Words and photos by Joe McHugh

The Texas Automatic Outlaws (TAO) were back in action at Houston Motorsports Park’s Extreme Meltdown event on Saturday, October 6, What started as a rather warm and humid day of racing ended with temperatures dropping 15 degrees and a nice Norther blowing in that made for mineshaft conditions for the late rounds.

Also on hand were 30-plus entries competing for the new HMP Outlaw 275 and Xtreme 275 class titles. For the second event in a row a capacity crowd packed the stands and stood three deep on the fences taking in the action.

Eric Clark

Texas Automatic Outlaws Qualifying

Thirteen entries showed to try and qualify for the eight-car elimination ladder. The first round of qualifying saw 10 of the 13 monsters log 4-second passes.

Leading the way was Eric Clark in the Clark Brother’s Blown Mustang at a charging 4.12 at 170.91 followed by current points leader Chris Domino with a workman 4.22 at 167.60 out of his nitrous-assisted Grand Am. Anchoring the 4-second grouping was M. Roberts sliding under five seconds at 4.95 at 139.75. Other runs of note were Cowboy Woods and Luis Hidalgo matching ET’s with nice 4.39’s and Hidalgo getting the speed edge at 162.16.

Doug Morales unloaded well in the first session also, laying down a run of 4.36 at 172.88 mph.