Douglas County resident Paul 'Slick' Fontenot won in the top eliminator category in the 2003 season opener of the IHBA Drag Boat Races last weekend in Phoenix.
Fontenot is the drive and owner of "I'm Back -- Hot N. Bothered," a Dever Pickle Fork Hydro with a 4774 Chevy alcohol injected motor for the Slick Racing team. Fontenot has been a resident of Douglas County for more than 20 years.
Fontenot and his crew went into test and tune on Friday morning before the competition sporting a new air scoop. After a few runs, a decision was made to remove the air scoop and return to last year's setup. By Saturday, Fontenot qualified sixth in his class -- top eliminator, which is a nine-second quarter-mile bracket.
After several runs on Sunday, Fontenot moved into third, placing him in the finals. With the help of his crew, Ryan Laufer, Sylvia Ferguson, Jason Bednorz, Audrey Smith and Mark Ortiz, Slick Racing won in the finals.
Slick Racing will compted in the second IHBA race of the year May 23-25 in Red Bluff, Calif. Slick Racing is sponsored by JRB Machine, Percival Construction, Hatch Electric, Carson Valley Transmissions, Auto Parts Depot, T. Willie's Nevada Cam Company and A Sign Shop.
Slick Racing set a world record at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah in an A-Gas Lakester in 1991 and a land speed record at the El Mirage Dry Lakes in an A-Gas Lakester in 1993.