Post by jkelly57 on Mar 10, 2008 6:37:01 GMT -6
Pinks All Out @ San Antonio Raceway, 3/7-8/2008
By J M Hallas
Marion, Tx., (March 8th, 2008)
Day two of the Pinks All Out show on the San Antonio Raceway 1/4 mile began with film crews busily finishing completion of set up, and Pink All Out cast members, Rich Christensen, Nate Pritchett, et. al., examining the track and greeting some of the 400 plus drivers and teams in the staging lanes. Fans packed in early and filled the place to capacity as an estimated 22,000 people crowded into the grandstands, and three deep along the fence, nearly the entire quarter-mile.
Christensen, the Pinks starting line guru, grabbed the best seat in the house outside the track wall, just past the starting line to watch time trial runs. During the drivers meeting, Christensen prompted the drivers to go, 'all out.' During first round time trials, several break downs and a couple, fortunately, minor incidents showed that they were listening.
During first round time trials, Christensen personally watches nearly every pass from his ringside seat showing his approval for every good run. It's as toss up as to which is more entertaining, watching him react to runs or the runs themselves.
In second round time trials, Christensen himself manned the starting line for his famous "arm drop" start. This would give the selected sixteen drivers a chance to get used to not running off a pro tree starting line. During his arm drop starts, Christensen looks for feedback from the crowd on jump starts, as well as keeping the drivers pumped up.
From Zero to Hero
After the final sixteen were announced, Dumas, Texas' Clay Cunningham was left on the outside looking in. But fate can be not only a cruel thing, but a positive one at times as well. Qualifier, David Burley was unable to answer the call for the final sixteen, so Cunningham was chosen as first alternate and placed in the field.
Cunningham methodically worked his way to the finals were he went head to head, best two out of three with Steven Vontur, a hometown boy from seven miles away. Final round, Best two out of three runs. As the finals unfolded, Cunningham would again have fate intervene.
On the first pass, Vontur was clearly able to best Cunningham, who was slower off the line. Cunningham then evened the score with a win n the second pass. All tied now at one race apiece, the two squared off for one last 'all out' pass down the track. If there wasn't enough drama to begin with, Cunningham rolled into the beams first and was staged before Vontur entered. During Vontur's staging, the lights flickered on Cunningham's side, tripping the automatic red light in his lane, despite the fact he race hadn't officially been run.
As both cars were sent off by Christensen, Cunningham had the early advantage. As their rear bumpers vanished into the darkness it was not clear from the top end who had actually won. Going by the electronic scoring system, it was still uncertain because of the light issue. Both drivers were asked if they knew who had won. Cunningham stated confidently that he was sure he had won. Vontur told official that he was too busy fighting the car for control. Pinks All Out offered to let both revue the taped footage, but Vontur conceded defeat, when he learned of the results from the electronic scoring.
"This is what it's all about," stated Cunningham as he waved the $10,000 in cold hard cash. "This is so awesome. Even after I lost the first race, I was still confident that I could win. Once I won the second it pumped up my confidence even more. I was sure I was going to win after that."
As the 16 drivers were led out to the starting line, Christensen gave all of them a speech to get them all pumped up, stressing the 'all out' style of racing that has made the show so popular. It appeared more like a high school sports coach getting his team fired up before the big game
Round 1 action;
Adam Schneider, 1984 Ford Mustang defeated Allen Jacobs, 1978 Chevy Malibu
Steven R. Vontur, 1967 Chevy Nova SS defeated Jimmy Farmer, 1966 Chevy Nova SS
Bruce Lunday, 1970 Chevy Camaro defeated Jason Smith, 1971 Chevy Vega
Danny York Jr., 1985 Chevy S-10 defeated Jerry Salas, 1968 Chevy Camaro SS
Clay Cunningham, 1969 Camaro defeated Ray Brown, 1955 Chevy Wagon
Donee Johnson, 1968 Chevy Camaro defeated Michael Andrews, 1998 Ford Mustang
Homer Ybarra, 1974 Datsun 260Z defeated Darryl Wiley, 1965 Chevy Chevelle
Richard Delancey Jr., 1967 Chevy Camaro defeated Joe Walker, 1969 Chevy Camaro
In the first race Clay Cunningham went up against Richard Delaney Jr. Both drivers bet $1,000 on the race. Cunningham won in his 1969 Chevy Camaro and advanced to the next round with $2,000 in his pocket. Delaney was forced to take his 1967 Chevy Camaro to the pits.
