Compiled by SEMA Editors
 Mark Stahl (center) won the BILSTEIN Madonna Award at the NORRA Mexican 1000. |
Mark Stahl Wins BILSTEIN Madonna Award at the NORRA Mexican 1000
Mark Stahl crossed the finish line winning the Legends Truck Class at the NORRA Mexican 1000, and qualifyied as the first and fastest finisher on BILSTEIN shock absorbers. The BILSTEIN Madonna Award is given to “an individual who wins a championship in a major American racing series, displays sportsmanship and positive character traits on and off the track and possesses an intense desire to win while overcoming adversities.”
 Driving his ’07 Chevy Corvette Z06, Morris Malone earned “Fastest Badass” with the overall top speed at Never Lift Half-Mile. |
Morris Malone Earns “Fastest Badass,” First Place in RWD at Never Lift Half-Mile
Driving his ’07 Chevy Corvette Z06, Morris Malone earned “Fastest Badass” with the overall top speed and first place in the RWD class during both days of the Never Lift Half-Mile in Coalinga, California, April 28–29. Sunday was the day he broke the RWD half-mile world record of 236 mph. Motovicity, in collaboration with Shift-S3ctor, brought together some of the fastest cars, top performance brands and best builders and shops for the event. For complete results, visit the Never Lift website.
VP Racing Fuels Named Official Fuel of DIRTcar Midwest
VP Racing Fuels Inc. has announced it has extended a decade-long relationship with World Racing Group, expanding its sponsorship to include being named the official fuel of DIRTcar Midwest.
 Leah Pritchett piloted her FireAde dragster to a pass of 3.874 seconds at 322.42 mph during the final round of eliminations to defeat Blake Alexander. |
Pritchett, C. Force, Nobile and Krawiec Victorious at NHRA Southern Nationals
Female NHRA nitro racers dominated Top Fuel and Funny Car as Leah Pritchett and Courtney Force were victorious in their respective categories last Sunday at the 38th annual NHRA Southern Nationals Powered by Mello Yello at Atlanta Dragway. Vincent Nobile (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were also victorious in their respective categories at the seventh of 24 events on the 2018 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule. Pritchett locked in her first Top Fuel win of the season as she piloted her FireAde dragster to a pass of 3.874 seconds at 322.42 mph during the final round of eliminations to defeat Blake Alexander. This is her first Wally since Brainerd 2017, first event victory at Atlanta Raceway, and sixth overall. Pritchett is the first of Don Schumacher Racing’s Top Fuel drivers to go to the winner’s circle this season. Force claimed her second Funny Car victory this season with a pass of 4.046 at 313.73 in her Advance Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro against Matt Hagan. After earning the No. 1 qualifier on Saturday, Force secured her 10th career victory making her the most victorious female Funny Car driver in the history of NHRA. In Pro Stock, Nobile powered his Mountain View Tire Chevrolet Camaro to a victory run of 6.599 at 209.72 to defeat Tanner Gray in his Valvoline Chevrolet Camaro in the final round. Nobile is now the points leaders for Pro Stock. Defending world champion Krawiec rode his motorcycle to the winner’s circle with a pass of 6.922 at 194.91 on his Screamin’ Eagles Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson. The 2018 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season continues with the Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals presented by Minties at Heartland Motorsports Park, May 18–20, in Topeka, Kansas.
 David Mormon cruised into the Aerospace Components Winner’s Circle, thanks to an 11.028 on 11.00 index, besting John Butsko and his ’63 Falcon. |
The Pennsylvania Derby—CJ Pony Parts NMRA Ford Motorsport Nationals Presented by Vortech Superchargers Race Wrap
The 18th running of the CJ Pony Parts NMRA Ford Motorsport Nationals, presented by Vortech Superchargers, took place last weekend at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pennsylvania.
VP Racing Fuels Street Outlaw: Manny Buginga in his turbocharged ’03 SVT Cobra faced current points leader and top qualifier Andy Manson in the final round. Buginga left the starting line with a .023 light, which proved to be the deciding factor. Buginga streaked to the finish line first with 4.309 at 170.39 mph run to Manson’s quicker, but losing, 4.292 at 170.13 mph.
Edelbrock Renegade: Tony Hobson raced into the Aerospace Components Winner’s Circle for the first time after defeating Brian Mitchell with a 7.370 at 187.08 mph.
ProCharger Coyote Modified: Haley James raced to her second victory of 2018, thanks to her competitor John Kauderer lighting the red light. James posted a 7.616 at 181.94 mph.
Steeda Limited Street: Chad Wendell found himself in the finals and on the bumper, allowing Kelly Shotwell to slip by and celebrate, once again, in the Aerospace Components Winner’s Circle.
Richmond Gear Factory Stock: The competition was halted due to rain, and the class will be completed during the NMRA SuperNationals at National Trail Raceway the weekend of June 7–10. It will be Louis Sylvester taking on Dan Ryntz when the racing resumes next month. G-Force Racing Transmission Coyote Stock is another category cut short by the rain, and the three racers that are left in competition are Darin Hendricks, Jacob Lamb and Steve Kurlmchak.
The two index categories that were whittled down the final rounds but not completed were Exedy Racing Clutch Modular Muscle and ARP Open Comp. In the Modular Muscle final, Jason Henson will face Don Bowles and his AmeriGas-sponsored ’05 Roush Mustang. The Open Comp final features two veterans in the index eliminator—Saul Walker and Michael Lewandowski.
Detroit Locker Truck & Lightning: Johnny “Lightning” Wiker beat defending champion Randy Conway and his Coyote-powered Ranger.
ROUSH Performance Super Stang: Robert Ball topped Miles Wagoner in a double breakout victory—10.708 on a 10.74 index, while Wagoner was the bigger offender with a 10.256 on 10.30 index.
Race Star Wheels Ford Muscle: David Mormon cruised into the Aerospace Components Winner’s Circle, thanks to an 11.028 on 11.00 index, besting John Butsko and his ’63 Falcon. Butsko ran 12.275 on a 12.25 index and the major difference was Mormann’s .030 advantage on the starting line.
QA1 True Street: Mike Jovanis secured the victory with an 8.113 average. Tim Schmoyer was the 9-second winner. Other wins came from Joseph Cascio (10-second), Nathan Seagrave (11-second), Chris Nusbaum (12-second), Trish Linkus (13-second), Christian Cornwell (14-second) and Jonathan Plumber (15-second).
Super Ford Bracket Showdown was cut short because of the rain, cancelling the king of the hill shootout last Sunday. NMRA officials, however, doubled the purse on Saturday in all four bracket racing categories. The winners included Gary Simpers (Fast Ford B1), Matt Riccheza (Quick Ford B2), Jay Fitts (Street Ford B3) and Ray Goelz (Nostalgia Ford B4).
The six-race NMRA Drag Racing Series, presented by Keytsone Automotive, moves to Hebron, Ohio, for the NMRA SuperNationals, June 7–10, at National Trail Raceway.
For more racing news, visit Performance Racing Industry’s (PRI) website.