The Heads Up Madness series at Sunshine Drag Strip is always good place to be for fun times and action packed racing, with this month being no exception. David Hance was on hand getting some hits in before the ORTC in Valdosta at
SGMP, and Will Stevenson made his return with a new engine combination. Oh and don’t forget, Open Outlaw is on hand with low four second alcohol burning alterds and three second dragsters.
Click here for the full gallery.
Also I have some good news from the folks at SCT. They have come on board as a sponsor for event coverage here at Street Legal TV and it’s sister sites, allowing us to offer you our own galleries, all hosted right here on site. Check them out at
SCTFlash.com
This series is sponsored by
Autoway Chevrolet and presented by
Performance 2way Racing Communications. The weather started off fairly hot with track temperatures at 134 degrees in the afternoon before the racing started, “cooling” to 119 at 5:30. It was actually pretty nice towards the end of the night.
I have to give a big shoutout to Mike (aka THE GODFATHER) at
Mafia Motorsports for loaning me his video camera. Mine was damaged Friday night at the track and rendered in-operable, thanks man. Here is Mike holding the Trophy's for Real Street.
Autoway Chevrolet has a brand new 2010 Camaro V-6 model on site for folks to take a look at. Keith Adams the track manager ran it down the track before the first round of Pro Mod to the tune of 9.41 @ 71 MPH.
7.50 Index
The 7.50 index class would have an increase in car count this month, up from sixteen to twenty-one, the highest so far this year.
Rob Butcher led early qualifying in his ’65 Catalina with a 7.51, followed by Corky Markwart, who was driving Troy Fredrickson’s Chevy II.
Robert Egger, Walt Shipley and Kyle Moore finished out the top five after the round.
In round two qualifying Rob Findley bumped Butcher down a notch and Egger improved his ET to keep third.
Stephanie Floyd also improved from nineteenth to fourth. Her husband Jim originally built the car for himself with his brother, then later decided to put her behind the wheel of this one, and just build another for himself.
This is Jim’s first Heads Up Madness event behind the wheel.
Shawn McNaughton was fifth after final qualifying, improving five spots. Corky Markwart would qualify in sixth. April’s runner up Kyle Moore qualified in eighth.
Billy Hamilton ran too fast and qualified poorly at numer twenty.
Round One
First round eliminations would pair Stephanie and Jim Floyd with Stephanie getting the win with a nice, 065 light and 7.51 ET.
Walt Shipley had an easy win over Chris Crowl despite his bad reaction as Crowl had problems and simply drove down the track.
April event winner Jeff Gibbud had a close race with Scott Young. Both racers had identical reaction times and Gibbud hard on the breaks at the last second for the win, 7.53 to 7.57.
Corky Markwart got the easy win over Tommy Lay’s foul start.
Billy Hamilton was also the beneficiary of an opponents red light, getting his win over Joe Duncan.
Number one qualifier Findley had the earned bye.
Greg Maples lost to Mike Miller with a bad tree, then run under the index trying to catch him.
Round Two
In round two Kyle Moore took out Robert Egger on a hole shot, making the top end game a no brainer. Markwart had a nice .021 light over Mike Miller, who broke out in a big way playing catchup.
Hamilton got the round win over Fred Hayman from Riverview in his 63 Nova. Hayman was late, .195 to Hamilton’s .101.
Floyd beat Gibbud on the tree and on the top end, 7.57 to Gibbud’s 7.81. Shipley was again lucky as Findley broke on the line and couldn’t take the tree, he would face Floyd in round three.
Rob Butcher had a bye in his over sized Catalina and ran it out for a 7.42 @ 92
Round Three
Stephanie Floyd had the better reaction time in her match against Shipley’s Nova but ran too fast with a 7.45, handing him the win. Hamilton faced off with Butcher’s Catalina, who broke on the launch. Markwart faced off with Kyle Moore in a close race with Moore breaking out by .029.
In the semi finals Shipley would get out first against Hamilton then both racers worked the stripe with Hamilton coming out the winner while Markwart had the buy running a 7.44 @ 92.
