Compiled by SEMA Editors
 Steve Torrence used his 3.863-second pass at 320.20 mph in his Capco Contractors dragster to defeat Brittany Force’s 3.989 at 274.00 in a final-round matchup. |
Torrence, Capps and Hines Pick Up Wins at 39th Annual Arby’s NHRA Southern Nationals
Defending Top Fuel world champion Steve Torrence rolled to his second straight victory last Sunday with a win at the 39th annual Arby’s NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway. Ron Capps (Funny Car) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were also winners in their respective categories at the seventh of 24 events during the 2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season. Torrence used his 3.863-second pass at 320.20 mph in his Capco Contractors dragster to defeat Brittany Force’s 3.989 at 274.00 in a final-round matchup that featured the top two qualifiers of the weekend. In Funny Car, Capps secured his first win of the 2019 season in his NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat, going 4.068 at 315.34 to win on a holeshot against Tim Wilkerson’s 4.052 at 310.05 in the final round. Five-time Pro Stock Motorcycle world champion Hines earned his second straight victory, third overall of 2019 and 51st in his career after going 6.865 at 195.05 on his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson to defeat Jerry Savoie in the final round. The Mello Yello Drag Racing Series continues May 17–19, with the Virginia NHRA Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park in Richmond.
Historic Motor Sports Association to Partner With HSR for Barber Historics
After a one-year absence from racing at Barber Motorsports Park, the Historic Motor Sports Association (HMSA) and the Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) series’ are teaming up to present the 2019 Barber Historics at the facility, May 17–19. It’s the only time this year that vintage cars will be allowed on the 17-turn, 2.38-mile road course. The 2019 schedule of events can be found at www.hmsausa.com.
 Don “The Snake” Prudhomme and co-driver Jagger Jones finished the NORRA Mexican 1000 race last week in a ’19 Polaris RZR 1000. |
Don Prudhomme, Jagger Jones Finish Mexican 1000
Don “The Snake” Prudhomme and co-driver Jagger Jones finished the NORRA Mexican 1000 race last week. The duo raced together in a JEGS High Performance mail order and Lucas Oil-sponsored ’19 Polaris RZR 1000 prepped by P.J. Jones (Jagger’s father), and finished 16th unofficially in the Stock Turbo UTV class. On the final day of the race, Prudhomme and Jones took turns racing. According to 16-year-old Jones, a rising star in the NASCAR K&N Series, the experience was one of mutual respect and racing excitement. This was the second time competing in the event for both drivers. For Prudhomme, getting a chance to race with an up-and-coming professional reenergized the 78-year-old. According to both drivers, the fact that they were able to get across the finish line after a 1,300-mile race was an accomplishment neither will forget.
VP Racing Fuels Named Official Fuel of Pro Watercross Tour
VP Racing Fuels Inc. has been named the official fuel of the Pro Watercross National Tour and World Championships. The Pro Watercross Tour is the featured national circuit for personal watercraft racing. The tour brings together professional and amateur athletes and offers some of the most challenging and technical race courses in the world.
E3 Spark Plugs Announces 2019 Title Sponsorship; Named Official Spark Plug of International Motor Contest Association
E3 Spark Plugs has announced the company’s title sponsorship for the 20th season of the International Motor Contest Association’s (IMCA) State Champions program. The sponsorship will provide product awards to the state championship drivers for all eight IMCA divisions. In addition to the title sponsorship program, E3 was also named the official spark plug of IMCA.
 John Stanley and his Cadillac CTS-V sailed to a 3.79 to take the win over Don Walsh’s close 3.81. |
Race Wrap: NMCA Memphis Homecoming
Racers rolled into the inaugural Comp Cams NMCA Memphis Homecoming, May 2–5 at Memphis International Raceway in Tennessee to vie for valuable championship points and the Victor trophies awaiting them in the Aerospace Components Winner’s Circle.
VP Racing Fuels Xtreme Pro Mod: Don Walsh Jr. wheeled his Corvette to a final-round fight against John Stanley and his Cadillac CTS-V, where Stanley sailed to a 3.79 to take the win over Walsh’s close 3.81.
NMCA Mickey Thompson Street Outlaw: Shawn Pevlor and Mike Cerminaro made it to the final. Pevlor picked up the win over Cerminaro in his Mustang, which belongs to Tony Bischoff, with a 4.40 while Cerminaro wasn’t able to complete his pass.
Holley EFI Factory Super Cars: Bill Skillman in his Mustang Cobra Jet slid up alongside Geoff Turk and his X-15 Mustang Cobra Jet in the final. The drivers were close on the tree, and Turk took the win with a 7.81 over Skillman’s close 7.84.
