The first race of the year for Street Legal TV starts at the first big race of the year at Bradenton, the US Nationals. Though there isn't an Outlaw 10.5 class this year, there will be a big showing of drag radial cars with the ORTC collaboration. Other classes will include Outlaw Pro Mod, Pro Street, Outlaw 632, Real Street and more! Check back all weekend for coverage.
Special thanks to our event sponsor SCT Performance. Check out www.sctflash.com for all their great tuning solutions.
Dan Bandish had an incedent on the top end after running 3.96. The car is over the wall and Dan is OK. For 2010 the team switched to a 2 speed Lenco Drive with a converter, Hoosier Tires with inner liners instead of bead locks.
Vinnie DeMiri has the top end apart in the pits, they are going to try and make any repairs and be ready for Saturday.
I spoke with “Big Truck Driver” in the Craig Miller pit. . Craig runs an Automatic Pro Mod and it looks like they have a new combo for this year. Sourced from APD out of Virginia is a 762 ci BBC wet sump engine. John Kyle from APD will be here later tonight and will talk to him about that.. They are looking to get into the 4.0’s today after running a 4.38 @ 160 testing earlier.
Scotty Gaudagno has had some good runs so far here in Bradenton. On Thursday he made a hit in 10.5 trim and ran a 4.40 flat. I believe that is a best ET for the car. After that pass they changed to TT5 x 29.5 to make a couple of runs for the upcoming ORTC race at the end of February and ran a 4.62, which puts them right in the thick of things. Gaudagno will be racing Automatic Pro Mod this weekend.
Mike Miller hurt the transmission in his Real Street entry. Joe and Mike were putting it back in but didn't get it wrapped up for first round session.
Looks like Haskel Mackowski also had some trans issues. he runs in Drag Radial.
Five cars made qualifying runs today in the 7.50 Index class. Matt Cummings has the top spot with a 7.51. Chris Adams, Mark Mullen, Greg Maples and Kyle Moore round out the rest.
6.50 Index
The 6.50 Index class has 10 cars so far this weekend, with Wesley Lee on top with a 6.501. Wesley is driving his brothers Mustang this weekend.
Mario Barbara sits in number two position with his roots blown SBC Camaro.
5.50 Index
Ray Degiovine from Port Charlotte FL qualified his Chevy Nova with a 5.55 to take number one in 5.50 Index.
Terry Duffy sits in second driving his 1980 Pontiac Grand Prix.
Craig Kairnan had a backfire just after the launch and had to be pushed back.
Seven cars for the Real Street class so far with Howard Spires on top with a 5.28 @ 134. Spires made the switch from the Big Block Chevy they ran last year to a 23* SBC. The big blocks were disallowed for 2010 in the local series. The rules have 23* combos on an unlimited jet and I am sure there is talk in the pits about Spires 134 MPH pass.
Rick Losee took second spot with a nice 5.32 @ 131 just ahead of Aaron Gramer.
Drag Radial
Candido Sanchez ran a couple of 4.80’s in testing. Oscar for PRD Race Development said they are looking to run in the 4.7 zone but qualified with a 4.86 in third position in Drag Radial.
Mel Nelson took top honors for today in the class with a 4.68 @ 164 in his twin turbo powered entry.
Erwin Rackley had some transmission issue on his run. It looked like it may have snapped the input shaft.
Chad Opaleski qualified seventh in his 1966 Chevelle.
Troy Pirez sits in fourth currently.
Outlaw 632
Outlaw 632 is here at the US Street Nats for the first time after sponsor funding fell through for Outlaw 10.5. The economy has taken it’s toll yet again. Performance 2Way Racing Communications had sponsored the class previously but a dismal year forced them to reduce spending for 2010. I did speak with Brian about this just yesterday and he said so far January has been quite busy so far. Let’s hope it keeps up.
Rob Briscoe ran a 4.60 @ 156 for top qualifier with Jimmy Hall taking second with a 4.96.
Dave French has struggles today with tire shake, he turned it down a bit and managed a 5.03 taking third.
