Words and photos by Steve Gruenwald

After last year’s Outlaw Snowbird Nationals got completely rained out at Bradenton Motorsports Park, this year’s fans were greeted with clear blue skies and cool temperatures, and the stands were packed for Saturday afternoon’s early evening qualifying action with the annual Jet Jam rounding out the night’s entertainment.

Jet cars!

At this race TAD, Pro Mod, and Open Outlaw run quarter mile while everyone else runs eighth mile (everyone else being Automatic ProMod, Outlaw 10.5, Radial Tire, Real Street X275, and 5.50, 6.50, and 7.50 heads-up classes). We had blower cars, nitrous cars, and turbocharged cars all represented in this show. Although some of the fields were short, even the smallest class put on fantastic racing, and there were some incredibly close races.

Top Alcohol Dragster was a weak field, as only five cars showed for the eight car show. Bill Evans was the class of the field, as he qualified number one with a blistering 5.261 @ 281.86 run in his A/Fueler. Robin Samsel was second with a 5.412 @ 261.62 pass with his A/Fueler. First round saw Evans get a bye run due to the short field. Samsel’s opponent Dan Lucas was a no-show and Samsel took a single, then Don Fiorelli also got a freebie when Bruce Horner broke. In the semis, Samsel got a bye as Evans took out Fiorelli. Evans then laid down a 5.31 @ 272 run as Samsel smoked the tires at the hit.