(Photos by Dave Whealon – DWPhotos.net) – It’s a wrap. The final curtain fell on the Galot Motorsports Park’s inaugural 2016 drag racing season with the running of the Mad Mule Finale on November 12th. What better way was there to close things out but with a ProMod Shootout. Twenty three of the best teams in the area showed up for the 16 car qualified field for a chance to take home the 10k prize, the trophy and the championship. The Mad Mule Shootout started out as a 3 event points paying Thursday night test and tune with free racer entry and a chance to pocket 5k at the end of the night. Hampered by Mother Nature the August event was postponed and moved to November. Also featured on this day were the 4.70 Outlaws which put on a great show of their own.
The cool November weather brought out the big numbers with Tommy Franklin’s Musi Powered Nitrous Camaro taking the pole slot with a 3.698 at 203.22mph. The boosted BAE 2015 Corvette of Galot’s own Kevin Rivenbark took the number two qualifying slot. It was quite fitting that these two drivers ended up fighting for the win in the final round. Both of whom are the 2016 PDRA champions in Pro Boost and Pro Nitrous. Unfortunately due to breakage, Rivenbark couldn’t make the call for the final round and Franklin cashed in on a bye. With an appearance in the semi’s, Bryant and Cox Racing’s Buck Power Nitrous 69’ Camaro and driver Jay Cox claimed the Mad Mule championship title.
It was an awesome season for the first go round at Galot. 2017 looks to be an even more exciting year with three more Mad Mule events scheduled for Saturdays as opposed to Thursday nights. After hosting the largest crowd in PDRA history this year there will now be 2 PDRA national events in March and September. Also they will also be hosting the motorcycle Man Cup in July. As well as continuing their NHRA Division 2 races. And the 4th Annual Mule City 300 NTPA tractor pull has the makings of being epic with added classes and a four session event. A full 2017 schedule should be out early next year.
I’d say with myself witnessing a gaggle of events at the track this year that Earl Wells and his entire staff should get a trophy of their own for bringing that old wore out facility back to life in the best way imaginable.
