Strong Finish—Muscle machines showed off at the final NMCA Car Show at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park
Written by Steve Turner
Photography by the FSC staff
As the championship battles waged on the historic Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park racing surface, the competition was fierce nearby as well. Right next to the racetrack, the shiniest Detroit Iron gathered in the shadow of race control. There the NMCA Muscle Car Nationals Car Show Series drew some amazing machines.
The big three were well-represented, and fans could enjoy checking out everything from period-correct pavement pounders to restomodded pony cars and everything in between. Picking the best of the bunch was a challenge for the judges and a delight for the fans.
If you want to check out rides like this in Indy next year, the NMCA World Street Finals returns to Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway from Sept. 19-22, 2024, so start making your plans and prepping your project car to enter.
BEST OF SHOW
There were several clean classic Camaros on the property, but John Schiavone’s 1969 Camaro, known as The Hitman, took out the competition to earn the Best of Show award in Indy. Powered by a 498-cube big-block topped by Air Flo Research heads and juiced by an NOS Pro Fogger system, it has the muscle to back up its striking good looks. The big-block is backed by a Turbo 400 automatic feeding power to a Strange Fab 9 rearend filled with 4.88 gears. It rolls on Billet Specialties wheels that are just as shiny as the engine.
With scoop towering through its hood, Ron Barker’s 1963 Nova is powered by a Chevy small-block topped by a BDS Roots blower breathing through two Holley four-barrels. Wearing chrome and polish from the valve covers to that scoop, this powerplant scored Best Engine honors in Indy.
Rocking that eye-catching Gasser look, Mike McAllister’s 1955 Chevrolet attracted the attention of the judges for what was on the inside. Fully customized from the bespoke door panels to the Momo steering wheel, it earned the Best Interior at the NMCA World Street Finals Presented by Chevrolet Performance.
Always a standout on the show field, Gary Larkin’s 1969 Camaro is motivated by a Vinson Racing Engines-prepped, 540-cube big-block cranking out a whopping 826 horsepower supported by hardware from the likes of Aeromotive, Holley, and MSD. At Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, however, its finish stood out to nab the Best Body & Paint award.
With its vintage-race-car vibes, Larry Frederick’s 1963 Chevrolet could easily have been just at home on the quarter mile. However, in Indy, it raced away with the Best GM Muscle award.
It wasn’t all Chevys at the NMCA World Street Finals Presented by Chevrolet Performance, as Bob Kemp’s 1968 Dodge Charger R/T represented the Mopar crowd and earned Best Chrysler B-Body honors.
On the Ford side, Mark Krug’s 1983 Mustang gave off low-key vibes from the outside, but under the hood is a different story. His B&M Roots-blown Fox still breathes in through a carburetor and utilizes the factory dual-snorkel inlet path. It muscled its way to the Best Mustang 79-93 accolades.
Dan McMannis’ 2018 Chevrolet Camaro 1LE is clean and benefits from bolt-ons. That was enough for it to score the Best Late Model award and the Fastest Street Car Editor’s Choice Best Modern award in Indy.
John Bair’s 1964 Fairlane 500 Deluxe is lightly restomodded with Magnum 500-style wheels, a Thunderbolt-style fiberglass hood, a complete CalTracs suspension, and more. Motivated by a 351 Windsor fitted with a hydraulic camshaft, it rumbled away with the Best Falcon/Fairlane/Maverick award.
Not as modified as some of the other classic Camaros on the property, but no less cool, Brad Spires’ 1969 Camaro scored the Directors Choice Conservative award in Indy.
With a 545-cube big-block topped by SCJ heads, breathing through Hillborn injection, and percolating at 12.5:1 compression, Scott Strain’s 1964 Fairlane is sure to grab some attention when it pulls into its show spot. We were smitten enough to bestow it with the Fastest Street Car Editor’s Choice Best Classic award.
Big thanks to the Street Machines Limited club for hosting the show at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.
As the show concluded each day, winners gathered to collect their awards at the NMCA World Street Finals Presented by Chevrolet Performance.
