Compiled by SEMA Editors
 The 7th Annual Lucas Oil NMCA West Coast Shootout presented by JE Pistons June 2-4, 2017, featured an array of heads-up and index classes and the Hotchkis Auto X presented by Nitto Tire. |
Race Wrap - 7th Annual Lucas Oil NMCA West Coast Shootout presented by JE Pistons
The 7th Annual Lucas Oil NMCA West Coast Shootout presented by JE Pistons, June 2–4, featured an array of heads-up and index classes and the Hotchkis Auto X presented by Nitto Tire.
ProCharger Outlaw Street: Johnny Coleman and his ’69 Camaro faced the ’68 Camaro of Michael Orban in the final round, where Orban edged him out at the stripe, 5.386 to 5.501.
ARP Outlaw 8.5: George Raygoza and his Chevy Nova faced Tim Orello in the final round of competition. At the stripe, it was Raygoza first with a 5.15 to Orello’s off-pace 7.43 effort.
Lucas Oil Ultra Street: Mike Silva came up short in the final round against Dan Dagata, who edged Silva out with a 5.341 to Silva’s 5.347.
Lucas Oil NA 10.5: The final round pitted Joe Keurjikian’s ’69 Firebird against the late-model ’91 Camaro of Victor Brum, who advanced to the Aerospace Components Winner’s Circle after his 8.246 to 8.249 victory.
Meziere Top Sportsman: Mack Moffat raced to the final round, where he was paired up with the ’09 Cobalt of Don Meziere. Meziere drilled Moffat to the tree with a .037-to-.257 reaction time advantage and then pushed him out at the top end, with Moffat’s break-out 6.87 run on his 6.90 dial-in while Meziere’s 7.14 on a 7.06 proved victorious.
Champion Cooling Pro Comp: Zach Meziere went .009 on the tree to Kenny Snow’s .050—enough for his 8.924 on an 8.90 to defeat Snow’s 8.902/8.90 effort.
NMCA West Open Comp: Ron DeHoop drove his ’67 Chevelle to a 10.561 on his 10.54 dial in, while Kevin Stokesberry and his ’71 Chevelle gave up the win by running under his 9.53 dial-in with a 9.512.
TBT Racing Products Street Comp: At the stripe, the Nova of Mike Sayle had run 10.938 on his 10.92 dial in, but it wasn’t enough to beat Mustang of Jan Vanderpool’s 10.545 on a dial in of 10.54 seconds.
Edelbrock Super Quick: Jay Shelton ran a 10.505 on his 10.54 dial-in, thus handing Mark Miyashiro (8.399 on an 8.32) the win and a trip to the Aerospace Components Winner’s Circle.
Calvert Racing Quick Street: Trey Sommer’s wheel-standing ’56 Chevy faced Kris Johnson’s ’72 Duster in the final, and grabbed a significant reaction-time advantage—.048 to .108. He used it and his 10.346 on a 10.27 dial-in to defeat Johnson’s 10.091 on a 10.07 effort.
Mustang Madness: Brent Calvert met Justen Spencer in the final, where Calvert went 8.782 on an 8.78 dial-in for the win.
Classic Performance Products Nostalgia Street Car: Merle Williams squared off against Steve Cox, who was .015 on the tree and ran it flat out to a victorious 10.470 on his 10.50 index.
Gear Vendors True Street: Bill Fowler averaged 9.579 seconds across three runs, which proved quicker than runner-up Dan Geis’ 9.756 average. Michael Webb grabbed the 10-second win with a 10.549 average; and Sean Oltan was right behind him with an 11.148 to nab the 11-second award in his Nissan GTR. The ’00 Camaro of Drew McKinley edged out a tight group with a 12.018 average, and Gene Federico was similarly accurate at 13.036 for the 13-second prize. Melanie Green once again proved her ’06 Mustang was a consistent 14-second-winning car with a 14.136 average, and Victor Vallicella drove his ’14 Mustang to a 15.275 average for the 15-second win.
2017 Lucas Oil NMCA West Coast Shootout: The event win last weekend went to Jason Dawson, who faced Dustin Lee in the final round of competition. Lee drove to a 7.844 on a 7.84 dial-in. Dawson’s 7.680 on his 7.65 dial in likely wouldn’t have been enough, but Lee was -.007 on the tree and handed Dawson the win.
