Compiled by SEMA Editors
 Fredric Aasbo won Formula DRIFT: Streets of Long Beach last weekend in the Rockstar Energy Drink/Nexen Tire ’19 Toyota Corolla. |
2018 Formula DRIFT Season Opens on the Streets of Long Beach, California
Fredric Aasbo won Formula DRIFT: Streets of Long Beach last weekend in the Rockstar Energy Drink/Nexen Tire ’19 Toyota Corolla. Aasbo’s path to the final saw matchups with Matt Vankirk in the Top 32, Kristaps Bluss in Sweet 16, Justin Pawlak in the quarter-final, top qualifier Piotr Wiecek in the semi-final and Forrest Wang in the final. Highlights included Aasbo driving his Rockstar Energy Drink/Nexen Tire ’19 Toyota Corolla, unveiled days earlier at the New York International Auto Show. Matt Field also debuted his Wish/ Borla/Falken Tire Chevrolet Corvette, while Federico Sceriffo brought his Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano Drift Spec (aka Fiorella) to the Californian street circuit. Formula DRIFT moves on to Orlando, Florida, for round two, April 27–28.
 Triangle Speed Shop’s Daniel Pachar and his ’04 Mustang met John Kauderer in his ’14 Cobra Jet, where Pachar cruised into the Aerospace Components Winner’s Circle on his 7.58 at 172.32 mph run. |
NMRA Race Wrap: 10th Annual NMRA/NMCA All-Star Nationals presented by MAHLE Motorsport
The 10th Annual NMRA/NMCA All-Star Nationals presented by MAHLE Motorsport kicked off the second stop on the NMRA Keystone Automotive Drag Racing tour for 2018 last weekend at Atlanta Dragway in Commerce, Georgia.
VP Racing Fuels Street Outlaw: Andy Manson struggled and left the door wide open for Shawn Ayers to take the win on behalf of car owner and NFL Super Bowl winner Fletcher Cox, with his 4.246 at 164.93 mph success story.
Edelbrock Renegade: The ’89 Mustang of Frank Varela went up against Tony Hobson and his ’14 Mustang, where Hobson’s 7.41 at 185.77 mph trip couldn’t hold off Hellion Turbo “B-Team” racer Varela’s winning 7.35 at 185.43 mph pass.
ProCharger Coyote Modified: In the finals, Triangle Speed Shop’s Daniel Pachar and his ’04 Mustang met John Kauderer in his ’14 Cobra Jet, where Pachar cruised into the Aerospace Components Winner’s Circle on his 7.58 at 172.32 mph run.
Steeda Limited Street: Kelly Shotwell in his ’95 Cobra went home the big winner when his 8.747-second at 157.17 mph elapsed time out-paced Mike Washington, who went 9.120 at 147.36 mph.
Richmond Gear Factory Stock: Bart Welte in his ’89 Mustang dispatched Dan Ryntz in the finals with a winning 10.332 at 127.61-mph blast.
G-Force Racing Transmissions Coyote Stock: Darin Hendricks in his ’93 Mustang Cobra took down Clair Stewart II in the finals when Stewart had a -0.107-second reaction time, and Hendricks made it official with a 10.207 at 130.14 mph run down the 1320.
Exedy Racing Clutch Modular Muscle: Jason Henson was the winner as he ran 11.99 at 107.22 mph in his ’03 Mach 1, and Shane Williams took home the runner-up title.
Roush Performance Super Stang: Russell Haskins finished out the weekend on a high note when his 12.74 at 102.58-mph effort on his ’18 Mustang’s 12.60 dial-in earned him the victory over Bobby Barrick.
ARP Open Comp: Gordon Harlow took the overall win when he ran a 10.14-second elapsed time at the end of the night, while Woody Pack red lighted at the start.
Detroit Locker Truck & Lightning: Fred Wade turned the win light on in his lane behind the wheel of his ’04 Lightning when he went 10.45 at 131.29 mph on his 10.40 index.
Race Star Wheels Ford Muscle: Danny Towe in his ’70 Mustang inched through to success in a double-breakout final round against Brian Parker.
Street Outlaw All-Star Shootout: Andy Manson and Daniel Pharris were the last men standing when the final round rolled around. Manson took the win in a close drag race, going 4.301 at 163 mph to defeat Pharris’s 4.309 at 172-mph effort.
