Reep Squashes The Field, King Sets Track Record
Words and photos by Chris Graves
4/10/06
The Outlaw Fuel Altered Association kicked off the 2006 season by invading new territory and paid a visit to Houston Motorsports Park for the first time. The drivers had great things to say after seeing the 200-foot extension to the HMP track among other renovations over the winter. Tom Wood debuted his new "Sundown Racing" machine with Nick Poloson behind the wheel. Jack and Sue Heslink's brought out their beautiful altered "The Punisher" and Mitch King and
the "Bone Bucket" showed up to defend his home turf and try to repeat his victory from the season ending event in 2005. 
Travis Bouchey plugged a few ears with his "Excitation" (shown) now running a Brent Fanning tuned nitro combination and Bob Voirin debuted his nitro burning "American Flyer." A total of thirteen cars came to claim the first HMP victory and with favorable air conditions and low altitude came good fast racing!
A battle had been brewing between Tim Hay and Jim Pruett via the organization's website chat board and the score was settled first pair of first round of qualifying. The loser had to wax the other driver's car after the run. This might as well have been a final round for these two. Pruett got the starting line advantage but Hay's 4.16 at 174 was just enough to drive around Pruett's 4.20 at 171 mph. For photos of the wax job, go to www.ofaa.net.
Next up, Travis Bouchey threw up a ground pounding 4.10 at 170 mph. Rigler kicked him off the top spot with a career best 4.07 in the "Toxic" machine. Jack Heslink tripped the timers with a 4.20 at 164 mph and Mitch King triple pedaled the "Bone Bucket" in a wind 4.12 at 154 mph.
Around an hour went by and after thrashing in the pits they were ready for second session of qualifying. 
Bobby Marriott (shown) threw up a 4.88 at 170 mph and Jack Hodgson put together a great 4.17 at 169 mph in the Waco-based "Southern Outlaw." Larry Reep flirted with the three's with a 4.01 at 181 mph, but Mitch King (below) stole the track record with a blistering and header flaming 3.92 at 166 mph claiming the Meyer Enterprises low qualifier award.