Shining Examples—Gorgeous muscle machines gleamed on the show field at the Mickey Thompson NMCA All-American Nationals
Written by Steve Turner
Photography by Dr. Rudy Rouweyha and David Oakes
Across the expansive facility, there was action as far as the eye could see. Mega-powered machines blasted down the drag strip, motorcycles flew through the air, and a monster truck smashed some long-forgotten commuter cars. The fifth stop on the Red Line Oil NMCA Muscle Car Nationals series rolled into Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio for the Mickey Thompson NMCA All-American Nationals and Xtreme Sports Festival and brought something for every automotive fan.
Among those fun facets of the event was a robust car show field. Freshly infused with support from the collector car experts at Hemmings, the car brought out a bevy of beautiful American muscle machines — from pristine stockers to custom creations.
With so many beautiful rides on the property, it was a challenge for the North Coast Mustang Club of Ohio, which hosted the show, to narrow the field down to the most deserving machines and bestow them with awards. We can only hit the highlights on these pages, but if you want to see all these muscle machines, make sure you make it out to the event next year. Until then, enjoy the cars we captured at the Hemmings Car Show at Summit Motorsports Park in 2024.
Best of Show
Sometimes selecting a Best of Show can present a challenge, but there was a machine that clearly stood above the crowd at the Mickey Thompson NMCA All-American Nationals and Xtreme Sports Festival. Its wild powertrain swap was wrapped in a clean, custom presentation that was undeniable. The ride in question was Kurt Finton’s 1937 Studebaker, which is motivated by a 707-horsepower Hemi. Housed in an Ames Fabrication tube chassis and riding on a Heidts suspension it is slowed by Wildwood brakes. The detailing extends from the Titanium powder coating on the frame to the Champaign Pearl paint on its body panels. This ’37 Studebaker Coupe Express earned every bit of the Best of Show award in Norwalk.
Representing Ford’s Fox-platform era, Paul Futo’s sharp 1987 Thunderbird flew away with the Best Interior honors at the Mickey Thompson NMCA All-American Nationals and Xtreme Sports Festival. Powered by a turbocharged 2.3-liter engine, his preserved survivor is loaded with every option you could order back in the decade of decadence.
There weren’t just cars flexing their muscle at the Mickey Thompson NMCA All-American Nationals and Xtreme Sports Festival. Pickup power was on full display on the property a Summit Motorsports Park. A case in point was Ted Wieszbicki’s 1955 Chevrolet 3100. It hauled away the Best Engine award.
It’s easy to see how Dan Lettshek’s 1934 Ford earned accolades at Summit Motorsports Park. With clean, custom lines and a stout small-block underhood, his ride rumbled away with the Best Street Rod honors.
Your scribe loves a good restomod and Ted Tickle’s 1969 Mercury Cougar, (ahem) tickled that fancy. Powered by a TorqStorm-boosted modern small-block, this classic cat clawed its way to the Best Comet, Cougar, Capri award at the Mickey Thompson NMCA All-American Nationals and Xtreme Sports Festival.
There was a strong showing of Camaros at Summit Motorsports Park and one of the most iconic is the ’69 Camaro, which makes earning those accolades especially arduous. In Norwalk, it was Kim Adams’ example that motored away with the Best 1969 Camaro award.
Not every ride on the Hemmings Car Show field was heavily modified, however. For example, Brent Clark’s beautifully detailed 1957 Chevrolet drove off from Summit Motorsports Park with two awards — Director’s Choice Conservative and Best Paint.
Did we mention several cool Camaros were on the property at the Mickey Thompson NMCA All-American Nationals and Xtreme Sports Festival? Built over 38 years to replicate the car he sold at 21 years old, Dale Brady’s fastidiously detailed 1968 Camaro is powered by a 396 big-block and muscled to the Best Camaro ’67-’68 honors in Norwalk.
We can’t overlook the Mopar muscle that was on hand either. Rick Trunkett Sr.’s brightly hued 1967 Dodge RT was tough to miss. It earned the Best Chrysler B-Body award at Mickey Thompson NMCA All-American Nationals and Xtreme Sports Festival.
