Athletes who participate in stick and ball sports have an expiration date on their careers. Racers also have to hang up their helmet at some point, but it’s usually decades after athletic-type sports. Mike Kunzman is 80 years old, but that didn’t stop him from winning Milan Dragway’s Get’M Performance MotorCity Muscle Challenge series this year.

While most people in their 80s are living a relaxed life, Kunzman stays very busy by laying down 8-second passes in the 1/4-mile, and running his business Kunzman & Associates. Since Kunzman’s company works with high-performance automotive companies, it shouldn’t be a surprise that he enjoys spending time at the track. Kunzman’s stunning 1972 Nova that’s powered by a 565 cubic-inch big-block Chevy is the perfect reflection of how much he loves the racing industry and motorsports in general.

Photo by Angry Spider Photography

Kunzman’s racing career has spanned decades, and he’s raced in numerous classes. The Get’M Performance MotorCity Muscle Challenge series seemed perfect for Kunzman, since his Nova fit the simple rules of a 4150 carburetor, 9-inch wide slicks, and a minimum weight of 3,300 pounds so well. Kunzman, along with his crew chief Jason Sugden, have coaxed a best run of 8.82 at 152 mph out of the Nova without a power adder.

Kunzman doesn’t let his age slow him down at all, and he has no problem putting people less than half his age on the trailer when eliminations begin. The 2022 campaign wasn’t a cakewalk for Kunzman, but he was able to lock down the 2022 Get’M Performance MotorCity Muscle Challenge series during the final race of the season. Mike Kunzman is a great reminder to us that age is just a number when you’re doing something you love.