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NSCA Edelbrock Northern Nationals
The
second-to-last race on the 2005 Corteco NSCA Drag Racing Series presented
by BFGoodrich schedule was held at Mid-Michigan Motorplex the weekend of
September 10-11, 2005. The
Edelbrock Northern Nationals took place under perfect conditions at the
well-known quarter-mile facility located just outside Stanton, Michigan. There
was great action in all NSCA classes, and while some championship points
battles were wrapped up during the weekend, others just got closer.
Everything will be settled when the tour rolls into National Trail Raceway
in Columbus, Ohio, for the season finale the weekend of September 30 –
October 2. It
should be noted here that a number of NSCA competitors donated their
winnings from the weekend to Hurricane Katrina relief efforts being
carried out by JAMA minister Mark Walter and is family. Our thanks to all
who selflessly gave to help those in distress. It just goes to prove once
again how generous and caring so many in the drag racing community truly
are. Here’s
a class-by-class breakdown of the weekend’s competition: In
Edelbrock Pro Street, Pat Musi wrapped up an unprecedented eighth
class championship with a final-round victory over Scot Jackson. Musi
qualified his 2000 Pontiac Firebird in the No. 1 spot with a best-of-three
pass of 6.706, 208.57. Jackson put his 1992 Pontiac Trans Am into the
second spot, followed by local favorite Jimmer Kline and his cool 1966
Pontiac GTO. Johnson
went to the final when Kline broke before their semifinal match-up, while
Musi took the bye run into the last stanza. In the final run of the
weekend, Johnson took the lead at the green, .038 to .053, but his T/A
faltered before it went 100 feet, allowing “Popeye” an unchallenged
run for the stripe, and another championship.
There
were seven competitors on hand for SpeedTech Pro Outlaw action in
Stanton, with Maryland’s John Stanley topping the qualifying sheet after
three runs on Saturday. Stanley’s 6.685, 209.01 led Randall Haynes, Joe
Cleary, Dave Earhart, Craig Miller, Doug Holmes and Norm Beerhorst into
Sunday’s elimination rounds. Miller,
Haynes, Cleary all won their first round match-ups, while Stanley took the
bye into the semifinals. In that round Haynes dispatched Cleary while
Stanley ousted Miller. The stage was now set for Stanley, who is
contending for the class title, to take the first victory of his career. It
wasn’t to be on this weekend, however, as after the burnout officials
spotted leakage under Stanley’s supercharged 1969 Camaro, and he was
pushed back from the line. Haynes then took a single into the winner’s
circle.
There
was also plenty of drama in Dart Machine Nostalgia Pro Street
competition in Stanton. Making
a rare 2005 appearance, Chicago’s Johnny Baio lost no time in placing
his pristine 1969 Camaro at the top of the grid following Saturday’s
preliminary rounds. His 7.570, 179.64 led Kevin Parent, Bruce Poulos, Rob
Golobo, Ross Stomp, Michael Standley, Howard Kelly and Tom Worden. Unfortunately,
Baio torched an engine during the final qualifier, and wife Marie had to
drive for much of the night to pick up enough parts to rebuild the bullet
in time for Sunday’s first round of eliminations. Fortunately,
the operation was a success, and Baio, along with Poulos, Stomp and
Parent, moved on to the semifinal round. Baio then took out Stomp while
Parent outlasted Poulos, despite the latter’s great .004 light. Baio’s
fairytale weekend came to an end when he left too early in the final,
however. With the red bulb glowing in Baio’s lane, Parent went on to
claim another NPS victory behind the wheel of his “Old School” 1969
Nova.
