Drag Racing Action Online

Images: Dave Kommel and John Charbonneau

Built in 1986, the Texas Motorplex in Ennis Texas was considered to be one if not the best dragstrips in the USA. The track was an instant hit with racers with its unique all concrete race surface made for record times. Racers and fans alike knew that an event at the Motorplex was going to be a great one.

Things haven’t changed since the track opened and racers continue to flock to the Texas facility which is situated just a short drive from Dallas.

The fourth annual Funny Car Chaos Classic featured nearly 50 cars from all over the country to race in what has become, a unique qualifying format keeping competition as tight as possible with such a cross section of combinations. Blown, Nitro, Alcohol, Turbocharged, it was run what you brung and as has been the case, you better have brung enough.

After three qualifying sessions, the four fields were set for Saturday’s finals .

Leading the Rodak’s Custom Roasted Coffee “A” field was former NHRA Pro Racer John Hale with a 3.497 in the “Red Baron” Avenger. Hale continued his quick pace in the first round with a 3.46 over Keith Zimmerer’s Penny Pincher but his day came to an end in R2 losing to Bill Bernard’s “Mile High Crankshafts” Mustang when the Avenger couldn’t make the bell putting Bernard into the finals against Doug Schneider in his Monte Carlo.

Bernard, far lane, won the Rodak Custom Roasted Coffee field beating Schneider in the finals

At the green Schneider was off the line a tick quicker than Bernard with a 0.024 to a 0.030 of Bernard. The Mustang of Bernard tracked Schneider down and passed him for the win running a 3.673 to the losing 3.724 of Schneider.

The Alkydigger ‘B’ field was led by Nick Poloson’s Bucket List Avenger with a 3.775 and the low qualifier took his Dodge to the finals to meet the Illinois Thunder of Levi Keenen. At the green neither driver was too quick off the line with Keenen’s 0.148 better than Poloson’s 0.180, but Poloson had the horses to take the win with a 3.848 to Kennen’s 3.941.

Winning the Wulff Pumps ‘C’ Field was Poloson’s Loftin Performance Racing partner Chuck Loftin in his “Motivation” Mustang. Loftin qualified his Ford with a 4.095 and ran consistent high 3’s and low four second runs to make it to the final where he was to face Sheldon Lofgreen’s unique twin turbocharged Firebird for the ‘C’ title. Lofgreen was a no show giving Loftin an easy 4.064 for the win.

The Texas Motorplex ‘D’ show went down to Jade Cook’s “Bad Intentions” Firebird against Colin Thomas’s “Twisted Sister” Mustang. Thomas got off the line first but Cook easily passed Thomas and won with a 4.248 to the troubled 5.564 of Thomas.

In addition to the Funny Car Chaos, event promoter Chris Graves had a huge field taking their chances in the popular Nitro Chaos show. As in their fiberglass brethren, the field was divided by qualifying times into an ‘A’ and ‘B” field of Nitro burners.

Kebin Kinsley in the “War Wagon” AA/FA (far lane) beat Mitch King in the “Bone Bucket” in the “A” final

Second generation driver Tyler Hilton drove the ‘Great Expectations III’ dragster to the ‘B’ win beating Chase Copeland’s “Cubic Dollars” Fuel Altered in a close final. Hilton put a 3.767 on the board as Copeland was right there with a 3.839 in the loss.

After the event was over, series president Chris Graves said,” This was the biggest event in CHAOS history and it delivered some very exciting drag racing, no doubt. Big thanks to all the racers who traveled from coast to coast to support the Funny Car Chaos and Nitro Chaos series.

Graves adds, “Thanks to all our marketing partners who keep these payouts guaranteed and give us the ability to keep hosting these events. Be sure to try and catch a CHAOS in person at a track near you!”

For More of John and Dave’s Images from the Event, go to