SUPER GAS — 23rd annual O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Spring Nationals presented by Pennzoil, April 9-11, Houston
Phillips scores 20th national event crown
By winning the final with his
’57 Corvette roadster, near
lane, against Jim Hughes,
Tommy Phillips hoisted a
Wally for the 20th time in his
storied career.
by John Jodauga it gets you into a zone, and you really feel
sharp. But that goes for your final-round
A fter producing four Super-class national
event victories in 2009, Tommy Phillips
got his 2010 campaign off to an
excellent start, reaching the winner’s circle in
just his second start of the season. Phillips’
opponent as well, so winning these things is
always tough.”
Phillips, whose first major victory was a
Super Gas win in Dallas in 1995, said his many
years of experience also play a role in his
final-round triumph over Jim Hughes marked success. “We focus mainly on the national
the 20th win of his career with only five runner- event tracks that are close to home [Forney,
up finishes. Texas], so we always run Houston, Dallas, and
Said Phillips, “I can’t really explain why Topeka,” said Phillips. “We’ve run those tracks
we’ve had such good luck in the final rounds, so much that we are very familiar with every
but to me there’s nothing better than still being nuance at each facility, such as the difference
in the eliminations on Sunday at around 4:30 in rollouts between lanes, how the sun affects Phillips was surprised to see that his final-
p.m. It’s such an accomplishment just to make your ability to read the Tree at different times of round opponent, Hughes, red-lighted in the
it to the finals these days that you can’t help the day, and other things like that. These days, final by .004-second. “I’ve worked with Jim for
but feel that it’s just the neatest time of the even the smallest bit of information makes all many years, used his products, and we know
day. After having already gone so many rounds, the difference in the world.” each other’s racing habits pretty well,” Phillips
Another factor in Phillips’ lopsided win-loss said. “He’s aware that I set up my car to be on
ratio is the fact that he has done all of his racing the safe side for the final because you have no
About the winning car in Division 4, which is considered by many to be chance of winning at all with a red-light, so I
ommy Phillips’ ’57 Corvette was built by the hotbed of Super-class racers. “When I started was surprised that he cut it as close as he did.
T Super Gas chassis wizard Don Davis,
and it is powered by a 582-cid big-block
racing against the likes of Edmond and Scotty
Richardson and so many other tough competitors
But as soon as the race was over, we
congratulated each other and talked a lot.
engine assembled by Tracy Dennis of from around here, you were forced into a pretty Except for those few seconds when we have to
Sunset Racecraft Engines with Brodix steep learning curve,” said Phillips. “Racing face each other on the racetrack, we’ve always
heads, a Comp Cams camshaft, JE pistons, against so many talented people at the early been the best of friends.”
Moroso oil pan, MSD ignition, and stage of my career really helped me a lot. If you Last year, Phillips finished third in the
Dynatech headers. Other components can survive against this group, you’re ready to national Super Comp standings, fifth in the
include K&R Racing electronics, a take on anyone in the country.” national Super Gas points, and won the
Powerglide transmission and torque Division 4 Super Comp title. With a start like
converter from Hughes Performance, and this, it won’t be surprising to see him enjoy
Hoosier tires. another successful campaign in 2010.
Phillips thanked “Steve Williams and Bob
Harris at K&N Filters; Monroe Guest and The key race: “The second-round race
Marvin Yoder [owners of his primary against Ross Laris was the pivotal one for me
sponsor, Tigerflow]; Finley Ledbetter and his because of reasons that most people don’t
family, who helped me start out racing when know,” said Phillips. “When we were called to
I was in my 20s; the employees at TNT the staging lanes, my Corvette wouldn’t start.
Supercars and Smiley’s Racing Products Fortunately, we were pitted next to Duane and
[which owns TNT Supercars]; Tracy Dennis; Heidi Robison, who gave me the replacement
my wife, Carrie; and daughter, Autumn.” Phillips advanced to the final after a close 9.91 to 9.92 starter solenoid that we needed to solve the
decision against Jim Repka’s ’00 Camaro in the semi’s. problem, and we just barely got to the staging
80 National DRAGSTER
SUPER GAS QUALIFYING
lanes in time. As for the race [in which Phillips (Top 16 of 30 first-round winners)
overcame Laris’ .004 to .006 starting-line 1. Buddy Wood, Sulphur, Okla. (’92 Firebird) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.902 (0.002)
2. Jeff Franklin, Arlington, Texas (’69 AMX) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.908 (0.008)
advantage for a double-breakout 9.895 to 3. Mike Ferderer, Buckley, Wash. (’06 Grand Am) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.910 (0.010)
9.884 win], that could have gone either way. It 4. Shannon Brinkley, Highlands, Texas (’02 Corvette) . . . . . . . . . . 9.915 (0.015)
was so close that neither of us knew who won 5. Larry Blankenship, Houston, Texas (’72 Camaro) . . . . . . . . . . . 9.919 (0.019)