Post by IsaacEbrom (EIR Staff) on Jun 26, 2008 18:25:47 GMT -5
Wilson and Bannister Win Wallys
The victories of Jarod Wilson and Lee Bannister highlighted a race weekend that produced eight different champions at Edinburg International Racetrack. In addition to winning over one thousand dollars, both drivers won an Official NHRA Wally Trophy which is the same trophy awarded to professional racers such as John Force. Other winners from the weekend included Preston Pennington, Richard Garcia, Johnny Trevino, Albert Rodriguez, Victor Garcia, and Ruben Gomez.
The first final of the event took place on Friday night during the Quarter-Mile Clash when a pair of Ford Mustangs faced-off for first place. Johnny Trevino of Edinburg in his 2005 model used a near perfect .004 reaction time against the 1998 model of Juan Villarreal. The starting line advantage proved too much for Los Fresnos resident to overcome as his car crossed the finish line second.
Richard Garcia used the same formula as Trevino to win the Sportsman category on Friday night: A huge reaction time lead. This final round featured a pair of Chevrolets—a 1972 Nova for Garcia and a 1995 Bel-Air for Jorge Molina of San Juan. Garcia from Weslaco gained over a tenth of a second lead on Molina and never looked back crossing the finish line first.
Friday’s final winner was Three River’s student Preston Pennington in the Super Pro class. It was a Ford versus Chevrolet match-up with Pennington racing a Chevrolet-powered 1934 Ford Roadster and Mario Cantu behind the wheel of his Ford-powered 1938 Chevrolet Roadster. Cantu of Mission left too soon with his -.011 red light start…giving the automatic win to Pennington.
Saturday’s racing action began fast and furious during the Dirty Dozen quick shootout. Edinburg local Albert Rodriguez drove his Dragster to victory over fellow Dragster driver Armando Garcia of Mercedes. Each dragster was dialed-in the four second zone (4.90 for Rodriguez and 4.94 for Garcia); however, Rodriguez earned a reaction time advantage which allowed him to catch Garcia before the finish line.
Lee Bannister would be next winner when his Diamondback Restoration sponsored 1973 Pontiac Firebird won in Sportsman. Bannister is a four-time NHRA national event champion yet still made the three-hour drive from La Vernia for his chance at a fifth Wally Trophy. Pitted against another Pontiac in the final round, Bannister secured the top prize by out driving Rolando Gonzalez of Harlingen and his 1999 Grand Prix.
The next Wally did not leave the Rio Grande Valley since Jarod Wilson from Mission won in Super Pro. Wilson squared-off with San Juan resident Ray Espericueta and his 1972 Chevrolet Nova. Racing a 1927 Ford Roadster, which he just bought two week before from Idaho, Wilson left together with Espericueta but could not catch him before the finish line. His win light still turned out because Espericueta ran under his index.
The last class that claimed winners was the Junior Dragster group. While the “big cars” were running for Wallys, the kids raced for a special prize of their own during the O’Reilly Auto Parts Jr. Drag Racing League Challenge. Alice High School freshman Victor Garcia won the first NHRA RaceBrick when he utilized a .022 reaction time to chase down Cesar Gurrusquieta from Elsa. Once again a RaceBrick would stay in the Valley when Ruben Gomez faced his cousin David Garza. Both children call Edinburg home except only Gomez could be called champion. Garza drew the red light start giving the automatic win to Gomez.