NMRA vs NMCA Sealed Stock Shootout: Haley Rounsavall and Jesse Wilson faced each other in the finals, where Wilson took the win and the honors for the National Muscle Car Association team.
Open Comp Shootout: 2017 LME Street King champion Kurt Anderson was pitted against the NMCA’s 2017 Open Comp and Stock/Super Stock champion Ricky Pennington, the latter of which secured the victory.
QA1 True Street: Ben Calimer and his ’16 Mustang won the class outright with a 9.912-second average. Winning the 10-second group was Jason Wagoner and his ’14 Mustang clocking an average time of 10.219 seconds, while Scott Boda scored the 11-second win with an 11.041-second average. Topping the 12-second section with a 12.092 average was Mike Baker behind the wheel of his ’91 Mustang. Scott Ray picked up a win in his ’12 Ford averaging 13.684-seconds, Gaston Brown was the quickest for the 14-second cars with a 14.039 average from his ’05 Mustang GT, Melanie Myers’ 15.058 average won the 15-second group in her ’98 Mustang and James Rowell earned the 10-second win with a 10.079-second average in his ’14 Mustang GT.
The NMRA Keystone Automotive Drag Racing Series continues in at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pennsylvania, May 4–6, with the 18th Annual CJ Pony Parts NMRA Ford Motorsport Nationals presented by Vortech Superchargers.
 Steve Torrence piloted his Capco Contractors dragster to a 3.771-second pass at 326.63 mph for the 18th victory of his career and second of the season. |
Torrence, Todd and Nobile Emerge Victorious at DENSO Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals
Steve Torrence raced to the Top Fuel victory last Sunday at the 19th annual DENSO Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway as the inaugural four-wide racing experience for fans on the West Coast came to an end. J.R. Todd (Funny Car) and Vincent Nobile (Pro Stock) were also winners in their respective categories at the fourth event on the 2018 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule. Torrence piloted his Capco Contractors dragster to a 3.771-second pass at 326.63 mph for the 18th victory of his career and second of the season. He defeated the No. 1 qualifier Tony Schumacher, three-time world champion Antron Brown and Doug Kalitta in the final round. With the victory, Torrence moves atop the Top Fuel points standings as he chases his first world championship in the class. Todd ran a 4.041 at 317.05 in his DHL Toyota Camry for his first DENSO Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals win and 11th of his career. Jack Beckman finished in second after his 4.052 at 312.21, while Courtney Force wound up third and Tommy Johnson Jr. ended in fourth. In Pro Stock, Nobile picked up his 11th career victory and first at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway when he ran a 6.591 at 210.44 in his Harlow Sammons Chevy Camaro. The 2018 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season continues at Royal Purple Raceway in Houston, April 20–22.
 The NMCA will move on to Beech Bend Raceway for the 17th Annual NMCA Quick Fuel Technologies Bluegrass Nationals presented by Scoggin-Dickey Parts Center, May 17–20. |
Race Wrap—10th Annual NMCA All-Stars presented by MAHLE Motorsport
The NMRA/NMCA All-Star Nationals presented by MAHLE Motorsport celebrated its 10th year at Atlanta Dragway in Commerce, Georgia, April 5–8.
VP Racing Fuels Xtreme Pro Mod: Eric Gustafson met Craig Sullivan in the final round, where Sullivan drilled the tree with an .020-second reaction time, but Gustafson drove around him for the win, 3.77 to 3.85.
Bradenton Mickey Thomson Radial Wars: In the final round, it was Marty Stinnett and his Mustang facing DeWayne Mills and his Camaro. Both drivers clocked 3.88-second runs, but Mills was ahead at the stripe for the win, and took the trip to the Aerospace Components Winner’s Circle.
ARP Nitrous Pro Street: James Noel took the win with a 4.79 run to John Trobiani’s 4.86.
Holley EFI Factory Super Cars: Geoff Turk edged out Chuck Watson in the final round for the trip to the Aerospace Components Winner’s Circle with a close 7.99-to-8.04 win.
Edelbrock Xtreme Street: Tim Knieriem put his nitrous-enhanced Mustang into the final round against Shaun Arnold, where Knieriem edged out Arnold for the 4.73-to-4.81 victory.
ARP NA 10.5: David Theisen in his big-block-powered ’69 Firebird squared off against Robbie Blankenship in the finals, but Blankenship had mechanical problems at the hit, and Theisen scored the class win with a 7.78-second elapsed time.
