It's a Wrap

[NMCAJake]

In what has been dubbed the “All Star Nationals,” both NMCA and NMRA racers converged upon one of the nicest tracks in the country, Charlotte North Carolina’s zMAX Dragway. Despite being a hot and humid weekend, the racing action was off the chain.

In Scorpion Performance Pro Street it was an intense battle between two of the class’ quickest, Vinny Budano and Troy Coughlin. Budano topped the field with a 6.36 at 223 mph and got all the way to finals to face the Jegs Racing team. Coughlin, who had to take out some top players on his side of the ladder made it to the finals (He took out Rick Blaisdell in the first round, then Chris Rini in the finals with a killer 6.38, then a 6.46 to beat Rick Fleck on his way to face Budano in the finals. In one of the closest races of the weekend, Coughlin left with a .050 as Budano reacted with a .080. In the end, Coughlin got the win with a 6.433 to Budano’s 6.438.
The NMCA’s Outlaw 10.5W class Mickey Thompson Super Street, Jim Blair managed to bookend the weekend by qualifying number one with a 6.84 and the getting through a tough field of racecars. In the first round, Blair got a bye run, then he was able to advance over a red-lighting Frank Mewshaw, which was enough to put him the finals to face Tony Nesbitt. Team Midnight’s Tony Nesbitt also had a fairly easy trip to the finals. After advancing over newcomer JW Kinzer, he ripped a 7.02 to match Blair’s nearly identical 7.02 gojng into the finals. In an odd final round, Nesbitt left on Blair big time, but then ran into some major problems. Blair then was able to speed past Nesbitt for the win.
ARP Nostalgia Pro Street drew a total of ten big tire racecars looking to get the glory at zMAX, but the two that were able to get it done on Sunday were Danny Shemwell and Kevin Parent, two racers that choose the 525 cubic inch combinations. After taking out Mitch Mika with a 7.58, then Bucaro with a 7.55, Parent had a bye run into the finals to face the flat black machine of Shemwell. Although Parent nailed the tree with a .013, Shemwell’s ride busted a better 60 ft time, and managed to stay ahead of parent for the win, 7.57 to 7.68.
The true-ten-five power adder class, Vortech Supercharger Xtreme Street drew eleven racers. Toping the field in qualifying was Chuck Bartholme who posted an 8.13 at 172, but Chris Singleton and Bill Trovato were the ones to dominate this weekend. After having to change pistons twice in the pits, Trovato advanced over a broken Aaron Stapleton to meet Jaime Stanton in the second round in a close 8.19 to 8.12 drag race. Trovato then advanced over Bartholme, who unfortunately hit the wall during that run, sending Trovato to the finals. Singleton got a bye in the first, then busted an 8.17 to win the next round, then an 8.11 to grab another bye run into the finals. In the finals, both racers posted a .036 reaction and were side-by-side, but Trovato ride slowed allowing Singleton to grab the win.
The naturally aspirated heads-up class, Comp Cams Pro Stock drew seven racers. Mike DeMayo was the number one qualifier and went to the finals to face Skip Baskin in his Chevy II. He got bye run into the second round, where he took out Joe Garza to get into the finals. Baskin threw down a 6.65 in the first round to advance, then ran a nice 6.59 to get to the finals. Skip Baskin beat Ben Mens after he redlit, then he took own Tommy Thompson with a 8.59, and ended the weekend with a 8.62 victory over DeMayo.
In BFGoodich Tires Street Radial, seven cars showed up to zMAX Dragway. Jason Hoot brought out a new combination with a Vortech T-Trim supercharger and took out two heavy hitters, Brad Schehr and Jason Carter, before meeting up with defending champion John Macaluso in the finals. Hoots busted a .136 to Macaluso’s .242, and was able to take out the nitrous car with a killer 9.09 for the win. Both cars went 153 mph.
Drag Racer Magazine Mean Street drew only a few cars, unfortunately. After Gary Duncan broke, Don Baskin faced the only other racer at zMAX Alan Von Ahnen. Don Baskin had a slower reaction and 60 ft time, but had the power to simply drive around Von Ahnen, winning with a 10.05 to 10.08.
In the index classes, Carol Lissy beat Bobby Barrick in Eaton Posi Late Model EFI, a first win ever for her. In Hamburgers Nostalgia Super Stock Brian Merrick took down D.W. Hopkins. In Nostalgia Muscle Car, Dallas Shultz won over John Zombeck. And in McLeod Open Comp Kurt Neighbor won over a red-lighting Milton Grow