By George Klass
Photos by Mac Fosmire/PhotoMagic Photography
5/10/04

hey say that if you don't like the weather in Texas, stick around for a few minutes and it will change. True statement.

Friday, April 30, started off with serious clouds that looked pretty ominous. Heavy rain and wind abounded all around the greater Houston area, but none at Houston Raceway Park in Baytown. On Saturday, things took a turn for the worse. Heavy rain and wind started in the late morning, washing out racing for the day.

But luck held and Sunday dawned dry and cool, and the racers were lined up at the gate. Fun Ford Weekend was able to get the three-day event in on just Sunday, including True Street and the All-Ford Car Show.

In the Mr. Gasket Pro class, Chuck Samuel (lead photo) qualified No. 1 with a 6.524 at 216.97. Right behind was Joe DaSilva with a 6.674/213.54. Next was Brit Floyd and finally, the much anticipated new car from Doug Mangrum (photo below), making his first runs.

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In the finals it was Samuel (6.488/218.09) over DaSilva (6.554/216.24). Samuel's 6.461 with the .488 back-up will probably constitute a new Pro e.t. record, pending approval from FFW. And as the low qualifier and also the class winner on Sunday, Chuck will also win the Houston Performance Pro Challenge Lottery, which had risen to $3,000, bringing his total purse up to $10,500.