I don't mind going to Houston, even if it happens to be 90 degrees with 90 percent humidity. No, not just because they have dope clubs and women with huge, um, eyes (Shoes! We call them shoes!-JW). It might have something to do with the fast cars that run at the Toyo Tires-sponsored NHRA Summit Sport Compact Series. Or it might have something to do with watching the Lakers knock the Kings out of the finals in the playoffs while nearly getting my ass beat by a bunch of Lakers haters while I cheered as Floppy Divac cried, I mean fouled, out of the game. I have yet to go to an NHRA event where I haven't run into a track official who was more than helpful. It probably wouldn't be a bad idea to get rid of the 95-year old lady who refused to give me a wristband to get on the track. Next time I'll try to bribe her with a glass of warm milk and some IHO coupons. Anyway, I don't know why I like Texas, it most likely has something to do with my friends from IPN and ProTech not letting me sleep. Who knows? Nads doesn't. Jonny doesn't. I don't even think I really know. Then again, who cares, none of my stories make sense anyway. Oh yeah, crazily enough, I came home with no sunburns. Sweet-ass sweet. Like candy.
Pro V-8 Class
The Pro V-8 Class started and ended with only Matt Scranton in the Turbonetics Celica. So for two days straight, Matt made solo passes down the track. However, having no challengers didn't stop Matt from knocking out low 7-second passes throughout the weekend. Matt went home with his fourth NHRA victory, which includes three from the Pro V-8 Class. Nads has an old van with no windows and a small-block V-8 engine that he takes to the park. He's planning on running the next event with it because even though it probably runs somewhere in the mid-20s in the quarter-mile, he'd still be first runner-up.
Pro Class
By the end of Round 2 eliminations, the rotaries were out of the running. Grant Downing and the Venom Tundra advanced to the finals with a 7.265 @ 190.75 while Abel Ibarra red-lighted in his K&N sponsored RX-7. Manny Cruz drove his Mercury Cougar to an 8.091 @ 165.09, eliminating Jose Torres and the Toyo-sponsored RX-7. In the finals, Manny's car was smoking like a hostess club, forcing him to shut down at the starting line and get pushed off the track. Although he already had the win, Grant Downing took a solo pass and turned it into his best run of the weekend with a 7.244 @ 190.22, a clean victory for the Venom Racing team.
Modified Class
Jimmy O'Connor brought the Venom Supra out and qualified first on Saturday with an 8.231 run at 168.20 mph. Unfortunately, Jimmy's leg was not fully healed so it was in his best interest to not bring the car out for Sunday's eliminations. Stephan Papadakis and the AEM Civic hadn't seen an NHRA win since the season started and things didn't look any brighter for him when he qualified with a mid 16-second pass. It's a damn good thing that Steph turned it up a notch and threw out enough 8-second passes to make it to the finals against Nelson Hoyos and the Bothwell Motorsports Cavalier. Steph got the holeshot but Nelson stayed right up next to him throughout the track length. At the top end, Steph pulled away with his first victory of the season.
Hot Rod Class
Since the debut of his Castrol-sponsored Acura Integra, Jojo Callos has broken several NHRA records, making him the top pick to win the Hot Rod Class, although the slightest bit of controversy has been brewing in the pits regarding the size of Jojo's slicks. During eliminations, Jojo's times had slowed down to mid 9s. But his slower times did not keep him from taking out the competition. The finals had Jojo staged against Bruce Mortensen, driving the Venom Civic. Jojo got the holeshot over Bruce, but could not maintain his lead. Bruce finished with yet another 8-second pass and his first Hot Rod Class win. Another victory for the Venom Racing team and new Hot Rod Class e.t. record.