Chris Holbrook's Incredible "Three-Wally Thursday"!...
 

Congratulations to Chris Holbrook and Watson Racing for producing an astonishing “hat trick” during competition at the NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville (FL). In the span of eight hours, Holbrook and his Watson Racing entries earned three records and three championships on the very first day of competition!

Holbrook opened the event by wheeling his 2014 Ford Mustang Cobra Jet to the quickest and fastest performances in NHRA Stock Eliminator history, (8.519 seconds, 161.13 miles per hour), en route to winning the Factory Stock/A class title.

Holbrook followed by taking his new Watson Racing 2014 Coyote-powered, manually-shifted, black-on-red Mustang GT to the quickest elapsed times in the history of NHRA’s Super Stock Eliminator with back-to-back efforts of 7.902 and 7.900 seconds on his way to winning event honors in the SS/AA category.

Then, Holbrook returned to his silver supercharged Mustang Cobra Jet in the NHRA’s Factory Stock Showdown competition. In the semi-finals, opponent Gary Richard went into a towering wheelstand and ended up in Holbrook’s lane necessitating a brilliant driving job by Holbrook to win the round. In the Factory Stock Showdown championship round, Holbrook repeated his 2013 NHRA U.S. Nationals victory by defeating David Barton’s Dodge Challenger.

Chris Holbrook and Watson Racing scored the first-ever “Three-Wally Thursday” and the actual Gatornationals championships are still four days away! Stay tuned for results!

Read all about the new 2014 Watson Racing Mustang GT at http://competitionplus.com/drag-raci...tock-challenge

Re: Chris Holbrook's Incredible "Three-Wally Thursday"!...
 

Hopefully that run against Richard is on a video somewhere.
Congrats on some awesome passes, who'da thunk the day would be here so soon when Stockers need the 8.50 and quicker certification. It seemed only a few years ago a full cage wasn't needed.

Re: Chris Holbrook's Incredible "Three-Wally Thursday"!...
 

Congratulations Chris and entire team. A lot of hard work that really paid off. Chris truly is one of the nicest guys in the sport.

…now when will we see a 7sec stocker??

Re: Chris Holbrook's Incredible "Three-Wally Thursday"!...
 

How did he win SS/AA with a manually shifted car?

Re: Chris Holbrook's Incredible "Three-Wally Thursday"!...
 

If I am not mistaken...SS/AAA is auto & SS/AA is manual.

Re: Chris Holbrook's Incredible "Three-Wally Thursday"!...
 

Taking nothing away but how do you enter 3 races? Did rules change 2 classes only. But great job on 3 wins. Just saying

Re: Chris Holbrook's Incredible "Three-Wally Thursday"!...
 

Armstrong was in SS/AA ...and he runs an auto..im curious howdid they run each other headsup??

Re: Chris Holbrook's Incredible "Three-Wally Thursday"!...
 

*sigh*

SS/AA = “Super Stock double A manual”, 5.0 pounds per hp
SS/AAA = “Super Stock double A automatic”, 5.0 pounds per hp
SS/BB = “Super Stock double B manual”, 5.5 pounds per hp
SS/BB = “Super Stock double B automatic”, 5.5 pounds per hp
SS/A = “Super Stock A manual”, 6.0 pounds per hp
SSA/A = “Super Stock A automatic”, 6.0 pounds per hp

Bobby, the winner of FS/A runs the winner of FS/B for the Factory Stock Showdown title. It's not a "third class".

Re: Chris Holbrook's Incredible "Three-Wally Thursday"!...
 

If he had a choice,I wonder if he would rather trade the three little Wally's for a single BIG one.

Re: Chris Holbrook's Incredible "Three-Wally Thursday"!...
 

is there SS/AAAA, or SS/a/AAaaA or SS/aA/A/aa or SS/B/Bb/BBBc ?

Re: Chris Holbrook's Incredible "Three-Wally Thursday"!...
 

Just seems the world has gone upside down, The Cobra Jets are Colossal Performers. Hats off to the teams that Bang on `em.
Then here at the Gators, Mr. Brian Oakes with one of the Best SS Cars of all time (My Opinion) enters AA And barely runs the 8.80 (!!) index. That Monster is an Automatic, cant belive he`d change the Proven Combo. So what Gives? Is the Watson CJ an Automatic as i suspect? I`m stuck at work or i`d be there trying to find out......

Re: Chris Holbrook's Incredible "Three-Wally Thursday"!...
 

That's why I asked the question. I see where he and Oakes ran for class, and knew his car used to be an auto.

