Import Shootout

​This Sunday, May 21st at Barona 1/8th Mile Dragstrip, we got all international, as the Import Outlaws headed to the strip to show off what the rest of the world can do. Nothing made in the states were allowed, just the speedsters from overseas. They'll be organized into 4 brackets, all for their pre-determined dials: 7.50, 7.00,6.50, and the fastest, 6.00. 


First, in the 7.50 bracket, top seeds Bill Ottinge and his 06 CL650 and James Labins' 16 VW met in the final. Bill got off the line quicker, with a .300 r/t compared to Jame's .477, forcing James to play catch up. But he'd push too far, as James crossed the line at 7.476, too soon for the 7.50 class, breaking out and gifting the 7.50 Class Win to Bill.

​Bill Ottinge (Far) up against James Labins (Near) in the 7.50 final, right before Bill takes the bracket win.


In the 7.00s, Omar Campos's 92 Civic went up against Chayanne Pantoja's 90 Civic. Omar got off the line faster, and was building quite a lead down the track, but hit the breaks at just the right time, getting a 7.142 E/T. That'd be enough to beat Chayanne's 7.835, winning the 7.00 bracket.

​Omar Campos (Near) up against Chayanne Pantoja (Far) in the 7.0 Final. Omar would take the win.


We were getting faster, heading into the 6.50 bracket with TB Adde's 95 Honda and Ray Bunch's 83 Porsche. It was a story of a perfectionist, as Ray got a good start, his .167 dial not far behind TB's .159, but as they ran, and the finish line got closer and closer, TB hit the brakes sooner and harder, crossing the line at a hair under 70 miles per hour with a slow 7.552, over a second over his dial. However, when the Ray's brakes were not nearly as strong, and with a lot of room to give, he took too big a lead at the finish, finishing with a 6.489, breaking out and giving the 6.50 class to TB Adde.


And with just one bracket left, we had the fastest rockets from overseas left to run. And the fastest things don't always come on four wheels. The 6.00 bracket was a final between Ken Henderson and his 12 Kawasaki and Keneth Hyde and his 15 Kawasaki. It was a straight up drag race, as both bikes fired off the line. Keneth had the early lead, winning the battle off the line by 5 hundredths. But Henderson's 127 MPH motorcycle was too fast for Keneth, as Ken passes him, taking a 6.210 E/T and the 6.00 bracket win.


With this extra fill in event in, now comes the biggest race of the year. Saturday, May 27th will start off with Junior Dragsters going from 9AM to 3PM, followed by the 10,000 Horsepower of the Funny Cars, Nostalgia Dragsters, Fuel Altered and more at the Second Annual Nitro Night! Races start at 4PM. See you there!