NHRA TAD & TAFC Power Rankings 2/14/06

NHRA TAD & TAFC Power Rankings
2/14/06

TAD
(Last year's rankings in parenthesis)

1. Steve Torrence (1) - The World Champs showed in Pomona they still have the car to beat, running consistent low .30's. Staging duel with Federlin in second round lead to the intense tireshake that sidelined the Champs.

2. Aaron Olivarez (2) - Strong testing numbers, and a runner-up finish shows that the Armored Coatings team means business this year. Will be in the thick of the championship chase come November.

3. Sean O'Bannon (3) - Jack O'Bannon and Norm Grimes together with nearly the same team that won 4 championships with Rick Santos at the wheel is showing that same championship form with Jack's son Sean at the helm. This team had the car to beat at Pomona.

4. Bill Reichert (3) - Reichert ended the year very strong, and we look for them to start strong at the Gainesville Div. 2 opener.

5. Art Gallant (5) - Ran the quickest run in his career first run out of the gate with 98% last year, so we don't expect 97% to slow him down much.

6. Chris Demke (NR) - Peen Rite machine ran consistent mid .30's in Pomona. Will be right in the thick of things anywhere they show.

7. Duane Shields (NR) - Preseason testing pays off with a win in Pomona. Team is starting to gain the consistency it takes to win.

8. Randy Meyer (8) - Ended the year on a down note, will be interesting to see how 97% effects the team.

9. Marty Thacker (9) - With renewed backing from Torco, Thacker should continue to stay in the thick of things.

10. Lee Callaway (10) - Finished the year very strong in Div. 4. If this team can pick up where they left off, should be players on the national level.

Just on the outside: Steve Federlin, Guy Kelly, Jeff Bohr, Ashley Force, Joey Severance

TAFC

1. Frank Manzo (1) - Ran very strong in Pomona, had it not been for a final round redlight, would have won the race.

2. Bob Newberry (2) - Defending World Champ will be as tough as ever when Gainesville rolls around.

3. Jay Payne (5) - After starting the year with a win at the Winternationals, may make the Championship hunt very interesting.

4. Mick Snyder (3) - This team ended the year very strong, running at the top of the pack. Could make things interesting.

5. Steve Gasparrelli (4) - Team did a resilient job of getting the car back together after a major fire the week before. Team still ran very strong.

6. Bucky Austin (7) - Uncle Buck appears to be back on track, running very strong at the season opener. Will be interesting to see if he stays in the seat or let's Marty Nothstein behind the wheel.

7. Dave Ray (9) - Finished the year off very strong. Tom Howell tuned machine will kick off the year at the Gatornationals with new backing from Permatex.

8. Steve Harker (8) - Look for this team to shine whereever they show.

9. Pete Swayne (9) - Former Div. 7 Champ has paired back up with Randy Goodwin for the 2006 season. Semifinal finish shows this team will be a force.

10. Jimmy Jones (10) - Texas based team showed they could play with the big boys at the end of the year. Look for more of the same.

Just on the outside: Ron August, Dennis Taylor, Doug Gordon, Brian Hough Hank Coolidge, Jason Rupert