Ross I would have worn my car out making passes if I was in impound haha. That was a fun but long day in 2013, I think I got 4-5 time trials in and then went down to 4 cars in the bracket race.

Clark
I was cheering for you and Scott but you let me down so I went with Scott. I don't know if you guys ever thanked me for taking Big G out of the equation.

Wish I could have seen Turks face. LOL

Its pretty bad when you let Red Light Ross down with a Red Light!

Needless to say I am OK with the switch to a pro tree.

While my last post may have sounded as if I was taking them to task for rushing into the final, all-run session at Great Lakes Dragaway, it was, once again a great decision. When the tractors and sprayers finished up on a somewhat lengthy twenty-seven minute track prep, the place really started jumping, and the Drag Week 2015 drama was ratcheted up a few notches.

As a family, it seemed as though we mutually agreed to take the time to catch our collective breath that morning at GLD. with the knowledge of a short drive ahead of us, the georgeous weather and great atmosphere, none of us seemed to be in a big hurry to get to the lanes, and we spent some quality time visiting with Ryan Brutt of BarnFinds.org, as well as other racers and the throng of spectators. As noon was rapidly approaching however, we moved as a single unit, nearly nose to tail towards the staging lanes.

We weren't the only ones trying to decide how to make the best use of our time on Wednesday. Tom Bailey's Sick 2.0 Pro Mod Camaro was on seven cylinders, with two rockers removed. He had a spare head with him, but the decision was made to run the car at GLD as is, try to get a representative number, and then fix it before the drive, rather than tear it apart and chance missing the 2:30pm lane cutoff time!

The line for burgers was so long and they ran the daily driver session so fast I nearly didn't get back to the stands in time to see the big dogs run. The double cheeseburgers were pretty tasty though...

That is Jay Browns GT500 clone, and Kevin's real 1967 GT500. HEMI Joel is on the far left holding his straw hat.

Sean Fling was working the entry to the lanes, and asked us if we had any runs yet. Our negative answer caused him to direct us to lanes three and four, and we were assured that would allow us a quicker entry to the line under the tower.
Of course, the aforementioned Impound cars had first dibs, so we patiently waited as Bailey went 6.84, and McGilton went 7.81 to give up another tenth to Blasco's Dart.
Then, as we were anxiously waitng our turn, we noticed that race director Lonnie Grimm was alternating between the no-run lanes, and the other guys who already had a shot, at the head of the lanes. This wasn't the first time that we've noticed a failure to communicate between Sean and Lonnie, and I just shrugged it off. Boone however...well, Boone is a patient and genteel guy in real life, the only time that doesn't ring true, is when he's in a drag strip staging lane, then he's a whole other cat, and it's been that way since our first trip to Mo-Kan Dragway in 1984. Dale and I both exchanged looks when we saw Boone jump out of the Barnyard and head directly towards Lonnie in a purposeful strut through the cars ahead of us.
"Should we go up there", Dale laughed, as Boone got Lonnie's attention and started gesturing between the two sets of lanes.
"No...he's a big boy, and I think he made his point."
I saw Lonnie walk over to the cars in the opposing lanes and tell them to take their helmets off and relax, then he started pulling exclusively from our lanes, so apparently the message was successfully relayed without prejudice or rancor.

Boone was the first of us in line, and pulled up in the left lane, as he finished his burnout, he realized that in his overzealousness to get his shot at the fabled GLD tarmac, he was a little unprepared for his run, but he put it in the beams and waited to get his wrist slapped.

Photo 1: Boone's "impatient in the lanes" face.
Photo 2: Can you spot what Boone forgot to do before staging?

I like the impound area, as it accomplishes a few things. One, it lets all the heavy hitters be together in one area, which is better for both tech crew and fans alike. Just a couple tech guys can watch the whole group and not have to be all over the pits, plus easy for the fans to find those guys if that's what they want to see. Second, I personally think it's fair for those guys to get a shot whenever they are ready. At most, unless they have problems, they are only going to make a couple passes anyway and with some of the maint and work done on those cars, it can't happen if they have to sit in the lanes all day.................And on a personal note, with them all in impound, I don't have to walk as far.............LOL!!!

I agree Monte! It's been hugely successful. You seemed to stay quite busy, even with Shroeder's Vette not able to make it.

"Photo 2: Can you spot what Boone forgot to do before staging?"

Looks like the headers are still corked.

I remember how the lanes were at Tulsa in 2011 and got to see Boone in action.LOL.Only 3 of those 6 people in that bottom pic get my wifes cookies every year.Joe,Joey and Michelle.LOL

I don't see a racing harness.

Looks like unstrapped Helmet.

Or a helmet...if he is really in the burnout box or in
the lights

Hood doesn't look closed...

All of my Sweptline era trucks look like that. I don't see any belts from here. Not that I have ever done anything like that before.

I think the helmet just has a long strap, but ding ding ding on the harness! He said he didn't really notice until he was staging. I don't know if it rattled him, or if he just wasn't into it that day, but he took his 11.36-118.8 and called it good.

Dale came up in the left, immediately behind Boone, and after two failed attempts at burnouts, asked for more water, then did a high rpm, drive only, nitrous enhanced, no line lock, burn out that took him up the hill and nearly into the beams.

That pic was a discussion about me being on the line helping line up Joe Barry and Tom Bailey.........somebody complained. But it has been made clear in previous years, that me, being a sponsor of the event, can help anybody do anything, impound or not. The complaint was that Dennis was told he couldn't line his daughter up, because he dropped out and wasn't riding with her and somebody wanted to know why I could. Wasn't Dennis I'm sure, but maybe someone in their camp. Anyway, they got it straight.........and anybody who has ever seen Joe race by himself, he NEVER gets the car pointed straight......LOL

LMAO!!!If Joe wouldn't sit so dang low in the car.And Joey isn't 16 and technically shouldnt be on the starting line.