Written by Mary Lendzion
Photos by NMCA Staff
Danny Towe has been racing his 1970 Mustang Sportsroof ever since he purchased it in 1993.
He and the classic car are very competitive in various categories and series, and they command a lot of attention along the way, and not just because of the outstanding orange color and Harland Sharp graphics on the car.
In 2022, Towe took on NMCA Detroit Truetrac Nostalgia Muscle and NMRA SCT Ford Muscle. This story covers his NMCA Detroit Truetrac Nostalgia Muscle season, and a separate story on NMRADigital.com and RacePagesDigital.com covers his NMRA SCT Ford Muscle season.
At the NMCA Muscle Car Mayhem presented by Holbrook Racing Engines in March at Bradenton Motorsports Park in Florida, Towe qualified in the ninth spot with an 11.76 on an 11.75 index and won the first and second rounds of eliminations, both double breakouts, with a pair of 11.74s. He won the third round of eliminations with an 11.78 before exiting eliminations in the semifinal with an 11.76 in his 1970 Mustang Sportsroof powered by a 393 cubic-inch Windsor engine he put together and paired with a Powerglide.
Towe then qualified in the thirteenth spot with an 11.79 on an 11.75 index at the Scoggin Dickey Parts Center NMRA/NMCA All-Star Nationals presented by MAHLE Motorsport in April at Rockingham Dragway in North Carolina. His weekend ended earlier than he would have liked with an 11.78.
At the well-attended NMRA/NMCA Super Bowl of Street Legal Drag Racing presented by Fuelab in May at World Wide Technology Raceway in Illinois, Towe dipped under his 12.00 index with an 11.98 and qualified in the sixteenth spot. He won the first round of eliminations with a 12.008, won the second round of eliminations after his opponent went red and lost in the third round of eliminations when he slowed to a 12.16.
Towe, of Westminster, South Carolina, qualified in the ninth spot with a 12.03 on a 12.00 index at the Arrington Performance NMRA/NMCA Power Festival presented by TorqStorm Superchargers in July at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park in Michigan, and won the first round of eliminations with a 12.14. He broke out with an 11.97 but still won the second round of eliminations after his opponent had issues, and later, when the rain-delayed race was completed at the NMCA All-American Nationals presented by Sick the Magazine in August at Summit Motorsports Park in Ohio, he exited in the semifinal round of eliminations with a 12.09. For the actual Ohio event, Towe qualified in the third spot with a 12.04 on a 12.00, won the first and second rounds of eliminations when his opponent went red, and broke out by less than his opponent, with an 11.97, to win the third round of eliminations. As focused as he could be, Towe recorded a 12.05 in a solo pass in the semifinal round of eliminations before going to the NMCA Winner’s Circle with a 12.08 against Ralph Trimmer in the final round of eliminations.
“I started competing in Nostalgia Muscle several years ago, and I hadn’t won a race in the category until this race in Ohio,” said an excited Towe.
He had a lot on his mind heading into the final race of the year, the NMCA World Street Finals presented by Chevrolet Performance in September at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park in Indiana, where he qualified in the sixteenth spot with an 11.77 on an 11.75. Uncharacteristically, he lost in the first round of eliminations with an -.039 red light, but stayed on top of the gas pedal to see what kind of pass he was on, and got his answer when a dead-on 11.75 illuminated.
“I definitely had a case of the butterflies in the first round of eliminations,” said Towe.
Despite the early exit in eliminations at that event, Towe, who in addition to fighting tough competition, was fighting ignition issues all season, was able to take the 2022 NMCA Detroit Truetrac Nostalgia Muscle championship.
“To end up on top of the heap in Nostalgia Muscle is the biggest cherry anyone has ever seen on top of a sundae,” said Towe. “Honestly, earning a championship in Nostalgia Muscle wasn’t even on my radar in the beginning of the year. It took a lot to earn this championship. I would like to thank my wife, Suzanne, my primary sponsor, Harland Sharp, all of the sponsors for the series, David Mormann, Shane Williams and all my racing friends.”
Towe and his fellow champions will be celebrated at the Red Line Oil NMCA Muscle Car Nationals Awards Ceremony, held during the Performance Racing Industry Trade Show, Dec. 9, 2022, at the Indiana Convention Center.
