Huntsville recap

       This time last weekend, Paul and the Cuda Beast were at Huntsville, with a drivetrain all at 100 percent, a good feel for the tuneup and high hopes for some 3-second passes.  Alas, it was more time spent on the learning curve, and the realization that the torque converter, though mechanically fit, lacked the right configuration.
     The first qualifying run, a 4.49 at only 135 mph, was because the car wasn't shifting into high gear. The team went through the drivetrain and found the Lenco out of adjustment. Subsequent passes, the computer data revealed weak 60-foot times, Paul said, a best of .101 when the ideal would be down in the .0990s. Plus, the .101s couldn't even be repeated. "We had tried all the starting line procedures we could try -- more aggressive, less aggressive," Paul said, with no improvement, which all pointed to the torque converter. "We were driving right through it."
    Strong 60-foot times usually yield strong runs, so the converter is going back to PTC for a makeover, and the Beast will be back at Huntsville in two weeks for the Bama Nationals (eight-car field), and then the weekend after that at Montgomery.
    Still, the 4.49 got Paul into the race at the 16th spot, apparently when a quicker car had mechanical problems. That put him against No. 1 qualifier and new Huntsville track record-holder Dwayne Watkins, who had a new hemi engine under the hood and ran 3.70s at more than 200 mph. Paul got him at the line and the Beast ran a 4.36, but Watkins took over quickly, shutting off early for a 3.91. He went on to win the event. Paul said Watkins' new motor was a proven 3.60s piece bought from ADRL hitter Bubba Stanton, who sold it with just a 3.80s tuneup, leaving Watkins to figure out the rest of it. Looks like he's on his way.
    Paul said the growing presence of "screw" blowers may force him to evaluate his setup for next year. As currently configured, the Beast easily has sub-4-sec. potential, even high 3.80s, but the expensive screw setups are bringing 3.70s to the southern outlaw arena, so 3.90s likely won't get it done. This equipment escalation may have lots of teams trying to figure out what to do, and whether, lacking sponsorhip, they can afford it.
      We'll be back before the next race in two weeks with info on the torque converter situation.