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I don't know why we still call this event the "Sunshine State Nationals". It seems that every year we are interrupted by thunderstorms.
Well, be that as it may, the event went off without a hitch, other than some rain delays on Saturday and Sunday. The always super Gainesville track crew did their usual great job getting the track back in shape after the delays.
Let's jump into our wrap up report with the UPR All-Ford Car Show results. Normally when it looks like rain over the weekend, the show cars stay home. Not in Florida, however. They were out in force. Between Saturday and Sunday, over 180 super looking Ford vehicles were on display in the Car Show area. The big winners included Kyle Young for Best Mustang ('94-'04). Best Interior went to Chuck Kelly with his '56 Sedan Delivery. Best Paint went to either Clinton somebody or somebody Clinton (great paint but poor penmanship). Best Engine went to Chris Garrett and the Best of Show went to Chad Noel and his '03 Cobra.
 Next we move into the Tremec Transmission True Street Results. Naturally, Rod Short, one of the editors of MM&FF magazine, the True Street Presenters, was keeping his eyes open for the coveted Editors Choice Award. So, how did the True Streeters do? The top spot was nailed down by Michael Saponara with an average of three runs being a 9.052. For the record, Michael ran an 8.975 on his second pass. The number two spot was Charles Manchester with a 9.662 average. The quickest 10-second award went to Christopher Patchen with a 10.781. Andy McKee averaged an 11.243 for the 11-second award. Carl Valentine ran a 12.192 for the 12-second award. The 13-second award went to Darryl Buckner with a 13.009. Eric Larson averaged a 14.051 for the 14-second spot and Phil Vincek finished off with a 15.122 for the 15-second award. I guess that 8.9 second ET convinced Rod Short because Michael was also awarded the MM&FF Editors Choice Award.
Now, on to the Showdown Classes. In the Mr. Gasket Pro class, the number one qualifier (again) was Chuck Samuel with a 6.589 @ 214.79. Joe DaSilva was next with a 6.720 @ 216.24. Right behind Joe was Randy Eakins at 6.792 @ only 182.14. Brit (we're gettin' better) Floyd ran a 6.857 @ 209.54 for the 4th spot. John Gullet was 5th at 6.983 @ 211.86. And Doug Mangrum's new Mustang was 6th with a 11.88 shutting off early. On Sunday morning, prior to eliminations, Doug ran a test pass in the mid 6's so it looked like everybody on the ladder had a shot.
Low qualifier Chuck Samuel was also eligible for the Pro Challenge Lottery money, sponsored by USA Motorsports.
In round 1 of eliminations, it was Eakins over Mangrum (7.082, 172.91 to a shutting off Mangrum). Gullet edged DaSilva with a 6.602, 212.06 vs. Joe's losing 6.892, 214.89. Both drivers cut identical lights at .074. And Samuel took out Floyd in another super close race, 6.572, 213.87 vs. Brit's losing 6.698, 214.74.
In round 2 it was Gullet over Eakins, 6.753, 208.71 vs. 6.822, 209.98, and Samuel made the bye run at 6.571, 214.64.
In the finals it was Samuel ($8,500 richer) over Gullet, 6.550, 215.51 vs. Gullet's runner-up 6.882, 208.71.
Six of the best Pro cars in the country put on one whale of a show for the folks.
In the ProCharger Street Outlaw class, the number one qualifier was Georgia's own, Mike Calvert. Mike qualified with a 7.381 @ 187.14. Next was Billy Glidden at 7.597 @ 157.72. Randy Leavy was picking things up himself at a 7.600 @ 181.67 and Terry Strange and the "white car" was still fixing the bugs at a 8.348 @ 164.77.
On Sunday eliminations, it was Leavy making a single when Calvert didn't show (broke engine apparently) and in a battle of the Hoosiers, Glidden won over Strange. In the finals it was Glidden over Leavy with a 7.651 @ 172.08 to a tire spinning Leavy.
