By Mary Lendzion
When it was announced in the summer of 2017 that renowned racer Don Walsh Jr. had purchased a Corvette and was headed for NMCA VP Racing Fuels Xtreme Pro Mod, excitement ensued.
It was for good reason, as Walsh Jr. had already been completely capable and competitive in NMRA, NMCA, NHRA and other series.
By the end of 2018, he was engaged in an electrifying battle for the NMCA VP Racing Fuels Xtreme Pro Mod championship, and fell just a few points short to finish in second place in points. Then, he turned his focus to 2019.
In his eye-catching Corvette featuring a BAE Hemi massaged by D&D Performance in Wixom, Michigan, Precision 94mm turbos and a FuelTech FT600 engine management system, Walsh Jr. got this NMCA season started by sailing to a 3.73 to qualify in the second spot and then an even quicker 3.72 against Daniel Pharris to take a trip to the Aerospace Components Winner's Circle at the 11th Annual Scoggin-Dickey Parts Center NMRA/NMCA All-Star Nationals presented by Mahle Motorsport in April at Atlanta Dragway.
He flew to a 3.70 to set the pace in the category and finished as the runner-up with a 3.81 against John Stanley at the Inaugural Comp Cams NMCA Memphis Homecoming in May at Memphis International Raceway, followed by a 3.74 to set the pace in the category again and then a 3.72 against Randy Adler to take another trip to the Aerospace Components Winner's Circle at the 14th Annual Nitto NMRA/NMCA Super Bowl of Street Legal Drag Racing in July at Route 66 Raceway in Illinois.
Ready to ramp things up even more, Walsh Jr. wheeled to a 3.66 to lead qualifying and another win, this time over Craig Sullivan, at the 18th Annual NMCA All-American Nationals in August at Summit Motorsports Park in Ohio. Then, he recorded a 3.73 to qualify in the fourth spot at the 18th Annual NMCA World Street Finals presented by Chevrolet Performance in September at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indiana, and despite an early exit from eliminations, Walsh Jr. wrapped up his wild chase to the 2019 NMCA VP Racing Fuels Xtreme Pro Mod championship.
We are ecstatic to have won the championship, said Walsh Jr., who also'set elapsed time and top speed records in the category with a 3.665 and 214.66 mph.I'm fortunate to have a great team of people around me.
Walsh Jr. will be applauded for all of his accomplishments at the NMCA Muscle Car Nationals presented by E3 Spark Plugs Awards Ceremony presented by Aerospace Components, Dec. 13 at the Indiana Convention Center.
(Please watch for stories on all NMCA champions to be posted on the NMCA and Race Pages Digital websites and in Fastest Street Car in the days to come.)
