Written by Mary Lendzion
Photos by NMCA Staff
From the moment it rolled off the assembly line, Jeff Toepper’s 1969 Camaro has captured attention.
The style and the stance have stood the test of time, and since 2015, admirers have been watching Toepper wheel the car in NMCA Erson Cams Nostalgia Muscle presented by World Products.
In 2023, the racer from Illinois earned a third-place finish in points, which was his highest yet. He attributes a lot of that to his friend and fellow racer, Scott Williams of SKW Motorsports, who built a fresh 383 cubic-inch small-block Chevrolet engine for him.
“My car was immediately more consistent with the engine Scott Williams built,” said Toepper, who also relies on a Powerglide by Beglar Performance.
After performing some routine maintenance over the winter of 2023-2024, Toepper headed to the first NMCA race of 2024, the 16th Annual NMRA/NMCA All-Star Nationals presented by Sipple’s Speed and Performance in April at Rockingham Dragway in North Carolina. He led qualifying with an 11.26 on an 11.25 index and finished as the runner-up against Dan Sisson with a breakout time of 11.17.
“I had a good race against Dan Sisson in the final,” said Toepper. “Since the car was running so well, and I wanted to stay consistent, I didn’t make any adjustments to it after that race. I just ran the valves and performed general maintenance.”
With that, Toepper was ready for the Holley NMRA/Red Line Oil NMCA Race for the Rings & Saturday Thrill Festival, May 3-5, at World Wide Technology Raceway in Illinois.
“This year, I have really been paying attention to estimating my splits down track to see where my car varies,” said Toepper. “I use Crew Chief Pro Software for that, and it has really helped me dial in my car better.”
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Toepper qualified in the sixth spot with an 11.29 on an 11.25 index, and waded through tough competition to get to the final round of eliminations. He ran right on his index and took the win as David Mormann broke out with a 10.73 on a 10.75 in his 1970 Mustang.
“Even with the changes in the weather and the humidity going up and down that weekend, my car ran pretty consistently,” said Toepper. “I was really happy when the win light came on. The competition is so tough in that category, including David Mormann, whom I had in the final. Every racer in that category wants to win and is capable of winning, and it takes a lot of work, and some luck, to be able to do it.”
Making the weekend even better for Toepper was the fact that his uncle, Bruce Boyle, won in Micro Strategies Stock Eliminator, and many family members were there to see Toepper and Boyle in the final rounds in their respective categories.
Toepper, who is now holding down the lead in points in Erson Cams Nostalgia Muscle presented by World Products, will soon be on his way to the next event on the Red Line Oil NMCA Muscle Car Nationals tour, the 22nd Annual Scoggin Dickey NMCA Muscle Car Mayhem, May 30-June 2, 2024 at Beech Bend Raceway in Kentucky.
“I like Beech Bend Raceway and I’m looking forward to being back there,” said Toepper. “I like the nostalgia feeling of the track, with the old grandstands.”
In addition to Erson Cams Nostalgia Muscle presented by World Products, Toepper will compete in the event’s special Dave Schultz NMC vs. NSS, in memory of fellow racer Dave Schulz, who passed away recently.
“I have a lot of support from my wife, Kim, and my pit friends, including Bruce Boyle, Jerry Stamps and Don Fotti and everyone else in the category. I appreciate that NMCA gives us six events and six chances each year to get together and race.”
Photos by NMCA Staff
From the moment it rolled off the assembly line, Jeff Toepper’s 1969 Camaro has captured attention.
The style and the stance have stood the test of time, and since 2015, admirers have been watching Toepper wheel the car in NMCA Erson Cams Nostalgia Muscle presented by World Products.
In 2023, the racer from Illinois earned a third-place finish in points, which was his highest yet. He attributes a lot of that to his friend and fellow racer, Scott Williams of SKW Motorsports, who built a fresh 383 cubic-inch small-block Chevrolet engine for him.
“My car was immediately more consistent with the engine Scott Williams built,” said Toepper, who also relies on a Powerglide by Beglar Performance.
After performing some routine maintenance over the winter of 2023-2024, Toepper headed to the first NMCA race of 2024, the 16th Annual NMRA/NMCA All-Star Nationals presented by Sipple’s Speed and Performance in April at Rockingham Dragway in North Carolina. He led qualifying with an 11.26 on an 11.25 index and finished as the runner-up against Dan Sisson with a breakout time of 11.17.
“I had a good race against Dan Sisson in the final,” said Toepper. “Since the car was running so well, and I wanted to stay consistent, I didn’t make any adjustments to it after that race. I just ran the valves and performed general maintenance.”
With that, Toepper was ready for the Holley NMRA/Red Line Oil NMCA Race for the Rings & Saturday Thrill Festival, May 3-5, at World Wide Technology Raceway in Illinois.
“This year, I have really been paying attention to estimating my splits down track to see where my car varies,” said Toepper. “I use Crew Chief Pro Software for that, and it has really helped me dial in my car better.”
Toepper qualified in the sixth spot with an 11.29 on an 11.25 index, and waded through tough competition to get to the final round of eliminations. He ran right on his index and took the win as David Mormann broke out with a 10.73 on a 10.75 in his 1970 Mustang.
“Even with the changes in the weather and the humidity going up and down that weekend, my car ran pretty consistently,” said Toepper. “I was really happy when the win light came on. The competition is so tough in that category, including David Mormann, whom I had in the final. Every racer in that category wants to win and is capable of winning, and it takes a lot of work, and some luck, to be able to do it.”
Making the weekend even better for Toepper was the fact that his uncle, Bruce Boyle, won in Micro Strategies Stock Eliminator, and many family members were there to see Toepper and Boyle in the final rounds in their respective categories.
Toepper, who is now holding down the lead in points in Erson Cams Nostalgia Muscle presented by World Products, will soon be on his way to the next event on the Red Line Oil NMCA Muscle Car Nationals tour, the 22nd Annual Scoggin Dickey NMCA Muscle Car Mayhem, May 30-June 2, 2024 at Beech Bend Raceway in Kentucky.
“I like Beech Bend Raceway and I’m looking forward to being back there,” said Toepper. “I like the nostalgia feeling of the track, with the old grandstands.”
In addition to Erson Cams Nostalgia Muscle presented by World Products, Toepper will compete in the event’s special Dave Schultz NMC vs. NSS, in memory of fellow racer Dave Schulz, who passed away recently.
“I have a lot of support from my wife, Kim, and my pit friends, including Bruce Boyle, Jerry Stamps and Don Fotti and everyone else in the category. I appreciate that NMCA gives us six events and six chances each year to get together and race.”