Record runs and tight racing abound at the NMCA opener this weekend. Jeff Lutz recorded the first 5 second Pro Street run in qualifying this year and we have thirteen cars in class that made runs, though some attrition in qualifying has a couple of cars sitting out today.
Dave Hance made the show after a long ride from New York, breaking down twice in a borrowed toter and getting to the track just in time for the final qualifying session. “I have always enjoyed racing with the NMCA and want to thank Charlie Harmon and track owner Alan Chervitz for keeping in contact with me during the trip and allowing me some time to get unloaded and prepare the car to make the final session, their hospitality is much appreciated.” – David Hance. Team Baskin is looking to expand is operation adding another LSX All Motor car and something for LSX Real Street as well. The new Mustang in ACT Mean Street is doing ok but Greg DeLaney mention the possibily of switching back to the Chevy II because they are more familliar with the car. Look for them to debut at the All Star race at Commerce next month.
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Mike DeMayo is top qualifier in NA 10.5 this weekend with a very nice 8.09. Gaby Labiosa’s EIC Motorsports is now doing the engines for Demayo and he has found a bit more power in the 420 ci inline valve Victor Sr. heads and cast intake small block Ford. The NA 10.5 rules have him about 300 pounds lighter than the Hot Street/Pro Stock rules. Sponsors include Mike Sr.’s Powerhead, Mickey Thompson and EIC Motorsports.
David Hance was paired against Jim Widener in round one of Kooks Pro Street with both cars getting out of shape early. Hance was able to recover first in the pedal fest earning the win.
Mark Kyger rolled the beam in his pairing with Dave Demarco handing him the go ahead win. Kevin Parent earned the ARP Nostalgia Pro Street win over Skip Baskin in a tight race. Round one was the final for this class here this weekend.
Sean Ashe had the earned single in round one of Stainless Works Street Outlaw. In round two Marty Robertson was pushed back after the burnout after leaking some water giving Ashe another single and the event win.2012 champion Brandon Alsept pulled David Hill in round one of ACT Mean Street. He pulled the wheels high and went on the round win with a 10.05 @ 131 taking the win over Hill’s 10.24 @ 131. Number one qualifier also ran a 10.05, getting his round with Don Baskin’s foul start setting up a chance at a close final round.
Final Results
Compulink StarTrak Kooks Pro Street Elimination Results ROUND 1 1333 PS 9 CHUCK DEMORY JR. GENEVA IL 68 MUSTANG 640 1.093 16.727 65.05 1271 PS 6 MIKE STAVRINOS BOYNTON BEACH FL 68 CAMARO 800
1064 PS 7 JENNIFER GREEN ANTIOCH IL 948 0.323 8.149 113.5 1110 PS 0 CALVIN HORNES JR. PALMETTO FL 70 CAMARO 555 0.102 8.749 142.67
1020 PS 5 JOSH GREEN ANTIOCH IL 0.185 6.595 217.86 1111 PS 10 JASON LEE MAUMEE OH CAVALIER 499
1001 PS 4 BILLY GLIDDEN WHITELAND IN 10 MUSTANG 720 0.069 6.142 218.81 1004 PS 11 STEVE SUMMERS UTICA IL 70 1/2 CAMARO 526
1277 PS 12 DAVID HANCE INWOOD NY 57 CHEVY 526 0.058 6.495 234.98 1501 PS 3 JIM WIDENER BATESVILLE IN 00 COUGAR 856 0.05 7.499 135.13
3 PS 1 JEFF LUTZ CALLERY PA 69 CAMARO 540 0.159 6.029 244.03 SINGLE 0
ROUND 2 1995 PS 2 JIMMY KEEN PARRISH FL 63 CORVETTE 855 0.038 6.167 234.98 SINGLE 0
1277 PS 12 DAVID HANCE INWOOD NY 57 CHEVY 526 0.401 8.069 152.02 1333 PS 9 CHUCK DEMORY JR. GENEVA IL 68 MUSTANG 640 -0.392 10.199 77.51
1001 PS 4 BILLY GLIDDEN WHITELAND IN 10 MUSTANG 720 0.097 6.209 223.49 1020 PS 5 JOSH GREEN ANTIOCH IL 0.066 6.295 229.53
3 PS 1 JEFF LUTZ CALLERY PA 69 CAMARO 540 0.003 6.109 245.9 1064 PS 7 JENNIFER GREEN ANTIOCH IL 948 -0.123 7.776 126.05
ROUND 3 1277 PS 12 DAVID HANCE INWOOD NY 57 CHEVY 526 0.153 6.714 181.45 1995 PS 2 JIMMY KEEN PARRISH FL 63 CORVETTE 855 0.107 10.085 86.58
1001 PS 4 BILLY GLIDDEN WHITELAND IN 10 MUSTANG 720 0.021 6.181 205.05 3 PS 1 JEFF LUTZ CALLERY PA 69 CAMARO 540 0.18 6.17 245.96