(Towe also cemented the NMRA SCT Ford Muscle championship. For that story, please visit NMRADigital.com or RacePagesDigital.com)
Photos by NMCA Staff
Danny Towe has been racing his 1970 Mustang Sportsroof ever since he purchased it in 1993.
He and the classic car are very competitive in various categories and series, and they command a lot of attention along the way, and not just because of the outstanding orange color and Harland Sharp graphics on the car.
In 2022, Towe took on NMCA Detroit Truetrac Nostalgia Muscle and NMRA SCT Ford Muscle. This story covers his NMCA Detroit Truetrac Nostalgia Muscle season, and a separate story on NMRADigital.com and RacePagesDigital.com covers his NMRA SCT Ford Muscle season.
At the NMCA Muscle Car Mayhem presented by Holbrook Racing Engines in March at Bradenton Motorsports Park in Florida, Towe qualified in the ninth spot with an 11.76 on an 11.75 index and won the first and second rounds of eliminations, both double breakouts, with a pair of 11.74s. He won the third round of eliminations with an 11.78 before exiting eliminations in the semifinal with an 11.76 in his 1970 Mustang Sportsroof powered by a 393 cubic-inch Windsor engine he put together and paired with a Powerglide.
Towe then qualified in the thirteenth spot with an 11.79 on an 11.75 index at the Scoggin Dickey Parts Center NMRA/NMCA All-Star Nationals presented by MAHLE Motorsport in April at Rockingham Dragway in North Carolina. His weekend ended earlier than he would have liked with an 11.78.
At the well-attended NMRA/NMCA Super Bowl of Street Legal Drag Racing presented by Fuelab in May at World Wide Technology Raceway in Illinois, Towe dipped under his 12.00 index with an 11.98 and qualified in the sixteenth spot. He won the first round of eliminations with a 12.008, won the second round of eliminations after his opponent went red and lost in the third round of eliminations when he slowed to a 12.16.
Towe, of Westminster, South Carolina, qualified in the ninth spot with a 12.03 on a 12.00 index at the Arrington Performance NMRA/NMCA Power Festival presented by TorqStorm Superchargers in July at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park in Michigan, and won the first round of eliminations with a 12.14. He broke out with an 11.97 but still won the second round of eliminations after his opponent had issues, and later, when the rain-delayed race was completed at the NMCA All-American Nationals presented by Sick the Magazine in August at Summit Motorsports Park in Ohio, he exited in the semifinal round of eliminations with a 12.09. For the actual Ohio event, Towe qualified in the third spot with a 12.04 on a 12.00, won the first and second rounds of eliminations when his opponent went red, and broke out by less than his opponent, with an 11.97, to win the third round of eliminations. As focused as he could be, Towe recorded a 12.05 in a solo pass in the semifinal round of eliminations before going to the NMCA Winner’s Circle with a 12.08 against Ralph Trimmer in the final round of eliminations.
“I started competing in Nostalgia Muscle several years ago, and I hadn’t won a race in the category until this race in Ohio,” said an excited Towe.
He had a lot on his mind heading into the final race of the year, the NMCA World Street Finals presented by Chevrolet Performance in September at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park in Indiana, where he qualified in the sixteenth spot with an 11.77 on an 11.75. Uncharacteristically, he lost in the first round of eliminations with an -.039 red light, but stayed on top of the gas pedal to see what kind of pass he was on, and got his answer when a dead-on 11.75 illuminated.
“I definitely had a case of the butterflies in the first round of eliminations,” said Towe.
Despite the early exit in eliminations at that event, Towe, who in addition to fighting tough competition, was fighting ignition issues all season, was able to take the 2022 NMCA Detroit Truetrac Nostalgia Muscle championship.
“To end up on top of the heap in Nostalgia Muscle is the biggest cherry anyone has ever seen on top of a sundae,” said Towe. “Honestly, earning a championship in Nostalgia Muscle wasn’t even on my radar in the beginning of the year. It took a lot to earn this championship. I would like to thank my wife, Suzanne, my primary sponsor, Harland Sharp, all of the sponsors for the series, David Mormann, Shane Williams and all my racing friends.”
Towe and his fellow champions will be celebrated at the Red Line Oil NMCA Muscle Car Nationals Awards Ceremony, held during the Performance Racing Industry Trade Show, Dec. 9, 2022, at the Indiana Convention Center.
(Towe also cemented the NMRA SCT Ford Muscle championship. For that story, please visit NMRADigital.com or RacePagesDigital.com)