The Final would be Markwart against Hamilton with Markwart getting the starting line advantage and holding it out for the win. 7.62 to Hamilton’s 7.66
6.50 Index
The 6.50 class had eleven cars for May and has hovered around this number for 09 so far.
Rob Orsino took the top spot in first round qualifying followed by February’s 6.50 winner Richard Bakan.
Roel Rios took third, then Bill Lee Jr. with a 6.57 @ 105.
A newcomer to the class is Scott Stoneburg from Spring Hill, driving a 67 Firebird with true Pontiac power under the hood. He was fifth with a 6.67 @ 103.
In final qualifying Maria Barbara jumped from ninth to first with a 6.512
Orsino, Bakan and Rios would stand on their first round performance and Nicole Markwart would also improver her position to fifth with a 6.535
Round One
Barbara had the earned bye running a 6.51 @ 106. Orsino would get a big hole shot on Stoneburg leaving plenty of cushion for the finish line taking the win off the gas with a 6.55 @ 98.
John Morrell was the victim of a hole shot as well, loosing to Roel Rios on the brakes, 6.65 to 6.54.
Steve Kosusko was yet another racer late on the tree, falling to Bakan’s .035 light.
Nicole Markwart and Daryl Dempsy were very close in reaction time, .051 to .061 but Dempsy’s off pace 6.96 did him in.
Bill Lee Jr. took the win over Troy Fredrickson. .044 to .108, 6.60 to 6.63
Round Two
Bakan and Lee were the first pair in this round with Lee un-characteristically late on the tree and Bakan going on to the next round. Mario Barbara cut a killer .002 light on Rios, he would break out trying to catch up running a 6.479, sending Mario to face Bakan in the semis.
Nicole Markwart took the tree and the win over Orsino, landing a bye to the final.
Semi Finals
It would again be Barbara cutting down the tree against Bakan this time with an .011, getting the win in a double break out race. Nicole ran it out on her bye with a 6.47 @ 107
And again Mario takes the tree down in the final with a .008 to Nicole’s .048. 6.62 wasn’t enough to keep it as Nicole worked the throttle scrubbing some ET and taking the win, 6.52 to 6.62.
5.50 Index
The 5.50 index class is new for the Heads Up Madness series this year and is picking up car count and interest with 9 cars this month.
Ray DeGiovine led early with a 5.654.
Next was Bill Lee Jr., again pulling double duty with two cars.
First time 5.50 racer Neal Watkins was third qualifier after round one. Neal is a former Outlaw 10.5 racer who found it difficult to keep up. He said he may also try some Outlaw 632 racing.
February winner Ralph Stenger and Aaron Birdwell round out the top five qualifiers.
Final qualifying would see some shakeups with Timothy Ray moving up from eighth to first.
Ed Wester took over the number two position. He drives the Purple flamed out Mustang formerly campaigned by Walt Drakeford from Real Speed Racing in 10.5. This month they equipped the car with a bit of nitrous to run the number.
Watkins had to improve his ET by .07 to keep his third position, while DeGiovine and Lee did the same.
Stenger dropped to sixth, relying on his first round run.
Yet another 10.5 racer Jr. Atkins brought his Stick Shifted Mustang out from Lakeland to play and qualified eighth.
Round One
DeGiovine had a great light against Atkins with a .005, he would get the win, 5.67 to 5.69. Stenger and Wester were up next with Stenger getting the hole shot and lifting to a 5.57 and the win.
April winner Sam Bernardi would face Bill Lee Jr. who was having a run of poor luck. Bill was better on the tree but couldn’t run the number giving Sam the win.
Timothy Ray had the earned bye, running it out for a 5.48 and Neal Watkins would get his own bye as his opponent Aaron Birdwell was not able to make the call.
Round Two
Watkins and Bernardi led off round two with Watkins getting out first, leaving Bernardi to try and catch up; he would break out with a 5.44 handing the win to Watkins with a 5.60. DeGiovine would take a full tenth on the tree against Timothy Ray, enough to get the win with his pedaling 5.64 to the loosing 5.56. Stenger had a bye.
Semi Finals
Neal Watkins had the bye this round and ran on motor. Stenger killed the tree with a .004 to DeGiovines .055 taking the win as both cars ran 5.55 setting up the final with Watkins.
