Harvey’s Plymouth Valiant is no stranger to the Thanksgiving winner’s circle, but his series of impressive finishes have always presided over the satellite races bookending the $20K weekend. Harvey solidified his already acknowledged superstar status by keeping two entries alive to the round of four. Ironically, Harvey lost both entries in the opening frame (one of them on a -.001 red light), but revived each in the re-entry round. After that, Harvey was on a mission, recording eight lights .018 or better.

His first semifinal opponent was recently crowned Farmington Footbrake Nationals winner Scott Macy, but Macy quickly determined the outcome of the race with a -.012 foul behind the wheel of Ernie Humes’ Plymouth Volare, wasting a dead-on 6.779. Harvey left little on the table, however, with a .013-backed perfectly dead-on 6.990.

Anthony Fetch

Six minutes later, Harvey was on the starting line again, facing fellow Jersey racer Anthony Fetch, who was runner-up in the first Thanksgiving $20K in 2003. Fetch was driving the same rent-a-ride Camaro that carried Bob Mullaney to the $20K title in 2009, and it helped him see the finals once more. Fetch unleashed a devastating .002 package: a .002 light and a perfectly dead-on 6.990 to match Harvey’s previous run. This time, however, Harvey’s .035 “miss” and 7.004 drop (6.99) was ineffectual.

Back for the finals, Harvey took his other entry into the rubber match with Fetch. Harvey’s clutch .004-initiated 7.008 (6.99) was enough to force a narrow breakout from Fetch’s otherwise admirable .015 and 6.971 (6.98) effort. Although he missed an opportunity to score an elusive double, Harvey’s win and semi in the $20K is a stunning feat that will be long remembered.

Saturday $5K

Second generation racer Tesz Powell etched his name on the list of big money footbrake winners with a driving clinic in the final $5K event, rivaling Harvey’s. Powell reeled off eight bulbs .019 or better in his North Carolina based Chevelle between his two entries, and kept both alive into the fifth round. Even when he dropped one entry, his .015 and .01-over pass was good enough to earn the best losing package of the round.

In the semifinals, Powell faced the 2009 $20K Champion, Bob Mullaney of New Jersey, driving Paul Thimm’s Camaro. Mullaney offered a .030 bulb and dropped to a .02-over 6.492, with nowhere to go against Powell’s .010 package (.008, dead-on 6.702). Meanwhile, Maryland’s David Meador took the bye run.

Powell’s .029 to .058 holeshot told the tale in the finals. His 6.725 (6.70) covered Meador’s dead-on but tardy 6.533. It won’t be long before the footbrake community at large recognizes the name Tesz Powell as a threat to win an event of any magnitude.