In the second race, Bruce Lunday in a 1970 Chevy Camaro faced Adam Schneider in a 1984 Ford Mustang. Lunday and Schneider placed a $500 bet before racing down the track and Lunday came away with the win. He advances to the next round with $1,500. Schneider went to the pits with $500 in his pocket.
In the third race, Homer Ybarra, driving a Datsun 260Z battled Donee Johnson in a 1968 Camaro. Both drivers placed a $1,000 bet on the race and Ybarra nosed Johnson at line by .02 seconds. He advances to the next round with $2,000 to spend.
In the fourth race, San Antonio's Danny York Jr., driving a 1985 Chevy S-10 truck faced Steven Vontur Jr. in a 1967 Chevy Nova SS. They each bet $1,000 on the race and Vontur took the victory and advances to the next round with $2,000.
Round 2 results
Clay Cunningham, 1969 Camaro defeated Richard Delancey Jr., 1967 Chevy Camaro
Bruce Lunday, 1970 Chevy Camaro defeated Adam Schneider, 1984 Ford Mustang
Homer Ybarra, 1974 Datsun 260Z defeated Donee Johnson, 1968 Chevy Camaro
Steven R. Vontur, 1967 Chevy Nova SS defeated Danny York Jr., 1985 Chevy S-10
This round opened with Clay Cunningham in a 1969 Chevy Camaro facing Homer Ybarra in a Datsun 260Z. Both drivers placed a $2,000 bet, the biggest bet in PINKS All Out competition for this round. When the drivers crossed the finish line, Cunningham was ahead by .0198 seconds over Ybarra. Cunningham advances to the final round with $4,000.
In the second race, Steven Vontur in a 1967 Chevy Nova SS faced Bruce Lunday in 1970 Chevy Camaro. Both drivers placed a $500 bet, but disaster struck for Lunday on the starting line when Lunday's rear end blew up as he launched off the line. Vontur advances to the final round with $2,500.
Round 3 results
Clay Cunningham, 1969 Camaro defeated Homer Ybarra, 1974 Datsun 260Z
Steven R. Vontur, 1967 Chevy Nova SS defeated Bruce Lunday, 1970 Chevy Camaro
San Antonio Raceway owners, Todd and Judy Zampese upped the ante, so to speak, by putting up a $500 bonus for anyone setting low ET in time trials. RGV Racing fuels, Basin Truck Repair, HB Turbo and Cherry Bomb Performance Exhaust Systems stepped up adding additional $500 each, with $100 from BJ Construction and Goliad Gypsy Club. The low ET pass was held by Jeff Benham from Conroe who took his '74 Vega down the track at 8.30 seconds, who got the initial $500. After the others chipped in, it turned into a four-car shootout, winner take all for the remaining $2100.
Then Never Lift Chassis came along to throw $500 into the pot for the Wheelstand competition along with Z-Bar Transport and All Tech Inspection anteing up some cash. Sam Mora's '68 Camaro took home all the money with his wheelie of about 400'
The four fastest elapsed times were set by Ben Massey, Jeff Cameron, Tom Eckols and Benham, who stayed quickest all day. Round 1 pitted Massey's '81 Camaro against Eckols, '90 Trans Am. Eckols 8.38 @ 160.14 easily beat Massey's 8.72 @ 159.18. Cameron then put his '48 Austin A-40 Coupe up against Benham's '74 Vega. Benham's 8.36 @ 162.00 sent Cameron's 8.81 @ 151.45 back to the trailer.
For a $2100 pool you have to be sharp and up on your game. Benham was and left Eckols sitting at the starting with a huge hole shot. Benham ran another 8.36 @ 162.37, while Eckols finally tripped the lights with an 8.42 @ 159.81, to take home all the cash.
Through my contact with the Pinks All Out Media Director, David Harris I got the privilege to sit in on the "war room" meeting to determine the sixteen finalists. It came down to a group of two distinctively different classes. One in the 9.90's and the second in the 11.60's. After long deliberation, the 9.90 class was chosen and narrowed down to a 24-car group. From the group, through consistently close together runs, they pared the group to the lucky final sixteen competitors battling for the big $10,000 to win prize.
