Words and photos by Steven Bunker

The West Coast Outlaw Pro Mods competed at the 33rd annual Nitro Nite of Fire event held at Sacramento (Calif.) Raceway and put on by 619 Promotions. There were 12 entries trying to qualify for the eight-car show on Saturday, June 27, including Randy Kay, who has been sitting out this season due to the tough economic conditions.

Randy Kay

Kay hasn’t been in the driver’s seat since late November 2008 but looked like he hasn’t missed a step. He came out and made two test passes Friday afternoon with the first one being a planned half-track shutoff pass and the second one was another early shutoff pass that resulted in a 6.51 at only 186 mph.

When qualifying rolled around hejumped straight to the top of the ladder with an astounding 6.227 at 235.96 mph blast down the left lane.

Rod Burbage followed in the number 2 spot with a 6.302 at 232.99, and TAFC racer Bret Williamson drove Don Carter’s 1955 Chevy to a 6.474/224.40 to take the number 3 spot. Funny Car Fever WCOPMA winner Lee Smith came down from Salem, Ore., to defend his title and got into the number 4 spot on Friday evening with a 6.501 at 230.90. Terry Housley, Mike Leonard, Jay Diedrich and Scott Bailey rounded out the bottom half of the field after Friday night’s qualifying session.