PHOTOS : CHRIS GRAVES |
The 2016 Outlaw Fuel Altered Association season marked the 20th anniversary for the series that held its first race in May of 1996 at Texas Raceway in Kennedale , Texas . It has been a very successful venture for the OFAA circuit , which is led by Bobby Marriott , who has earned five championship crowns in his tenure as series president while also racing the “ Shockwave ” entry . In the early days , a solid pass would be a 4.20 or so at 165 mph , but similar to every other form of racing , progression is inevitable . If you aren ’ t posting three-second runs at 180 mph or better , you likely won ’ t find yourself in the winner ’ s circle of an Outlaw Fuel Altered event . Remarkably , the quickest pass turned in during OFAA competition was set way back in 2004 by Mitch King in the “ Bone Bucket ” with a 3.65 , while the top speed mark is held by Howard Farris ’ “ War Wagon ” at 220 mph in 2014 . However , big numbers don ’ t equate to championships , as it has proven time and time again that consistency wins races , especially in the Outlaw Fuel Altered series . Coming into the 20th Anniversary tour , former Top Alcohol Funny Car heavy hitter Jimmy Jones had claimed four of the last five championships , but that was no easy task . It has become almost routine that the championship battle each season dwindles down to the final points race of the year where the top contenders battle for each precious point they can earn towards Outlaw Fuel Altered glory . Again in 2016 , this trend came to light as Raymond Dawson ’ s “ High Octane ” and Nick Poloson ’ s “ Sundown ” rolled through the gates of San Antonio Raceway on October 22nd separated by just nine points – less than one round of competition . Dawson , of Nevada , Texas , was sporting a wicked 1929 Ford Roadster bodied machine powered by a 525-cubic-inch blown alcohol Brad Anderson Hemi tuned by Danny Wright . Poloson , of Bulverde , Texas , was wheeling a 1948 Fiat-bodied altered with a Tom Wood-tuned , nitro-burning 467-cubic-inch Keith Black power plant between the frame rails .
Earning their positions atop the standings
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required some impressive work done throughout the season prior to the final event . Dawson climbed the charts with his first career win coming midway through the year at Ardmore Dragway in September , which he backed up with a second straight victory at North Star Dragway in early October . Poloson started off the year strong with three straight final round appearances and a win in Shreveport , and hoped to secure the title |
at his hometown track . A first-time OFAA champion was guaranteed as both drivers had never clinched a season title . With Dawson holding a nine-point lead heading into competition , the pressure was on both teams to deliver their best efforts as any mistake would prove costly to their championship run .
At the conclusion of qualifying on a chilly afternoon in central Texas , Dawson sat in the third position with a 4.01 while Poloson qualified sixth
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at a 4.06 . Round one was next , and proved pivotal in the hunt for the title . The OFAA series format takes the quickest two winning drivers from round one straight to the final in a Chicago-style approach . Both Dawson and Poloson needed not only the win light , but to be one of the two quickest winners to earn a spot in the final and in turn , maximize their points-earning efforts in this final event of the season .
The first pair out in round one eliminations featured Poloson lined up with Austin-based Mary Reep in the “ Grim Reeper ” tuned by her husband and former OFAA champion , Larry Reep . Poloson blasted off the line first and never trailed as he took the win with a 4.19 at 141 mph , clearly lifting early and coming up short of the numbers the team had hoped to post , but a crucial win nonetheless . Their only hope now was that Dawson would lose his first-round match and their 4.19 would hold up for a spot in the final , an unlikely scenario . Dawson rolled through the water box in the next pair having just watched Poloson win his round . Dawson was lined up with former series champion and defending event winner Donnie Massey in the nitro-burning “ Showtime ” entry . In a stellar race , Dawson used a sizable holeshot to take the win with a 4.02 at 174 to Massey ’ s quicker-but-losing 4.00 at 180 . Talk about earning your keep !
With this impressive first-round win , Dawson mathematically locked in his first Outlaw Fuel Altered series championship for team “ High Octane ”. His 4.02 held up to advance to the final round , which he won over Eric Buchanan . Three straight event wins to close out the 2016 20th Anniversary season – a truly remarkable accomplishment that catapulted Dawson and company to a very well-deserved title .
For one of the most successful independent drag racing series in the country , the Outlaw Fuel Altereds ended their 20-year celebration on a very high note , and the future looks bright for the group as over 16 cars plan to compete in 2017 . Dawson will proudly wear the “# 1 ” on the rear wing in his effort to defend his crown .
- CHRIS GRAVES DI
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