**** No final run due to rain. Pro Street results courtesy NMCADigital.
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Kooks Pro Street had some wild rides today with David Hance struggling to keep the car pointed straight on every run, Jeff Lutz running a 6.02 @ 244 on a single for low ET of eliminations and a very tight race with Glidden and Josh Green. Hance got by Jimmy Keen after he faltered and shut down early in the semi finals, the other pair was Glidden and Lutz in a classic Ford vs Chevy and nitrous vs. turbo battle. Glidden had a great .021 light after letting Lutz sit on the brake for a couple of extra seconds. At the stripe it was Glidden's 6.181 @ 205 trailing that tell tale smoke through the lights over Lutz' 6.170 @ 245. Glidden was hurt after the run and commenced an engine swap before the final, which Hance agreed to wait for but mother nature had the last word as the rain came and ended the event for the day with the Pro Street final the only pair left to run. Mark Micke piloted Jason Carter’s 78 Malibu and ran the table this weekend in Mickey Thompson Super Street. He met with David DeMarco in the final who left on Micke recording a nice .015 reaction but wasn’t able to put a clean run down and clicked it allowing Micke to get around him with a 6.84 @ 192.22 MPH.Kevin Parent put his 1969 Nova in the winners circle with a .045 light and 7.336 @ 188 over Skip Baskin’s .055 7.432 @ 184.69 in ARP Nostalgia Pro Street.
Sean Ashe also ran the table in Stainless Works Street Outlaw setting the class ET record in the process with a 7.298 run at 195.60. Opponent attrition gave him a bye in the final as Robertson leaked some water after the burnout. It’s been a good weekend for the ATF crew coming away with the season opener NMCA win. Sadly Phil Smith had no one to race this weekend in Aeromotive Xtreme Street. He ran a 7.971 @ 170.90 on his round one/final pass. Photo courtesy Bryan Epps. Mike Demayo ran an 8.12, and 8.13 and 8.144 @ 166,91 in the final against Leonard Long in an all Pennsylvania Comp Camp NA 10.5 final. He is also another racer to run the table this weekend. “We all worked hard over the winter and certainly this weekend, it’s a team effort and our hard work paid off with the win at the first race of the year for us” – Mike DeMayo. Photo courtesy Bryan Epps.
Teddy Weaver earned number one qualifier and the event win taking out the 2012 ACT Mean Street champion Brandon Alsept in a close final round. Alsept did his job and left first but couldn’t hold on to the lead with his 10.093 @ 131 to Weaver’s 10.050 @ 133 MPH. The UPR Sponsored 2001 Bullitt Mustang has a Roush built 311 ci engine backed by G-Force T-5 transmission and Spec clutch. Jimmy Raniella crewed here this weekend with phone support from Charlie Booze Jr. making tuning calls on the carb. This is his first event and win in Pro Media/NMCA after the Pure Street class was cancelled over at the NMRA.
Day two here at Bradenton for the NMCA 2013 opener has us under mostly cloudy skies with a chance of rain in the forecast. We are looking good to get wrapped up before it comes this way and are in for some great racing this weekend. Stay tuned in to Dragzine for the latest news from Bradenton.
Glen Launey from Xstreme Race Team is the track Chaplin here in Bradenton and sets up at events here and other local car shows and events to do fundraising to support the troops in various ways, from helping families, injured veterans and those serving overseas with care packages. He has been doing that the past three or four years and is launching a website coming up this week. Mark Kyger is back running NMCA after taking a break last year. His show stopping Nova is powered by a Ty Tech built 550ci big block Chevy fed by a pair of Precision Pro Mod 88 MM turbos backed by a Bruno/Lenco three speed and a Pro Torque converter. I spoke with crew chief Jamie Miller from Victory Racecraft about David Demarco’s off season updates. Some weight reduction was done along with a single wheelie bar. The changes paid off with three of their best runs at the Lights Out IV event at SGMP in February. It’s powered by a 540 big Chevy from Proline Racing fed by Precision 88 mm turbos. The power is transferred to the Mark Williams rear through a Rossler three speed and Pro Torque converter. From left to right, Jamie Miller, David DeMarco, George and Andrew Demarco.
