WCOPMA at Funny Car Fever
“Records drop after only the first event of the 2010 season”
Sacramento, CA – There was a lot of work being done to many West Coast Outlaw Pro Mod Association cars over this 
past winter, everyone was upgrading with expectations of the 2010 season to be a quick one. No one wanted to fall behind the 8-ball and after this first event it is safe to say everyone’s hard work, dedication and hard earned money was well spent. Two of the biggest anticipation’s were the debut of Bret Williamson’s new Alan Pittman built 53 Studebaker and Rod Pearce’s new Rob Matheis built 70.5 Camaro. Neither disappointed nor let down anyone’s (high) expectations.
When the gates opened Friday morning 12 cars pulled through to try and qualify for the West Coast Outlaw Pro Mod Associations 8-car field which included Dan Myers, Marc Meadors, Jay Diedrich, Rod Burbage, Scott Oksas, Bret Williamson, Rod Pearce, Randy Kay, Jalil Jaber, Scott Bailey, Rich Zehring and Mike Leonard.
The lanes were open for testing from 12-4 and Marc Meadors laid down low ET during the testing period with a 6.191 @ 237.76, that got the team the added energy going into qualifying as it was their first “teen” pass…and that was the first sign of the updates done over winter as Meadors invested in his engine program over the off-season and it seemed to be working for them.
Scott Bailey was the second quickest in qualifying when he ran a 6.221 @ 238.93. Unfortunately for Bailey, on Friday nights qualifying session he had a horrible wreck when his car crossed the centerline, tagged Jay Diedrich’s car and veered back across the left lane and impacted the left wall head on. Scott was alert and talking to the safety staff at the top end but was taken to UC Davis hospital for further evaluation and was released that night. He was at the track the following day (Saturday) walking around and talking to all the teams, said he wasn’t sore but had a little bit of a head ache as he suffered a concussion during the crash. (Scott carded his best 60’ and 330’ times on that run with a .974 and 2.64).
After Friday nights and Saturday mornings qualifying sessions were completed the qualifying order was as follows.
Final Qualifying Order:
1) Williamson – 6.094 @ 244.29
2) Burbage – 6.144 @ 237.29
3) Meadors – 6.168 @ 236.07
4) Myers – 6.407 @ 225.09
5) Zehring – 6.701 @ 211.61
6) Diedrich – 6.815 @ 194.03
7) Oksas – 7.071 @ 163.53
8) Leonard – 7.211 @ 153.24
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9) Pearce – 7.230 @ 145.15
10) Kay – 8.147 @ 222.28
11) Jaber – 8.169 @ 142.18
12) Bailey – N/T
The big standout was Randy Kay’s DNQ as it was his first ever in the 3 years the WCOPMA has been running. Also, Bret Williamson on the top spot with a 6.09 in the new Studebaker.
The first round of eliminations had Rich Zehring take the win over Dan Myers after Dan had problems staging and was timed out. Rod Burbage took the win over Scott Oksas (who was making his WCOPMA debut in his 2009 turbocharged Ford Mustang). For Burbage it was his 3rd 6.14 pass in a row, he had a bracket car all weekend! The next 2 pairs were both record setting passes. Jay Diedrich flashed the red light on the tree (-.010) but popped up a HUGE 249.47 MPH on the top end, easily a new WCOPMA and Sacramento Raceway track record while Meadors was in the other lane and ran a new personal best 6.162 @ 241.71 on his way to the second round. Bret Williamson was on a single in the first round after Mike Leonard was shut off after the burnout, but he didn’t cruise down the track for the easy win. Instead, he thundered down the 1320’ and at the other end the scoreboard lit up with a 5.904 @ 248.39 pass! That was a record and the first on many levels. WCOPMA and Sacramento Raceway track ET record, the first “5-second” pass for the WCOPMA, Sacramento Raceway and any West-Coast based Pro Mod racing association. To say the Don Carter Motorsports/Team Eagle Racing/Gore Family Racing team was happy would be an understatement.
In round 2 Meadors looked to be on a trip to the final round as he cut a great light on Burbage but around 800’ Marc’s car popped out of gear and bounced off the rev limited, then proceeded to kick a couple rods out of the motor. After a short clean up, Williamson faced Zehring in the next pair and Zehring knew he had to cut a light to have a chance to beat the 5-second ‘Stude. He cut it a little too close as he flashed the red-light and Williamson, with troubles of his own, had to peddle it to a 6.61 and loose lane choice to Burbage in the final round who went 6.09 against Meadors.
When the final round came up just about every pro mod associated crew guy was standing behind one of the two cars. Burbage took the right lane and put Williamson in the left, the lane he hadn’t raced in either of the previous elimination rounds. When the tree dropped the two left almost together (Burbage’s .101 to Williamson’s .107). At the half track mark Bret made up the difference (3.89 @ 194 to Burbage’s 3.97 @ 197). And at the top end the big win light flashed in the left lane showing Bret Williamson had captured his first WCOPMA victory and his first win with the new Alan Pittman built swing arm 53 Studebaker. The final round was the quickest and fastest side-by-side Pro Mod race held at Sacramento Raceway! Williamson went 5.92 @ 247 to Burbage’s loosing (but personal best ET and MPH) 6.03 @ 241.
The West Coast Outlaw Pro Mod Association would like to thank each and every racer who came to the Funny Car Fever and supported the association, the Smith family/Sacramento Raceway for improving the race track over the winter (it is a GREAT race track), 619 Promotions for booking the West Coast Outlaw Pro Mod Association at their events this 2010 season, all our association sponsors and the fans for coming out and supporting our association! We couldn’t do without any of your help. The next race for the West Coast Outlaw Pro Mod Association will be 619 Promotions “Nitro Nite of Fire” event at Sacramento Raceway on June 11-12.
