The team of John Fields and Mark Washington are multi-time event winners and are very tough competitors with their nitrous-assisted Ford.

Outlaw 8.5 racing is nothing new, but now that the NMCA WEST series and the other west coast series are all incorporating the wild, tiny tire heads-up class, I’m expecting we’ll see resurgence in this wicked 8th mile category. Think of Outlaw 8.5 as a “Mini-Outlaw 10.5,” where instead of the 10.5W slick tire under your car, like in O/L, a 26 x 8.5-inch slick is required and being that this class is ran in an 8th mile format, it makes for some very exciting door-to-door battles between a wide variety of combinations. From stock suspension to four links, big to small-blocks, nitrous to superchargers, this class can cater to nearly any combination….as long as you have the balls to run on a tire that’s only about 9-inches wide. The typical elapsed times for Outlaw 8.5 range anywhere from 5.80s to 5.20s, with the quicker racers like former NMRA stalwart Trace Meyer running 5-teens on a Mickey Thompson slick and there are even some rumors that a racer named Vern House actually broke into the 4-second zone with his IROC Camaro back in the day.

Although Trace is not a west coast racer, he essentially set the bar in the class with 5-teen performances. He also uses a ProCharger for a power adder..

With the 2012 season starting, the unofficial title of “baddest dude on the smallest tire” is up for grabs right now, and with how close the racing is due to the limited traction and halved track, I’m looking forward to seeing who rises to the top by the end of the season. Potentially we could see three different Outlaw 8.5 champions on the west coast, WCHRA, PSCA and NMCA WEST. The quickest anyone has gone in competition so far in 2012 has been DJ Reid, who recently ran a string of 5.2X passes to take his first win and the PSCA season opener with his supercharged combination. Veteran nitrous racers like Mark Washington and Gary Brandt will be gunning for DJ this season, and with rumors of a wild turbocharged car coming out in ’12, this class will be an exciting one to follow this season.

DJ Reid and crew chief/fabricator Eric Kivilhaug's weapon of choice is ProCharger's F2 centrifugal supercharger, which they used to win the PSCA Season Opener in Outlaw 8.5.

DJ Reid Outlaw 8.5 5.22 @ 141.74

Over the years I have compiled a whole bunch of pics of O8.5 rides, and for those that think the small rear tires just look silly, don’t worry, the look grows on you – especially after you see how these cars perform. Check out some of the links below to see how these cars run and also be sure to check out the gallery I have posted at the end of this article.

Former PSCA Limited Street Champ Gary Brandt plans on competing in O8.5 this season with his nitrous'd Ford. At the '12 PSCA Opener he qualified number two and made it to the finals before losing to DJ Reid.

If you have never seen these cars run, check out the link below from 2009.

OUTLAW 8.5 Tire Nov. 14, 2009 Qualifying

Things are heating up for the all-new NMCA WEST Street Car Series, presented by Flowmaster, and Garret Turbochargers has just added to the excitement.  Turbo by Garrett has just announced that it will sponsor the NMCA WEST series’ Pro Street class, which will feature 200+ mph street cars rocketing down the 1/4 mile in the 5 to 6-second zone.  Garrett Turbochargers has long supported street legal drag racers, and will now step up as a major NMCA WEST series sponsor. “NMCA WEST is very excited to have Turbo by Garrett join our family of major sponsors,” said Charlie Harmon, president of ProMedia Events.  “Pro Street represents the fastest and most powerful cars at the track…Turbo by Garret is a perfect fit for this class and as a major sponsor will further elevate our series.”

For more information on Garrett Turbochargers log on to www.turbobygarrett.com.

- Pro Street 5-Second Club:  For all Pro Street racers who crack the 5-second barrier (1 per racer) – NMCA Record Breakers:  For all heads-up class competitors who break an ET or MPH record (1 per racer) – NMCA Dead On Dial-In:  For all index class competitors who run a dead on pass to their dial-in (1 per racer)

The NMCA extends a special thank you to Flowmaster for their continued support as our series sponsor.  Learn more about Flowmaster’s patented technology that allows racers to maintain that distinctive Flowmaster sound while preserving valuable horsepower.  Find out more about Flowmaster’s limited lifetime warranty on select stainless steel exhaust systems that make your muscle car or hot rod truly perform.  Visit www.flowmastermufflers.com today!