Coan Engineering’s Stock/Super Stock Combo: Dennis Breeden reached the finals, but gave the win to Darren Morris after red-lighting.
ATI Performance Products Nostalgia Super Stock: Corky Bumpus took the final-round victory over Bruce Lang.
Detroit Trutrac Nostalgia Muscle Car: Steve Wilson was the class winner after defeating Jacob Weigl.
MagnaFuel Open Comp: In the final round, Will Spearman took the starting-line advantage and used it to defeat Kelly Pierce.
Gear Vendors True Street: Randy Thomas averaged 8.98 seconds over his three runs to take the top honors in the class. Alan Hill took the 11-second win with an 11.17. DeWayne Massengale was awarded the 12-second prize for his 12.10 average, while Erick Pedersen rounded up the 13-second award for his 13.007 average. Nicholas Massengale took the 14-second win at 14.01, and Allen Smith took the 15-second win with a 15.61.
The NMRA and NMCA series part ways for the next event with the NMCA moving on to Beech Bend Raceway for the 17th Annual NMCA Quick Fuel Technologies Bluegrass Nationals presented by Scoggin-Dickey Parts Center, May 17–20. The event plays host to the Dave Duell Classic, a Nostalgia Super Stock event and the second round of the Chevrolet Performance Challenge Series featuring the LSX Shootout.
VP Racing Fuels Extends Partnership for Mazda Road to Indy; Signs Long-Term Extension With Road Atlanta, Multi-Year Extension With Rockingham Dragway, and Multi-Year Sponsorship of ATVMX
VP Racing Fuels Inc. has announced long-term extensions with Andersen Promotions to provide on-site spec fuel supply to the Global MX5 Cup, Pro Mazda Championship, USF2000 and Indy Lights Series in North America. VP Racing Fuels has also announced the continuation of a long-term association with Road Atlanta. VP Racing Fuels is also the official fuel of Laguna Seca, Lime Rock Park, Sebring Raceway, Watkins Glen and many other famous tracks across North America. VP Racing Fuels has also announced the signing of a multi-year extension of its official fuel and fuel service agreement with Rockingham Dragway in North Carolina. VP Racing Fuels has also announced it has signed a multi-year sponsorship agreement of the ATV Motocross National Championship.
NASCAR Results at Irwindale Speedway
Pick Your Part Late Models (Race 1: 40 Laps)
1. Ryan Schartau
2. Jagger Jones
3. Lucas McNeil
4. Halie Deegan
5. Ryan Partridge
Irwindale Race Trucks – 35 Laps
1. Lucas McNeil
2. Andrew Porter
3. Dennis Arena
4. Ryan Partridge
5. Jacob McNeil
INEX Legends – 35 Laps
1. Daren Amidon
2. Chad Schug
3. Jace Jones
4. Jaron Gianini
5. Tyler Hicks
Enduro Race 1 – 20 Laps
1. Daniel Hudson
2. Eddie Howell
3. Michael Hudson
Pick Your Part Late Models (Race 2: 40 Laps)
1. Lawless Allen
2. Alec Martinez
3. Zachary St. Onge
4. Blaine Perkins
5. Jagger Jones
Enduro Race 2 – 20 Laps
1. Rodney Argo
2. Daniel Hudson
3. Eddie Howell
Polaris Renews Team Lucas Partnership in Off-Road, Pro Pulling Series
Polaris has renewed its partnership with Team Lucas for the 2018 season, including its status as the official UTV of the Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League. In its second season as a Team Lucas partner, Polaris also will be featured in the Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing Series and Lucas Oil Regional Off-Road Racing events. In the Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League, the Polaris Ranger, powered by the three-cylinder, 1028cc, tier 4-compliant Kohler diesel, will be the featured vehicle used by Lucas Oil officials. In addition to its support of Team Lucas pulling and off-road events, Polaris will have a presence in Lucas Oil TV coverage on CBS Sports Network, CBS Broadcast Network, NBC Sports Network and MAVTV Motorsports Network.
Air Force Renews Sponsorship with Formula DRIFT
The U.S. Air Force has renewed its partnership with Formula DRIFT for the 2018 race season. This marks the ninth consecutive season with the Series. At each event this season, the Air Force will support the series with one of six mobile tours on display in the Formula DRIFT paddock area. The Air Force will also augment the 2018 partnership with integration in the Formula DRIFT app, which launched in 2017.