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Jef Lutz was a bit off pace his 5.97 pace in the second session but a 6.02 is enough to back up the other run making it the new Kooks Pro Street record. Yesterdays 5.97 run was the first 5 second run in NMCA history.
Jim Widener and Tony Bischoff are back in Pro Street this year with a 100 pound weight break for all the Pro Street nitrous cars. The BES built engine is an 856 ci Chevy big block with Sonny’s hemi style heads topped with a single stage system from Induction Solutions and a pair of Pro Systems carbs. He improved to thrid with a clean 6.157 @ 230 MPH run.
Jennifer Green improved her ET to a 6.906 @ 187 but wasn’t able to hold on to her previous number 4 spot dropping to sixth.
Mark Micke was not able to improve on his 6.54 and the trans lost another planetary on the pass. Tehy don’t have the parts to replace that gearset so will have to use a backup set with a different ratio.
David Demarco found the tuneup today, jumping to second with a nice 6.636 @ 221 MPH. 2012 Mickey Thompson Super Street champion Mike Murrillo got here today and unloaded a 6.717 @ 221 to earn third spot.
Skip Baskin and Kevin Parent had a great match in round two qualifying with both cars running 7.37 and Parent getting to the stripe first.Comp Cams NA 10.5 grew by one today as Ben Mens pulled in this morning. DeMayo still sits on top with his previous 8.04.Dwight Ausmus hauled down from Lafollette, Tennessee with his 72 Pontiac. He sits third in NA 10.5 with an 8.268 @ 164 MPH. Sure is nice to see some old muscle in the class.
Ashe was able to run fast enough to back up his earlier 7.298 @ 195 to make it official as the new record in Stainless Works Street Outlaw. David Hill knocked a full second off his Q1 time with a 10.21 @ 131, funny how cars run so much faster when you make all the shifts.
Tremek True Street had a good turnout of 54 cars today with Tony Whetstone taking home the trophy and cape with a 9.259 average.
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Rich Tilden placed second with his supercharged 1963 Nova and Chris Brazel took third and the 9 second win with a 9.83 average. Chris runs a 383 LS from WCR with a plate nitrous system and owns the need2speed.com forum which hosts the Dead Hooker club events here in Bradenton.
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Often the True Street class is all about actually making the three runs. The faster the car the more difficult it is to put it all together as evidenced by the two fastest cars here going out on the second pass. Rick Prospero has raced several events with his twin turbo big block Nova wagon and ripped off a nice 8.06 on his first run then slowing to a 10.57 after clicking it near half track. Blair Brannock has struggled so far with his new 92 hatch back now with 2 DNF's after this and the NMRA event just two weeks ago here. With little testing and no real data he managed the first A to B run this morning before the cruise with a 9.10. His first run in competition was a fair 8.67, then slowing to a 9.34 with a broken transmission. Blairs car has a 427 Ford small block with Yates heads and a Precision 106 MM turbo and is planning a trip to the All Star race next month in Commerce.
Final Qualifying Results
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Danilo Nammour was half of the first pair out in the final session of Kooks Pro Street with the Zapato Grande Racing Mustang. The car went to the right sharply just after the hit and crossing just behind the other car and nosing into the wall. The damage is mostly cosmetic but the incedent may put them out for the weekend. Dave Hance had an eventfull trip from New York to get here just in time to make the final session after breaking down twice on the road. After all that the car still needed some service at Rob Wells’ Ford Speed Racing in Pinellas Park, Florida. The session was held for just a bit to give him time to unload and prepare the car and he clicked it early after getting loose down track. He sits 12th on the ladder and will face Jim Widener in round one.
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Bob Glenn didn't fare so well this weekend as the 03 Dakota nosed over and ate two pistons on the run. The team had a long busy weekend in it's first time out after changing the truck around over the past couple of years. Mike Stavrinos showed up this morning with the Speed and Truck World 68 Camaro. He improved on his second run to a 6.60 @ 167 but needs to step it up for Sunday’s eliminations.
