Cruz Pedregon

Dave Grubnic Interview

Dick LaHaie Interview

Clearing up Converter Confusion

Project Muscle Part 6

Bruce Litton’s Inspirational Story

Jerry Toliver

IHRA Texas Nationals – San Antonio, Texas

IHRA – San Antonio Photo Gallery

The Real McCoy

The Day Glidden almost ended up in an Olds

Clutch University Part 2

Fuel Delivery 101 – Electrical

On the Chip – Hypertech Tech Article

Pete Millar – The Legend of the Cartoon Man – Part 2

When the Lions Roared

NHRA Nationals – Las Vegas – Same Day Coverage

NHRA Las Vegas – Photo Gallery

NHRA Gatornationals – Same Day Coverage

NHRA Gatornationals – Photo Gallery

NHRA AMS Pro Modified Challenge – Gainesville

NSCA No Problem Coverage

NSCA No Problem Gallery

Goodguys March Meet – Photo Gallery

FFW – Orlando Coverage

Spring Open Coverage

Spring Open Photo Gallery

As the old saying goes, the reports of their demise were greatly exaggerated. With a great show of determination and cooperative effort, Tony DePillo and the staff, sponsors, racers and fans of the National Street Car Association cleared the hurdles thrown in their path over the course of the off season and proved once and for all they were made of sterner stuff than some gave them credit for.

Leaving the aggravations of the past six months in the dust, the NSCA kicked off the 2004 season in style as they brought North America's best quarter-mile doorslammer competition to No Problem Raceway Park in picturesque Belle Rose, Louisiana .

The event was the Corteco Gaskets NSCA Drag Racing Series presented by BFGoodrich Bob Waldeck Memorial Cajun Nationals, and if ever there was a perfect location for a drag race it was at this pristine track located 40 miles northwest of New Orleans .

Of course, a perfect location is nothing without perfect weather, and once again everything went the NSCA's way, with bright, warm days greeting big crowds of enthusiastic fans on Saturday and Sunday.

They got their money's worth and then some as action in the weekend's 14 classes of heads-up and index competition turned up the thermostat even higher, with a number of upsets, surprises, tremendous on-track performances and a few scary incidents combining to present the best the NSCA has to offer.

The most heart-stopping event of the weekend came during Friday night's test and tune session when 21-year-old Cody McManama, of Wallingford , Connecticut , took his new 1999 Pro Street Monte Carlo out for its first shakedown pass.

As Cory shifted into second gear, the second stage of nitrous came in at the exact same time, throwing the car out of control and into the wall. Fire erupted shortly thereafter, and the track rescue personnel had to act fast to extinguish the flames and get the driver to safety.

Fortunately, McManama escaped uninjured, but the car and its brand new 737-inch “Musi Mutilator” powerplant were left a lot worse for wear. There was guarded speculation that the car could be repaired, but Cody will unfortunately be sidelined for a few NSCA events this season.

Including the new-for-2004 Top Street class, there were battles for points and bragging rights in 14 categories in Belle Rose. As an added incentive, all previous class records have been retired, so everything was up for grabs at the season opener. This is how everything shook out:

For the first time in recent memory there were no green cars in the winners circle following the final in Comp Cams/TCI Engineering Pro Street . Scott Merkel emerged victorious with his new S-10 Chevy truck.

Comp Cams/TCI Engineering Pro Street – Scott Merkel, Hauppange, NY, '00 S-10, 6.942, 203.03 – def. Scott Allen, New Iberia, GA, '92 Firebird, 6.810, 203.71

Edelbrock Pro Outlaw saw the two top dogs in the class fighting it out once again for top spot on Sunday. It was James Clark taking the win this time around, taking out three-time champ Marc Dantoni in the big showdown with his newly repainted Monte Carlo .

Edelbrock Pro Outlaw – James Clark, Laurel, MS, '97 Monte Carlo, 6.654, 209.92 – def. Marc Dantoni, Stanton Island, NY, '68 Camaro, 6.712, 207.21

There were a half dozen Nitrous Express Nostalgia Pro Street cars on hand in Louisiana, and when the smoke cleared, it was Connecticut’s John Schroeder taking the trip to victory lane when local favorite David Beeson left too early and lit the dreaded red bulb.

Nitrous Express Nostalgia Pro Street – John Schroeder, Stanford, CT, '02 Camaro, 7.569, 181.45, -def. David Beeson, Baton Rouge, LA, '78 Camaro, 9.130, 110.33 (foul - .044)

In Pro Nostalgia, John Jones did the memory of Bob “Cape Fear” Waldeck proud, taking the car dedicated to Waldeck’s memory to the final round. His opponent was Paul Adams, however, who earlier set new performance records for the class, and it was Adams coming out on top in a battle of ’66 Ford Fairlanes.

Pro Nostalgia – Paul Adams, Barboursville, WV, '66 Fairlane, 8.755, 155.02, -def. John Jones, Cranston, RI, '66 Fairlane, 8.976, 149.02

The final in ProCharger Super Street had an international flavor as Canadian Vito Montesano faced off against No. 1 qualifier Kenny Bennett. Bennett, driving Tony Bischoff's '95 Olds Achieva, took an easy win after Montesano fell asleep at the tree, his .860 reaction time leaving the door wide open for Bennett.

