PINKS All Out - Four Wide, Side By Side!

Running eliminations with four cars abreast on TV is something that had never been attempted, until PINKS All Out arrived in Charlotte. ZMAX Dragway provided the right facility, but a computer timing system had to be devised along with new procedures and logistics in order to pull it off. Everything went smoothly as the last 32 cars were pared down to eight in just four rounds of eliminations.

Over 500 racers jumped at the chance to get into the final field of 32 cars at PINKS All Out at zMAX Dragway. PINKS expanded the field from the usual 16 finalists to take full advantage of the four-lane racetrack for this event only.

Having the opportunity to compete on a national level in front of huge crowds on national TV is part of the magnetic draw for a wide variety of Sportsman racers. There's no Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, or Pro Mod to take the spotlight away from the everyday racer, and car enthusiasts relate because it brings them a show that's on their level.

Russell Boyce of Greenwood, South Carolina, made his first PINKS appearance memorable as he made it to the best two out of three final rounds in this '70 Ford Maverick. Having never raced the quarter-mile before, the car ran high 9s with a 460 that was bored and stroked to 502 ci. With no time to cool down or charge in between rounds, he was unable to make it to the line after the heat got to his Powerglide. Once he was home, the cooled-off tranny worked fine. Boyce later said that putting three Chevys on the trailer at once was his best memory from the event.

Buster D'Amato was another first timer at PINKS and won $12,000 to match the number on his original '65 Nova SS. Running all motor with a 406 small-block under the hood, this car is still driven on the highway, complete with wipers, radio, and a full interior. With round robin-style eliminations and no time to work on the car in the later rounds, Buster feels that a street car has a distinct advantage over a full-time race car in PINKS competition.