We unveiled a new points program across all 4 classes this season and 1st race out Denny Moore snagged bonus points along with the SMITTY'S CAR CRAFT Reaction Time Bonus for his perfect .000 reaction time in rd #1 of eliminations. 2013's 10.50 Index Champ, Mike Walker didn't feel the need to stay down and defend his title. Instead he set his sights on moving up the ranks...many questioned whether he would be competitive in this class on a .400 tree. He put any doubts to rest and made his presence known when he came out of race #1 with the event win and sat on top of the points program right out of the gates this season.
We unveiled a new points program across all 4 classes this season and 1st race out Denny Moore snagged bonus points along with the SMITTY'S CAR CRAFT Reaction Time Bonus for his perfect .000 reaction time in rd #1 of eliminations. 2013's 10.50 Index Champ, Mike Walker didn't feel the need to stay down and defend his title. Instead he set his sights on moving up the ranks...many questioned whether he would be competitive in this class on a .400 tree. He put any doubts to rest and made his presence known when he came out of race #1 with the event win and sat on top of the points program right out of the gates this season.
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RACE #2 (5-10)
We were a full field plus when 18 drivers entered 9.90 for our 1st event of the season held at home. April is always a bit early but now that the guys had some time to get some passes under their belts qualifying was much tighter this time around. Four guys were close to claiming the HEMLY TOOL #1 Qualifying spot but just couldn't quite slow it up enough and came in at the bottom of the ladder instead. Eight guys qualified with passes in the 9.90's #8 being a 9.97 and Mike Walker claimed the top spot with a 9.907.
As always, eliminations were fiercely competitive with 3 guys (Ray Tumbry, Brian Kennelly, JR Phillips) clocking 9.90 passes but no one ran dead on for the bonus points this time around. The defending 2013 Champ, Ray Tumbry would meet Brian Kennelley in the finals. Kennelly, a rookie to the points program this season would be quicker off the line to take out the Champ for his 1st win of the season. He also snagged the SMITTY'S CAR CRAFT Reaction Time Bonus for his .002 light in rd #2 of eliminations.
As always, eliminations were fiercely competitive with 3 guys (Ray Tumbry, Brian Kennelly, JR Phillips) clocking 9.90 passes but no one ran dead on for the bonus points this time around. The defending 2013 Champ, Ray Tumbry would meet Brian Kennelley in the finals. Kennelly, a rookie to the points program this season would be quicker off the line to take out the Champ for his 1st win of the season. He also snagged the SMITTY'S CAR CRAFT Reaction Time Bonus for his .002 light in rd #2 of eliminations.
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RACE #3 (5-31)
This class once again drew 18 heavy hitters for their 3rd go round of the 2014 season. The top 10 guys qualified with a 9.99 or quicker and this time it was Denny Moore (9.91) taking home the HEMLY TOOL #1 Qualifier bonus.
Tom Hyatt added a couple bonus points to his event total when he ran dead on (9.900) during round #2 of eliminations. Tom was present at the 1st event of the season however he did not bring the car out to race so earning these bonus points may come in handy down the road. Denny Moore, Darrin Soterra, Brian Kennelley also put up 9.90 passes. Darrin Soterra logs the best pass of the night during the semi-finals .007 on the tree and running 9.906 to move on to face Kennelley in the finals but unfortunately for Darrin, Brian put his up on the board during the finals, making it back to back wins for the rookie.
Tom Hyatt added a couple bonus points to his event total when he ran dead on (9.900) during round #2 of eliminations. Tom was present at the 1st event of the season however he did not bring the car out to race so earning these bonus points may come in handy down the road. Denny Moore, Darrin Soterra, Brian Kennelley also put up 9.90 passes. Darrin Soterra logs the best pass of the night during the semi-finals .007 on the tree and running 9.906 to move on to face Kennelley in the finals but unfortunately for Darrin, Brian put his up on the board during the finals, making it back to back wins for the rookie.