While Dan Bandish did take top qualifier today his crash has him out for the weekend leaving Craig Miller in his place with a 4.25 @ 165.
Jon Adams ran a 4.54 lifting to only 137 MPH with his Wally Stroupe built Mustang.
Scotty Gaudagno is next with a 4.48. He is on 10.5 W’s this weekend.
Pro Street
In Pro Street Tony Christian has the number one position with a nice 4.02 @ 182 followed by Mike Hill’s 4.090.
The Keen Brothers put their turbocharged entry in third just behind Hill with a 4.091.
Jose “El General” Gonzalez sits in fourth with an 06 GTO, 4.097.
Hailing from Aruba Trevor Eman took fifth with a 4.10 in his 06 Ford Escort.
Vinny Demieri was able to make the call for todays session as the down time for cleanup after Bandish’s accident allowed them to reassemble the engine.
A brand new car for Kenny Voss is a 2010 Camaro. Normally I see Voss behind the wheel of a Mustang so this definitely a change for the Voss team.
Pro Mod
Calvin Hornes Sr ran a 4.91 hugging the wall in his Pro Mod, as did Dan Stevenson.
Stevenson’s car is new at the end of last year and now they just switched to a clutch combo. The Camaro has a Buck Racing 784 sniffing a lot of nitrous. Teir plans for 10 include ADRK and perhaps some Big Dog events as well.
Tommy Daprile broke the blower belt just after launch.
I made the rounds through the pits and got something to eat from Mel Nelson and crew. Thanks for the Chili.
After that I dropped in on Chad Opaleski. All is fine with them tonight just routine maintenance. They did run a 4.82 in testing this morning, a new personal best. Chad and Jamie also just recently rewire the car with a Spaghetti Menders system.
Team Aruba is also just performing routine pit duties going over the Lenco.
Josh Klugger is here this weekend as well with a borrowed engine from team mate Kevin Fiscus. Klugger broke the converter today, and thy are installing a borrowed piece for the next qualifying session.
This afternoon I thought I saw some smoke from Pirez’ Camaro. Sure enough it got a piston on the run. They were just getting things rolling when I stopped by earlier.
Another Drag Radial car needing some repairs is Erwin Rackley’s ride. During testing this morning it took out the drum, then in qualifying broke the input shaft. Steve from CRT Transmissions is handeling the repairs.
Justin Shawgo from Lehigh Acres is making some 4 link adjustments to try and keep the front end down. He ran a 5.65 today for seventh spot in Outlaw 632. Normally a roots blower guy, Shawgo switched to nitrous on the little 496ci. BBC to come and play in the class.
Ok folks just rolled in the track, we have some overcast weather with a pretty stiff headwind. Q2 is set to start at 11. Im off to the pits for some news
7.50 Index racer Matt Cummings from Palmetto FL has new paint on his Monte SS for 2010 by Dicky Carnahan out of Bradenton FL. He is currently qualified number one in class.
Rickey Zambrano is here competeing for the first time at the US Nationals in 6.50. The Prestige Cycles has a 393 ci SBF by Real Speed Racing in Clearwater. Custom graphics wrap by Sunstate Graphics.
I stopped down at the top end and caught this brand new Top Sportsman 67 Pontiac Firebirdowned by Dr Mike Hallsworth and built by Bill Lee Race Cars getting certified by Mike Wells.
The Georgia tech alum commissioned the shop to build his "Dream car" about 9 months ago and it features several Yellowjackets in the paint work on the car. It will be powered by a Mike Thompson 615 ci BBC on two kits.
Bruce Roberts purchased the former Modified Street Mustang from Kevin Scrhmisher. Eric Kenward then converted the car over to Real Street trim, including Wilson Pro Flow nitrous, Strange brakes, struts and shocks, TRZ suspension and a new prototype anti roll bar also from TRZ Motorsports.
Tony Ridenour has been chasing an electical issue. They hope to get it squared away for Q2.
Mike Modeste was unable to make a qualifyinf pass on Friday due to a leak. They are all fixed up now.
Howard Spires has the top position in Real Street with a 23* SBC. The 421 ci mill has straight plug RHS cylinder heads
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