People Places & Racing News

Racing News: American Muscle Abounds at NMCA Norwalk

Compiled by SEMA Editors

NMCA
The final stop on this year’s NMCA tour—the 18th Annual NMCA World Street Finals presented by Chevrolet Performance—will be held September 19–20, at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indiana.

American Muscle Abounds at NMCA Norwalk

The 18th Annual NMCA All-American Nationals presented by Whipple Superchargers was held August 22–25 at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio. The series featured the Chevrolet Performance 50th Anniversary COPO Camaro Shootout presented by COPO Parts Direct and the Ford Performance Cobra Jet Showdown presented by Watson Racing. As always, the Aerospace Components Winner’s Circle awaited drivers doing everything in their power to push to championships with only race remaining on this year’s tour.

VP Racing Fuels Xtreme Pro Mod: Don Walsh Jr. and his Corvette rocketed to a 3.70 to win over Craig Sullivan’s 3.85 in his Daytona.

Mickey Thompson Street Outlaw: Shawn Pevlor in the BES Racing Engines Mustang faced Rob Goss and his Challenger in the finals, where Goss grabbed the win with a 4.40, while Pevlor went into a high wheelie and brought it down to a 4.69.

Holley EFI Factory Super Cars: In the finals, Randy Eakins met Chris Holbrook in their Mustang Cobra Jets, where Eakins pulled off the win with a 7.89 over Holbrook’s close 7.90.

ARP Nitrous Pro Street: Tricia Musi met Randy Dolensek and his Mercury Cyclone Spoiler II in the final round of eliminations, where Musi picked up another win with a 4.38 after Dolensek turned on the red light.

Edelbrock Xtreme Street: Jessie Coulter and J.C. Beattie battled in the final round of eliminations. The drivers were close on the tree, but Coulter collected the win with a 4.79 in his Camaro over Beattie, who turned in a 4.98 in his COPO Camaro.

FST Carburetors NA 10.5: Leonard Long and his Mustang made it to the final round of eliminations, where he faced John Langer and his Firebird. Langer leaped off the line before Long and landed the holeshot win with a 7.95 over Long’s 7.93 on the tree as well.

Chevrolet Performance Stock presented by Scoggin-Dickey Parts Center: Jesse Wilson in his Camaro met Haley Burkhammer in the final round of eliminations. Wilson used a holeshot and a 10.21 in his Camaro to wrap up the win over Burkhammer, who was 10.16 in her Camaro.

Coan Engineering Stock/Super Stock Combo: Jeff Ross and his classic Barracuda rolled on to the Aerospace Components Winner’s Circle with a 10.68 on a 10.65 dial over James Daniels, who was 8.44 on an 8.48 dial in his Dart.

Quick Fuel Technology Nostalgia Super Stock: Making it to the final round of eliminations were Mike Schaefer and his Dart and Jeff Hoblick and his Belvedere. Schaefer secured the win with a dead-on 9.00 on a 9.00 dial.

Detroit Truetrac Nostalgia Muscle Car: Chad Brewer and Noah Winters duked it out in their Novas in the final round of eliminations, where Brewer won with a 10.47 on a 10.50 index.

MagnaFuel Open Comp: David Rickey and Kevin White raced to the final round of eliminations, where Rickey won with a 10.71 on a 10.17 dial when White couldn’t complete his pass in his Nova.

NMCA Gear Vendors True Street: Justin May was the overall winner with an 8.05 average in a Firebird and Rob Meisch was the runner-up with an 8.32 average in a Mustang. Mike Niehaus nailed the 9-second win in a Mustang, Adam Kemmer picked up the 10-second win in a Nova, Bret Blankemeyer drove to the 11-second win in a GTO and Gary Alfrey picked up the 12-second win in a GTO. Rounding out the category were Anthony Jagar, who was the 13-second winner in a Mustang, Andy Ransford, who was the 14-second winner in a Mustang and Tracy Myers, who was the 15-second winner in a RAM. Racers who competed in NMCA Gear Vendors True Street, the 50th Anniversary COPO Camaro Shootout presented by COPO Parts Direct, and the Cobra Jet Showdown presented by Watson Racing were invited to take part in a Fastest Street Car True Street Bracket. After six rounds of competition, Scott Libersher won with a 9.09 on a 9.04 dial in his COPO Camaro over Daniel Sayers, who was 9.38 on a 9.35 dial in his COPO Camaro.