ProCharger Super Street – Kenny Bennett, Cincinnati, OH, '95 Olds, 7.426, 197.77, -def. Vito Montesano, Richmond Hill, ON, '01 Trans Am, 8.181, 169.76

Drive Train Specialists Super Modified is one of the most competitive classes in the NSCA, and multi-time champion Jim Huber has a lot to do with that. Serving notice that he was on the hunt for another title, Huber cut a great .005 light in his final round match against No.1 qualifier Roland Lursky, and went on to take the win, and the points lead, in a great drag race.

Drive Train Specialists Super Modified – Jim Huber, St. Leon, IN, '00 S-10, 7.683, 181.06, -def Roland Lursky, Chesterton, IN, '86 Trans Am, 7.747, 185.36

Goodyear Limited Street saw recent class convert Frank Mewshaw as the last man standing on Sunday afternoon, thanks to an incredible string of circumstances. Mewshaw, who qualified third, had a competition bye in the first round, and then had all three of his competitors break allowing him to move right up to the winners circle uncontested.

Goodyear Limited Street – Frank Mewshaw, Indian Harbor Beach, FL, '84 Camaro, 8.805, 130.08, -def. Cuy Richardson, Georgetown, KY, '86 Mustang, BROKE

2002 Competition Engineering Hot Street champion Rick Moroso is determined to take the title back from defending champ Tim Davis, and he started off on the right foot in Louisiana , setting new class E.T. and MPH records enroute to a big season-opening victory. Moroso qualified his '61 Corvette in the No. 1 spot, and then went on to take an 8.663, 152.26 to 8.812, 152.11 win over Pennsylvania 's Larry Perkins.

Competition Engineering Hot Street – Rick Moroso, Guilford, CT, '61 Corvette, 8.663, 152.26, -def. Larry Perkins, Collegeville, PA, '66 Nova, 8.812, 152.11

Jamie Stanton was nearly unbeatable in BES Real Street competition last season, but he struggled a bit in Belle Rose. After qualifying his Camaro in the top spot, Stanton lost out to Bobby Shahan's AMX in the first round. Shahan then fell to Illinois-based Ron Ramsey in the final in spite of taking a .023 to .082 advantage off the line. Ramsey's 9.203, 148.02 to Shahan's 9.307, 145.00 was more than enough to bridge the gap.

BES Real Street – Ron Ramsey, Waterloo, IL, '87 Monte Carlo, 9.205, 148.02, -def. Bobby Shahan, Cabot, AR, '69 AMX, 9.307, 145.00

Chicago 's Chris Singleton qualified his '72 Nova in the No. 1 spot on the BFGoodrich Drag Radial Eliminator sheet, and outlasted the competition to take a big win. Singleton dispatched defending champion Dave Rudisell in the semifinals, and went on to chalk up a decisive victory over Florida 's Michael Fratena in the final.

BFGoodrich Drag Radial Eliminator – Chris Singleton, Marengo, IL, '72 Nova, 8.776, 158.32, -def. Michael Fratena, Indialantic, FL, Camaro, 9.070, 159.87

Mr. Gasket Nostalgia Super Stock had the largest car count in Belle Rose, with 17 beautiful classic hot rods on hand. After five tough rounds, 21-year-old college student Stephanie DiMino of Pennsylvania was the one posing for winners circle photos, however, overcoming mechanical problems and a flat tire to claim her first career victory.

Mr. Gasket Nostalgia Super Stock – Stephanie DiMino, Norristown, PA, '66 Impala, (9.50) 9.582, 122.98, - def. Joe Ewing, Evansville, IN, '63 Dodge, (10.50) 10.492, 124.05

Ramchargers American Muscle featured 11 of the country's best factory hot rods, led by top qualifier Arnold Jordan of nearby Baton Rouge , LA. Defending champion Mike Davis destroyed his transmission during qualifying, but a laborious overnight rebuild saw him back out for the start of eliminations Sunday morning. At the end of the day, however, it was Jerry Ferguson's '65 Coronet out of Westlake , LA emerging victorious.

Ramchargers American Muscle – Jerry Ferguson, Westlake, LA, '65 Coronet, (12.25) 12.258, 107.82, - def. Larry Fleming, Franklin, KY, '70 ‘Cuda (13.00) 12.964, 97.77

Comp/FAST EFI Eliminator was the personal stomping ground for New York 's Todd Merkel in 2003, and if his performance in Belle Rose was any indication, the competition is going to be in for a tough time once again this season. Merkel joined his brother Scott in the winner's column with his victory over Moby Smith in the final round.

Comp/FAST. EFI Eliminator – Todd Merkel, St. James, NY, '86 Firebird, (9.50) 9.597, 135.10, -def. Moby Smith, Franklenton, LA, '97 Cobra, (12.50) 12.700, 105.41

Pro-Filer Performance Products Top Street is the newest class in the NSCA this season, and the battle for the early points lead was waged by Randy Jewell, of Rochester , NY and Danny Blankenship of West Columbia , SC. Jewell qualified in the top spot, but handed the class win to his opponent when he left .004-seconds too early and fouled out.

Pro-Filer Performance Products Top Street – Danny Blankenship, West Columbia, SC, '99 S-10, 10.009, 91.38, -def. Randy Jewell, Rochester, NY, '00 Corvette, 6.974, 196.53 (foul -.004)

The next stop on the Corteco Gaskets NSCA Drag Racing Series presented by BFGoodrich tour is the weekend of May 1&2 at Atlanta Dragway in Commerce , Georgia .