By J M Hallas
Marion, Tx., (March 8th, 2008)
Day two of the Pinks All Out show on the San Antonio Raceway 1/4 mile began with film crews busily finishing completion of set up, and Pink All Out cast members, Rich Christensen, Nate Pritchett, et. al., examining the track and greeting some of the 400 plus drivers and teams in the staging lanes. Fans packed in early and filled the place to capacity as an estimated 22,000 people crowded into the grandstands, and three deep along the fence, nearly the entire quarter-mile.
Christensen, the Pinks starting line guru, grabbed the best seat in the house outside the track wall, just past the starting line to watch time trial runs. During the drivers meeting, Christensen prompted the drivers to go, 'all out.' During first round time trials, several break downs and a couple, fortunately, minor incidents showed that they were listening.
During first round time trials, Christensen personally watches nearly every pass from his ringside seat showing his approval for every good run. It's as toss up as to which is more entertaining, watching him react to runs or the runs themselves.
In second round time trials, Christensen himself manned the starting line for his famous "arm drop" start. This would give the selected sixteen drivers a chance to get used to not running off a pro tree starting line. During his arm drop starts, Christensen looks for feedback from the crowd on jump starts, as well as keeping the drivers pumped up.
From Zero to Hero
After the final sixteen were announced, Dumas, Texas' Clay Cunningham was left on the outside looking in. But fate can be not only a cruel thing, but a positive one at times as well. Qualifier, David Burley was unable to answer the call for the final sixteen, so Cunningham was chosen as first alternate and placed in the field.
Cunningham methodically worked his way to the finals were he went head to head, best two out of three with Steven Vontur, a hometown boy from seven miles away. Final round, Best two out of three runs. As the finals unfolded, Cunningham would again have fate intervene.
On the first pass, Vontur was clearly able to best Cunningham, who was slower off the line. Cunningham then evened the score with a win n the second pass. All tied now at one race apiece, the two squared off for one last 'all out' pass down the track. If there wasn't enough drama to begin with, Cunningham rolled into the beams first and was staged before Vontur entered. During Vontur's staging, the lights flickered on Cunningham's side, tripping the automatic red light in his lane, despite the fact he race hadn't officially been run.
As both cars were sent off by Christensen, Cunningham had the early advantage. As their rear bumpers vanished into the darkness it was not clear from the top end who had actually won. Going by the electronic scoring system, it was still uncertain because of the light issue. Both drivers were asked if they knew who had won. Cunningham stated confidently that he was sure he had won. Vontur told official that he was too busy fighting the car for control. Pinks All Out offered to let both revue the taped footage, but Vontur conceded defeat, when he learned of the results from the electronic scoring.
"This is what it's all about," stated Cunningham as he waved the $10,000 in cold hard cash. "This is so awesome. Even after I lost the first race, I was still confident that I could win. Once I won the second it pumped up my confidence even more. I was sure I was going to win after that."
As the 16 drivers were led out to the starting line, Christensen gave all of them a speech to get them all pumped up, stressing the 'all out' style of racing that has made the show so popular. It appeared more like a high school sports coach getting his team fired up before the big game
Round 1 action;
Adam Schneider, 1984 Ford Mustang defeated Allen Jacobs, 1978 Chevy Malibu
Steven R. Vontur, 1967 Chevy Nova SS defeated Jimmy Farmer, 1966 Chevy Nova SS
Bruce Lunday, 1970 Chevy Camaro defeated Jason Smith, 1971 Chevy Vega
Danny York Jr., 1985 Chevy S-10 defeated Jerry Salas, 1968 Chevy Camaro SS
Clay Cunningham, 1969 Camaro defeated Ray Brown, 1955 Chevy Wagon
Donee Johnson, 1968 Chevy Camaro defeated Michael Andrews, 1998 Ford Mustang
Homer Ybarra, 1974 Datsun 260Z defeated Darryl Wiley, 1965 Chevy Chevelle
Richard Delancey Jr., 1967 Chevy Camaro defeated Joe Walker, 1969 Chevy Camaro
In the first race Clay Cunningham went up against Richard Delaney Jr. Both drivers bet $1,000 on the race. Cunningham won in his 1969 Chevy Camaro and advanced to the next round with $2,000 in his pocket. Delaney was forced to take his 1967 Chevy Camaro to the pits.
