2007 IHBA Lucas Oil World Finals, held its 25th annual event on November 15-18. This final race of the season was the event of the season to cherish and remember forever by some, while others were praying for alzeimers to kick in and hide all memories of it, and the two Top Fueler Teams, that walked away as winner and runner-up, felt a little torn in both directions.
Verstuyft, between rounds and hospital visits managed to keep himself focused enough to earn the TFH 2007 World Finals Championship Trophy. Doug Verstuyft, in Nitro Chicken, infamous for his lack of fear and lots of dare, got the scare of his life when his trailer oven exploded while his wife Amanda, and son Zachery, were within inches of it. His son faired the worst of the brunt, but tough like Dad, was released from hospital the same day. He sported a few cuts and bruises, caused by the fire and compression of the propane blast that assaulted both parties as they tried to escape. Doug Verstuyft, totalled his boat at the 2006 World Finals during the finals competition. Verstuyft a tough contender, after 3 consecutive years as a finalist in the World Finals, earned his 2nd World Finals Championship Trophy against runner-up Glen Wilson.
TFH Toxic Rocket, on its first qualifying run, broke an ear off one of its twin props, resulting in a barage of parts ejecting directly under the engine and out through the hull. After Rescue and bilge pumps managed to get Toxic back to the in ramp, frantic crew members tried bailing the sinking vehicle, while the merciless waters of Firebird Lake swallowed up Joe Cassidys pride and joy.
Joe Cassidy (owner), Glen Wilson driver and the entire Toxic Team, worked relentlessly on that puppy for 36 hours straight.
After remaking/building a 2.5 square foot section of hull, the team had only 30 minutes to eat, sleep, get prepped and make it to Sundays start. Sunday witnessed Toxic win round after round. After taking out TFH World Champion, John Haas, (#1 qualifier) and before facing Ron McLellan in Liquid Quiker, (who up until now ran in excess of 216 MPH consistantly at the 1/8 mile) the sleepless team workouts were not over. Their intermission was filled with all work and no play, as they worked to keep Toxic Rocket in the competitions. A fatigued Glen Wilson, (close friend of the Henderson Family) while under great distress after the tragic and fatal Henderson accident
Saturday night managed to walk away from the Trophy Podium as TFH Runner Up, after a red light in the final round.
During Eliminations, Kebin Kinsley Racing Bad Habit owned by Ed and Debbie Pacilio, miraculously cheated his way out of a crash, while dancing down the 1/4 mile with a bent prop.
Mike Fry, surging with adrenalin at the in ramp, while pulling his helmet on ripped the neophrene loose. Neophrene is the substance that seals around a racers neck, for oxygen retention. Fry, made a dash to borrow teammate Kent Prices helmet but lost the round to Bob Pizza, who would later be wiped out by Price. Price and Fry despite being competitors in the same class, consider themselves teammates and pit together, tune together and share data with each other. Price qualified#1 and Fry qualified #2, now that's drag boat racing!
Kent Price, is a walking testimonial of another victim of past boat tradgedies who refuses to accept the title of victim. Price earned the
title of Champion for the 2007 World Finals Event as well as the coveted title, 2007 TAH World Champion. The man sets off alarms going through airport scanners, can't be trusted near large magnets, has a heart of gold and is the essence of what drag boat racing is all about. Maintaining 1/8 mile MPH in excess of 180 is no easy task nor is usually running 5.4 ET or
ascertaining MPH passes in excess of 216, yet this was normal for Kent Price and Black Draggin, who at 217.71 and 5.419 ET, kept finalist and runner-up Bob Pizza lurking in his shadow.
Steve Westerfield, in All Lit Up, TAF 440, caught fire, popped open his capsule and was ready to jump at 100 MPH due to an inferno surrounding his cockpit. The fire melted the head gaskets and turned his wiring into crisp noodles. The team worked into the wee hours of Sunday morning only to catch fire all over again. Steve, runner up in TAF Points, ended his rookie year all lit up.
TAF #886, Oklahoman, was the fastest boat at the 1/8 mile mark with a 147.61. Piloted by owner/driver Ken Singleton, it ran 6.7 average ET but was declared broke, not able to compete for the semi-final position earned against Tony
Scarlata. Tony, fresh out of a burn treatment unit, suffered a similar fate at the final round and was a no show. Despite the gift of a win, Don Bausher, (#1 qualifier) tore up the track with a crowd pleasing ET of 6.74.
Eliminations Round 1 witnessed a few fast MPH runs. When Steve Rajic, licensing for TAH, reverted back to the PM class, he ran a chilling 174.62 MPH pass at 6.837 ET (139.47 at the 1/8 mile mark) losing to Shawn Reed, (2007 PM Points Leader). Bryan Saunders not only hit the 1/8 mile mark at 142.26 MPH, he managed to finish the pass with a whopping 174.46. Saunders. Saunders drives PM Hydrochondriac. The term hydrocohondria refers to the idea that water is constantly in crisis (trouble, danger of contaminents or shortage etc) and that term certainly applies, in most aspects, to Firebird Lake. Hydrocondriac, during round 1 of eliminations, went up like a fireball. Saunders, suffering from smoke inhalation, decided that jumping into the toxic science project was a better fate than suffering further smoke inhalation or ending up in a burn unit. Saunders jumped into the concoction and took a swallow or two of the brew. YUK. Saunders was a no show in the next round against Vic Esposito in Freak Show, who went on to battle through two more rounds to the finals against #1 Qualifier, Scott Loomis.
Loomis, driving Crapshoot, owned by Dan & Jan Bowers, snagged the 2007 World Finals PM Trophy. Vic Espositi after battling it out with Loomis ended the year at the podium as runner-up, and as runner up in Pro Mod Points for the 2007 season.
Ray Florez, current record holder for both MPH and ET in Divisions II and III PGJ class, as well as the Div I UBGJ class, scooped up the Stoneman for the PCE class. Finalist runner-up Milton Tolen, is also a record holder in Div II for Comp Flat ET.
Mike Schiller, lady killer, ha ha, got to love him. Not only did he win the stoneman for the PE class but he mimicked the stoneman in the best winners pose of the event. Jerry Hardwick,in Texas Red, made it past a 24 boat field, at one time hitting 149.20 MPH earning runner-up status in the PE class.
Jeff Vail, a strong contender in the TE class (#2 Qualifier) duked it out with 29 boats, until he was face to face with MOJO, owned and driven by Jim Dunn of Texas, Who had all the mojo in his favor, winning the 2007 World Finals Trophy.
ME driver, Tom Wedick crashed, on Thursday, and between his boat Real Deal, being a lost deal, and
slight injuries, did not get the chance to compete in the event, leaving a 21 boat field for the taking. Mid Life Crisis, driven by Marv Davis, took a hard left and detoured to a parking spot on the islands far side. Nut-N-up but a combo of luck and talent for 20th Qualifier Jeffrey Gibson. Who between breaking boats, red lights and a Bye run, made his way to the finals against Ain't Scared, driven by runner-up Greg Carr, who he beat fair and square, running a perfect 10.000 ET, earning him the event Championship.
Lots of Red lights this year at the 2007 World Finals but only about 4 occurred in the SE class. Pete Barons, driving Hole Shot was opposite Red Lighters in both Eliminations 1 and 2 and lucked into a bye run in the Semi-Finals. Tom Bandy, despite no bye runs or red light opponents managed to run consistantly better ET, round for round, earning him the Trophy he was hell bent on winning in Hallet Hath No Fury.
Stay safe, so we can see, your face in a race.