Though not as prevalent as they are at NMCA’s sister series, NMRA, Ford’s original pony cars made their mark at Summit Motorsports Park. Bringing the modern muscle to the forefront, Jeff Nimon’s 2024 Mustang Dark Horse galloped away with the Fastest Street Car Editor’s Choice and Best Modern Mustang honors.
2024 NMCA OH Car Show Award Winners
SATURDAY CAR SHOW AWARDS
Special Recognition Awards:
1. Joe Billock Carey, OH 1932 Ford
2. Art Thomas Elyria, OH 1994 Mustang
3. Patrick Wells Portland, IN 2023 Charger
4. Rob Esposito New Castle, PA 1967 Firebird
5. Bob Bond Marion, OH 1966 El Camino
6. David Swart Marion, OH 1969 Camaro
7. Joe Daugherty Morgantown, KY 1969 Mustang
8. Ray Nelson Avon, OH 1971 Dodge Dart
9. Mike Filous South Euclid, OH 2001 Mustang
10. Jack Bakewell Milan, OH 1962 Galaxie
11. Tony Rottinger Parma, OH 1990 Mustang
12. Shawna Henson New London, OH 1993 Mustang
13. Eric Gresh Bellevue, OH 1965 Chevrolet Belair
14. Richard Gottlieb Vermillion, OH 1968 Plymouth Cuda
15. Lou Falzorano Parma, OH 1992 Mustang
16. Paul Stegall Parma, OH 1966 Mustang
17. Jim Sankiewicz Clay Center, OH 1967 Chevrolet Belair
18. Jim Sankiewicz II Clay Center, OH 1967 Impala
19. Ralph Ferry Columbia Station, OH 2023 Mustang
20. Ray Hill Colver, PA 1968 Nova
21. Joe Barr Jonestown, PA 1969 Camaro
22. Jerry Devise Avon, OH 1989 Corvette
23. Mark Sipple Erie, PA 1965 Pontiac GTO
24. Eric Dull Ashland, OH 1956 Ford F-100
25. Dan Holden Oregon, OH 1965 Dodge D-100
Directors Choice Awards:
· Best GM Muscle
· Winner: Ray Tumbry N. Ridgeville, OH 1971 Nova
· Best Ford Muscle
· Winner: Paul Stegall Sr. Parma, OH 1965 Mustang
· Best Chrysler Muscle
· Winner: Pam & Phil Helms Newark, OH 1972 Plymouth Roadrunner
· Best Late Model
· Winner: George McGuire Elida, OH 2005 Chrysler 300
· Best Street Rod
· Winner: Dan Lettshek Clinton Twp, MI 1934 Ford
· Best Traditional Hot Rod
· Winner: Kevin Ralstor Fort Jennings, OH 1931 Ford
· Best Pro Street/Race Car
· Winner: Dave Daneer Delphos, OH 1964 Mercury Comet
· Best Truck
· Winner: Dave Robinson Bellevue, OH 1969 Ford F-100
· FSC Editors Choice Best Classic
· Winner: Ray Tumbry N. Ridgeville, OH 1971 Nova
· FSC Editors Choice Best Modern
· Winner: Jeff Nimon N. Ridgeville, OH 2024 Mustang
· Best Engine
· Winner: Ted Tickle Waverly, OH 1969 Mercury Cougar
· Best Interior
· Winner: Paul Futo Berea, OH 1987 Thunderbird
· Best Paint
· Winner: Brent Clark Coshocton, OH 1957 Chevrolet
· Directors Choice Conservative
- Winner: Brent Clark Coshocton, OH 1957 Chevrolet
· Directors Choice Modified
· Winner: Wally Melvin Edinboro, PA 1941 Willys
SUNDAY GM CAR SHOW CLASSES & AWARDS:
· Camaro 67-68
· Winner: Dale Brady Austintown, OH 1968 Camaro
· Camaro 69
· Winner: Kim Adams Salineville, OH 1969 Camaro
· Camaro 82-92
