When Andy Warren began racing in NMCA Detroit TrueTrac Nostalgia Muscle Car back in 2004, he knew that he was going to have his work cut out for him.

The drivers were dialed in, and many had been at it a lot longer than Warren had, but he was just as determined, and through the years, that determination has paid off. The Kentucky-based driver has won 217 rounds of racing, has been in 43 final rounds and has won 30 events in the tough-as-nails category. All of those accomplishments make him the NMCA’s winningest driver.

“It doesn’t register with me how many rounds I’ve won and final rounds I’ve been in until I look at my trophy shelf and my personal stat sheet,” said Warren, whose brother, John Warren, also races with the NMCA. “There are so many competitive racers out there in every category who go a lot of rounds, so it’s hard to imagine that I would on the top of that list. I remember when (ProMedia Digital Editor) Scott Sparrow and I started the math several years ago. I was trailing Billy Glidden for round wins and race wins for a long time. Billy took a hiatus, which gave me a while to beat his record.”

Making those achievements even more momentous for Warren is the fact that he secured his eighth championship in the category in 2019.

“Winning the eighth championship is just as exciting as winning the first,” said Warren. “Every year has its challenges, and when you overcome those obstacles to be on top, it means a lot.”

Just as powerful as Warren is his crowd-pleasing Caprice, which is powered by a 434 cubic-inch Chevy engine built by Tim Knieriem of Knieriem Racing Engines, and will soon go to CamboBuilt Speed and Chassis for an oil retention pan and a billet arm TRZ anti-roll bar.

“I really wish Mildred, the elderly lady I bought the car from in 1994, was still around,” said Warren, who will run the 10.00 and 10.25 indexes in Detroit TrueTrac Nostalgia Muscle Car this year. “I would love to show her what her car has done for me over the years. The big girl is so fast, so consistent and so reliable. Our Knieriem-powered race team, consisting of my brother John Warren, Tim Knieriem, Jeremy Lyons, Craig Watson and Steve Dowell, came up with the slogan #NeverADoubt. That’s the comfort that the car gives me, because all of the great people and products involved. I never have a doubt when I strap in behind the wheel.”

Warren hopes to continue his winning ways when the NMCA kicks off its race season with the 18th Annual NMCA Muscle Car Mayhem presented by Holbrook Racing Engines, March 5-8, at Bradenton Motorsports Park in Florida.

“When you start winning multiple championships, I think the pressure is even greater because you have to defend your throne,” said Warren, who also will wheel Scott Libersher’s COPO Camaro in NMCA Coan Engineering Stock/Super Stock Combo and some NHRA Divisional races. “If someone doesn’t feel the pressure, they will get complacent. That’s when you make mistakes. You have to stay up on the wheel every run, or things will not go your way. I’m going into Bradenton as focused and pumped up as I did going into Indy in the finals last September.”

Fans who can’t be at the 8th Annual NMCA Muscle Car Mayhem presented by Holbrook Racing Engines, March 5-8, also at Bradenton Motorsports Park, can see the action broadcasted live on SpeedVideo with support from COMP Cams, ProCharger, Late Model Engines and Flying A Motorsports.

(Photos courtesy of NMCA)