ProFiler
Top Street saw six racers signed up for competition. Defending
champion Randy Jewell was top qualifier by virtue of a solid 6.868, 202.52
effort behind the wheel of his 2000 Corvette. Jewell was followed by Dale
Pittman, Bruno Massel, Brian Harrison, Doug Coeling and Don “The Kid”
Hardesty. In
round one on Sunday, Massel, Jewell and Pittman all advanced. Jewell went
on to the final thanks to a bye run, while Pittman overpowered Massel,
7.052, 202.20 to 8.805, 160.22 to earn his own berth in the last stanza. At
the launch, a nitrous blast under the hood of Pittman’s ’63 Corvette
blew the scoop off, and as he slowed Jewell ran on through to take the
win. There
were an even half-dozen competitors lined up for NSCA Pro Nostalgia
in Stanton. Top dog on the first day was Charlie Westcott Jr., who piloted
his “War Fish” ’68 Plymouth Barracuda to the No. 1 qualifying spot
with a mark of 8.664, 152.64. He was followed by defending class champion
Paul Adams, Jim Mackenzie, Russ Campbell, Erick Johnson and Joe Jacob. Adams,
Westcott and Mackenzie all won their first-round match-ups, with Westcott
then going on to the final on the bye run. In the semifinals, Adams moved
on when Mackenzie left .012-seconds too early. The
final proved to be a tight contest, with Adams getting his “Fountain of
Youth” 1966 Ford Fairlane off the line first, .087 to .152, and holding
on to take the holeshot win, 8.773, 153.76 to 8.716, 150.82. Michigan
native Greg Blevins Jr., led qualifying for ATI ProCharger Super Street
in Stanton, wheeling his turbocharged 2000 Saleen Mustang to the top mark
of 7.392, 19810 on Saturday. Behind him were Mike Libecap, Mike Yedgarian,
Vito Montesano and Randy Lambert. On
Sunday, Blevins had the first-round bye, while Yedgarian and Libecap won
their respective matches to advance. In the semifinals, Libecap had a free
pass into the final while Blevins and Yedgarian squared off for a chance
to meet him there. On the pass, Yedgarian’s Ontario-based 2002 Pontiac
Firebird blew a center section out of the rear-end, necessitating an
extensive clean-up in the right lane. Once
racing got back under way, Libecap won the day, taking his 1996 Olds
Achieva to the winner’s circle when Blevins’ car suffered mechanical
problems and he couldn’t make the call to the line. There
were six tough competitors on the grounds for Goodyear Limited Street
action at Stanton. When the smoke cleared on Saturday night, Bill
Trovato’s 1978 Olds Starfire was at the top of the heap, leading the way
with a best pass of 8.064, 171.52. He was followed by Mike Modeste, Bob
Curran, Cuy Richardson, Tim Huspen and Scott Guiler. On
race day, Modeste, Curran and Trovato made it through the first round.
With Trovato advancing to the final on the bye, Modeste also advanced when
Curran left too early and fouled out. In
the final, Modeste got his small block-powered 1986 Mustang off the line
first, .035 to .090, but he soon started hazing the tires, and had to
throw in the towel when traction eluded him. Trovato ran it out the back
door to take the big win.
Competition
Engineering Hot Street had four cars in the pits at Mid-Michigan.
