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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.
Once again, a big thanks to the presenting sponsor of our same day event coverage, Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
