Words and photos by Bret Kepner

Mother Nature attacked from every angle, but the third event of the 2010 Outlaw All Stars series was eventually completed on June 19 at Gateway International Raceway in Madison, Illinois. The OAS program, which presents four different qualified-field heads-up categories and six Index eliminators including both cars and motorcycles, again featured a wide array of machinery competing with a minimal entry fee and an equally nominal purse.

The 2010 season includes eight events and purse additions from TimMcAmis.com (the retail division of Tim McAmis Race Cars) for Outlaw Eliminator and from the American Drag Racing League for Super Street (True 10.5) Eliminator. Racers in all categories are also in a battle to decide the first OAS season champions for whom Mickey Thompson Tires and Wheels has posted noncontingent slicks.

Racers and fans were greeted by a temperature 95 degrees when the gates opened and the mercury climbed through the first qualifying session. The 140-degree track surface was quickly cooled, however, when a massive storm cell pounded the track with strong winds and rain midway through the second session! Undaunted, the GIR crew prepared the track again and competition resumed to finish on schedule at 10 p.m.

Competition was tough enough to allow only one repeat winner for the season so far (Paul Hagen in the 13.0 Index class), while Jeff Hansen’s supercharged ’69 Camaro earned its first title ever with a hard-fought victory in Tim McAmis.com Outlaw Eliminator. The most fierce (and most popular) rivalry in the series once again provided one of the event’s highlights in the Drag Radial Eliminator final round when Tennessee’s Steven Biggs and his 2004 Mustang stopped Missourian Tom Derby to gain revenge for Derby’s Chevy victory at the last OAS event. Tim Gehrs took his blown ’82 Cutlass to the winner’s circle in the ADRL Super Street division and Keith Hug’s seven-second Kawasaki earned the crown in Outlaw Motorcycle.

The next Outlaw All Stars event at Gateway is scheduled for Saturday, July 24. Meanwhile, here is DRO’s complete photo coverage of the third event in the series.