SUPER COMP — 23rd annual O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Spring Nationals presented by Pennzoil, April 9-11, Houston
Ailing engine no problem for Parfait
by Candida Benson Lloyd Parfait, near lane, used a near-perfect .002 light
to defeat Jay Thornburg in the final. This is the second
L loyd Parfait probably shouldn’t have been
the racer who was in the winner’s circle at
the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Spring
Nationals presented by Pennzoil. From his lone
time-trial run that was problematic to nursing a
time Parfait has hoisted the Wally at a national event; he
also won last September’s Dallas event.
see his wheel up, I know I’ve got him. If the
wheel is down and rolling, he’s either got me or
wounded engine through the final few rounds, we’re even,” said Parfait. “When I looked over,
everything seemed to go against Parfait at the his wheel was still up. I knew at that time all I
event. However, with a little luck and strong had to do was stay close and it was mine.
driving skills, he was able to overcome the “Once the car got up and running, I couldn’t
adversity and score his second national event tell the difference — it performed just like there
victory just seven months after he notched his was nothing wrong — but when I clicked it off, I
first, in Dallas last September. could hear a lot of stuff I didn’t want to hear. I
“It rained, so the time trials got messed up was just very lucky.”
and we only got one, and I had a bad read on Unfortunately for him, things went south again
the time trial. I didn’t believe the numbers I got in the quarterfinals when he wounded the The key races: “There were two critical
back from it, so the first three races I went engine as he defeated Covington, 8.88 to races, and they’re funny,” said Parfait. “The
through, I was trying to find out what the car 8.85. He was fortunate, however, that he was first was that Stephen Hughes went out to
was going to do, and I couldn’t find it,” said on the side of the ladder with a semifinal bye, Thornburg [in the semi’s] because Stephen
Parfait. “Then, the motor was hurt when I raced allowing him to take the green and back off Hughes, when he’s on at that track, he takes
Joel Covington [in the quarterfinals]. I knew the starting line. home the bacon. I know Stephen Hughes
when I went through it wasn’t going to make Parfait entered the final needing another thought it was going to be him and I in the final,
but one more trip. That’s why when I had the strong starting-line performance along with a
bye in the semi’s, I just broke the beam. I went lucky break. He got both. Parfait cut a .002
right around to the staging lanes and just sat reaction while opponent Jay Thornburg had one About the winning car
there until we got ready to go up for the final.” of his worst lights of eliminations, a .044.
That quick thinking, the lucky break of a
couple of well-timed bye runs, and Parfait’s
Parfait took advantage, winning on an 8.94 to
8.92 holeshot. T he dragster that Lloyd Parfait wheeled
to victory in Houston is the same one
that carried him to his first win last year, a
strong driving skills provided the perfect “As soon as I launch, I look to the wheel. If I
combination to keep ’01 Mullis that was previously owned by
the Baytown, Texas, Erica Enders. Louis Boyd built the engine,
racer ahead of his Bart Nelson supplied the carburetor, and
competition. After Lyndon Rutland provided the transmission.
getting around Van Parfait thanked Bart and Joe Nelson;
Williams, Dillon Mike Ward; Louise Petitt; his fellow racers
DeBerry, and and friends for their support; Seth Angel,
Samantha Kenny, Scott Singleton, and Kenny DeLaughter
Parfait got a much- from Houston Raceway Park and the NHRA
needed bye in the Safety Safari for giving racers “such a
fourth round that great surface to race on;” Jim Anderson;
allowed him to finally Craig and Sue Hutchinson; Daryl, Derrick,
get a grip on what his