The Pit Report
Reproduced with permission from National Dragster.
By Bob Frey
With the season coming to an end and the weather cooling off there’s still plenty of heat in the Rich’s Custom Auto points series sponsored by Pep Boyz. With Art Paltz having a Greg Andersen like first half season it all looked as if the points series would be wrapped up in Cecil County. Paltz had a monumental lead going into qualifying. Paltz was given 20 points for qualifying # 1 as was number #2 Tommy X and Rich Rezes a close third. Paltz needed to win the event to wrap it all up. Based on first half results this seemed to be the likely outcome. After a first round transmission breakage put Paltz on the trailer, Rezes and Tommy X went 3 rounds each adding an additional 60 points each only to line up in a John Force vs. Whit Bazemore final. With Tommy X having a .042 advantage off the tree it appeared the final was all sewn up. Unfortunately for Tommy X, Rich Rezes drove around him with a blistering 9.87 blast at over 138 mph to take the final. This win narrowed the gap between Rezes and X to 40 points and put Tommy X in first place by 20 points after Paltz’s first round win.
The points series moved to Englishtown this past weekend with Tommy X having a 20 point lead over Paltz. After a Warren Johnson like DNQ appearance by Tommy X and 20 qualifying points being given to Paltz and Rezes, Paltz was tied with Tommy in the points and Rezes moved to within 20 points. Tommy X’s DNQ snapped a 65 event long qualifying streak stretching back into 2001. When Paltz took top qualifying with a tire blazing 9.83 over Rezes’s 9.85, Paltz moved into first place by 5 points. Both Paltz and Rezes won first round being awarded an additional 20 points. Paltz, who up until Cecil had had an almost flawless season threw a belt for a second round loss. Rezes riding a bucking bronco was able to hole shot Clem Achers in second round. The Rezes train was not ready to pull into the station in third round where he was able to pull off back to back hole shot wins over Stewart Griffin. Rezes progressed to the finals and was able to pull off an event win in a tire blazing pedal fest with Jonathan Crichton. This event win moves Rezes to the top of the heap by 40 points over Paltz and Tommy X going into the next race this Sunday in Atco.
Sunday’s event at Atco Raceway in scenic Atco New Jersey should prove to be a real slug fest. Will Paltz be able to overcome the back to back mechanical problems? Will Tommy X be able to regroup his team after the disappointing DNQ in Englishtown? Will Rezes be able to keep his car off the bumper as he continues to push the limits of man and machine? With only 2 events left in the series this weeks Event at Atco followed up by a series closer in Englishtown should prove to be one of the most exciting sportsman series in the NHRA.
Current point standings are as follows going into the final two races of the year, all in pursuit of the big trophy that comes with the Championship........The Ronny.
Position Driver Points PB Make
01 Rich Rezes 1525 - Buick V6
02 Art Paltz 1485 40 Buick V6
03 Tommy X 1485 40 Buick V6
04 Paul Reubens 1205 320 MG
05 Jim Testa 1200 325 Buick V6
06 Moe Green 1050 475 Yugo
07 Steve Roytos 975 550 Radio Shack
08 Johnny LaRue 925 600 Pinto
09 Otto 7 1528 Buick V6
10 Jim Rome -5 1530 Skoal/Pepsi
We'll report back with new standings and stories after the Atco event on Sunday.........stay tuned and get your bets in on who's gonna win the 2004 Rich's Auto Point Series and the Ronny.
The following may not be reproduced without the expressed written permission of Rich’s Custom Auto, NHRA, National Dragster, JCC Racing, Bob Frey, Tom “the Ace” Ventura or Wally Parks
Reproduced with permission from National Dragster.
By Bob Frey
With the season coming to an end and the weather cooling off there’s still plenty of heat in the Rich’s Custom Auto points series sponsored by Pep Boyz. With Art Paltz having a Greg Andersen like first half season it all looked as if the points series would be wrapped up in Cecil County. Paltz had a monumental lead going into qualifying. Paltz was given 20 points for qualifying # 1 as was number #2 Tommy X and Rich Rezes a close third. Paltz needed to win the event to wrap it all up. Based on first half results this seemed to be the likely outcome. After a first round transmission breakage put Paltz on the trailer, Rezes and Tommy X went 3 rounds each adding an additional 60 points each only to line up in a John Force vs. Whit Bazemore final. With Tommy X having a .042 advantage off the tree it appeared the final was all sewn up. Unfortunately for Tommy X, Rich Rezes drove around him with a blistering 9.87 blast at over 138 mph to take the final. This win narrowed the gap between Rezes and X to 40 points and put Tommy X in first place by 20 points after Paltz’s first round win.
The points series moved to Englishtown this past weekend with Tommy X having a 20 point lead over Paltz. After a Warren Johnson like DNQ appearance by Tommy X and 20 qualifying points being given to Paltz and Rezes, Paltz was tied with Tommy in the points and Rezes moved to within 20 points. Tommy X’s DNQ snapped a 65 event long qualifying streak stretching back into 2001. When Paltz took top qualifying with a tire blazing 9.83 over Rezes’s 9.85, Paltz moved into first place by 5 points. Both Paltz and Rezes won first round being awarded an additional 20 points. Paltz, who up until Cecil had had an almost flawless season threw a belt for a second round loss. Rezes riding a bucking bronco was able to hole shot Clem Achers in second round. The Rezes train was not ready to pull into the station in third round where he was able to pull off back to back hole shot wins over Stewart Griffin. Rezes progressed to the finals and was able to pull off an event win in a tire blazing pedal fest with Jonathan Crichton. This event win moves Rezes to the top of the heap by 40 points over Paltz and Tommy X going into the next race this Sunday in Atco.
Sunday’s event at Atco Raceway in scenic Atco New Jersey should prove to be a real slug fest. Will Paltz be able to overcome the back to back mechanical problems? Will Tommy X be able to regroup his team after the disappointing DNQ in Englishtown? Will Rezes be able to keep his car off the bumper as he continues to push the limits of man and machine? With only 2 events left in the series this weeks Event at Atco followed up by a series closer in Englishtown should prove to be one of the most exciting sportsman series in the NHRA.
Current point standings are as follows going into the final two races of the year, all in pursuit of the big trophy that comes with the Championship........The Ronny.
Position Driver Points PB Make
01 Rich Rezes 1525 - Buick V6
02 Art Paltz 1485 40 Buick V6
03 Tommy X 1485 40 Buick V6
04 Paul Reubens 1205 320 MG
05 Jim Testa 1200 325 Buick V6
06 Moe Green 1050 475 Yugo
07 Steve Roytos 975 550 Radio Shack
08 Johnny LaRue 925 600 Pinto
09 Otto 7 1528 Buick V6
10 Jim Rome -5 1530 Skoal/Pepsi
We'll report back with new standings and stories after the Atco event on Sunday.........stay tuned and get your bets in on who's gonna win the 2004 Rich's Auto Point Series and the Ronny.
The following may not be reproduced without the expressed written permission of Rich’s Custom Auto, NHRA, National Dragster, JCC Racing, Bob Frey, Tom “the Ace” Ventura or Wally Parks
