OUTLAW 8.5

The SCE Gaskets / Chris Alston’s Chassisworks sponsored class finished the season of with another great turnout of 18 entries matching July’s count and the second-best WCHRA car count ever. There was a close points battle going into the final event with four racers still in contention for the championship, Gary Brandt, Tom Daugherty and the teams of Mark Washington/John Fields and Eric Gustafson/Theo Dec!

Mark Washington (near lane) and Mark Brandt.

In qualifying it was X275 racer George Raygoza bolting on some Mickey Thompson 8.5’s and taking the Brandt Racing Ent. #1 Qualifier Bonus with a potential record setting 5.284 at 142 mph. In the #2 spot was Cedric Washington followed by Mark Washington, Gary Brandt, Theo Dec, Tom Daugherty, Ron Shaw, Mike Saiki, Jim DiMaggio, Kevin Watson, Gordon Saiki, Adam Noyes, Toby Jacksen, Anthony Smith, Dan Hale, Jon McGovern, Chad McGee and Allen Gadsberry.

Round 1: Gary Brandt .083 5.51/126 def. Dan Hale .073 6.75/79; Raygoza with a Class Record .162 5.267/142 over Gadsberry 7.09/111; Mark Washington 5.35 def. McGovern 6.34. Jacksen 6.13 def. Daugherty N/T when his trans brake didn’t hold and it broke the beams, ending his chance at the championship. Cedric Washington 5.34 def. McGee 6.00. Theo Dec took the win over Anthony Smith 5.36 to 5.89, keeping his championship hopes alive. Watson 5.75 def. DiMaggio 5.77; Noyes 5.97 def. Ron Shaw broke. The final pair was to be father versus son, Gordon and Mike Saiki, but neither one would make the round.

Round 2: Brandt kept his championship hopes alive and put the pressure on the others by advancing over Noyes, .077 5.48/128 to .050 5.89/125. Dec would also advance over Jacksen with the team’s personal best, a 5.274 at 136. Cedric Washington 5.55 def. Watson 5.71. Raygoza advanced with a broken single 5.81/131 and Mark Washington got the laddered bye, advancing with a 5.419 at 134 mph.

Round 3: Two of the championship contenders would face each other. Gary Brandt could lock up the title with a round win and Mark Washington would need to win the round and the event. It was Washington away first, .075 to .090, and he would hold the lead and take the win with a 5.357 at 134 over Brandt’s 5.476/129. It was a must-win round for Dec and he did the job, taking the win right at the line when Raygoza redlighted! Cedric Washington advanced with a laddered single.

In the semis Mark Washington got the single into the final running 5.32 at 134 keeping his championship hopes alive if he could win the final and set the E.T. record! Dec needed to advance to the final round and win the race to take the Class Championship, but Cedric wanted to end those chances. At the tree it was Dec away first, .069 to .093, and he would take the holeshot win in a great side by side race, 5.308/135.82 to 5.303/137.48.

With the championship still on the line, all three involved were on the starting line at 2 a.m. -- Theo Dec and Mark Washington staged at the line and Gary Brandt standing behind waiting for the outcome. Dec in Eric Gustafson’s ProCharged LS1 ‘69 Camaro versus Washington in John Field’s SBF nitrous Fox Body.  Both cars had run within .020 the previous round.

When the tree flashed it was Dec with the holeshot .034 to .117, but Washington closed the gap when the Camaro fell off early and they would stay side by side until just before the finish line stripe where Dec just got around him for the win and Class Championship with a 5.410 run at 136.10 mph over Washington’s 5.349 at 134.55.