Billy Glidden got the car down the track on his third attempt with a 6.30 @ 212 jumping him up to fourth spot. He is scheduled to face Steve Summers but he lost a driveshaft yesterday and is unable to make repairs here due to further damage under the car. Mark Kyger was a bit frustrated after two runs were DQ’d but he made it in with a 7.26 @ 210.
Mark Micke’s 6.54 yesterday held on for top qualifier in class with the first four positions unchanged from the last session. Ray Jaso was able to improve slightly with his 69 Mach 1 but his 7.57 is well off pace. I’m sure they will get the set up figured out in due time.Kevin Parent and Skip Baskin swapped places on the ladder in what Kevin hopes will be a premonition of the final tomorrow with his 7.336 @ 188.36.Sean Ashe held on to top qualifier in Stainless Works Street Outlaw with his record setting 7.298. It will come down to Robertson, Kenward and Ashe Sunday as Eric Leeper hurt his engine in Saturdays session.Phil Smith is the sole car here this weekend in Extreme Street and he is running well.
Competitors on the NMCA Flowmaster Drag Racing Series trail have been working tirelessly all winter long preparing for the dawn of a new season, where the points reset and a fresh new hope of championship glory begins anew. The new year always brings new cars and plenty of fresh faces, and we’ll be on the ground at the season opening Ross Pistons NMCA Muscle Car Nationals in Bradenton, Fla. bringing you all the news, notes, results, and of course, tons of great images from the NMCA’s annual kickoff event.
The one and only Billy Glidden is running NMCA this year after the ADRL canceled Extreme 10.5 for 2013 and sporting a new 50th anniversary Mickey Thompson wrap designed by Greg Zoetmulder of Greg Z Designs and installed just before the trip down to Florida. Marty Robertson owns this 1968 Dart and is running Street Outlaw this weekend. He has been running some X275 events the past two years and changed the combination for 2013 to fuel injection Procharger on the small block Mopar. The suspension has also been upgraded with Penske shocks all around still maintaining the leaf spring set up with Cal Trac bars.
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Robertson is partnered in Evolution Custom Auto who also owns and sponsors the new Pro Steet/Pro Mod driven by Jason Lee. Patrick Barnhill from PTP is tuning both cars which have engines from Hans Fuestal. I spoke with Eddie Mas with Zapato Grande Racing. They lost a connecting rod while testing yesterday and are swapping in the fresh spare 780 cubic inch big block from Gabby at EIS Motorsports with Induction Solutions nitrous. The team hails from Venezuela and is based out of Miami when in the states. Danilo Nammour is the driver of the Rick Jones built 07 Mustang. The team plans to run the full NMCA schedule this year.
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Jason Gatlin from ATF has some new billet parts out for the GM TH 400 transmission here this weekend. A billet short tail shaft housing has been developed that allows racers to swap from a power glide to a TH400 and back using the same driveshaft. It features a double roller bearing for added durability and requires a billet trans. Yolk, a significant cost savings over a new or separate driveshaft for those that test or are swapping transmission combinations. The other new piece is a billet aluminum piston for the TH400 forward and direct drum which is thicker than a factory piston with a better apply area. Sean Ashe is here running the new Street Outlaw class in NMCA this weekend after placing fourth at the NMRA event after having issues with the Big Stuff box due to a damaged serial port. That’s all fixed up and the ATF team has a spare box on hand. His off the trailer run today in testing was a 7.36 @ 196.Jason Carter has been busy in the off season with some upgrades to the 1978 Malibu. Matheis Race Cars upgraded the front suspension and belly pan including some weight reduction to the tune of 100 pounds. Mark Micke from M&M Transmissions has come on board as a sponsor for 2013 and will also take over driving duties from Eric LaFerrier. From right to left, Blair Brannock, Chad Simpson, Jason Carter, Mark Micke, Frank Durham, crew member Mark Woodruff is not pictured.