ARP Nitrous Pro Street: In the final round, Don Baskin’s Camaro pushed through the beam, and Tricia Musi motored to a 5.39 win in Mike Bankston’s Camaro, as her Firebird was down.
Edelbrock Xtreme Street: Joel Greathouse flew to a 4.69 in his Mustang to take out Tim Knieriem, who ran 4.75 in his Mustang.
FST Carburetors NA 10.5: Rich Nye rocketed to the win in his Mustang with a 7.93 over Don Baskin, who was 8.15 in his Cobalt.
Chevrolet Performance Stock presented by Scoggin-Dickey Parts Center: Haley Burkhammer made it all the way to the final in her Camaro, where she rolled up alongside reigning class champion Jesse Wilson and his Camaro. Wilson earned the win with a perfect .000 reaction time and a 10.23 over Burkhammer, who was not quite as quick on the tree, but was quicker on the top end with a 10.19.
Coan Engineering Stock/Super Stock Combo: Scott Libersher lapped up the win with a 9.17 on a 9.18 in his COPO Camaro over Dennis Breeden, who also broke out with a 9.43 on a 9.44 in his Challenger.
Quick Fuel Technology Nostalgia Super Stock: Reigning category champion Kevin Gass gunned to a 9.73 on a 9.75 in his Chevelle to win over Doug Poskevich, who also broke out with an 11.93 on a 12.00 in his Fairlane.
Detroit Truetrac Nostalgia Muscle Car: Making it to the final were reigning category champion Andy Warren and Tim Clark. Warren wrapped up the win with a 10.31 on a 10.25 in his Caprice, while Clark was 10.03 on a 10.00 in his Chevelle.
MagnaFuel Open Comp: The final round featured Cameron Bowles and his grandfather Don Bowles’ Maverick, and Susan Roush McClenaghan and her Mustang. It was Bowles' second trip to the Aerospace Components Winner's Circle this year with a breakout time of 9.23 on a 9.26 after Roush McClenaghan turned on the red.
ATI Performance Products Muscle Car Madness presented by Deuce Machining: Andy Warren won with a 10.28 on a 10.25 in his Caprice over Bruce Lang, who broke out with a 9.71 on a 9.75 in his Barracuda. It was Warren’s second win of the weekend, as he also earned a trip to the Aerospace Components Winner’s Circle in Detroit Truetrac Nostalgia Muscle Car.
Arrington Performance HEMI Quick 8 presented by Red Line Oil: Herb Yellowdy landed the win with an 11.04 in his Challenger while Jeff Smith was 11.97 in his Challenger.
Gear Vendors True Street: Troy Eaton stood out as the overall winner with an 8.57 average in a Mustang, and Randy Thomas was the runner-up with a 9.29 average in a Mustang. Grady Alley ran to the 10-second win in a Sierra and Beth McCool ran to the 11-second win in a Corvette. Nathan Porter rounded things out with the 12-second win in a Nova.
Brackets: Cody Graham ran right on his 6.70 dial to defeat Mark Enochs, who was 5.46 on a 5.45, and in Bracket 2, David Bell ran right on his 5.82 dial to defeat Greg Rushing, who broke out with a 6.97 on a 6.98.
Next up on this year’s NMCA tour is the 14th Annual Nitto Tire NMRA/NMCA Super Bowl of Street-Legal Drag Racing, July 25–28, at Route 66 Raceway in Illinois, where NMCA drivers will mix it up with NMRA drivers.
 Justin Lofton piloted the Jeff Terzo Trick Truck to first overall and first Trick Truck at the VT Construction Silver State “300” presented by Polaris RZR. |
Justin Lofton and CJ Hutchins Take Their Classes at Best in the Desert VT Construction Silver State "300" Presented by Polaris RZR
Justin Lofton piloted the Jeff Terzo Trick Truck to first overall and first Trick Truck at the VT Construction Silver State “300” presented by Polaris RZR on May 4, backing up his Mint 400 win from just a few weeks ago. CJ Hutchins in Class 1500 was not far behind, taking second overall and first in Class 1500. In the 6100 Class, Kyle Zergensen took the win over 6153 Adam Ray Lunn. Phil Blurton took first in the Pro UTV Turbo Class and finished 21st overall. Reigning quad champion Erin Simmons won the Quad class, finishing 10th overall. Skyler Howes soloed and was the first motorcycle in Open Pro Class. Trick Truck Time Trial winner and first-off-the-line Brett Sourapas took himself out early, tagging a rock and had to drop out. Lofton, racing for YouTheory/Terzo racing, and Jason Voss raced literally bumper to bumper for more than half the race. Voss eventually dropped out with motor problems in the last 100 miles.
For more racing news, visit Performance Racing Industry’s (PRI) website.