Local favorite Craig Bourgeois from nearby Metarie, LA, didn’t disappoint, qualifying his font-engined dragster number one in Comp Eliminator, then advancing to beat Valrico, FL’s Dick Maris in the final round. Bourgeois said the win was made extra special because it marked the first time his entire family was at the track when he’s won.
Craig Bourgeois, from nearby Metarie, LA, placed his front-engined dragster on top of the Comp Eliminator qualifying list with a 6.889-seconds pass, running .661 under the A/ND 7.54 index. Chuck Haase constructed the chassis early in 2005 and it carries a 405 c.i. Chevy engine built by Bourgeois, with Hillborn injection and cylinder heads by Larry Meaux in Lafayette, LA. Bourgeois went on to win the Comp final at Belle Rose.
“The car was flawless,” he added. “Every now and then I stuttered, but not too bad.”
Following the burnouts, Maris’ rear-engine car lost fire and had to be pushed back to the line. For a moment it appeared Bourgeois would make a solo run to the title, but Maris
quickly restarted and staged. Dialing in at 7.52 to Bourgeois’ 7.05, Maris should have left first, but perhaps distracted by his car’s mix-up he left with a .299 light while Bourgeois posted a .039 in the left lane.
“Once that happened I knew the race was in my bag,” Bourgeois said. “So I went down there and shut the car off so as not to hurt myself permanently.”
After Joffrion eliminated him from the Sportsnationals last year, Super Stock racer Kevin Helms put the free entry he enjoyed courtesy of the track owner to good use by steering his 1995 Achieva to the win over Gilbert Johnson Jr. in a 1990 Camaro. Helms also had a ‘69 Camaro entered in Stock Eliminator, but didn’t fare so well there.
Kevin Helms (far lane), Gilbert Johnson Jr. (near lane)
“Super Stock was flawless, no problem, but my Stock car was a nightmare and it showed it by going out first round. So I had a hit-and-miss weekend,” Helms said.
In the Super Stock final, Johnson left with a .012 reaction, but broke out on his 10.31 dial in by going 10.304 at 125.06 mph. Helms left with a .046, then covered the quarter mile in 9.310 seconds at 147.31 mph against a 9.29 dial.