Edelbrock Bracket Showdown: Bob Earleywine took the Super Pro win, Mike Nordahl grabbed the Pro award, and Jack Swanson grabbed the trophy in Sportsman. Sunday’s winners were Cecil Wiles Jr. in Super Pro, Trevor Hayes in Pro, and Willie Hoefer in Sportsman.
Hotchkis Auto X presented by Nitto Tire: Saturday winners included: Sports Car Class—Tom Kamman ’02 Corvette, Classic Muscle—Greg Thurmond ’65 Corvette, Modern Muscle—Paul Molina ’17 Mustang, Compact—James Gassor—’08 Saturn Sky, Truck—Wes Drelleshak ’59 Apache. On Sunday, the winners were: Sports Car Class—John Lazorack III ’88 Dodge Conquest, Classic Muscle—Greg Thurmond ’65 Corvette, Modern Muscle—Gregg Biddlingmeier ’88 Mustang, Compact—Pat Sheely ’17 Ford Focus ST, Truck—Mike Sullivan ’65 El Camino, Hotchkis Cup Winner— Mike Cuthbertson ’68 Camaro.
The championship chase continues at the 6th Annual Energy Suspension NMCA West Street Car Nationals, September 15–17, 2017.
 Steve Torrence secured his third victory of the season with a 3.857-second pass at 320.28 mph in his Capco Contractors dragster to defeat Antron Brown who ran a 3.932 at 306.74 in his Matco Tools dragster in the final round. |
Torrence, Beckman, Anderson, Savoie Notch Victories at NHRA Summernationals
Steve Torrence powered his Top Fuel dragster to victory last Sunday at the 48th annual NHRA Summernationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park. Jack Beckman (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Jerry Savoie (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were also winners in their respective categories at the 10th of 24 events on the 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule. Torrence secured his third victory of the season with a 3.857-second pass at 320.28 mph in his Capco Contractors dragster to defeat Antron Brown who ran a 3.932 at 306.74 in his Matco Tools dragster in the final round. Torrence now trails Brown by seven points in the Top Fuel standings, while previous points leader Leah Pritchett fell to third with a first round exit in Englishtown. Beckman earned his 25th career victory and first of the season with a 4.100 at 312.42 in the final round to defeat Ron Capps who ran a 4.143 at 299.66. This was Beckman’s first win since St. Louis in 2016, and his first final round appearance of the season. With the win, Beckman sits at third in the standings as the fifth different Funny Car winner of the season. Capps maintained his lead atop the Funny Car standings with the runner-up finish in Englishtown. Anderson secured the victory in Pro Stock after driving to a 6.613 at 210.44 to knock off Vincent Nobile, who ran a 6.665 at 210.21. Anderson now has two victories on the year as he notched his first win since Phoenix. With the victory, Anderson now sits second in the points standings behind Bo Butner, who he defeated in the semifinals. Nobile sits seventh in the Pro Stock standings after his best finish of the year. Defending Pro Stock Motorcycle Champion Savoie emerged victorious with a 6.918 at 192.85 to defeat Hector Arana Jr.’s pass of 6.862 at 195.62. Savoie notched his seventh career victory and first of the season. With his first victory of the season, Savoie now sits third in the Pro Stock Motorcycle standings, becoming the third winner in four events in the category. Arana Jr. is sixth in the standings following his best finish of the season. The 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season continues with the 17th NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway, June 16–18.
VP Racing to Sponsor Prime Motivation as Official Fuel
VP Racing Fuels has announced its support for Prime Motivation—a non-profit organization dedicated to helping disconnected youth stay in school and focus on future personal and career oriented goals. As Official Fuel, VP will help support events staged by Prime Motivation on high-school campuses to showcase customized vehicles with the latest aftermarket and high-tech products and gadgets. The vehicles facilitate discussion of the work and skills needed to customize vehicles and associated career opportunities in the automotive Industry. Teens can participate in hands-on workshops, educational seminars and demonstrations that cover such topics as mobile electronics, manufacturing, research and development, auto body and more.