In the final Watkins was out first with an .024 to Stenger’s .059 in a close race with the final margin of victory just .033.
Real Street
Real Street had nine cars this month with last month’s winner Charlie Pixley taking the top spot, running a 5.41 in first round.
Mike Miller landed second with a 5.62
Bobby DeBlasio was third with a 5.625
Cory Berry is back driving Bobby Fields 91 Mustang and held fourth position with a 5.69. Friendly’s banter on the Mafia Motorsports forums had labeled this car “The Ghost” because no one had seen it at the track for some time. They are running well out of the gate.
Bobby Miller from Orlando was fifth after the first session driving his S-10 Blazer.
The final qualifying round saw Aaron Gramer jump to fourth from ninth running 5.66, bumping Berry to fifth. During the second session Cory was leaking water and was pushed back twice, leaving him stuck with the earlier run.
Clint Lonon had his car at Will Bodley’s Fabrication for some weight removal and to fit a new air pan. They were struggling and wound up eighth with a 6.18 while Pixley stepped it up with a 5.37.
Round One
Up first was Troy Pirez Jr and Cory Berry. Pirez took a .02 advantage on the start which was enough to hold on for the win, 5.614 to Berry’s 5.608. I talked with Joe from Ford Speed Racing later who told me they had a head gasket issue with the car which was causing the leak.
Lonon and DeBlasio were involved in a pedal fest with Clint recovering first, running a 6.02 to DeBlasio’s 6.20.
Bobby Miller left first on Gramer but his 5.96 was no match for the 5.58 in the other lane.
Mike Miller took his 87 Mustang to victory over the struggling Edward Schwarz.
Pixley had the bye and ran another 5.37.
Round Two
Lonon would find some ET and run a 5.44 @ 129, taking out Gramer’s game 5.56. Pixley would step it up again to a 5.33 against Tory Pirez Jr for the win. Mike Miller had the bye this round and ran a 5.61@ 125.
Round Three
Miller drew Pixley for the semi final and ran a nice 5.55 @ 126, not nearly enough to get by the 5.34 of Pixley. Lonon had a bye and ripped off a 5.346, showing they are back on track. Piuxley would have lane choice in the final by .006
The Real Speed crew has been working hard on Mike Burkhart’s car, which is now being driven by Charlie Pixley after Mike and Walt shared driving last year. The car uses a Bennett Racing engine for power, while Clint Lonon’s car has BES power under the hood. In the final, Lonon got out first with a .040 light to Pixley’s .054, but shook the tires while Pixley went on to a 5.31 @ 132 for low ET and high MPH for the event.
Stock Suspension
Stock Suspension had some big news this month with the return of David Hance and Will Stevenson debuting a new engine from Dyno Flo Racing Engines.
Will switched from the tried and true blow through they had been running for several years to a big chief engine and fuel injection. Denny Savage and Will have been consulting some with Steve Petty and doing some tuning on the dyno.
Will would run a 4.89 @ 152 off the trailer for top spot followed by Troy Pirez with a 5.03 while Archie Marasco lost his hood.
Kenny Markwich got the wheelie situation straightened out from last month and took third spot with a 5.04.
Chad Opaleski got down with a 5.20 in the heat, good for fourth, just ahead of Mel Nelson’s 5.28.
Hance kicked the tires off in his first qualifying pass.
After round two qualifying Pirez would hold the number one position with a 4.893 just edging Stevenson by .001.
Dave Hance would get down this time with a 4.98 bumping Markwich to fourth.
Matt Scranton also stepped up running a 5.05 which was good enough for fifth. Opaleski would also improve to a 5.06, but was unable to keep his number four spot and was pushed back to sixth.
Round One
Dave Hance and Dave Boger were the first pair in eliminations with Boger going red and Hance dancing the front wheels in the air shutting off to a 5.10 and the win.
Pirez had a bye due to Mel Nelson breaking a lifter and was unable to make repairs. He ran a 4.86 @ 151. Mel said Steve McGinnis from Progressive Racing Engines was on his way to Mel’s house to make the repairs ASAP so they can make the ORTC race next weekend.