Larry Perkins Sr. was the No. 1 qualifier on the weekend, pacing his
grumpy Jenkins-powered 1966 Chevy Nova to a mark of 8.794, 152.69. Behind
him in the order were Tim Davis, Rockin’ Al Miller and Robert Eubanks. Defending
champ Perkins and former champ Davis both won their semifinals match-ups,
setting up one of the best final rounds of the weekend. Perkins
won the battle of the starting line, taking a .048 to .084 advantage at
the light. He would need every bit of it as he dueled with Davis and his
1993 Dodge for the entire length of the track, holding on for the holeshot
win, 8.865, 152.15 to 8.861, 153.95. Jeremy
Harris led all qualifiers for BES Real Street, posting a best mark
of 8.720, 156.87 with his 1994 Camaro. He was followed by Bruce Maichle,
Chris Uratchko and Myles McHaney. Harris
outlasted McHaney in one semifinal match, while Maichle overcame a
starting line disadvantage to take out Uratchko in the other. In
the final on Sunday afternoon, it was all Harris as he took the advantage
off the line, .057 to .111, and outran Maichle to the top end, 8.775,
155.81 to 8.846, 154.95. There
were three cars on hand in Stanton to battle for BFGoodrich Drag Radial
glory, at least at the beginning of the weekend. John Balinsky had to make
a sudden departure from the track to attend the birth of his new baby
daughter! Congratulations and best wishes to the Balinsky family -
hopefully we'll see John in Columbus. In
the meantime, it was the 1991 Mustang of Dave Hopper taking top qualifier
honors on the strength of his 8.342, 169.58 effort. Dave Rudisell’s 1984
Mustang laid down a best pass of 8.575, 161.23 in the preliminary sessions
on Saturday. Going
directly to the final round on Sunday, Rudisell took the early lead, .042
to .065, and led all the way to the stripe, taking the win light, 8.574,
160.11 to 8.590, 166.42.
Mr.
Gasket Nostalgia Super Stock had 15 classic hot rods in attendance at
Stanton. By Saturday night qualifying was complete, and Geary Bates was
the man on top of the list, having run his C/NSS 1966 Ford Fairlane to a
mark of 11.002 on the class index of 11.000. He
was followed by Richards Avery, Scotty Jiles, Mike Davis, Terry Thurman,
Brian Merrick, Joe Cochran, Ron Moll, Calvin Hill, Steve Heill, Valerie
McCombs, Jack Nelson, Gerry Gostenik, Jay Freihage, and Gary McKenzie. Bates
took the single into the quarterfinals, while McCombs, Moll, Gostenik,
Thurman, Heill, Cochran, and Hill all won their races and advanced.
Cochran, McCombs, Thurman, and Gostenik then moved on to the semifinals. In
the second-to-last stanza, Thurman took out Cochran while Gostenik
outlasted McCombs in a battle of 409-powered early 60s Chevrolets. In
a great final, Thurman got his 1964 Plymouth Savoy off the line first,
cutting a sparkling .005 light. Gostenik was right with him, however,
getting his ’61 Belair off in .009-seconds. In the end, Thurman’s
10.001 on his A/NSS index of 10.00 was good enough to earn him the win
over Gostenik’s 12.007 on the E/NSS index of 12.00.
NSCA
Factory Modified had three cars in Stanton, with Charlie Westcott
leading the way in qualifying with his 1998 Pontiac. He paced the field
with a best lap of 9.496, 140.93 to lead Mike Pustelny and Kyle Jeltema
into the elimination rounds. Westcott
enjoyed a free ride into the final, leaving Pustelny and Jeltma to slug it
out for a chance to meet him there. Pustelny cut a crisp .010 light, but
his opponent Jeltema was right there, posting a .028 reaction time and
going on to the round win. In
the final, it was a case of first or worse, as both drivers left too
early. Westcott committed the worse of the two fouls, his -.016 leave
handing the win to Jeltema, who pulled the trigger -.055-seconds too
early. JEG'S.com
American Muscle Car had the largest field of competitors in Stanton,
with 20 cars on the property. Michigan’s Bill Scheel was the top
qualifier, taking his G/AM ’72 Nova to a mark of 11.501 on his 11.50
class index. He was followed by Keith Seymore, Bill Deaner, Doug Tein,
James Gorski, Erine Dreher, Ken Miller, Renay Running, Greg Wells, Kyle
Scheel, Allen Adam, Evan Nichols, Jim Johnson, Scott Williams, Cliff
Sebring, Mike Radlinski, Kevin Zaskowski, Gary Beemer, Dave Turner and
Glenn Kotas. In
the first of five rounds, Wells, Gorski, Kyle Scheel, Zaskowski, Williams,
Adam, Nichols, Johnson, Running and Radlinski all advanced, with Schell,
Williams, Adam, Zaskowski and Johnson making it to the quarterfinals. Adam
took the bye into the third round, while Scheel took out Johnson and
Williams sent Zaskowski packing to set up a semifinal match between Adam
and Scheel. For his part, Williams had the free pass into the final.
