The week following the National Event in Pomona, it was time for the Tom Bayer Racing Team to head toward Phoenix for a double header. The NHRA Nationals and the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Division 7 Event, were the next events for the team to contest in search of their second victory of the still very early season. Thomas Bayer drove the Lucas Oil Products, Toyo Tires, K&N Filters, B&M Converters, Crower 62 Corvette in Super Gas and his dragster in Super Comp, while Jack Freckmann drove the team car in Super Comp, once again. For this event, there isn't an altitude factor and the index for Super Comp was 8.90, and 9.90 for Super Gas. Time trials went well for the team with all three cars running close, or on the index for each category. This was quite a feat due to the poor track conditions, which were the result of an incorrect traction compound that was applied to the track surface, along with rain showers throughout the weekend. These factors slowed the event to a crawl, but the first round of Super Gas was completed where Thomas was unfortunately defeated. The remainder of the event was postponed due to the weather and poor track conditions. The continuation of the event will be contested at another venue later in the season for the sportsman competitors. The second weekend in Phoenix was like a bad case of deja-vu. The track conditions in Phoenix had worsened and with concerns for the racers safety, NHRA officials decided to postpone the event to a later date as well, much like the previous weekend.

March 12-15 was the next stop for the Thomas Bayer's Drag Racing School, at Auto Club Dragway, Fontana, Calif., for the Pacific Street Car Association Event. Team driver's Katie Takeshita, Bob Earleywine and Les Matsukado, competed at the PSCA Event in the Bracket One class. Les Matsukado was the long distance winner, flying in for the event from Hawaii, and had a good showing by reaching the 3rd round. Bob Earleywine and Katie Takeshita continued on to the quarter finals where the event was postponed because of time and lack of sufficient lighting. The remainder of the event will be contested at the next PSCA Event May 22 at the Auto Club Raceway. After a week off, it was time to head back to Arizona, but this time a little further south to Tucson's Southwestern International Raceway. After arriving in Tucson, Thomas took to the wheel of his Lucas Oil Products, Toyo Tires, K&N Filters, B&M Converters, Crower Super Comp dragster and Super Gas Corvette. This event was the second Division 7 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Event of the year, however it would be the first completed event due to the issues in Phoenix. At this facility the altitude corrected index for Super Comp was 9.15 and 10.15 for Super Gas. Once the racing began, Thomas drove both the Lucas Oil Products, Toyo Tires, K&N Filters, B&M Converters, Crower Super Comp dragster and Super Gas Corvette to wins in the first two elimination rounds. Now in the third round with both cars, Thomas was defeated in the dragster by good friend and eventual runner-up Chuck Babcock. Thomas didn't let the loss deter him from making the most of the Sunday afternoon. After defeating some of the biggest names in Super Gas, on the west coast, that included many National & Divisional Event winners, Thomas found himself in the final round. Like many of the rounds before, Thomas once again faced a formidable opponent, Ed Olpin. After a short staging battle, Thomas was off the line first with a narrow .001 starting line advantage, and played the finish line game to perfection running a .015 over the index 10.165, to Olpin's .005 under the index 10.145. The event win was Thomas- first of the year and second for Tom Bayer Racing Team. The win also places Thomas second in the Super Gas points standings in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series for Division 7.

Super Gas Elimination Round Stats