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Sweet Justice was served at the Cactus Clash
CIFCA made it's second stop of the year at Southwestern International Raceway for the Cactus Clash. 14 cars showed up in the 100 degree plus heat to put on a show for the fans. Coming into the event the Ground Zero team held a 570 point lead over the AMP Motorsports team and was looking to stretch their lead out.
Qualifying was lead early by points leader Jim Carter wins his first CIFCA race at the Jack Beckman in Dennis Murphy's Ground Cactus Clash at SIR, Jim also picked up the Zero Dodge Omni. The team ran an off the Bars Leaks Revolving Award. The AMP Motorsports team of Abbott, Motter , & Peterson, ran a 7.533 to be number 2.
The second round of qualifying featured the Perma Cool Burnout Challenge which showcased awesome burnouts by the teams. Pete Cogswell in his Motorcult Corvette made an awesome burnout to a 1000 foot. However Pete was one upped by the fans choice Fast Jack Beckman. Unfortunately Beckman's car did not fare so well as the motor was damaged on the burnout and the team would not be unable to return.
With the Ground Zero out of competition and no alternates the entire field ended up shifting up one position for eliminations. The door was now left wide open for AMP Motorsports and the other teams in the top 4 to make up ground on the points leader.
In the first round of competition the AMP Motorsports team was awarded the single and ran a 7.479. Number 3 in points Mike Halstead faced Jeremy Johnson and was able to take the win when Johnson ran a way too quick 6.29 to Halstead's 7.71. Number 4 in points Jamie Leppanen drew Becky Sylvester in the California Rattler. Jamie who broke a crankshaft at the last race was trying to get a new motor figured out. Both cars went up and turned on the top bulb yet neither would go in to stage. After about a 20 second staging duel Leppanen went in first and Sylvester quickly followed. Both drivers were wound up as the both went red and in a first or worst situation Leppanen got the round win with a 7.54 to Sylveter's 7.56.
Other highlights of first round were Mike Boettcher in the Wild Child Camaro cutting a .404 light against Chill Scardino in the Chill Factor which caused Chill to run it out the back door and break out. Boettcher received the win with a 7.61 and the Enderle Quick Reaction Award to Chill's 7.44. Jim Carter in the Sweet Justice 57 Chevy was low et of the round with a 7.519 win over Pete Cogswell who was fighting a gremlin and only ran a 7.88. Glen Tucker became very ill and Jack Beckamn ended up subbing for Tucker. Beckman faced Jim Maroney in the first round and took the win with a 7.67 to Maroney's 16.55
With an uneven number of cars a quick loser was brought back. Becky Sylvester would be re-inserted and in a first round re match ended up running Jamie Leppanen again. Both drivers went up and stagged and this time Leppanen went red with a -.003 light throwing away a 7.544 while Becky took the round win with a 7.541. Paul Peterson in the AMP Motorsports car had the challenge of #3 in points Mike Halstead in the Team Outcast Chevy. Peterson was ready as he cut a .411 light and ran a 7.533 to defeat Halstead's 7.68 and also pick up the Good Vibrations Best Package Award. Jim Carter ended up facing Beckman in Tucker's 57 Chevy. In a battle of 57 Chevy's Carter would ended up taking the win when Beckamn went red and both cars ended up breaking out. Mike Boettcher was paired up with Tony Doca in the Discount Tire Funny Car. Boettcher ended up going red giving the win to Doca however Doca's transmission failed and the team would not be able to return.
With Doca breaking the quick loser was brought back in which this time was Jamie Leppanen. Leppanen got the task of running Paul Peterson. Leppanen strapped an .424 light to Peterson's .499 light and ended up taking the hole shot win with a 7.65 to Peterson's quicker but losing 7.58. The other semi final had Jim Carter facing Becky Sylvester. Sylvester had one of the more consistent cars all weekend long however Carter was able to strap a .425 light on her to take the win with a 7.61 to her quicker but losing 7.58.
The finals faced Jim Carter and Jamie Leppanen. Both drivers left almost identically at the green however Carter was able to run a 7.615 to Leppanen's 7.635 to take the event win. This was Carter's first CIFCA event win. Leppanen ended up taking the Cogswell Marine & Motorsports Lucky Dog Award for coming back into eliminations and making the final after all the bad luck the team had in testing and the lack of performance on Friday Night.
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