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Day two is under way for the 2014 NMCA season opener here in Bradenton, Florida for the twelfth annual Ross Racing Pistons Muscle Car Nationals. We have two qualifiers today and should have a tight field in Kooks Pro Mod with several cars on the property capable of running deep into the 5 second zone. Kevin Fiscus currently leads the field with a 5.89. Stay tuned to Dragzine for the latest news from the track with our same day event coverage.
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This morning was routine maintenance for most racers with the Keen brothers swapping transmission ratios in their orange Juice powered split window Corvette based locally out of Parish, Florida.
Rob Goss sat out Friday’s qualifying waiting for parts after a damaged blower and transmission during testing. Jason Gatlin at ATF took care of the trans and Goss runs one of his converters as well. I stopped by their pit this morning and found none other than former NMCA Pro Stock racer Bruce Maichle is the crew chief for the Goss team. The engine is a new gen Hemi from BES with Chassis and paint done by Rhodes Custom Auto. The car was assembled at Bruce Miachle’s High Horse Performance. The team has been struggling with parts reliability so far and this is the fourth time out with this set up with a best of 7.80 at Indy last year. Crew this weekend is Rob Goss, Bruce Miachle and Scott “Superbird” Segelberg.
Dennis “The Menace” Lugo made it here this morning after testing a new engine and trans last night in Orlando. His “A” engine is out for service to the back up piece was quickly prepared last week and installed last night about six PM. This one is a 427 cubic inch small Ford with C3 Yates heads with a new Garrett GTX 94 MM turbo. Dennis wants a special thanks to go out to Pro Torque, the guys back at the Lugo Motorsports shop for working hard to get the car ready and Central Florida Machine.
A trip through the midway this morning revealed some new items int he Holley Performance tent. The Terminator EFI system is designed more for the casual enthusiest that doesn't need the full race Dominator EFI system and also the new Dominator Gen 3 series carbs featuring longer bowls for more fuel volume, sight plugs on both sides, a provision on the main body for a TPS, billet booster inserts and metering blocks, fully adjustable external linkage, -8 o-ringed inlet threads and lighter all aluminum construction. The body is also taller with more generous entry radius. All very welcome improvements as well as making the new series more user friendly.
Cartel Manufacturing Corp. is a contingency sponsor this year and will be supporting the full NMCA series with their new racer support trailer previously owned by John Force Racing that features on site bead lock conversions, a welding station and Bridgeport. They will be adding several features to the trailer including a fixture to resurface cylinder heads and will stock various components from Cartel, Aerospace Engineering, PAC Springs and other manufactures. Cartel owner Joe Barszcz hails from Brownsburg, Indiana and is certified welder in assorted materials and experienced fabricator. The trailer allows a car to be loaded on the second level for any chassis repair or service that may be required. Joe is pictured on the left with Kim and Al Kussy from Aerospace Components
Round Two Qualifying Results
The top four in Kooks Pro Mod remain unchanged with small improvements by Steve Summers and Josh Green. John Benoit jumped up to fifth with a nice 6.15 at 231 MPH.
Andrew Handras’ crew was able to make the call for round two after the heads came back from Nelson Competition this morning. He sits in eighth with a 6.42 at 219 MPH.
Willard Kinzer is the sole competitor in Micky Thompson Super Street this weekend. He put up a 6.66 at 225 in today’s session.
Dwayne Barbaree moved to number one spot in Stainless Works Street Outlaw with a clean 7.13 at 196 MPH.
Rob Gross was able to make it for round two this morning putting up his best run to date, a 7.32 at 187 making the team very happy.
Phil Hines was also waiting on parts this morning and they came in time for him to make the round. He was paired with Phil “Corndog” Smith who headed straight for the sky at the hit. Hines went on to a 7.32 at 191 landing fourth on the ladder after two sessions.
Andy Vogt improved his ARP Nitrous Pro Street time over four tenths to a 7.534 at 182, now just behind Trobiani’s 68 Camaro. the order remains unchanged.
Steven Wardlow is still top of the pack in Edelbrock Xtreme Street though now in the sevens with a 7.889 at 173 MPH.
Bart Tobener is second in class in Xtreme Street with an 8.17 at 170 moving ahead of Terry Strange.
Mike Demayo improved slightly in NA 10.5 with an 8.010 at 167 MPH. Ausmus also improved to an 8.09 so their gear change last night looks to have helped some. Don Bowles did not make the call this morning.
Final Qualifying Results
In Kooks Pro Mod Kevin Fiscus held on to the top spot with his 5.89 at 248 MPH run from the Friday’s qualifying session. Fiscus Klugger Racing uses a car built by R2B2 with a Proline Racing Engine and Proformance Racing Transmission.
Billy Glidden improved his position with a 6.014 at 215 moving up to third on the ladder. Michael Biehle II also improved from a 7.26 and ninth spot to a 6.12 at 246 moving to sixth.
Stainless Works Street Outlaw had some movement in the field as well with Sean Ashe moving up to third for team ATF with a 7.263 at 194 MPH.
Phil Smith improved but it still seventh with a 7.967 at 167 with the roof blowing off in the lights.
The ladder in ARP Nitrous Pro Street is unchanged after the third session with John Trobiani the number one qualifier. He is based out of Romeville, Illinois and runs a 482 cubic inch big Chevy done by Tom Dixon from Markham Machine.
Edelbrock Xtreme Street has a seven car field this weekend with Steven Wardlow the top qualifier with a 7.889 at 173.14 MPH.
Jason Hoots is a late addition to Xtreme Street making a run in the final session today. The Mooresville, North Carolina racer left wheels up and ran it out to an 8.60 at 156 MPH to take fifth in the field.
Mike DeMayo leads the NA 10.5 class with an 8.01 at 167. Dwight Ausmus improved on his second round run with a 8.034 at 169.49 in the final session taking top MPH away from DeMayo.
Anthony Ferrante had no luck this weekend losing a connecting rod on Friday. They pulled the rod and piston out and took the tree under power in the final session for the qualifying points and are looking to have their new engine ready for the Commerce race in April.
