NMRA TOPS NMCA IN DOWN TO THE WIRE FINISH AT SUPER BOWL OF STREET LEGAL DRAG RACING
Story and Photos by Bill Swanson Thu, 2015-08-06 16:45
Over 400 racers from across the USA took up the challenge to compete for doorslammer glory at the 10th Annual NMRA-NMCA Super Bowl of Street Legal Drag Racing at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Ill. The event is a combination of two different race series, staging their own individual classes, and the coming together in a settle-it-all-competition amongst those winners.
The classes in competition ranged from Pro Mod to mildly modified Factory Stock.
All classes first competed for prize money and the opportunity to end up in the Aerospace Components Winner's Circle. From there class winners from the National Mustang Racers Association matched up against their counterparts from the National Muscle Car Association for the coveted Nitto Tires Diamond Tree Ring and overall bragging rights.
The Ford racers from the NMRA prevailed in a down to the wire finish provided by Drew Lyons in his Strange Engineering Coyote Stock Mustang, edging out Glenn Pushis in the SCPC Chevrolet Performance Stock Camaro for the overall title.
Also part of the extensive program was True Street, where fast musclecars demonstrate their streetability, then test their mettle on the track. Over 100 bracket racers from across the Midwest took part in an exciting bracket race program as well. There were also highly modified street machines, hot rods and stock restorations were also on display in the Midway, thanks to the Midwest Thunder and Chi-Town Mustangs Car Clubs.
Pro Modified - Steve Summers
Mickey Thompson Radial Wars - Dwayne Mills
Nitrous Pro Street - Don Baskin
Xtreme Street - David Hutnick
NA 10.5 - Leonard Long
Chevrolet Performance Stock - Glenn Pushis
Open Comp - David Hearn
Nostalgia Muscle Car - Mike Clifford
True Street - Chris Bishir
Bracket 1 - Jay Allen
NMRA
Street Outlaw - Bruder Brothers
Renegade - Alton Clements Jr.
Coyote Modified - Haley James
Pure Street - Jimmy Wilson
Strange Engineering Coyote Stock - Drew Lyons
Factory Stock - James Meredith
Open Comp - Mel White
Truck & Lightning - Bob Dill
Super Stang - Larry Firestone
Modular Muscle - Donnie Bowles
True Street - Kevin McCotter
EVENT NOTEBOOK
Familiar to fans and racers in the Upper Midwest, Franksville, Wisconsin's Randy Dolensek returned to competition in ARP Nitrous Pro Street after a lengthy layoff. He and his beautiful wheels up 1969 Mercury Cyclone Spoiler qualified at number 12 and advanced to the semi's, where he fell to 2014 series champion Don Baskin.Bangshift.com's Chad Reynolds risked third degree burns while manning the camera for the live webcast all weekend long under hot, sunny skies. His partner in crime, Brian Lohnes, expertly manned the mic from race control.A large contingent of racers from the Midwest Top Sportsman Association came in force to support the E3 Spark Plugs Top Sportsman Class. Among them were class winner Matt Szymczak and runner up Steve Jeager.Among the NMRA VP Fuels/Stainless Works Street Outlaw qualifiers were Georgina Buckley (top) and Gino Cavallo. Buckley fell in Round 1 to Brian Black, and Cavallo advanced to Round 3 where Andy Mason's better reaction time bettered Cavallo's lower ET. Both Buckley and Cavallo regularly compete with the Midwest Outlaw Racing Series.
The VP Race Fuels Pro Mod Final was a rematch of the 2014 Super Bowl, and featured Steve Summers (Far Lane), in his '70-1/2 Camaro (5.869 @ 254.23 MPH) prevailing again over Josh Green in his '68 Camaro (6.022 @ 237.43 MPH).Leonard Long (Near) '95 Mustang (8.050 @ 171.27 MPH) defeated Dwight Ausmus in his 72 Firebird (8.072 @ 169.15 MPH) Quick Lane/Toms River Ford NA 10.5In NMRA VP Fuels/Stainless Works Street Outlaw, Rich Bruder (Near Lane) '88 Mustang (4.533 @ 162.22 MPH) over Eric Gustafson, ('89 Mustang 9.871 @ 52.74 MPH), who annihilated the rear tires at the hit.Bob Dill (Near Lane) '01 Ford Lightning (10.018 @ 136.47) prevailed over Kennady Jones in an '01 Lightning (11.790 @ 114.76 MPH) in the NMRA Detroit Locker Truck & Lightning class.The decisive final in determining the winner of NMRA-NMCA Super Bowl glory was the pairing of Drew Lyons in the Near Lane (NMRA Strange Coyote Stock '88 Mustang, 10.459 @ 127.96 MPH) over Glenn Pushis' SDPC Chevrolet Performance Stock '13 Camaro (10.483 @ 127.03 MPH)."His and Hers" Fords at the Car Show.THE AEROSPACE COMPONENTS WINNER'S CIRCLEPro Modified - Steve SummersMickey Thompson Radial Wars - Dwayne MillsNitrous Pro Street - Don BaskinXtreme Street - David HutnickNA 10.5 - Leonard LongChevrolet Performance Stock - Glenn PushisOpen Comp - David HearnNostalgia Muscle Car - Mike CliffordNostalgia Super Stock - Corky BumpusTrue Street - Rich BishirCaption
NMRA WINNERS
Street Outlaw - Bruder BrothersRenegade - Alton Clements Jr.Coyote Modified - Haley JamesStrange Engineering Coyote Stock - Drew LyonsFactory Stock - James MeredithOpen Comp - Mel WhiteTruck & Lightning - Bob DillSuper Stang - Larry FirestoneModular Muscle - Donnie BowlesTrue Street - Kevin McCotter
Over 400 racers from across the USA took up the challenge to compete for doorslammer glory at the 10th Annual NMRA-NMCA Super Bowl of Street Legal Drag Racing at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Ill. The event is a combination of two different race series, staging their own individual classes, and the coming together in a settle-it-all-competition amongst those winners.
