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Racers Ready to Face Challenging Competition at Rockingham Dragway

Posted By: Mary Lendzion
Written by Mary Lendzion
Photos by NMRA and NMCA Staff
 
Racers are preparing to pull out all the stops at the NMRA/NMCA All-Star Nationals presented by MAHLE Motorsport, April 14-16, 2023 at Rockingham Dragway in North Carolina.
 
There are six races on the annual tour for each series, and this is the first of three this year where NMRA and NMCA racers will go wheels up and wide open throttle down track together. The chase to championships is already on across NMRA and NMCA categories, and as racers get their cars dialed in, they also are aiming for personal bests and perfect passes. That paired with all of the added elements of this event make it a must-attend for fans of fast cars and fun.
 
Racers are hauling from all over the country for this event, and we reached out to several of them to ask what they are looking forward to, and what they hope to achieve at the track affectionately known as The Rock. Here is what they had to say:


 
CODY POSTON, NMCA LME STREET KING: “We feel pretty good coming off a win at the NMCA season opener in Orlando,” said Cody Poston, who is the 2022 NMCA LME Street King champion and has his Camaro running quite competitively. “We’re going to get to Rockingham Dragway on Thursday to do some testing and to make sure the car is dialed in for the weekend. We’re hoping to make some good, consistent passes, and be a strong contender for eliminations.”


 
MARTIN CONNELLEY, NMCA EDELBROCK XTREME STREET/NMRA VP RACING MADDITIVES RENEGADE: “We have always felt we had a car capable of running up front, but we have had our fair share of problems that kept us from doing so recently,” said Connelley, who still pulled off a win in NMCA Edelbrock Xtreme Street at the Scoggin Dickey Parts Center NMCA Muscle Car Mayhem presented by Holbrook Racing Engines in March at Orlando Speed World Dragway in Florida. “Winning Orlando was a huge accomplishment, and a boost of confidence for our team (as we go into the Rockingham race).”
 


KYLE SALMINEN, NMCA ARP NITROUS PRO STREET: “I’m looking forward to getting more seat time and comfortable with the new car,” said Salminen, who earned a runner-up finish in his new-to-him Cavalier at the Scoggin Dickey Parts Center NMCA Muscle Car Mayhem presented by Holbrook Racing Engines in March at Orlando Speed World Dragway in Florida. “I’m hoping to bump our 60-foot down to a sub 1.0, and try to lay down what would be our first ever 4.2 second pass this coming weekend at Rockingham Dragway. The track is unique in the way it sloops down after the quarter mile, and has a great view.”
 


SAMANTHA MOORE, NMRA WHATEVER IT TAKES TRANSMISSION PARTS LIMITED STREET:
 "For Rockingham, I’m going to be testing different intake manifolds and getting data," said Moore, the 2022 NMRA Whatever It Takes Transmission Parts Limited Street champion, whose 2023 season started with a win at the 29th Annual Ryno Classifieds NMRA Spring Break Shootout presented by Nitto in early March at Orlando Speed World Dragway in Florida."Hopefully we don’t have any bugs or engine issues like we did in Orlando. And (I'm looking forward to) having fun with my little (dog) Nova for her first-ever race with me."


 
MIKE ROUP, NMRA CJ PONY PARTS TRUCK AND LIGHTNING: “I’m ready to see everyone, including friends from the NMCA series, at Rockingham Dragway,” said Mike Roup, 2022 NMRA CJ Pony Parts Truck and Lightning champion, who earned a win in his Ranchero at the 29th Annual Ryno Classifieds NMRA Spring Break Shootout presented by Nitto in early March at Orlando Speed World Dragway in Florida. “We’re driving from Lockhart, Texas to make this second NMRA race of the season.”


 
LETICIA HUGHES, NMRA SUNCOAST PERFORMANCE 8.60 STREET RACE: “I’m looking forward to seeing the turnout for the 8.60 class, making improvements in qualifying position and hopefully going a few rounds,” said Hughes, whose Mustang is motivated by a Coyote engine, Whipple supercharger and Turbo 400 by Whatever It Takes Transmission Parts. “I want to qualify as close to 8.60 as possible to gain the extra points toward the championship.”


 
BECKI CRAM, NMCA EDELBROCK XTREME STREET/NMRA VP RACING MADDITIVES RENEGADE: “We’re hoping to finish refining this Neal Chance converter from the last race, and hoping to see more personal bests,” said Cram, who stopped the clocks at an impressive personal best of 4.56 and 153 mph in NMCA Edelbrock Xtreme Street competition in her Mustang with a Holbrook Racing Engines bullet and Whipple supercharger at the Scoggin Dickey Parts Center NMCA Muscle Car Mayhem presented by Holbrook Racing Engines in March at Orlando Speed World Dragway in Florida. “Last year, we got the runner-up in Rockingham, so we’ve got some unfinished business with this track!”

 

DAVID FALLON JR., NMCA ARP NITROUS PRO STREET: “I hope to accomplish a win at this race,” said Fallon Jr., who is fresh off a win at the Scoggin Dickey Parts Center NMCA Muscle Car Mayhem presented by Holbrook Racing Engines in March at Orlando Speed World Dragway in Florida, and is the 2022 ARP Nitrous Pro Street champion and 2022 Milan Dragway Outlaw 632 champion. “I’ve been runner-up at Rockingham Dragway in my old car, and I had the car to beat there last year, but we went home after the first round, so I really hope to achieve more than that for sure. I don’t take the competition lightly. Everyone is working on their programs and stepping up, and we are hopeful.”
 


CINDEE HALL, NMCA WORLD PRODUCTS FORD MUSCLE AND NMRA FORD MUSCLE: “I’m looking forward to the new racing surface and cooler weather at Rockingham Dragway,” said Hall, whose classic Falcon is a fan-favorite. “Since I was runner-up in Ford Muscle at the NMRA race at Orlando Speed World Dragway in March, I may run both NMCA Nostalgia Muscle and NMRA Ford Muscle at this weekend’s race. I am also excited about the NSS vs. Nostalgia Muscle race. It should be a great weekend of racing.”


 
TY TUTTEROW, NMCA VP RACING LUBRICANTS XTREME PRO MOD: “We are ready for Rockingham,” said Ty Tutterow, who was in the winner’s circle at the Scoggin Dickey Parts Center NMCA Muscle Car Mayhem presented by Holbrook Racing Engines in March at Orlando Speed World Dragway in Florida, “It’s our closest race to home, and the track has an all-new surface, so we’re looking forward to what that holds. With every race, our plan is to win with our TJR 1957 Buick sponsored by Ty-Drive, FTI performance, Redline Oil and Scarlette’s Performance, with our combo of a 4.9 Noonan built by Wyo Motorsports, FTI torque converter and Ty-drive and Lenco transmission.”

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