Re: Chris Holbrook's Incredible "Three-Wally Thursday"!...
 

It is possible that cars are being run in the incorrect classes. It seems lots of people are confused about the classes....including me!

Thanks to Mr. Kepner for the best attempt to clarify.

Re: Chris Holbrook's Incredible "Three-Wally Thursday"!...
 

Yes, Mr. Kepner is keeping us in line, much appriciated. As before AA has to be Manual, not a conspiricy as i suspected --- AAA Is Auto i`d figure Mr. Oakes was meant to be entered in SS/A/A

Re: Chris Holbrook's Incredible "Three-Wally Thursday"!...
 

You mean SSA/A Haha

Re: Chris Holbrook's Incredible "Three-Wally Thursday"!...
 

Biggest bunch a dumb **** i ever seen

Re: Chris Holbrook's Incredible "Three-Wally Thursday"!...
 

or SS//AA/AAa?

Re: Chris Holbrook's Incredible "Three-Wally Thursday"!...
 

Let me run my car at 2705# (5.0 per hp) and we will see how fast that is.
those blower cars are fast, but why wouldnt they be?
They should call them hero makers, cause thats what they do.

Re: Chris Holbrook's Incredible "Three-Wally Thursday"!...
 

No worries charlie ...you're still my hero ...

Re: Chris Holbrook's Incredible "Three-Wally Thursday"!...
 

Sir have you gone 7.90's before in your car? Can't you just take your hat off to a great pass from some good guys? I remember when SS/AH was SS/AA and a great pass was 8.90's. Now y'all have y'all own class and a rulebook that no one in the class seems to have the same copy and you are still are not running 7.90's. Yes y'all are quick but man that a heck of a pass no matter what you drive.

Hats off to you guys on a great pass and great looking ride!!

Re: Chris Holbrook's Incredible "Three-Wally Thursday"!...
 

The truth will set you free and thanks for telling the truth!LOL

Re: Chris Holbrook's Incredible "Three-Wally Thursday"!...
 

congratulations chris. im sure carl is prouder than ever! mark young

Re: Chris Holbrook's Incredible "Three-Wally Thursday"!...
 

I dont even know Charlie and I agree with him..........And I can't believe you spelled out "ya'll" LOL

Re: Chris Holbrook's Incredible "Three-Wally Thursday"!...
 

The funny thing is that you most likely don't know Chris it his team either. Because if you did then you would then know that his car heavier than the weight stated in Charlie's post. So I would love to see how fast the mustang would be if it was also 2705. And it was nothing against Charile I was just stateing why not tip your hat to a great pass instead of saying ( in not so many words)...Oh yea well my car is faster than yours if I weighed 2705.

Lets see Webster's y'all... A variant of you-all. Yea that is funny. Plus it's a southern thing y'all wouldn't understand.

Happy St. Patricks day!

Re: Chris Holbrook's Incredible "Three-Wally Thursday"!...
 

I don't.....I'm just no fan of the blown Mustangs. Blown , as opposed to NA. I would expect that anyone who can interpret the rules with enough $$$$ would run this hard.
And , I was "poking" you.......since I am a "Yankee" by birth. We say "you guys"........:D

Re: Chris Holbrook's Incredible "Three-Wally Thursday"!...
 

Or sometimes "youse guys".

Re: Chris Holbrook's Incredible "Three-Wally Thursday"!...
 

I understand not being a fan because trust me they are WAY faster than any NA car out there including me. lol Its not fun knowing if you have to run one they would have to blow the tires off or red light for me to get the win. I just think a 7.9 run is awesome no matter what you drive. Even though they have blowers they still have to put it down and get down the track. Im a hemi guy through and through and none of my cars are blown but I must say I drive a mustang like I stole it if I was giving the chance.

I figured you were poking and no offence was taken but I wasn't going to assume you were from up the country(yankee). Lol yall isn't as bad as some of the things we say down here! I mean we eat mudbugs for goodness!

Re: Chris Holbrook's Incredible "Three-Wally Thursday"!...
 

I believe Charlie was doing some CJ stuff for Henderson. I'm curious if he is still part of that program?

Re: Chris Holbrook's Incredible "Three-Wally Thursday"!...
 

I see Charlie's point, too. He isn't saying that the CJ is 2700, he is saying if he ran his SS/AH @ 5 lbs/hp Charlie would be 2705. 5 lbs/hp is the factor for SS/AA (double a stick). That's 500 lbs. lighter than Charlie is right now.