Scheel emerged victorious, running a 14.061 on his Q/AM index of 14.00
while Adam ran 10.823 on his D/AM index of 10.75. Williams
took the win when both drivers ran under their indexes. Williams went
9.628 on his DD/AM index of 9.75 while Scheel posted a mark of 13.931 on
his Q/AM index of 14.00.
Accel
DFI EFI had five cars in contention for the top honor at Stanton. Top
qualifier was Paul Schiavon, whose 1978 Pontiac Grand Am ran a best of
12.503 on his W/EFI index of 12.500. He was followed by Roxanne Shepard,
Edgar Perez, Jenni Merrick and Scott Ercole. Schiavon
rode a bye run into the semifinals, leaving Shepard and Merrick to move on
the old fashioned way, by outrunning the competition. Shepard was on the
receiving end of the free pass in the next round while Schiavon took out
Merrick. In
the final, Shepard ran under her 10.00 C/EFI index with a 9.909, but it
didn’t matter, as Schiavon left the red foul light glowing in his wake
and handed the win to the Inkster, Michigan campaigner. The
Jeg’s Stock/Super Stock Challenge was also a part of the
festivities in Stanton, and there were 16 cars lined up for a shot at the
prize money. Zack
Running laid claim to top qualifier honors on Saturday, running 1.078
under his 12.15 index. The rest of the qualifying sheet was made up by Al
Provoast, Darwin Haray, Vance Cummins, Kevin Zaskowski, George Wright,
Terry Nagal, Dave Colthorp, Brad Zaskowski, Dan Olding, Joe Jacob, Jim
Zaskowski, Dan Walcott, Don Martin, Eric Stewart and Jason Hicks. With
round one in the books, Wright, Colthorp, Stewart, Brad Zaskowski,
Walcott, Cummins, Olding, and Haray moved on. Haray, Olding, Colthorp, and
Zaskowski all survived the quarterfinals to set up the semifinal
match-ups. Haray
and Olding prevailed to set up the day’s final round of competition for
the class. After a tough day of racing, Olding handed the victory to Haray
when he jumped the light to the tune of -.010-seconds. In
addition to all the other action, the Pump Gas Challenge pumped up
the Mid-Michigan Motorplex on Saturday. The
action started when Nick Tucci’s Chicago-based all steel and very real
1969 Chevelle pulled up to the line against a classic fast Ford coupe.
When the light went green, the Chevelle pulled the wheels to begin an
impressive flight down the quarter-mile that fueled the fire of the fans
with a blistering Ultra Street Class-winning performance of 9.113 at
148.58 mph. The
next race was also action-packed, bringing out Genuine Street Class
rivals Keith Wiederhold and his high-powered big block Plymouth Roadrunner
and veteran "Fast Eddie" Plybon and his 1989 Corvette. Plybon
has a reputation of smoking high quality cigars and his competition at the
same time.
In
Extreme Street Class action, a Pump Gas grudge match was arranged
between Nick Tucci’s Chevelle and Jack Iron’s Hemi Road Runner. This
naturally aspirated Chevy versus Mopar race started with a 330-foot-long
funny car-style burnout by Tucci. At the end of this truly exciting and
spectacular race it was Tucci taking home the trophy with a 10.40-second
elapsed time at 132 mph to the Mopar's traction limited 11.30 E.T. at 125
mph. This race got a lot of people really pumped up about Pump Gas racing. The
Pump Gas Challenge race at Mid-Michigan Motorplex was a true blast from
the past, with real hardcore street machines duking it out. It was a look
back at days gone by as well as a glimpse into a part of the future of
street-legal drag racing. |
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© Competitionplus 2005
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