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Garrett Turbo is also back for the 2013 season with a pair of 88’s. He runs a 550 cubic inch wedge head Chevy big block from Nelson Competition, Pro Torque Revolution series converter and and M&M Transmissions Pro Mod TH 400 2 speed. Other sponsors include Mickey Thompson Wheels, VP fuels and Cold Steel. Steve Summers is running a new car and running Pro Street this year after a second place finish in Super Street last year. The Jerry Bickel built 70 1/2 Camaro is powered by a Jasiek Racing Engines fed by a pair of 88 mm Precision turbos instead of the Procharged combo he ran last year. He will be using the same Liberty trans and Big Stuff 3 engine management.Chuck DeMory Jr. stepped up from Nostalgia Pro Street to Pro Street for the 2013 season. DeMory had the engine reworked to work with the F3R 139 Procharger. John Marcella did a custom intake manifold and went through the Thor gen 2 heads. They were prepping the car for it’s maiden voyage with the new set up.
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Tremek True Street competitor Blair Brannock struggled with transmission issues at the NMRA Spring Break Shootout and sent it with Jason at ATF to get it fixed up correctly. It has been upgraded with an ATF valve body with fluid release trans brake, ATF converter regulator valve, a 10 clutch drum and ATF billet servo cover and piston. After the build it spent some time on the trans dyno to get dialed in and to ensure everything works to Jason’s satisfaction. Blair and Frank “The Tank” Durham from Jason Carter’s crew are installing the fresh unit this afternoon. The combo is a 427 yates head Ford small block from Fast Forward Race Engines with a 106 mm Precision turbo, good to about 2200 horsepower when it's dialed in. Left to right, Blair Brannock, Frank Durham.
Round One Qualifying Results
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Jeff Lutz leads qualifying in Kooks Pro Street after Friday’s session with a clean 5.976 @ 247.18 MPH in one of the two cars to make clean hits today. Back in the pits after the run the PTP crew had to replace the intake gasket. Jimmy keen sits second with a 6.035 @ 227.50 with the Keen Brothers nitrous assisted Corvette.
Jason Lee and Jamie Miller were discussing how the new car is working out and are going to make some adjustments to the chassis set up back in the pits tonight to keep the front end down. Bob Glen and Kevin King have their 2007 Dodge Dakota back out this weekend for it’s 2013 debut. After taking some time off to reconfigure the truck they are ready and lighter. The BAE Hemi is maintained in house with the cylinder heads sent to HPS Cylinder Heads in Holiday, FL when the need arises. The long time local team is looking forward to getting back to racing and is planning to run the local Heads Up Madness series this year here in Bradenton. We will have more info on the team coming tomorrow.
Billy Glidden got into tire shake early on his attempt, clicking it very early in the run. I’m sure they will get something figured out Saturday and get down the track. Mickey Thompson Super Street had 5 cars for today’s session with Mark Micke piloting Jason Carter’s Malibu to the number once spot with a 6.548 @ 205. Willard Kinzer’s 6.760 @ 221.89 was good for second with only two cars making clean hits in Super Street round one qualifying.
San Antonio based Ray Jaso has run local Outlaw 10.5 events for about twenty years and is trying his hand at NMCA Super Street for the 2013 season. The Mach 1 Mustang was built by Greg Hubbel and is powered by a Keith Black Hemi built by Doug Verstoff from Performance Machine Shop fed by a pair of Precision 88 mm turbos tuned by Josh Lindsey from J&L Performance Race Cars. Mike Noriega’s Noribilt Race Cars did the turbo piping. A timing malfunction messed up the ET and Josh Lindsey is going through the Bruno transmission in the pits. Jaso’s crew is Andrew Ruiz, Buda Saoas, brother Ricky Jaso and Rene back at home in Texas.
Comp Cams NA 10.5 class is looking to be popular with the new more open rules than the former Pro Stock class it replaces. Mike Demayo ripped off a nice 8.049 @ 168.19 to earn top qualifier. Leonard Long put up an 8.152 @ 166.91 and sits second in NA 10.5 after carrying the wheels out a ways in today’s session.
Robbie Blankenship is based in Hudson, Florida, he had some traction issues today and was a bit off pace with an 8.35 @ 160.
Stainless Works Street Outlaw has only two cars here this weekend after having a good turnout at the NMRA event earlier this month. Sean Ashe is way out front with a record pace 7.298 @ 195.60 MPH. Team ATF figured out the front half somewhat today and looking to back up the .29 in tomorrow’s qualifying. ACT Mean Street top tog today was Teddy Weaver’s 2001 Bullitt Mustang breaking into the 9’s with a 9.980 @ 134.12. Don Baskin (pictured) was close behind with a 10.088 @ 131.
