Lights Out VII a Long Time Coming|

Information technology's time for the first large race of the year at S Georgia Motorsports Park (SGMP), where the absolute best of the drag radial earth—plus several interlopers from the Pro Modern ranks—have been arriving since Monday for the seventh annual edition of promoter Donald "Duck" Long'south now-legendary Lights Out event.

Steve Jackson (Click to enlarge)

Last twelvemonth's outcome attracted more than than 400 entries for the 10 classes contended at Lights Out, but Long expects an even bigger turnout this weekend—especially for the marquee Radial vs. The World class vying for more $l,000 to win.

"I call up we're going to have somewhere betwixt 55 and 60 cars in Radial vs. the World. They're coming out of the woodwork," he says. "I've had calls from people all over the state, missed three calls while we've been talking, but every time I plough around I hear nigh someone else who is on their mode or planning on coming."

All the large-name elevate radial regulars, including past winners and tape setters like "Stevie Fast" Jackson, "The" Kevin Mullins, WOOOO! Nation's Keith Berry and Kyle "Bad 9er" Huettel, among many others volition exist there—and loaded for bear on the SGMP eighth mile.

"I see the 32-automobile field being spread out between a 3.85 and a 4.25 (seconds)—and that'due south real numbers, no phantom bullshit," Long declares. He agrees, too, that the current 3.87-seconds record set late last yr in Texas by Huettel's teammate, Jason Michalek, probably will fall, merely doubts it will exist as substantial a driblet as some others are predicting. "I hear a lot of people talking near 3.70s, merely I'm non certain nigh it. I think it's going to be someone going bottom .90s that is going to win information technology. Consequent low iii.90s will be what it takes to win."

Among the Pro Mod invaders ready to tackle elevate radials—some for the beginning time—will be past two-time Pro Extreme world champion Bubba Stanton, former Pro Nitrous gnaw Jamie Hancock and PDRA Pro Nitrous competitor Keith Haney. Regardless, like NHRA Tiptop Fuel crew chief Phil Shuler, who owns the roots-blown drag radial Mustang that Jackson drives, Long believes the winner will come from the traditional drag radial ranks.

"I ain't worried virtually anyone who hasn't been here racing the last two or three years. I just don't remember y'all're going to show upwardly and boot everyone's ass your starting time time on radials," Long says.

"The only Ten-factor or dark equus caballus for me would probably be David Wolfe. He's got that new Pro Modern Cavalier with a turbo bargain and you simply tin't count that guy out—ever. He's as good as it gets, and then if I had to pick someone to kind of show up and surprise everyone, I think it'd be him," he continues. "I don't call up it's going to exist a Pro Mod that does it, though."

Haney, who co-owns Tulsa Raceway Park, attended Lights Out for the first time in 2015 (though merely as a spectator), and hopes to testify Long wrong. Haney has been waging an online war of words with his fellow promoter in the weeks leading up to the race after last year's experience inspired him to take a new 2022 Camaro built by Larry Jeffers Race Cars just to compete at Lights Out 7.

"Donald has created a great race hither and to be honest he showed me last year in that location are more racers in the radial earth than I thought," Haney admits. "I got to know Keith Berry and Dewayne Mills and Mark Micke and they're all just great guys. I like how they back up their form and support the vendors who back up their class, too. That'southward why I wanted to become involved, because I recollect it's expert for drag racing."

And despite all the trash talking and online bantering he's engaged in with Long recently, Haney says he holds nothing but respect for the Florida-based man of affairs.

"Donald has been great to me throughout the whole procedure leading upwardly to this," Haney says. "He even included our flyer for Radial Revenge in Tulsa this April 1st and 2nd in every i of the racer packets he handed out here. That's the kind of thing I mean about these guys supporting each other."

Regardless, Long is sticking to his prediction of a drag radial regular taking home the tape winner's purse.

"There's a lot of fast cars, human being, a lot of guys that tin run good," he concludes. "Hell, there are a lot of stock suspension cars that are going to be flight. I know I give him a ton of shit, but Brad Edwards; he'due south going to exist fast. And Fletcher Cox's Mustang; it'south going to exist flight. At this point all you tin really tell for sure is that it'southward going to be crazy.'