Thomas Bayer is having another remarkable season with his Lucas Oil Products, Toyo Tires, K&N Filters, B&M Converters, and Crower Racing sponsored Super Comp dragster and Super Gas Corvette, he leads the National Hot Rod Association's Pacific Division in both Super Comp and Super Gas with just three months remaining in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. Thomas won both series championships in 2006. Two races remain on the Pacific Division 2010 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, and the team looks forward to success at Auto Club Famoso Raceway in Bakersfield in mid-September, as well as the season- ending divisional at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Woodburn, Ore., June 24-27, 2010
The first stop on the Tom Bayer Racing Team "Western Swing" was at Woodburn, Ore., for the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Division 6 event. Thomas entered his Lucas Oil Products, Toyo Tires, K&N Filters, B&M Race Converters, Crower Racing Products Super Comp Dragster and Super Gas '62 Corvette and teammate "Fast Jack" Freckmann entered Super Comp looking for his first "Wally" trophy in NHRA competition.
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"Back in 2006 we won both Super Comp and Super Gas titles at Woodburn, and we also took home the Top Alcohol Dragster title there in 2008", said Thomas. "We were optimistic about our chances this weekend. But in the second round of Super Gas eliminations-where I had my competition covered by the 1000' mark-the transmission failed. There wasn't anything my opponent could have done to win that round, but my trans broke about 100' before the finish line, resulting in a loss by six-thousandths of a second! That's about fifteen inches away from a win light." Thomas goes on to say, ""I had an inferior reaction time in the third round of Super Comp, and that ended our chance of taking home an NHRA Wally from Oregon." Teammate Jack Freckmann's weekend ended early also, as he lost in the second round with his dragster.
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Sonoma, Calif., July 3-4, 2010
With two races in the books for the teams western swing, the Tom Bayer Racing Team made its way to the Wine Country and Sonoma, Calif., for the first of several events at Infineon Raceway. The Nor Cal Super Comp Association held its annual Fourth of July event with races on July 3 and 4. "We thought this would be a great race for a tune-up for the upcoming Lucas Oil events and was I right! On Saturday we grabbed the trophy and the cash after five rounds of racing with some of Northern California's finest racers. To top off the weekend, it was Dad's birthday as well, so that made it that much more special," said Thomas.
The next day was almost a carbon copy of Saturday's performance, except Thomas went "red" in the semifinals by two-thousands of a second- quicker than a blink of an eye! "Not a bad weekend of racing," Thomas said, "Fast Jack" Freckmann and I accomplished what we set out to do, that was to get in some solid rounds and prepare for the upcoming NHRA events."
Sonoma, Calif., July 16-18, 2010-The NHRA Autolite Nationals
A short two weeks later the team was ready for the NHRA Autolite Nationals. Thomas entered his Lucas Oil Products, Toyo Tires, K&N Filters, B&M Racing Converters, Crower Racing Products Super Gas 1962 Corvette and Super Comp Dragster. For "Fast Jack" Freckmann, who lives only a few miles away in Woodacre, Calif., he would be entered in Super Comp at his home track. Unfortunately, Jack lost in the early rounds of this event.
"I had great race cars for this event" Thomas said. "The Corvette was outfitted with a new transmission built by Tom Sr., and a new B&M Racing Converter, and the Corvette was pulling the front wheels off the ground by 12-15 inches! "The reaction times were fantastic with this new converter! This was a great addition to the Corvette program.
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We ended up losing in the fifth round at the nationals, but I was very pleased with the performance of the new trans and converter. The Super Comp dragster won the first two rounds of competition, with a loss coming in the third round." The Monday after the Autolite Nationals were completed, the NHRA finished its weather-delayed Phoenix national event. Tom Bayer Racing dropped out of competition in the early rounds of that event.
Sonoma, Calif., July 22-25, 2010
Just a few days later the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event took center stage at Sonoma . This was the last race of a marathon month of racing at Infineon Raceway. "This was our last chance for the "Wally trophy" after a marathon of NHRA races here in Sonoma," Thomas said. He goes on to say; " Unfortunately, Jack went out early in his dragster, but I was able to duplicate what I had done most of the western swing, and that was to get in another solid finish. I went to the third round in Super Comp and fourth round in Super Gas. Not exactly what we were hoping for, but we're leaving Sonoma with the division points lead in Super Comp and Super Gas and a grip on the national points as well! I would like to thank my sponsors for their continued support of Tom Bayer Racing, and we're working towards another championship year with your help! Thank You!"
2010 Racing Schedule
(Major Events)
Aug 21-22 NHRA National Open at Fontana
Aug 28-29 Lucas Oil Super Comp at Fontana
Sept 17-19 NHRA LODRS at Bakersfield
Oct 28-31 NHRA Las Vegas Nationals
Nov 4-7 NHRA LODRS at Las Vegas
Nov 11-14 NHRA Auto Club Finals at Pomona
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