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Spring has sprung (kinda…), cars are coming out of garages and shops across the US, and it’s time for the 2012 race season to kick off in earnest with Round 1 of the LSX Challenge. Held in conjunction with the NMCA race in Bradenton, Florida, this event will feature some of the quickest and fastest LS-powered cars in the world, making for a full weekend of excitement and race action.
Check back today, Saturday, and Sunday for ongoing results, photos, and updates from the track.
If you are looking for NMCA series updates, click here.
Mark Koehler runs the ERL Performance 2001 Trans Am based out of Ohio in LSX Drag Radial. The engine combo is an ERL block, All Pro heads, Callies crank swinging Weisco pistons and a 118 mm Precision Turbo providing the boost. Midwest Chassis built the car, the rear uses Strange components.
Mike Meeks is back for 2012 with a new 5th gen Camaro using the same engine combo from the Trans Am he ran before. The chassis was built by Joey Martin with the car and engine built by Big Mac Racing. The 440 ci. LSX engine runs Induction Solutions nitrous and he has been 1.17 on the second hit with the car. Pictured is Mike Meeks with crewmember Mike Pennington on the right
Steven Faraday and Joe Honeycut are here representing Late Model Performance with two cars. The red Camaro run the LSX All Motor class while the Blue car sports a twin 88 MM turbo set up for LSX Drag Radial. So far they have had issues hooking the cars so far, with an 8.86 best in All Motor and a 7.40 @ 196 for the Drag Radial ride. The Houston, Texas based team is looking to be a top contender in both classes. A recent switch to a Pro Torque converter in the Drag Radial car has pleased them much, along with some new Mickey Thompson tires for both cars.
Judson Massengill has the crew from the School of Automotive Machinists here and they are back with the All Motor Camaro. Changes are limited to a new camshaft from last years set up.
Talayne Rogers and Ron Turner are manning the port a tree and merch tent today for the SAM School. Anyone can try it out agaist your friends or strangers. They have flires and other info about the race cars and school information.
Greg Delaney is piloting the Baskin Racing Camaro in All Motor this year, as previously they ran Comp Cams Pro Stock with this car. The engine is a canted valve LSX and runs low eights at over 160 MPH.
Ronnie Hackelton drives this car in the 10.0 index in the 5th gen LSX Shootout. Bobby Shahan of Shahan Race Cars built the car, the LS9 engine and handles the tuning. The Driveshaft Shop out of North Carolina is a main sponsor of the car which has a 33 spline rear and BMR suspension.
A 2.9 Whipple provides the boost, the fuel cell and water tank reside in the trunk, still using the factory cooling under the blower for a unique set up.
Seminole, Florida racer Mike Rimar has joined the LSX Drag Radial ranks this weekend debuting his updated car. The car has has a 25.3 chassis and a fresh 440 ci. bullet from Nelson Competition. Mike used to ran a 383 LT1 but reliability issues at his power level forced him to a more reliable engine using LS7 CNC Heads and Speedtech Nitrous he has been several 8.6's but it still sorting out the new car and only using one kit.
Round 1 Qualifying Results
Nitto Tire LSX 5th Gen
Nitto Tire LSX is an index class allowing cars running from 8.50 to 14.00 using a stagger start tree. racers are qualified according to reaction time. The winner recieves $800 plus contingency and a plaque, the runner up getting $400 and a plaque with payout going to the 1/4's. it's a fun class where anyone can run, from the on a budget racer with a stock Camaro on up.
DON DIXON 2 0.00 .035 10.080 137.99
SHAWN CALABRESE 1 0.00 .181 12.006 103.34
BRIAN PALCISKO 3 0.00 .370 10.779 128.13
AL MILLER 801 0.00 .312 15.138 84.19
Proform LSX Index Rumble
Chett Levay heats up the tires on CTSV, running 11.71 @ 117 MPH on his first qualifying run.
BRIAN PALCISKO 3 0.00 .147 13.581 102.99
ROB FARLEY 666 0.00 .025 11.412 119.23
NICHOLAS MASSSENGALE 610 0.00 .000 12.310 111.53
KEITH VAUGHN 657 0.00 .039 12.999 104.51
RAY BULACH 609 0.00 .213 11.190 127.47
DON DIXON 2 0.00 .607 10.471 131.34
CHETT LEVAY 619 0.00 .379 11.715 117.86
JARROD HESS 620 0.00 .308 12.359 109.23
SHAWN CALABRESE 683 0.00 -.005 11.802 117.27
SCOTT MURRAY 659 0.00 .362 11.403 122.39
Holley EFI LSX Real Street
Last years Champion Adam Preston sits in second after one round running an 8.75 @ 156 MPH. He has repainted the 2000 Camaro in the colors of the 1983 model he ran back in 2010, with a nice updated styling and the same engine combo, a 461 LSX on nitrous.
PAUL FALCON 2 0.00 .157 8.708 153.45
ADAM PRESTON 1 0.00 .124 8.757 156.90
JON EBERT 523 0.00 .061 8.850 158.81
TED TIMMERMAN 3 0.00 .898 9.188 160.57
JAMES ROWLETT 513 0.00 .154 9.725 147.22
KEVIN ROUNSAVALL 528 0.00 .105 9.810 148.85
ERL Performance LSX All Motor
Greg Delaney put the Baskin Trucking Camaro on the pole of All Motor with a stellar 8.33 @ 162 MPH. 2011 Champion Judson Massengill was off that pace with a still nice 8.52 for the SAM team.The All Motor class features some interesting and innovative combinations.
R GREG DELANEY 400 0.00 .082 8.334 162.27
L JOE HUNEYCUTT 444 0.00 .100 8.701 156.44
R JUDSON MASSINGILL 1 0.00 .090 8.529 156.73
L ROBERT STRONG 403 0.00 .034 8.976 155.33
JE Pistons LSX Drag Radial
Steven Fereday has the top spot in Drag Radial, running over 200 MPH in the season opener and I believe the fastest NMCA LSX run in class to date. Meeks and Koehler ran solid eight second runs with newcomer Rimar running consistant in the 8.6 range.
MICHAEL MEEKS 1 0.00 2.050 8.601 156.44
MIKE RIMAR 310 0.00 .055 8.640 158.45
ANDY ESSARY 385 0.00 .096 7.632 188.32
STEVEN FEREDAY 344 0.00 .095 7.557 201.11
MARK KOEHLER 300 0.00 .043 8.746 186.25
