THE LURE OF EASY MONEY?

Words and photos by Greg Burrow

A favorite song of mine by Glen Frye has a line in it that talks of “the lure of easy money” and its “very strong appeal”.  This, of course, refers to the “Smugglers’ Blues,” but how about the new winners’ share of the pot for the famous Big Dog Shootout? The fields for the first two events of 2012 have had new faces and familiar ones but no one, it seems, could make the change from the nearly Winter-like temperatures that dominated just 5 days before the Thursday night event, to the 90 plus degree weather that baked the famous 1/8 mile track when it was actually time to race.

In the first qualifying round alone, no less than five of the thirteen cars entered blew the tires off and had to shut down when they got crossed up. The second round was no better, with four of fourteen cars now present shaking the tires and shutting down. Late arrival Danny Blankenship, was the last car with the last shot, only to shake his Willys right out of the groove.

Big Dog Low Qualifier, Chris Rini

This had the makings of a drivers’ race, and that’s exactly what it became. Chris Rini took his two qualifying passes straight down the track to the #1 spot at a 3.96 et. Andy Beal’s 3.97, on his first pass no less, put him in second. Third was SC’s own Ed Hoover at 3.98, and Matt Giangrande was solidly in the field with a 4.04 on his second pass, finally finding some consistency.

The next five included April’s Big Dog and 2011 Champ, Todd Howard, having to carefully make it down the Piedmont surface with a 4.041. (Did we mention these guys are always close?) Sixth was Rocky Raynor, using Nesbitt power to make the field at 4.091. Seventh was young Mr. Brian Teachman, in the field at 4.111, and Jason Harris made the field on his second pass at 4.121.

Ernie Everette went 4.112 for the ninth qualifying position. The rest of the field was Rick Moore, tenth, RB Smith in eleventh  Travis Harvey twelth, Danny Blankenship thirteenth, and Bubba Turner fourteenth.

With the call to the lanes, eliminations began. First round saw Giangrande go 3.996 to overtake Todd Howard’s 6.36. Ed Hoover ran a 4.016 to get past Rocky Raynor, who put up a 7.40 on a lethargic 1.43 light. In the closest contest of the round, young Mr. Teachman got by Andy Beal, 4.08 to 4.11, both with .34 lights. Chris Rini defeated Jason Harris with a 3.964 to Jason’s 4.077.

Semis had Teachman over a broken Ed Hoover, and Chris Rini going 3.950 to get past Matt Giangrande’s 4.009 in a very close race.