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NMCA Hot Rod Power Festival |
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Musi Doubles up, Dantoni and Clark Split a Pair in Stanton . |
by Brian Wood |
STANTON , Mich. When the final curtain came down on the NMCA's Bill Joysey Memorial Shootout at Mid Michigan Motorplex in Stanton, Michigan on Sunday, September 7, defending Comp Cams/TCI Engineering Pro Street champion Pat Musi solidified his hold on the 2003 title by taking two big wins on the weekend at the helm of Don Reem's 1999 Pontiac Firebird.
The rained-out final round from the race in Montgomery, Alabama earlier this season was held during qualifying on Saturday, and Musi took win number one when teammate Dan Parker experienced mechanical difficulties on the team's 1968 Camaro during the run. On Sunday, Musi and Parker met again in the last stanza, and this time around Parker missed a shift, which allowed Musi to cruise to an easy victory, 7.017, 150.88 to 8.369, 133.02.
The final from Alabama was also contested in the Accel DFI Pro Outlaw class, and James Clark was the big winner on Saturday, taking out the 1968 Camaro of points rival Marc Dantoni 6.724, 209.10 to 6.764, 210.72. With the points battle in the category tighter than it's been all year, every win is critical, and both drivers were psyched when they came to the line to close out the show Sunday night. Clark left first, but with his 1997 Monte Carlo trailing smoke, Dantoni roared by to even the weekend's total to one win each, 6.751, 205.47 to 6.856, 195.60.
In Nitrous Express Nostalgia Pro Street, No.1 qualifier Rob Golobo paced his bright orange 2002 Camaro to his sixth win of the season when he took out the classic Nova of first-time finalist Kevin Parent, 7.657, 162.92 to 7.820, 159.94.
The Edelbrock Pro Nostalgia title went to another top qualifier, Jim MacKenzie, who wheeled his 409-powered 1962 Chevy to a win over Dane Johnson's rare 1963 Pontiac Tempest, 9.063, 147.39 to 9.183, 146.19.
Ramchargers Super Street provided plenty of action all weekend, but not all of it was of the positive kind. No. 1 qualifier Doug Smith took his 1996 Olds Achieva on a single in the final when expected opponent Mike Yedgarian was unable to compete. On his semifinal pass, Yedgarian's 2000 Firebird burst into flames after crossing the finish line, and although he was able to scramble out of the still-rolling car, he suffered burns to his face and hands and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. He was later sent to a hospital in Toronto and eventually released.
In what has come to be a common sight this year, the Drive Train Specialists Super Modified final featured the 2000 Chevy S-10 of top qualifier Jim Huber and the orange 1969 Camaro of John Baio. Unfortunately for Baio, the results were also way too familiar, as he went down to the defending champ 7.836, 177.93 to 7.926, 171.39.
Corteco Limited Street was not contested at Stanton when both finalists broke connecting rods and were unable to return for the last round.
The look was different, but the results were exactly the same as Rick Moroso wheeled his late father Dick's 1961 Corvette into the No. 1 qualifying spot in Competition Engineering Hot Street. From there the defending champion went on to take out Rockin' Al Miller in the final 8.939, 150.67 to 9.049, 150.93 to continue the strong run begun behind the wheel of his silver late model Corvette earlier in the season.
In Real Street , Jamie Stanton continued his winning ways, extending his season-long winning steak with a win over Bruce Maschle in the final. Stanton overcame a .490 to .573 holeshot to take the win light, cranking out a mark of 9.036, 152.25 to out-horsepower Maschle's 9.178, 147.27. The only time the J&J racing team has been knocked out of a final round this year is when a tranny broke at Cecil County .
A common thread running through the competition at Stanton on the weekend was the No. 1 qualifier going on to take a trip to the winners circle, and BFGoodrich Drag Radial Eliminator was no exception. Top man Dave Rudisell went all the way to the big dance, and then took the victory when opponent Dan Forcucci left too early and lit the red bulb.
With 22 cars on hand to slug it out for Specialty Motorwerkes Nostalgia Super Stock supremacy, the action was hot and heavy all weekend. When the smoke cleared, it was the B/NSS 1964 Plymouth Savoy of top qualifier Jeff Millard overcoming the challenge of Jack Nelson and his C/NSS 1965 Coronet, 10.688 on a 10.50-index to 11.195 on an 11.00-second index.
Another hotly contested class was BFGoodrich American Muscle, with 22 cars shooting for the title at Stanton . In the fifth and final round of the day, it was the D/AM 1968 Dodge Dart of Allen Adam outlasting the D/AM 1974 Chevelle of Keith Seymour. With both cars running on a 10.75 index, Adam's 10.762 was good for the win when Seymour ran under with a mark of 10.650.
In Mr. Gasket EFI Eliminator action, Canadian Tom Craig held off some stout competition to emerge victorious, taking his C/EFI 1984 Camaro through the traps to the tune of 10.056 on his 10.00 index to dispatch the J/EFI 1989 Mustang of No. 1 qualifier Andy Thompson, who ran 13.385 on his 13.50 index in a losing effort.
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