In the second race, Bruce Lunday in a 1970 Chevy Camaro faced Adam Schneider in a 1984 Ford Mustang. Lunday and Schneider placed a $500 bet before racing down the track and Lunday came away with the win. He advances to the next round with $1,500. Schneider went to the pits with $500 in his pocket.
In the third race, Homer Ybarra, driving a Datsun 260Z battled Donee Johnson in a 1968 Camaro. Both drivers placed a $1,000 bet on the race and Ybarra nosed Johnson at line by .02 seconds. He advances to the next round with $2,000 to spend.
In the fourth race, San Antonio's Danny York Jr., driving a 1985 Chevy S-10 truck faced Steven Vontur Jr. in a 1967 Chevy Nova SS. They each bet $1,000 on the race and Vontur took the victory and advances to the next round with $2,000.
Round 2 results
Clay Cunningham, 1969 Camaro defeated Richard Delancey Jr., 1967 Chevy Camaro
Bruce Lunday, 1970 Chevy Camaro defeated Adam Schneider, 1984 Ford Mustang
Homer Ybarra, 1974 Datsun 260Z defeated Donee Johnson, 1968 Chevy Camaro
Steven R. Vontur, 1967 Chevy Nova SS defeated Danny York Jr., 1985 Chevy S-10
This round opened with Clay Cunningham in a 1969 Chevy Camaro facing Homer Ybarra in a Datsun 260Z. Both drivers placed a $2,000 bet, the biggest bet in PINKS All Out competition for this round. When the drivers crossed the finish line, Cunningham was ahead by .0198 seconds over Ybarra. Cunningham advances to the final round with $4,000.
In the second race, Steven Vontur in a 1967 Chevy Nova SS faced Bruce Lunday in 1970 Chevy Camaro. Both drivers placed a $500 bet, but disaster struck for Lunday on the starting line when Lunday's rear end blew up as he launched off the line. Vontur advances to the final round with $2,500.
Round 3 results
Clay Cunningham, 1969 Camaro defeated Homer Ybarra, 1974 Datsun 260Z
Steven R. Vontur, 1967 Chevy Nova SS defeated Bruce Lunday, 1970 Chevy Camaro
San Antonio Raceway owners, Todd and Judy Zampese upped the ante, so to speak, by putting up a $500 bonus for anyone setting low ET in time trials. RGV Racing fuels, Basin Truck Repair, HB Turbo and Cherry Bomb Performance Exhaust Systems stepped up adding additional $500 each, with $100 from BJ Construction and Goliad Gypsy Club. The low ET pass was held by Jeff Benham from Conroe who took his '74 Vega down the track at 8.30 seconds, who got the initial $500. After the others chipped in, it turned into a four-car shootout, winner take all for the remaining $2100.
Then Never Lift Chassis came along to throw $500 into the pot for the Wheelstand competition along with Z-Bar Transport and All Tech Inspection anteing up some cash. Sam Mora's '68 Camaro took home all the money with his wheelie of about 400'
The four fastest elapsed times were set by Ben Massey, Jeff Cameron, Tom Eckols and Benham, who stayed quickest all day. Round 1 pitted Massey's '81 Camaro against Eckols, '90 Trans Am. Eckols 8.38 @ 160.14 easily beat Massey's 8.72 @ 159.18. Cameron then put his '48 Austin A-40 Coupe up against Benham's '74 Vega. Benham's 8.36 @ 162.00 sent Cameron's 8.81 @ 151.45 back to the trailer.
For a $2100 pool you have to be sharp and up on your game. Benham was and left Eckols sitting at the starting with a huge hole shot. Benham ran another 8.36 @ 162.37, while Eckols finally tripped the lights with an 8.42 @ 159.81, to take home all the cash.
Through my contact with the Pinks All Out Media Director, David Harris I got the privilege to sit in on the "war room" meeting to determine the sixteen finalists. It came down to a group of two distinctively different classes. One in the 9.90's and the second in the 11.60's. After long deliberation, the 9.90 class was chosen and narrowed down to a 24-car group. From the group, through consistently close together runs, they pared the group to the lucky final sixteen competitors battling for the big $10,000 to win prize.