Open the article and click on the link below>>>

Proper Flat Tappet Cam Break-In by COMPCams

For those on a budget, a flat tappet camshaft is a great option for making horsepower. Although limited in rpm capability compared to a mechanical roller, it can still out-rev a factory hydraulic flat tappet cam and with the right grind and lobe shape, even some hydraulic rollers. In this video I found on COMP Cams website, it shows how they recommend installing and breaking in a flat tappet cam, and we actually learned something!

After a couple of busy months and hiccup or two, our LS2 is finally back together again, sporting Trick Flow Specialties GenX 550 cam and head upgrade kit. We plan on running the engine on the dyno over at Pfaff Racing Engines later this week, where we will see what kind of power we can realize with the bolt-ons from TFS. We’ll let you know, what we find.

Calling all LSX racers planning to attend the 1st Chevrolet Performance LSX Challenge Series event in Bradenton, Florida.  Let’s kick off the season right with an old fashioned beer and BBQ. GM High-Tech Performance is hosting a party track-side at Bradenton Motorsports Park on Friday, March 16th between 6 and 8pm to celebrate the new season and first race of the series. Come hang out with your fellow LSX’ers and the editors of GM High-Tech, the first 200 guests will enjoy free food and beer. All LSX racers, family and crew are welcome. There will also be a raffle of some pretty cool LSX prizes, so don’t miss out!  For more information on the Chevrolet Performance LSX Challenge Series and the Florida event log on to www.NMCAdigital.com/LSX or call 714-444-2426.

The name “Ford Racing” says it all…serious Blue Oval Performance for all kinds of motorsports.  NMCA and NMCA WEST are pleased to announce that Ford Racing will be a major 2012 series sponsor and will be posting valuable contingencies that reward their racers when then race and win (or runner-up) with Ford Racing products.  Ford Racing has been involved with NMCA since the beginning and the same can now be said with the all-new NMCA WEST series.  Watch for the Ford Racing rig, or participating Ford Racing dealers, at select NMCA and NMCA WEST events in 2012.  For more information on Ford Racing products and Blue Oval motorsports news log on to www.FordRacingParts.com

By Jon Paulette                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

FSC Nostalgia Muscle Car racer Tony Miles may be young, but he’s no stranger to drag racing. He grew up at the dragstrip with his father and took his first laps on the track before he could drive on the street. But that doesn’t mean he’s one of those “know-it-all” kids. Miles knows he’s got a lot to learn and thankfully, he’s got a great guy to learn from in his father, Jerry, who drove this ’70 Duster to the runner-up spot in last year’s points. From father to son, drag racing is a family tradition and so is winning.

“I tried my hand at football once, but really didn’t get into it,” the 21 year-old engine builder laughed. “Drag racing was pretty much the only thing that caught my attention. There was a time where I did get kind of tired of it, so I took some time off. I was thinking about getting back into it when Dad said, ‘Hey, you want to come back and drive the car?’ I couldn’t turn it down!”

As a young(er) guy, Miles was by no means a Mopar purist. Like most kids, he drove whatever he could afford to buy, race and work on. The experience was invaluable, though some of the cars were not. But it’s all part of the education of a young hot rodder and Miles soaked up everything he could from everything he drove.

“I’ve owned several different cars, from Chevys to Fords to everything in between. Even a Gremlin once! My dad’s stuck with Mopars pretty much all his life, though, and he’s starting to rub off on me He’s given me a good piece with this Duster and I can’t complain at all.”

The Duster, formerly owned by NMCA racer Ed Becker, was a pretty good piece when they bought it, but like any racers, the Miles’ made it their own. After three years of work, it’s now running about a second-and-a-half quicker than it used to.