Dodge // Mopar HEMI Shootout: John Keyes was the overall winner with a 10.10 average, while Robert Vacek was the runner-up with a 10.19 average. Alan Scruggs was the 10-second winner, Robert Hess was the 11-second winner, Jeff Smith was the 12-second winner, John Miller was the 13-second winner, Joe Giordano was the 14-second winner and Jessica Rickey was the 15-second winner. Then, after the eight quickest drivers in the category came together for the Arrington Performance HEMI Quick 8 presented by Red Line Oil, Robert Hess hooked the win with a 10.48 after his opponent’s pass was declared void due to lack of proper safety equipment.

Chevrolet Performance Street Car Challenge: Jeff Brady was the overall winner with a 9.89 average in his Camaro, while Terry Faust was the runner-up with a 10.04 average in his Corvette. Scott Bolek picked up the 10-second win in his CTSV and Norm Jensen picked up the 11-second win in his Camaro.

Chevrolet Performance 50th Anniversary COPO Camaro Shootout presented by COPO Parts Direct: Aaron Allison arrived at the win with a 9.47 on a 9.43 dial over Todd Patterson, who was 9.21 on a 9.20 dial.

Ford Performance Cobra Jet Showdown presented by Watson Racing: Jack Zebich and Mike Fuller made it to the final round of eliminations. Both drivers broke out, but Zebich broke out by less and won with an 11.90 on an 11.91, while Fuller was 9.95 on a 9.97 dial.

Don Baskin Truck Sales Factory Appearing Stock Tire (FAST): Terry Pennington was the lead qualifier with a 10.13, and later won over Don Giannone. Joining them were Cor-A-Vent and Autorama Auto Sales Factory Stock racers, and Julie Pennington picked up an 11.02 to lead qualifying, and later won over Eric Simpson. Factory Stock Shootout winners include Ty Taccone, Donnie Brass, Victoria Waligoria and Dave Watt.

The final stop on this year’s NMCA tour—the 18th Annual NMCA World Street Finals presented by Chevrolet Performance—will be held September 19–20, at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indiana.

Ed Federkeil
Ed Federkeil will team up with sponsors E3 Spark Plugs and FireAde to run his Nickens Powered Dodge Avenger in one of the most competitive and diverse classes contested on the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. 

E3 Spark Plugs, FireAde Join Ed Federkeil to Promote Hoods for Heroes and The Ronnie Thames Foundation at U.S. Nationals

Competition Eliminator racer Ed Federkeil will compete at the Chevrolet Performance Parts NHRA U.S. Nationals Labor Day weekend in Indianapolis to raise awareness and interest for the Hoods for Heroes organization and The Ronnie Thames Foundation. Federkeil will team up with sponsors E3 Spark Plugs and FireAde to run his Nickens Powered Dodge Avenger in one of the most competitive and diverse classes contested on the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. The former firefighter is using his racing career and sponsor relationships to shine a light on the two charities. Federkeil’s race car will display the E3 Spark Plugs logo for the U.S. Nationals and remainder of the 2019 NHRA season, which will join season-long sponsor FireAde as a backer for the racer from Florida. Hoods for Heroes and The Ronnie Thames Foundation will also be prominently displayed on Federkeil’s race car.

Mint
The Mint 400 will add multiple classes of youth racing in 2020. 

The Mint 400 Announces Youth Racing in 2020 “The Mini Mint 400”

The Mint 400 has announced it will add multiple classes of youth racing in 2020, including Polaris RZR 170, 250cc (RZR 170) and 570 classes. Now boys and girls between the ages of 5 and 16 can come battle at “The Great American Off-Road Race” for their chance to become a Mint 400 champion. The youth races will be held at the Primm Valley Start/Finish Line in Primm, Nevada, in front of a crowd of spectators, Friday, March 6. The Youth RZR 170 race at the 2015 UTV World Championship sparked a new interest in youth off-road racing. The following year, a 250cc class was added to not only increase youth participation but also include those teams who are adapting their youth SXS to compete at higher levels. In 2019, the UTV World Championship introduced the Youth Production 570 Class that showcased racers from ages 10 to 16. More information regarding racer and spectating details will be released in the coming months.

For more racing news, visit Performance Racing Industry’s (PRI) website.