 In the Edelbrock Street Bandit class, it has been a dog fight all season long. The Bandit "regulars" include Ken Compton, Matt Jones, Rod Houck, Cale Aranson, and on a frequent basis, Kurt Neighbor and Richard Lelsz. Gainesville was no different. And we get to throw in James Black and John Sommerfield into the mix. Ken Compton qualified number one with a 8.820 @ 154.18. Second place Matt Jones came in next at a 8.922, also with a 154.18. Then, in order, it was Houck, Lelsz, Aranson, Black, Neighbor and Sommerfield.
When it came down to eliminations in the finals, it was Matt Jones over Kenny Compton with a 8.790 @ 155.06 to a losing 8.755 @ 154.71. Matt had a .48 better light.
The ProCharger Street Renegade class had a full field of racers, led off by Manny Geno. Manny qualified number one with a 8.449 @ 166.69. The next six cars were all in the 8's and then four more in the 9's. Jason Andron was #2 at 8.461. Next was DJ Loiacano at 8.549. In fourth place was Ronnie Wilson at 8.565. In fifth place was Mike (remember me?) Freeman at 8.782, followed by the rest of the field.
In the finals on Sunday it was an all Florida showing with Jason Andron winning over DJ with a 8.457 @ 163.16 to the losing 9.186.
In the BFGoodrich Tire Drag Radial class, it was "Big Daddy" on top of the qualifying Sheet with a 8.209 @ 175.91. John Hewlett was next with a 8.794 @ 169.91. Dennis Lugo was in third place with a 9.211 @ 169.01, followed by the lovely Christine (she's taken) Eldert with a 9.316 @ 154.77. Shane Hill was in fifth spot, ready for the fight, but having his problems.
 In the finals on Sunday, Dwayne Gutridge was the winner over Hewlett with a 8.309 against the losing 8.696.
Darrell Peterson has owned the Probe Industries Street Warrior class all season long and Gainesville was no exception. Darrell qualified number one with a 10.202 @ 123.10. In second position was Rob Mollet with a 10.737 @ 123.64. The field of five cars was setr for Sunday eliminations, and in the finals it was the Floridians, Peterson over Mollet with a 10.426 vs. the losing 10.641.
In the Superchips Street Stang class, there were some tears shed by Tony Whetstone, the Gainesville winner and also the winner of many of the other events in the S/S class. Tony won the final event (over Larry Felts) under the "old" S/S rules, which are being laid to rest. As of the next event in Richmond, VA, the S/S class will revert to a 12.50 Index class. Tony ran 12.8's all weekend long so he might be the favorite to take home the gold in Richmond, too. Time will tell.
In the Vortech Engineering Focus Frenzy class, we had a switch. Brandy Burd was not in the finals. The eventual winner was Paul Gamino over Brandon Hedges in an all male clash.
The JDM Tough Truck class had the usual number of pick-ups in competition. In the finals it was an all Lightning eliminations with Don Justus taking the win over a red lighting James Keyes.
And that brings us to the Steeda / Hyland Mod Motor Madness class. And wonder of wonders, Gary (don't blame me, I'm from Alabama) Youngblood took home the big check with a well deserved (and about time) victory over a previous M/M winner, Gentleman Jim Gilbert. It was no easy victory for Gary, who had to drive home after qualifications to deal with a busted trans, and then drive all the way back for the Sunday eliminations.
For racing results, car show winners, video and photos, visit the Gainesville Event Results page.
In the Roush Performance bracket classes, on Saturday, it was Robert Perdue over Ron Reid in Fast Ford, Danny Toupe over Jim Lewis in Quick Ford and Paul Gamino over Ray Williams in Street Ford.
On Sunday, it was back to the lanes for the Sunday roush Performance bracket event. In Fast Ford it was R.L. Smith over Jimmy Harrell Jr., Roy Williams over Mike Lee in Quick Ford and Danny Towe over Paul Gamino in Street Ford.
In the True Street bracket race on Sunday it was Owen Spry over John Harrell for the win.
That about wraps up the Gainesville, FL FFW event. The next FFW event is in Richmond, VA, June 25, 26 and 27. Gonna be some big going's on in Richmond, with the special Drag Radial "Race Within The Race" shootout brought to us by Innovative Turbo Systems and AirWerks and also the Tough Truck Takedown for the bracket racers, brought to us by the Ford Motor Company, F-Series Brand Team. 
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