(Oct. 15, 2007) -- The four racers leading the points going into this past weekend's TCI/Comp Cams Heads Up Series final races knew exactly what they had to do. And three of them did. in the 7.0 class, Steve Cothren didn't win an event, but held on to take the season championship by a whisker over Gumby Gaston and Jerome Terry. As Steve Cothren received his champion's plaque, he proudly wore a t-shirt bearing photos of his twin babies, Kaylee Marie and Grayson Daniel, born just a few days ago.

 

The 7.0 winners for the events were Cole Cousins of Wetumpka, who defeated fellow hitter Ricky Pennington of Calera in the Saturday finals. Both racers were great on the tree (.018 Cousins, .020 Pennington) but Cousins' 7.018 was enough to edge the 7.019 put up by Pennington. Millbrook, AL racer Jason Cahoon and Josh Tucker were the Saturday semi-finalists.

On Sunday in 7.0, Brock Taylor was an unstoppable force as he rolled through the field, including Wes Cummings of Hanceville in the finals. Cummings pulled the trigger too quickly, resulting in an -.011 red light...Taylor had an awesome .005 light and a 7.221 in the finals. Decatur, AL racer Doug Hall was the semi-finalist.

 

The 6.0 events were both the Buddy Baggett show as the hometown hero mowed 'um down to take both the Saturday and Sunday events. On Saturday, Baggett disposed of drag racing journalist T.J. Pruitt in the semis and then defeated Woodstock, AL racer William Carroway in the finals. Baggett's .014 light was about all he needed as he ran a 6.040 to defeat Carroway's quicker but losing 6.006. Chris Rogers of Fultondale, AL was the other semi-finalist.

 

On Sunday, happiness and heartbreak in 6.0 racing. The "Tough Luck" award goes to Veteran racer Jerry Carnley of Seale, AL. He qualified his Camaro #1 but had to watch the rest of the day as his fuel pump went away. Several racers tried to help, but one that Jerry could use wasn't to be found. Buddy Baggett just kept going rounds Sunday and found himself in a re-match of Saturday's semis with T. J. Pruitt. As Baggett rolled his "Buddy's Toy" '67 Nova SS to the starting line to face T. J. Pruitt, Pruitt's borrowed car lost fire. Before track officials could notify Pruitt that he was on a two-minute clock, Baggett leaped out of his race car and went to help his opponent. Buddy and his crew from sponsor Neill Cowles Motorsports helped T.J., finally pouring fuel directly in the balky carburetor. As Pruitt's car finally fired, Baggett went back to his car and proceeded to rip off a hole shot win with a 6.024 (.014 light) defeating Pruitt's 6.014 (.044 light). Kevin Pruett was the lone-semi-finalist on Sunday.

 

T.J. Pruitt turned in the best run of the weekend with a 6.001, .000 1/1,000 package jewel.

 

The 5.30 event lacked drama...it was the pretty much all Scott Underwood. Carrying the points lead into the final two events, Underwood simply won them both. On Saturday he defeated Montgomery racer Jonathan Dixon. Underwood was .017 on the tree and rolled to a 5.336. Jonathan's Nova wasn't right as he ran a 5.384 at 130.05 miles per hour (he found out later his shifter had malfunctioned). Derek Anthony and Scott Smith of Montgomery were the semi-finalists.

 

On Sunday, Scott Underwood ran the table, clinching the season 5.30 title by being the day's best qualifier and then winning the race. In the finals, he defeated Hope Hull, AL racer Lester Pitts. Underwood made his run with style, scoring an .012 light and a 5.310 to Pitts' .039 bulb and 5.312 ET. Scott Smith was the lone semi-finalist on Sunday.

 

The wheels came off for 4.70 racer and pre-event points leader Robert Mathis of Baker, FL. His '94 Lumina developed a mysterious malady late Saturday and just couldn't run the 4.70 number on Sunday. Mathis didn't make the eight-car field and had to sit and watch Bessemer, AL racer Danny McGee do what he had to do to snatch the season 4.70 title away. McGee took his Midfield Motors Corvette to the top qualifier spot and won all three founds of 4.70 racing Sunday to edge Mathis by a scant 10 points for the title.

 

Saturday's 4.70 racing had Dadeville, AL racer Jimmy Wayne Haddox mow through the tough field before meeting "T-Man" from Sylacauga in the finals. Haddox' .015 light and 4.710 run gave him the win over T-man's breakout 4.694. Clarence Cloud of Vidalia, GA and Robert Mathis were the semi-finalists.

 

One of the unique things about Sunday's 4.70 race was the presence of Baby Pro Mod racing legend Edmund "Mr. Five Speed" Hall, who found a way to slow down his Chevy enough to make the eight-car field, which had a bump spot of 4.743. It has been said that Hall could race your grandmama's car and win races; on Sunday, Edmund made it all the way to the finals against McGee. Edmund turned on the reds with an .008 light but still ripped off a 4.774 at 154.92 miles per hour. McGee, needing to win to clinch the 4.70 title, settled for a safe .036 light and a 4.730 at 148.61 miles per hour.

 

The season champions will receive their gold cards, jackets, etc. at the George Howard Racing banquet to be held in early 2008.