LODRS at Houston

Results courtesy NHRA
Photos by Joe McHugh

BAYTOWN, Texas -- The winners in both the Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car categories at the Texas Sportsman Challenge, a round of the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series at Houston Raceway Park, took on the No. 1 qualifiers in the final round.

Todd Odom, Lake Dallas, Texas, took his dragster (above) to the win while Corpus Christi, Texas's Steve Burck won in Funny Car. Odom, who started the day from the No. 3 slot, squared off against Claremore, Okla., resident Malcolm Wahle in the final. Odom blasted a 5.294-second, 269.08 mph pass to Wahle's 5.358-second, 255.15 mph effort.

Burck was the second-place qualifier in Funny Car and in the final he took on Tony Bartone of Long Island City, N.Y. Burck's 5.700-second, 249.76 mph lap was more than enough as Bartone red-lighted.

Brian Self, Magnolia, Texas, beat Keith Hall, Ravenna, Texas, for the win in Comp Eliminator while Byron Latino, Donalsonville, La., won in Super Stock. He beat Hagen Gary, Youngsville, La., in the final.