Lightning strikes were surrounding the track as showers were playing hide and seek all around north central Texas.  With a corrected altitude of 2,400 feet, water grains at 89 and a chilly track temperature the teams had their hands full applying the horsepower in first round.  The top three points finishers in the 2008 standings were the top three qualifiers heading into eliminations in Denton (Marriott, Massey and Poloson).  Nick Poloson got the advantage on the tree against Anthony Whitfield in the first pair, then both drivers had their issues with tire shake.  Whitfield got the job done and drove around Poloson by only a few feet at the stripe, his 4.57 at 154 mph took out Poloson’s 4.68 at 150 mph. 

“That’s the hardest I’ve ever been shook behind the wheel of a racecar. My wife doesn’t even shake me that hard when she is mad at me!  We knew we had to run hard to be one of the quickest two winners, but the track just didn’t hold it.  The car was everywhere, I lost vision so I had to lift to gain my whereabouts.  Then I stabbed it and he came around me in the lights.  We still had a great time, we are still in one piece and we are looking forward to Crandall,” said Poloson.

David Purifoy lined up with Jack Hodgson and Purifoy owned this one leaving first and running his best pass of the night, 4.28 at 164 mph to take out Hodgson who just couldn’t get his “Southern Outlaw” power to the ground.  Bobby Marriott rolled through the water along side Terry Anglin in his first official OFAA start.  Marriott made it look easy with a 4.13 at 176 mph while Anglin had rear end issues at the hit and coasted to a stop.  The next pair was a dandy as Sean Belt and DoDad Burton squared off in a race for bragging rights.  These two had been at each other on the www.ofaa.net message board prior to the event and it turned out to be a very exciting race.  Belt got a good advantage at the line but went immediately into tire shake.  Burton had his own problems in the other lane and both were fighting for traction.  Belt eased back into the throttle and got hooked up just enough to take the win.  Belt’s 5.69 at 157 mph defeated Burton’s quicker 5.68 at 132 mph.  This one was You Tube worthy, you can view this race from Sean’s on board camera by following this link.