Meadors Blows Doors Off in Bakersfield…Pure Hell Turns to Pure Gold in Season Debut
seasonal debut at Famoso Raceway last weekend, overcoming extreme weather and a mechanical failure to grab a lucky win. Picking up right where he left off last fall, Meadors qualified the supercharged Pure Hell2 ’69 Camaro on the pole and used a healthy dose of lady luck during Sunday’s eliminations.
It was during Meadors’ 5.831 / 254.09mph qualifier that things got hairy. As he approached the finish line, the passenger side door blew off, literally disintegrating and falling to the track in pieces. Team friend Bob Bunker Jr arranged to have the team’s old doors brought down, which were at his shop, so that they could continue racing.
Meadors caught a break in the opening round of eliminations when he overpowered the track and got loose. Competitor Rod Burbage broke a fuel line and shut off allowing the Pure Hell2 Camaro to coast to a 7.664 / 138.03 win. Meadors used up more racing luck in the semi’s against Troy Ferry’s radical Dodge Challenger as the crank trigger on the car unexpectedly broke about 2.5 seconds into the run, killing the engine instantly and slowing the car to a 7.334 / 127.73. Ferry’s parachutes popped out during the run, negating any serious threat.
The finals matched Meadors against nemesis Mike Maggio and his ’68 Camaro. The two blown Camaros put on a thrilling side-by-side race despite a 154 degree track temperature. Meadors’ 5.921 / 249.62 trophy-dash blast eclipsed the loser’s 6.026 / 248.39.
The win placed Meadors 3rd in 2014 West Coast Outlaw Pro Mod series points, despite missing the opening race back in March. “We overcame quite a bit this weekend,” Meadors said from the Auto Club Famoso Raceway winner’s circle. “My crew guys Jason Bunker, Billy Fereira, Ben Boylan and Greg Lee stepped up big time in this heat. Special thanks to Bob Bunker Jr for arranging the 500 mile round trip from Sacramento to get us a spare door. A few others chipped in along the way and made this all happen. Thanks to everyone. It feels great to be back out here going rounds.”
Next up for the Goodguys Racing team is a trip to Firebird Raceway in Boise, Idaho for the Little Ceasars Pizza 37th Annual Famous Fox Hunt June 20-21.