“We tried to keep the car as streetable as possible when we started,” Miles explained. “It’s actually on its second combination since we bought it. The first one was a pump-gas 408 stroker small-block with a set of Edelbrock Performers RPM heads that ran mid-elevens. Dad really had his heart set on running the 11.00 index, though, and we seemed to be pushing that motor really hard trying to get it there. So we stepped away from the pump gas, upped the compression a little, did some work on the heads and went to a little larger bore (416) and it’s been close to the 10.50′s now.”

With Tony completing his studies at Northeast Mississippi Community College, Jerry Miles handled the driving in 2009. In 2010, it was Tony’s turn and he hasn’t disappointed. With a runner-up at Charlotte to his credit, he’s kept the car solidly in the top five all season long. Like any young racer, he’s had his share of ups and downs, but he’s learned to focus on the big picture. Miles admits that he used to be one of those drivers who let every loss get to him. But, with a little help from his Dad, he’s learning to let it go and move on to the next one.

“The only time I beat myself up is from the time I go through the finish line and don’t see that win light come on until I get to the trailer. When I get out of the car, I let every bit of that go and congratulate the guy that beat me. I was raised to be a sportsman, so I’m not going to get mad at somebody for beating me. I’m going to get mad at myself for not doing better.”

While he’s still working towards that first NMCA win, Miles has already scored one biggie–a very special race back home in Mississippi.

“The biggest win for me was winning the Michael Epting race at Blue Mountain Dragway,” he said. “He was a friend of mine, and he lost his life in a racing accident several years back. His family put together a scholarship and they hold a race each year to fund it. I won it two years ago and that probably meant more to me than any other race. That scholarship actually put me through college.”

The lessons learned in school, in the shop and on the track have made Miles a contender in the NMCA. While he admits to being interested in trying a heads-up class, he’s got plenty to keep him busy while he looks for sponsorship dollars. For next year, the Miles family is hoping to expand their efforts and run a ’64 Plymouth Sport Fury in Nostalgia Super Stock.

“I think my Dad’s going to get back behind the wheel with that one, but you may see both cars at some race. You may even see the Duster back in Nostalgia Muscle Car. We just need to figure out where things are going to go after this season. If we can get some sponsors to help out, the Duster’s plenty capable of holding more power and I’d love to try my hand at it.”

THE DRIVER Owner: Jerry Miles Driver: Tony Miles Class: FSC Nostalgia Muscle Car Hometown: Pontotoc, Miss. Occupation: Engine Builder Crew: Jerry Miles

THE GO

Engine: 360-based small block Mopar Engine Builder: Walnut Motorworks Bore: 4.070” Stroke: 4.0 Crank: Eagle Rods: 6.125 CAT Pistons: Diamond Heads: Edelbrock Performer RPM Valvetrain: Cam Motion Cam type: solid Carburetor: 850 Quickfuel Headers and exhaust: Hooker Super Comp headers with Flowmaster mufflers Transmission: PTC-built 904 Clutch/Torque Converter: PTC Rearend: 3.90

THE CAR:

Model: 1970 Chassis: Dwight Porter Suspension (Front):Cap and Magnum Force Suspension (Rear): Caltracs and split monoleafs Brakes: Wildwood Wheels (front and rear): Weld Magnum Drag 2.0 Tires (front and rear): M/T Aftermarket Body Modifications: 3.5 inch cowl hood Safety equipment: RJS Vehicle weight: 3,250 lbs. Quickest E.T.: 10.62 Fastest mph: 124 Best 60-foot:1.37

Crew/Thanks: Mom, Katie and Dad, Jerry, TJ Jumper for one race and thanks to Kenny Ford at PTC, Dwight Porter, Andy and John Warren, Danny Towe, and all of the rest of the people that have helped me out this season.

Check out Kooks Pro Street racer Bill Lutz representing the NMCA on Speed Channel’s Pass Time show! Click the link below…

Bill Lutz on Pass Time

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