NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Super Street racer Lyle Owens and his team were named the recipients of the Holley Never Rest award at the Texas NHRA FallNationals.

“We had quite the week at the Motorplex, between two race cars, multiple motor swaps, mechanical issues, and late nights,” he explained. “Our pit looked more like a used parts lot by the end of the week.”

Owens started the weekend with a new motor in his ’68 Camaro Super Street car, only to kick the rods out after four passes during Tuesday's Division 4 race. His dad delivered his wife Trisha's spare motor from East Texas Tuesday afternoon, and it was installed just in time for the national event.

Meanwhile, Trisha's car was having issues of its own. After her car randomly shut off at 1,000 feet, her rack and pinion broke while turning off the track. Trisha made a late-night trip back to Waco to get her spare rack and pinion. Then came battery issues, electrical problems, and the car continuing to shut off at 1,000 feet.

“I finally threw the kitchen sink at it, changing just about everything before first round,” Owens said. “Trisha was able to make it to the third round. Trisha won this race last year in Super Gas, and this year, just getting down the track felt like a victory on its own. If I wasn't working on one of our race cars, I was fixing air conditioners on fellow racers' motorhomes and trailers.

“With help from my dad, my father-in-law, brother-in-law Justin, Jimmy Lewis, Levi Lottis, John Leiham, Chase Huffman, Austin Kilgore, the Replogs, Mike Taub, Bart Nelson, and the rest of our racing family, we were both able to race and be competitive.

“Our racing family also helped take care of our son Knox and daughter Hadley. We couldn't have done it without my mother-in-law Linda, Donna Moon, Phyllis Lewis, and Amanda Loffis. They made sure the kids were fed and entertained whenever needed.

“Everyone pitched in wherever they were needed.”