Class Ceiling

Recapping the Dirty South No Prep drag racing series event at San Antonio Raceway

By Tery Red (Crew Chief for Mr. Mad /RigTech Motorsports)
Recapping the Dirty South No Prep drag racing series event at San Antonio Raceway
Mr. Mad made it to the semifinals. Tery Red/SportsMap

The Dirty South No Prep  Racing Series San Antonio is the  largest event in the USA of its kind.

Not to worry SportsMap is in the house!

This is a crazy event. No prep? Talk about hubris, machismo, bravado!!! No glue? No tractors to evenly administer the adhesive?

Seriously,  this event entails no track preparation,  which is usually how the cars hook up for a smooth pass and to win rounds. The better prepared the track is, the better traction racers have, the faster your pass may be. It is definitely safer, to be sure. Also of note is the meticulous detail given to ensure safety for driver and fan alike.

However,  this event  in my words is The Robin Hood of  Street Racing. The  idea was built as a novel way to knock out the high rollers in the Sportsman Racing World. The establishment of this  class was a long awaited venue to  give the small fry the upper hand. 

To give you an idea of how insane  this is, we asked mult -champion , King of the track, veteran racer A.D. Rigmaiden to try out  this No Prep Series in the SportsMap Black Camaro.

He quickly realized what No Prep really means as he swayed to and fro as the Camaro was wicked not just off the starting line, but shimmied all the way down the track . He says he felt as though he were in a Funny Car! "This event definitely requires practice and mental readjustment," A.D . said.  

Keep in mind that Matt Hagan , two-time NHRA Funny Car Champion  was none too happy after the NHRA changed the track prep solution. He stated that there's a lot less grip, everyone's smoking the tires and blowing up. Fast Jack Beckman,  Antron Brown, and J.R. Todd have also mentioned their concerns about this change.  

Please understand.  The NHRA did not discontinue track preparation,  they changed the solution from 75% track compound 25 % alcohol, to 65 % track compound to 35 % alcohol. This seemingly simple readjustment has  some of the pros troubled. Yet other arenas of racers seem to be thriving with No Track Prep. 

Now to the point, there are infamous racers who are legendary because of their mastery of the slick, non-stick asphalt jungle. Mike Murillo (&  Mustang LaFawnduh), John Doe , Kayla Morton- Hamilton and Chris "Boosted "Hamilton, (another amazing husband &wife team).

And of course the John Force of Street Outlaws, "Birdman." Yes. James "Birdman" Finny. Just to name a few.

There were also veteran racers of the side by side  like Ray Curly Top with a sweet 67 Nova, Mr Don with his cool Blue El Camino (Driven by D.D.)  who came to get their feet wet in this No Prep event.

They are the Guardians of The No Prep Galaxy. Their Social Media status is why they pack the stands.  These are the ones who put in the work. They eat, sleep and breathe the mechanics of the beast, the strategy of the track . They are major gear heads. They are the  guy/girl next door who always gave you a jump, clued you in on the miss in your engine, and changed that tire for you when you were stranded on the side of the road. 

Could it be possible that the pros could learn a thing or two from  the No Prep Series ? Only Time will reveal. 

The Winners:

Big Tire: Birdman

Most Honorable Mention: Mr. Mad made it to the semi-finals in Curly Tops sweet 67 Nova. Not bad for your first rodeo A.D.!

Check out Dirty South No Prep on  Facebook for complete results. 

Click here for rare footage of Birdman vs Mr. Mad.

 

 

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Can Will Anderson and the Texans defense force Drake Maye into rookie mistakes? Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images.

The New England Patriots are turning things over to Drake Maye, and his first shot will come against the AFC South-leading Houston Texans.

The first-round draft pick is replacing Jacoby Brissett as the starter in the hopes that he can snap the Patriots’ four-game losing streak. But he’ll have to do it against one of the NFL's toughest defenses.

“There’s never a perfect time to make a change,” Patriots coach Jerod Mayo said this week after announcing the swap. “Every defense that we play ... they all have the ability to rush and get after the quarterback. So, I don’t think there’s ever a perfect time.”

But the Texans (4-1) will pose an especially difficult challenge for Maye and the makeshift New England (1-4) offensive line that has started five different combinations in five games. Houston pressures the quarterback more than any other team in the league – 42% of dropbacks, according to NFL NextGen stats.

“It’s probably going to be a little nervous at the beginning,” Maye said this week. “I think once we settle down, we have a chance to move the football and just have fun out there. ... That’s what this game is about: Don’t make it too big or the spotlight too big. Just go out there with those guys that we’ve been battling for three months since training camp, go out there and try to make some plays.”

After winning the opener and going to overtime in Week 2, the Patriots were blown out by the Jets and 49ers and lost 15-10 to Miami, another of the NFL’s worst teams. In all, Brissett has completed 79 of 135 passes for 696 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.

Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said there’s a challenge in facing an unknown such as Maye, who was 4 of 8 for 22 yards in mopup duty against the New York Jets in Week 3.

“What I’ve seen is a young, athletic quarterback who has a live arm, can move around really well in the pocket, can escape the pressures,” Ryans said. “Them, making that move, (they’re) looking for a spark for their offense, and he can provide it.”

Running game help

Houston’s running game could get a boost with the return of Dameon Pierce.

The third-year pro hasn’t played since injuring his hamstring in the season opener. But he has been practicing this week and Ryans said he expects him to play Sunday.

Pierce, who ran for 939 yards as a rookie in 2022, should improve a rushing attack which ranks 23rd in the NFL by averaging just 104.2 yards a game.

Stroud is excited to have Pierce back on the field.

“It is really big, I am very happy for DP,” he said. “He has worked really hard to come back.”

KPRC2's Aaron Wilson is reporting that Joe Mixon could return this week as well, he practiced on Thursday and Friday.

Mixon has been out since injuring his ankle against the Bears in Week 2.

Special teams star

Houston kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn earned AFC special teams player of the week honors for the second time this season on Wednesday.

Fairbairn’s 59-yard field goal as time expired lifted the Texans to the victory over the Bills.

It was his eighth field goal this season of at least 50 yards, which is the most in NFL history through the first five games of a season. It’s also the most 50-yarders made in a season in franchise history.

“It’s comforting for everyone to know wherever we are, (Ka’imi) can make a play,” Ryans said.

Fairbairn loves being in those high-pressure situations.

“Whatever yardage it is, I really don’t care. I want that shot,” he said. “I think part of being good at this job is ... wanting that opportunity.”

dameon pierce demeco ryans houston texans nfl patriots texans joe mixon

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