Baytown: Doug Foley final report

Close race allows Foley and team to showcase their talents

HOUSTON (March 30) -- FX Caprara Kia-sponsored Top Fuel driver Doug Foley's dream of winning the 21st annual O'Reilly Spring NHRA Nationals disappeared in 13-thousandths of a second when he came out on the short end of the closest drag race of Sunday's opening round of eliminations at Houston Raceway Park.

The almost imperceptible amount of time was all if took for rookie Antron Brown to edge past Foley, as he won with a 4.591 at 322.27 mph to Foley's 4.606 at 320.13 mph. It was Brown's best quarter-mile effort of the entire weekend.

"It was a good race. I thought we had won," Foley said. "I didn't see him at all and I was starting to celebrate until I made the turn and they guided me away from the ESPN cameras. My congratulations to that team; they did what they had to do to beat us. The race could have gone either way and this time it went his way."

This is just the second race of the season for Foley & Lewis Racing yet they've successfully made the elimination field in both events and were a lofty fifth at the start of race day in Houston.

"Gainesville was basically a test session for us and here in Houston we got back to where we were last year when we were winning rounds," said Foley, who operates a drag racing school in Sewell, N.J. "It's unfortunate we have to stop now but until we get this thing funded full-time, we can't continue racing."

Foley was able to compete at the past two national events thanks to sponsorship from FX Caprara Kia, Tigerflow Systems, PMS Excavating, Dake, J.B. Parks & Son, and Jet Label & Tape.

"We're indebted to the sponsors who have stuck with us because they allowed us to come out here the last two races and show everyone we haven't lost a step since last season," team co-owner Tim Lewis said. "We've also had the opportunity to develop some great relationships at these races in Florida and Texas and we're hopeful things will come to fruition very soon.

"The car will be sidelined for the near future but our efforts to gain title sponsorship that will keep us out here for many years to come will continue every day. This very talented team, led by Doug Kuch, will stay intact and we'll be back as soon as possible."

-credit: flr