WCHRA Wraps Up Season
The final West Coast Hot Rod Association event returned to its birthplace, Speedworld Raceway Park in Surprise, AZ, for the WCHRA World Finals on Sept. 21-22. With some championships still to be settled there was guaranteed action awaiting the fans. The voice of the ADRL, Al Tucci, was on hand to entertain and the weekend promised to be an exciting one. Until the rain rolled in on Friday evening that is. The first qualifier was washed out, leaving the racers to return on Saturday and complete the two remaining qualifying rounds before going into eliminations.
The Pro Street class promised lots of action. Series points leader Steve Paulauskis sat on the sidelines with a healthy lead going into the event but had Kelly Bluebaugh step in under their Team WFO entry to garner points if required.
Randy Walker
Randy Walker was the closest challenger and had to win pole and the race for any chance of taking the championship. He showed he was serious by installing a new motor from Charles Carpenter and flying the Pro Mod great in to tune the beast. It looked as if Walker was half way to his goal after sitting on pole with a 6.54, but the surprise of the event came when the last qualifier, Mike Bowman, and his twin turbo Monte Carlo rolled to the line.
Mike Bowman
Bowman had been having trouble getting down the track and decided to go back to a previous four-link setup. With the help of Jason Pettis the change was made and with much trepidation the Californian headed to the line. Nobody, including Bowman, expected the 6.515 that appeared on the boards. Bowman had his first WCHRA pole in his WCHRA event!
Most recent winner Gil Nevarez was next up followed by Art Hodges, Clint Hairston and Bluebaugh, who suffered motor damage and was out for the event. Eliminations were excitement all the way. Nevarez scuffed the wall and was eliminated, Hairston had turbo problems and Walker had trouble with tire shake.
Hodges had done a great job of driving when a water line let go in qualifying, so he changed a motor “just in case.” The new motor took him all the way to the final and it was poleman Bowman who had advanced to the final. Bowman’s good luck left him and tire shake relegated the newcomer to the runner up spot. Hodges laid down a workmanlike 6.639 at 208.69 and took his first WCHRA Pro Street win.