Network
Race Classes:
- Garrett Turbo Pro Street
- Mickey Thompson True Ten 5
- ProCharger 275 Drag Radial
- ARP Outlaw 8.5
- Lucas Oil N/A 10.5
- Granatelli Motorsports Mustang Madness
- Burns Stainless Open Comp
- Hedman Hedders Nostalgia Street Car
- Calvert Racing Quick Street
- Edelbrock Super Quick
- K&N Filters Pro Comp
- TREMEC True Street
The NMCA West tour returns to the birthplace of drag racing this weekend for the 3rd Annual JE Pistons NMCA West Coast Shootout, presented by Lucas Oil. Just an hour or so up the road from our Power Automedia SoCal headquarters, the Auto Club Raceway at Pomona is the oldest venue on the NHRA pro circuit, and thanks to residential encroachment over the past 60 years, it only plays host to a handful of drag races each season.
Fortunate indeed, then, are the racers who get to battle it out on this historic track in five heads up classes, six handicapped categories, and True Street. The predicted weather is excellent, and we’ll be on-site all weekend to bring you news and results from the track.
Friday Pit Notes
Overcast skies and cool temperatures have been the order of the day so far – good test & tune weather, if not the best for photography. Here’s what’s happening so far:
Pro Street racer Scott Oksas is out with his brand-new second-gen Camaro – the Hemi-powered twin turbo sled is the replacement for his previous Mustang, lost to a crash in Bakersfield at the previous NMCA West race. His first-ever pass in the new car was a bit shaky, with a close encounter with the tree during the burnout, followed by heavy smoke at half-track. We’ll keep an eye on him throughout the day and see how things are sorting out with the new ride.
Bull horns (exhaust outlets angled upwards to provide downforce) are common for turbo cars, and aren't that unusual for blower combinations either. But Kevin and Jeff Young, last year's #1 and #2 in Drag Radial, have gone to the trouble of getting theirs routed ahead of the front wheels on both third-gen Camaros.
While the fleet of Roush drag Mustangs has been a common sight at NMRA and NMCA events east of the Mississippi, this is the first time we’ve seen them at a NMCA West event. Don Bowles (below, right) and Susan Roush McClenaghan’s ROUSH Mustangs are fueled by propane, which is not only very clean-burning but also has an octane rating comparable to race gas.
It might be wrong-wheel-drive, but the lone Honda on the track today is running low tens…
While most of the Pro cars have been having issues or shutting off intentionally before the thousand foot cone, John Mihovetz showed how it's done with a 6.05 at 241 and change.
With that, we’re done for the day, and looking forward to more fast passes tomorrow – see you then!