· Winner: Art Clark Medina, OH 1990 Camaro
· Camaro 93-02
· Winner: Bob Kirst Mansfield, OH 1995 Camaro
· Camaro 10-14
· Winner: Steve Ohman Sandusky, OH 2014 Camaro
· Camaro 15-Current
· Winner: Rick Banig Cuyahoga Falls, OH 2015 Camaro
· Nova 62-67
· Winner: Andrew Suter Port Clinton, OH 1964 Nova
· Nova 68-Up
· Winner: Ray Tumbry Jr. N. Ridgeville, OH 1971 Nova
· GM A-Body (LeMans/Cutlass/Skylark)
· Winner: Mark Sipple Erie, PA 1965 Pontiac GTO
· GM G-Body (Monte Carlo/Regal/Grand Prix/Cutlass)
· Winner: Jim Fox 1973 Olds Cutlass
· Corvette 53- 82
· Winner: Lou Dimatteo 1961 Corvette
· Early Chevrolet Up to 49’
· Winner: Pat Jackson Johnstown, OH 1954 Chevy 3100
· 55-56-57 Chevy
· Winner: Rachel Roush Valley City, OH 1955 Chevrolet
· Full Size Truck All Years
· Winner: Tony & Wendy Farrell Bryan, OH 1972 Chevy K-20
· Open GM (For GM vehicles that do not fit into above classes)
· Winner: Abby Hamrick 1965 Pontiac GTO
· Best GM of Show
· Winner: Brent Clark Coshocton, OH 1957 Chevrolet
SUNDAY FORD CAR SHOW CLASSES & AWARDS:
· Mustang 64-78
· Winner: Paul Stegall Sr. Parma, OH 1965 Mustang
· Mustang 79-93
· Winner: Paul Futo Brea, OH 1985 Mustang
· Mustang 94-04
· Winner: Paul Filous S. Euclid, OH 2001 Mustang
· Mustang 05-14’
· Winner: Dennis Warton Cleveland, OH 2006 Mustang
· Mustang 15-23’
· Winner: Guy Scothern Northwood, OH 2019 Mustang
· Mustang 2024
· Winner: Jeff Nimon N. Ridgeville, OH 2024 Mustang
· Shelby & Boss
· Winner: Ralph Ferry Columbia Station, OH 2022 Mustang
· Comet, Cougar, Capri
· Winner: Ted Tickle Waverly, OH 1969 Mercury Cougar
· Ford Full Size Cars All Years
· Winner: Jack Bakewell Milan, OH 1962 Galaxie
· Ford Full Size Truck All Years
· Winner: Alex Mankou North Ridgeville, OH 2015 F-150
· Ford Compact Truck All Years
· Winner: Dave Krall Hinkley, OH 1971 Bronco
· Ford Lightning
· Winner: Bryan Kadcec Parma, OH 2003 Lightning
· Compact Ford
· Winner: Ron Henehan Avon Lake, OH 2004 Thunderbird
· Open Ford
· Winner: David Robinson Bellevue, OH 1955 Fairlane
· Best Ford of Show
· Winner: Dan Lettshek Clinton TWP, MI 1934 Ford Roadster
SUNDAY CHRYSLER CAR SHOW CLASSES & AWARDS:
· Chrysler B-Body (Road Runner/Coronet/Charger)
· Winner: Rick Trunkett Sr. Lorain, OH 1967 Dodge RT
· Chrysler E-Body (Challenger/Barracuda)
· Winner: Mike Rhodes Akron, OH 2016 Challenger
· Open Chrysler
· Winner: Kal Potter New Philadelphia, OH 1964 Plymouth Belvedere
· Best Chrysler of Show
· Winner: Rick Trunkett Sr. Lorain, OH 1967 Dodge RT
SUNDAY SPECIALTY AWARDS:
· Best Engine
· Winner: Ted Wieszbicki Belmont, OH 1955 Chevrolet 3100
· Best Interior
· Winner: Andrew Suter Port Clinton, OH 1964 Nova
· Best Body & Paint
· Winner: Tony & Wendy Farrell Bryan, OH 1972 Chevy K-20
SUNDAY BEST OF SHOW
Best of Show
Winner: Kurt Finton Coshocton, OH 1937 Studebaker
