Joliet, IL: Tommy Phillips is no stranger to success behind the wheel of NHRA Lucas Oil Series machines. The Texan has amassed 23 NHRA National Event titles and 27 NHRA Lucas Oil Divisional triumphs in his 20-plus year career. He’s also tallied 6 NHRA Division 4 Championships and finished in the top ten of the NHRA national standings an incredible 18 times (6 times as the second place national finisher). With that monumental success behind him, it’s almost incomprehensible that Phillips is currently enjoying arguably his most successful season in 2011.
He began the 2011 campaign with a double victory at the IHRA Nitro Jam in San Antonio, TX; driving his Tigerflow/K&N Engineering backed machines to wins in both Quick Rod and Super Rod. A few weeks later, he earned the Super Comp title at the NHRA Spring Nationals in Houston, TX (his third consecutive Spring Nationals crown). He added a Super Gas victory at the NHRA Division 5 LODRS in Great Bend, KS before picking up his second “double” of the season with Super Comp and Super Gas crowns at the Division 4 LODRS in Belle Rose, LA. Just three weeks ago, he earned the Super Gas title at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol, TN.
Last weekend, Phillips and his Tigerflow/K&N team entered the NHRA Route 66 Nationals in Joliet, IL with multiple goals. The event would mark his sixth NHRA national event of the season and his final opportunity to accumulate national event points in his quest for a first NHRA Lucas Oil World Championship. In addition, Phillips had also qualified for the elite JEGS All-Stars Shootout; where he would be the South Central Division representative in both Super Comp and Super Gas.
“The all-stars race is a really special event for sportsman racers,” explained Phillips. “Only eight drivers are invited to participate in each class; so just earning a spot is very difficult. Once we’re there, the folks from JEGS and NHRA really treat the competitors like royalty; it’s a great event. Obviously, the goal is to win, but when you’re facing off against seven of the best racers from across the country you know you’ve got your work cut out for you.”
Phillips entered the event as no stranger to JEGS All-Stars competition. The 2011 edition marked his eighth appearance in the prestigious event, and the third time he’d earned a berth in multiple categories. Phillips won the Stock title at the 1999 All-Stars event.
This season, he masterfully worked his way through the opening round of competition in both Super Comp and Super Gas by defeating defending NHRA Super Comp World Champion Gary Stinnett and Val Torres. He got a break in the semi-final round of Super Comp when former world champion Sherman Adcock broke in the burnout. In the semi-final round of Super Gas, he fell to Division 3 representative and eventual champion Rusty Cook. Undeterred, Phillips focused his energy on the Super Comp entry and knocked off Division 5’s Michael Miller in the final round to earn his second JEGS All-Stars title. Phillips, along with fellow competitor Slate Cummings, carried the torch for the Division 4 squad as they claimed the team title in a narrow decision over the Division 7 team.
“It’s always great to win,” said Phillips, “But it’s even better to know you helped your team accomplish their goal. All of the Division 4 racers, we come out and we butt heads all season as competitors. The JEGS All-Stars is neat, because it gives all of us an opportunity to work together as a team. We shared information, and we cheered for each other. Winning the team title means every bit as much to me as winning the individual crown.”
Phillips’ weekend was not done with the conclusion of the JEGS All-Stars event on Saturday, however. After suffering a third round defeat in Super Comp, Phillips wheeled his Tigerflow/K&N roadster late into competition Sunday in the NHRA Route 66 Nationals. In the semi-final round, Phillips put down a solid .015-induced 9.915, but fell short to fellow Texas racer Jimmy Lewis. Lewis matched Phillips on the tree with a .012 reaction and ran a near-perfect 9.908 to get the win, marching on to defeat All-Star champion Cook in the final round to take Super Gas honors.
The semi-final appearance bolstered Phillips’ strong title bid in Super Gas. He already has 582 points, with three divisional events remaining to improve his score. He’s also currently ranked second in Super Comp, where his 492 point tally trails only Steve Mikus.
In addition to major marketing partners Tigerflow and K&N Engineering, Phillips and his Philco Motorsports team wished to acknowledge the following partners for their vital role in the teams continued success. Those partners include CBS Arcsafe, Art and Randy Zunker of B’yond Reason Racing, Tracy Dennis and Sunset Racecraft, Robert and Wynette Hudgins of Lee-A Incorporated (Clyde, TX), Hoosier Racing Tire, Hughes Performance, Lucas Oil Products, the staff and customers of TNT Supercars, as well as Duane and Heidi Robison, and Brett Patterson. Phillips also wished to recognize Roger Brogdon and The Racer’s Edge for their support of the entire Division 4 JEGS All-Stars team.
Article Credit: Bogacki Marketing Solutions