2023 NMCA Indy Car Show Awards Classes
SATURDAY CAR SHOW AWARDS
Special Recognition Awards:
1. Duane Burge Indianapolis, IN 1966 Nova
2. Dan Geiger Indianapolis, IN 1968 Camaro
3. Terry Dyson Indianapolis, IN 1965 Pontiac Bonneville
4. Michael Piersall Fairland, IN 2014 Mustang
5. Steve Dotson Brownsburg, IN 2008 Corvette
6. Travis Pfost Camby, IN 1979 GMC
7. Bob Kemp Brownsburg, IN 1968 Charger
8. C. Bunton Franklin, IN 2001 Mustang
9. Aiden Jackson New Castle, IN 2001 Chevy S-10
10. Brent Wallace Oxford, IN 1980 Camaro
11. Marion Frey W. Terre Haute, IN 2011 Corvette
12. Joe Boyden Indianapolis, IN 1972 Chevy C-10
13. Shane Jeffers Avon, IN 1968 Camaro
14. Ken Mushen 1970 Chevelle
15. Mark Kistler Greenwood, IN 1968 Camaro
16. Rich Watkins Sidney, OH 1982 Firebird
17. Mark Brasel Danville, IL 1965 Cobra Roadster
18. Eric Fuqua Sr. Indianapolis, IN 1969 Plymouth Roadrunner
19. Richard & Patricia Faust Plainfield, IN 1967 Impala
20. David Hedger Indianapolis, IN 2015 Camaro
21. Tom Downam Lafayette, IN 2012 Camaro
22. Kevin Lawson Avon, IN 1969 Camaro
23. Chris Nowacki Indianapolis, IN 2015 Mustang
24. Greg Cook Indianapolis, IN 1969 Plymouth Roadrunner
25. Richard Lynch Indianapolis, IN 1965 Nova
Directors Choice Awards:
· Best GM Muscle
· Winner: Larry Frederick Petersburg, IN 1963 Chevrolet
· Best Ford Muscle
· Winner: Chris Killion Indianapolis, IN 1985 Mustang
· Best Chrysler Muscle
· Winner: David Sanders Avon, IN 1966 Dodge Coronet
· Best Late Model
· Winner: Dan McMannis Greenwood, IN 2018 Chevrolet
· Best Street Rod
· Winner: Ray Parker Chesterton, IN 1947 Ford
· Best Traditional Hot Rod
· Winner: Mike McLemore Washington, IN 1940 Chevrolet
· Best Pro Street/Race Car
· Winner: Gary Larkin Pittsburg, PA 1969 Camaro
· Best Truck
· Winner: Daryl Nelson Glen Ellyn, IL 1959 Ford F100
· FSC Editors Choice Best Classic
· Winner: Scott Strain Indianapolis, IN 1964 Fairlane
· FSC Editors Choice Best Modern
· Winner: Dan McMannis Greenwood, IN 2018 Chevrolet
· Best Engine
· Winner: Ron Barker New Palestine, IN 1963 Nova
· Best Interior
· Winner: Mike McAllister Dale, IN 1955 Chevrolet
· Best Paint
· Winner: Mark Rinehart Plainfield, IN 1955 Chevrolet
· Directors Choice Conservative
· Winner: Brad Spires Avon, IN 1969 Camaro
· Directors Choice Modified
· Winner: Mark Rinehart Plainfield, IN 1955 Chevrolet
SUNDAY GM CAR SHOW CLASSES & AWARDS:
· Camaro 67-69
· Winner: Gary Larkin Pittsburg, PA 1969 Camaro
· Camaro 70-81
· Winner: Andy Venderwarf Beecher, IL 1972 Camaro
· Camaro Gen 5
· Winner: David Hedger Indianapolis, IN Camaro
· Firebird All years
· Winner: Rich Watkins Sidney, OH 1982 Firebird
· Nova 62-67
Winner: Ron Barker New Palestine, IN 1963 Nova
· Chevelle All Years
· Winner: Jim Huber St.Leon, IN 1969 Chevelle
· GM G-Body (Monte Carlo/Regal/Grand Prix/Cutlass)
· Winner: Bob Hoffman Sandwich, IL 1987 Buick
· Corvette 84 – 2019
· Winner: Gary Ackmann Avon, IN 2016 Corvette
· Early Chevrolet Up to 49’
· Winner: Mike McLemore Washington, IN 1940 Chevrolet
· GM Full Size All Years
· Winner: Larry Frederick Petersburg, IN 1963 Chevrolet Biscayne
· 55-56-57 Chevy
· Winner: Marvin Disbro Indianapolis, IN 1955 Chevrolet
· Full Size Truck All Years
· Winner: Leroy Martin Danville, IN 1951 Chevrolet P/U
· GM Compact Truck All Years
· Winner: Mark Hawk Shelbyville, IN 1989 S-15
· Best GM of Show
· Winner: Mike McAllister Dale, IN 1955 Chevrolet
SUNDAY FORD CAR SHOW CLASSES & AWARDS:
· Mustang 64-78
· Winner: Angie Bills Greenwood, IN 1965 Mustang
· Mustang 79-93
· Winner: Mark Krug 1983 Mustang
· Mustang 94-04
· Winner: Chandler Burton Franklin, IN 2001 Mustang
· Falcon, Fairlane, Maverick
· Winner: John Bair Avon, IN
· Ford Full Size Cars All Years
· Winner: Joe Siefker Greenfield, IN 1964 Galaxie
· Compact Ford
· Winner: Mike Braeger Punta Gorda, FL 1955 Thunderbird
· Open Ford
· Winner: Ralph Wilcox Danville, IN 1932 Ford
· Best Ford of Show
· Winner: Jack Rans Indianapolis, IN 1963 ½ Galaxie
SUNDAY CHRYSLER CAR SHOW CLASSES & AWARDS:
· Chrysler B-Body (Road Runner/Coronet/Charger)
· Winner: Bob Kemp Brownsburg, IN 1968 Dodge Charger
· Chrysler E-Body (Challenger/Barracuda
· Winner: Charles Tyree Copley, OH 2010 Challlenger
· Dodge Truck
· Winner: Mike Abston Kokomo, IN 2020 Jeep
· Open Chrysler
· Winner: Ken Mushen 2010 Dodge Viper
· Best Chrysler of Show
· Winner: Stephen Parrish Brownsburg, IN 1970 Charger
SUNDAY SPECIALTY AWARDS:
· Best Engine
· Winner: Ron Barker New Palestine, IN 1963 Nova
· Best Interior
· Winner: Mike McAllister Dale, IN 1955 Chevrolet
· Best Body & Paint
· Winner: Gary Larkin Pittsburg, PA 1969 Camaro
SUNDAY BEST OF SHOW
Best of Show
Winner: John Schiavone Beecher, IL 1969 Camaro