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RACE #4 (7-3)
Qualifying for these 19 guys entered was just off the hook...everyone pushing to be the HEMLY TOOL #1 Qualifier!! 4 guys pushed just a bit to hard and found themselves at the bottom fighting through the pigtail round to continue on in the program. This pitted father against son when Dennis and Tim Chillik came in in the 16th and 17th positions. Top 10 were within 32 thousandths of each other!!! When the dust settled Tom Hyatt was #1 with a 9.903 and Mike Walker rounded out the top 10 with a 9.935.
Dennis Chillik fought his way from the pigtail round to the semi's where his .007 reaction time got him the SMITTY'S CAR CRAFT Reaction Time Bonus. From there he went to the finals to face Denny Moore, but this is where his night would come to an end when he broke out giving the event win to Denny Moore.
Dennis Chillik fought his way from the pigtail round to the semi's where his .007 reaction time got him the SMITTY'S CAR CRAFT Reaction Time Bonus. From there he went to the finals to face Denny Moore, but this is where his night would come to an end when he broke out giving the event win to Denny Moore.
RACE #5 (8-2)EVENT WAS RAINED OUT...ENTRY POINTS WERE AWARDED
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RACE #6
Check the RPM Highlight Page...Coming Soon
POINTS CHAMPIONSHIP / ABRUZZI SMACKDOWN
With one race left to go and a lot up for grabs...how will it all unfold??
YOUR 2014 2 FAST GARAGE 9.90 CHAMPION IS...
Rookie to the RRA it is impressive that Brian Kennelley has sat on top of the Points race for most of the season but question is can he hold off all the guys gunning to take it from him at the Season Finale??? TRP is going to be the place to be on Sept 27th to watch this all playout!!!
Denny Moore finished 2013 just one round shy of the championship, and with one race to go he is within one round of taking it home in 2014!! Denny Moore and his bad-ass, bumper dragging Camaro can a force to be reckoned with down the quarter mile so Kennelly better be looking over his shoulder this coming weekend!!
Darrin Soterra competed all season and basically played the role of Spoiler to the Points Chase in 2013 but this season decided to make his place in the RRA family official and joined points this time around. He has been right there on top all season but a health scare kept him from competing at the RPM race and it cost him. Now holding onto 3rd...will he make it back in time to make a run at being crowned the 2014 Champion???
And The ABRUZZI SMACKDOWN'S 4th Man Is...
The only 2013 Champion to attempt to defend his title has had a rough go this season but he just moved up into the 4th position as of the last race. Never Say Never in life or in racing, so we will have to just wait and see what the finale brings. He is of course aiming for guys above him all the while sitting with a target on his very own back!!
2013 10.50 Champion making a run on 9.90 vs defending his title. Mike started the season out strong, and everyone took notice. He hit a few bumps in the road along the way dropping back to 5th...He cracks the Top 4 and a no doubt a 9.90 SMACKDOWN Title may be his for the taking!! We will see...
Tom Hyatt was the only 9.90 racer to compete in back to back SMACKDOWNS but who knew when he used the 1st race as his drop (taking a zero at SMP) that Mother Nature would reek havoc on his plans for making the allstars 3 years in a row. With one race left to the season it can still be done but Hyatt is definitely going to have to fight his way in!!
Now Gary Paine this guy might need to be negotiating deals with the racing Gods right about now to pull this off but if you crunch the numbers it is by no means impossible!! We have seen some amazing moves up the ladder at finale's in the past so if Gary can go rounds this weekend it will be exciting to see what happens!!
Jim Loveland would need a miracle of epic proportions to make it into 4th place. He would need to qualify #1, take the win and have every guy listed above go down 1st round to just make the Smackdown so it is safe to bet that isn't going to happen but this is one guy who shouldn't be counted out of the game, when you have nothing else to lose...playing spoiler doesn't sound so bad!?!?
Not just Jim there are some pretty big names within the 9.90 class sitting outside reach of making the SMACKDOWN...Dennis Chillik, Chris Hyatt, JR Phillips and Dan Marvin to name a few these guys should be careful of!! This class loves to bust each others chops, some of the most intense racing in the RRA but will be the 1st to cheer each other on to a win...Can't wait to get back to the track!!!
