It’s been a tough couple of weeks for South East Gassers founder Quain Stott and the series' legion of followers. On April 19, 2021, Cynthia Phillips, Stott’s girlfriend of 36 years and popular SEGA racer, passed after a courageous battle with cancer.

Ten days later, her Flower Power 1956 Chevrolet C/Gasser hit the track at Shady Side Dragway (Boiling Springs, NC) for the first time since her passing.

“The first time Flower Power has been down the track since we lost Cynthia,” Stott said. “The plan was for me to make the first run, then turn the car over to Alexis Phillips to honor Cynthia for the rest of the 2021 Southeast Gassers Association tour. This also marked one of the few times in 36 years that I made a pass without Cynthia being my 
back up girl.”

Several SEGA fans were in attendance as Stott, while being out of the seat for a while, never missed a beat as he shifted the Flower Power entry through the lights.

Stott even wore her helmet and firesuit on the pass, which evoked emotions. 

“It was tough,” Stott admitted. 

The run officially ushered in the Alexis Phillips era, her niece and handpicked successor.  Climbing out of the car, Stott handed the helmet and fire suit to Alexis as fans and family stood by. 

Stott and crew chief Tom White then began fitting the car for Alexis and added a shift-light for training purposes, which is legal for testing but illegal for competition. 

Alexis, in Stott’s assessment, did just fine in her initial runs. 

Good enough to top his lone run?

“Not quite but she made me very, very proud,” Stott said. 

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— Competition Plus (@competitionplus) December 30, 2020