The Pacific Street Car Association (PSCA) kicked off its highly anticipated 2014 racing season with the MagnaFuel Record Breaker Nationals presented by Chris Alston’s Chassisworks, held January 31-February 2nd at “The Strip” at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The week of the event temperatures in Las Vegas were in the low 70’s but Thursday night a cold front blew through and dropped temperatures to the low 50’s, but that didn’t stop the eager racers from coming to lay down some rubber at the PSCA season opener. A wide variety of drag racing machines were on hand from Pro Mods and Outlaw 10.5 cars to sportsman class competitors and junior dragsters.  This event also hosts an additional treat for fans as many NHRA teams made a stop in Vegas to do some pre-season testing before the NHRA Winternationals the following weekend in Pomona, California. 

Friday evening the lanes opened for a six hour test and tune round for teams looking to make their first hit of the year. Friday was a great teaser for the action to come in Saturday’s three qualifying rounds for the headlining heads-up classes. Despite chilly and windy conditions, the PSCA racers were able to lay down some solid numbers as the sun helped put some heat into the racetrack.  In Outlaw 10.5 action, Gary Ross wheeled his 2005 Grand Am to the top spot with a strong 4.33 at 163 mph. Roger Holder claimed top qualifying efforts in the Xtreme Drag Radial class with a 4.48 at 176 mph in his 2000 Chevy Camaro. Mike Orban’s 1968 Camaro posted a 4.97 at 140 mph to top the field in Wild Street, and rounding out the heads-up class top qualifiers, Vic Brum laid down an 8.24 at 163 mph in his 1970 Chevelle to lead the Hot Street field into Sunday’s eliminations.  Chico Coleman got everyone’s attention during his second qualifying pass when he blew the hood off his 1981 Cutlass in the Wild Street category qualifying.

In NHRA testing action, a wide variety of cars including everything from Top Fuel Dragsters to Nostalgia Funny Cars were making test passes throughout Saturday.  The highlight of NHRA testing was the debut of the new-look Gumout sponsored Top Fuel entry of the Dote Family Racing Team with driver Leah Pritchett. Several Top Alcohol Funny Car teams were preparing for their season opener and even Robert Overholser in the “California Hustler” Nostalgia Funny Car made a few hits in their preparations for the March Meet next month.

Sunday’s eliminations were intense as it was time to play for real. Sunny skies and cold temperatures welcomed the racers on Sunday morning, still tricky conditions, but very similar to the conditions during qualifying, so the teams had good data to use on their race day tune-ups. In Magnafuel Outlaw 10.5 action, top qualifier Gary Ross met Troy Cafaro in the final round. Cafaro, in his turbo powered 1963 Corvette, had to hope for a starting line advantage to match the performance of Ross. Unfortunately for Cafaro, Ross’ game was on par as he laid down a hard charging 4.31 at 164 mph to take out Cafaro’s 4.40 at 168 mph. This was Ross’ first PSCA event win!

The Magnafuel Xtreme Drag Radial class brought top qualifier Roger Holder and Rich Hoyle to the last dance. Hoyle had been impressing the crowd all weekend with strong wheelstanding passes in his 1963 Nova, but was behind the ball on performance when compared to Holder. Holder showed no mercy in his 2002 Camaro as he blasted to a 4.48 at 178 mph to Hoyle’s 4.71 at 148 mph. 

The always entertaining Mickey Thompson Wild Street class came down to two strong running machines as Armen Maghdessian’s stunning 1957 Chevy rolled to the stripe to face off against Mike Orban’s 1968 Camaro. This was by far the most entertaining final of the event, as both cars struck the tires at the hit. Both drivers were on and off the throttle battling for traction and at the stripe Maghdessian’s 5.78 at 141 mph was enough to hold off Orban’s 5.84 at 139 mph. This marked Maghdessian’s first PSCA win, as well.

The Ross Racing Pistons Outlaw 8.5 final round paired top qualifier George Raygoza and his 1968 Nova with Anthony Smith in his 1993 Mustang.  Smith’s car was suffering from a fuel delivery issue and fell flat on its face as the ambers dropped in the final round and he had the best seat in the house to watch Raygoza click off a 5.57 at 126 mph to take home the win.

Vic Brum and Anthony Valentino met in the final of Alpha Omega Swiss Hot Street. Brum was off the line first in his 1970 Chevelle and his 8.22 at 164 mph was enough to hold off Valentino’s 8.25 at 162 mph.  The Edelbrock Super Index class found Nick Kendrick and his beautiful 1965 Chevy El Camino ready to take on Don McDavitt’s 1964 Chevelle.  McDavitt, at age 74, was in two final rounds looking to claim the most hardware of any racer at the Record Breaker Nationals. The cars were off the line together and at the stripe, Kendrick took the win on a double breakout situation. Both racers were looking to run 9.60 but Kendrick’s 9.57 broke out less than McDavitt’s 9.56. The Ross Racing Pistons Triple Index final round welcomed George Mattle and James Knight Jr to the starting line, where George Mattle took home the trophy in his 1974 Camaro with a 10.62 at 119 mph. 

The Goodyear Open Comp class was Don McDavitt’s last chance to take home the trophy after posting a runner-up finish in the Super Index class. McDavitt would have to get around Cody Bennett’s 1973 Chevy Vega and he did just that, as his 9.52 at 142 mph easily defeated Bennett’s 10.44 at 127 mph. Youngster Brent Calvert in his 2014 Ford Mustang found himself in the final round of the Accufab Mustang Madness class set to take on Steven Buck in his 1965 Ford Mustang. Buck was off the line first but at the stripe Calvert had the better package and claimed his first PSCA win of 2014.

The Calvert Suspensions Street Muscle class saw Gregory Garrison’s 1973 Camaro advance to the final to face number one qualifier Jason Hoorn in his 1978 Camaro. Garrison caught Hoorn sleeping on the starting line and used that advantage to streak to victory with an 11.48 at 115 mph.  Wrapping up the PSCA action for the evening, Kelly Bailey’s 1968 Camaro rolled to the line ready to take on Dick Krieger’s 1923 T Altered in the final of Brodix Bracket 1. Bailey took a slight starting line advantage and never looked back, posting a 9.27 at 136 mph to claim victory in Vegas. 

“We’re very happy to see multiple first time winners at our 2014 season opener here in Las Vegas,” said PSCA President Mel Roth.” A lot of hard work and dedication is put into hosting these events and the PSCA is very proud to be associated with such reputable class sponsors as Magnafuel, Mickey Thompson, Ross Racing Pistons, Alpha Omega Swiss, Goodyear Racing, Edelbrock, Brodix, Calvert Racing Suspensions and Accufab. Without these supportive sponsors, the PSCA wouldn’t be able to host such competitive classes with the payout we offer.

“Our next stop will be huge as we head to Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California and headline the grand re-opening of the facility, PSCA-style. We want to congratulate all our Vegas winners and look forward to a huge event in a few weeks in Fontana.”

After three days of drag racing the PSCA Record Breaker Nationals, presented by Chris Alston’s Chassisworks, was in the books. Racers packed up and headed home to catch the second half of the Super Bowl and huddle around the fire after a chilly weekend of drag racing. Many racers were headed home happy with their weekend and carrying another winning trophy for their mantle, while others hoped for a stronger performance in their next outing. Long smoky burnouts, bumper grinding wheelstands, turbochargers, lots of nitrous, this event had it all! The next stop on the PSCA tour will be February 28-March 2nd at the Mickey Thompson So-Cal Nationals in Fontana, California.

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