Either way it is still a great run. I have always thought that one of these CJ's in full SS trim should be able to run 7.50's all out. But this car is brand new and Holbrook is good, so it's a matter of time.

Re: Chris Holbrook's Incredible "Three-Wally Thursday"!...
 

Now wait a sec there Mr Mopar...a NA Dodge just ran quicker all weekend than 3 of our blown CJ have ever been!!! Only one that has been quicker than that is our 4.0L blown CJ. So if you would like to drive a blown CJ that is slower than a Mopar, you can have a seat any time my friend! :D

Re: Chris Holbrook's Incredible "Three-Wally Thursday"!...
 

LOL Ok there is one MOPAR that can run with y'all. I guess we aren't working hard enough on our NEW cars. hehe!! Hey sir ill strap up in any one of y'alls car they are all first class!!

Re: Chris Holbrook's Incredible "Three-Wally Thursday"!...
 

Thanks bud...anytime!

Re: Chris Holbrook's Incredible "Three-Wally Thursday"!...
 

Bret,

There is no doubt Chris's Varsity Ford & Watson CJ's are performing and he is doing well driving. You have made three posts recently about these cars in a five day span. As a person of your stature, maybe you should talk about some of the other Race cars that had great accomplishments in the past couple of races. There was over 400 race cars on the property for the Gators that accomplished some pretty good things. Dave Barton Running 8.70's, Randi Lyn being number 1 qualifier and pulling a Monster Wheel stand, and Anthony Bongiovanni being #1 qualifier in Super Stock and Winning Class...just to name a few. There were a bunch of other Wally's given out that weekend. Gene Jordan won Stock and Brad Zaskowski won Super Stock, these gentleman are the true champions of the Gator Nationals. Maybe you should put in print with some of your spectacular writing about these two racers. It would be nice to hear you write about some other people, your very good at what you do. I've been to 7 of the NMRA/ NMCA/ and ADRL Championship banquets over the past 10 years where you were the MC. You introduced me to come on stage several times and spoke some very kind words about me, which I thank you for. You had to do your homework about each champion introduced on stage. I am sure you're able to do your research about other racers and happenings at NHRA events. Like I said there was 400+ other race cars. Each one of them did something spectacular that weekend.

Jim D'Amore

Re: Chris Holbrook's Incredible "Three-Wally Thursday"!...
 

To me that was the most impressive performance of the weekend. And lets not forget he got down to 3 cars in the eliminator as well.

Re: Chris Holbrook's Incredible "Three-Wally Thursday"!...
 

And how about your guy, Don Fezell running 8.55 in AAA/S!

Re: Chris Holbrook's Incredible "Three-Wally Thursday"!...
 

Yeah we were pretty happy about it. Thanks

The true hero's of the sport build their own cars from head to toe and travel the country to keep racing alive because they have a big passion in their heart. A passion for all that encounters racing, building engines, replacing parts, rebuilding the rear end, etc. then get in their toe rig and drive all night to get to the next event. Like I said in my original post, over 400+ racers there that were all hero's, right?

Jim D'Amore

Re: Chris Holbrook's Incredible "Three-Wally Thursday"!...
 

I can only think, from reading the title of the thread is the reason why other great accomplishments involving other racers haven't been talked about. I guess if the thread had a different title then maybe others would be included. Someone was simply giving a specific person and team a shoutout for a heck of an accomplishment. I'm sure if other threads were started including others names you would get great responses about them.

Re: Chris Holbrook's Incredible "Three-Wally Thursday"!...
 

Well said.............Congrats to Chris

Re: Chris Holbrook's Incredible "Three-Wally Thursday"!...
 

Didn't they win "Best Engineered Car" as well, and wouldn't that make it four Wallys for the weekend....that's got to be a first. I was there on Thursday and would liked to have gone and seen it up close. It must have had some cool stuff inside to get that award. I wonder what makes that 2014 Mustang in Stock or Super/Stock stand out above the rest. "Best Engineered" used to be given to an entry that displayed advanced technology, and/or attention to detail, and with a special consideration to personal fabrication skills and overall project achievement....and most of all....something(s) cool and/or unique, that the tech officials haven't seen before. Is it still like that today?....or is it just big money again.

Wade Mahaffey

Re: Chris Holbrook's Incredible "Three-Wally Thursday"!...
 

Wade, since the Jones challenger "The Driller" didn't win at Indy last year (it's first race) I don't think anybody can say what the criteria is for Best Engineering or Best Appearing but politics has to be a factor. That car is a work of art.