Stevenson and Archie Marasco were next with Archie going red and Stevenson running a 4.892, regaining low ET.
Markwich ran a 5.005 taking the win against Drakeford after he lost traction at the hit.
Chad Opaleski got an opponent broke bye, he spun, pedaled the car and recovered to a 5.62 @ 140. His opponent was to be Albert Diaz, running a Toyota Supra turbo in street trim for testing.
Larry Hart also had a bye over the missing Matt Scranton, he ran 5.88
Round Two
Chad Opaleski would face off with Dave Hance in round one. Hance got on boost, rolled into the beams and right on through when he activated the trans brake, handing the win to Opaleski. Larry Hart turned on the red light against Stevenson who cruised to a 5.09 @ 146. That would leave Pirez and Markwich. Kenny did his job on the tree but was flat outrun by Pirez, who reset low ET with a 4.80 @ 151.82 to Markwich’s 4.94 @ 150, which is a very good run for him.
The final would once again be Pirez against Stevenson. Will would leave first with an .047 light to Pirez’ .093, which normally would have been a very tight race, but Will went into a wheelstand and didn’t pedal quite fast enough, came down hard then right back up again in a blaze of sparks as the car came crashing down while Pirez went on to a 4.82 @ 150. Word from Dan Neuman is the damage is not severe. Passenger side header, two tubes on the drivers side, caster/camber plates are bent (fixed already), bent mid plate, bent front rims, tabs pulled loose on the hood, dents and crinkles, otherwise known as battle scars. Will and Denny with be at SGMP to defend his ORTC title.
Outlaw 10.5 – King of the Street
Well again this month there is a low turnout on Outlaw 10.5 with only four cars, Matt Salminen, Scott Husted, Bill Futch and Rob Wells. Salminen led early qualifying with a 4.74 @ 167 followed by Scott Husted’s 4.98 @ 156. Futch and Wells did not get down in the first round.
Round two qualifying saw Futch improve to a 4.52. Bill is driving Carlos Zaldivar’s Corvette now and his car is currently parked.
Salminen improved to a 4.73 @ 167 and Husted to a 4.75, just better than Wells’ 4.76 @ 164.
Futch and Wells would face off in round one eliminations with Futch getting the win after getting beat on the tree with a 4.47 @ 169 to Wells’ 4.55 @ 166
Husted had a slight advantage on the tree but was outrun by Salminen. 4.72 @ 163 to Husted’s 4.89 @ 160
In the final Futch and Salminen left close with an ever so slight lead to Futch but Salminen spun the tires and watched Futch go on to run a 4.78 @ 172 for the win.
Pro Mod
Another class with low turnout for ‘09 is Pro Mod with only five for this month. “Fast” Frank Cersosimo was top qualifier by a good margin with a 4.25 @ 172.
Robert Sellers took second as a hired driver in Jeff Windholz’s ‘97 Firebird with a 4.60@ 153.
Jon Adams brought out his new car for it’s race debut. He purchased the 2007 Mustang from another local racer Donald Long as a roller and installed a 706 ci engine fresh from Scotty’s Racing Technology. He sat in third with an easy 4.61 @ 153.
Jimmy Stoupas held fourth spot. This is his first race back since a minor crash after the burnout at the NMCA race in Bradenton last month.
Bobby Burgett was fifth.
Round One
Cersosimo had the bye running 4.36 @ 150 on an easy run. Frank uses Monte Smith for tune up help on the nitrous.
Stoupas red lit against Adams, throwing away his 4.56 to Adams’ 4.67 and Sellers got the best of Burgett in a close race, 4.62 to 4.63 with Sellers having the starting advantage by .018.
Round Two
In round two Sellers had the bye running a 4.61 @ 152. Cersosimo and Adams both redlit with Adams being the worst infraction, sending him home, and Cersosimo on to face Sellers in the final.
In the final it would be Sellers doing his job on the tree coming out first with a .032 reaction and .04 in the bag. He went on to his best run of the night with a 4.59 @ 154, just not enough to get by “Fast” Franks 4.30 @ 166.
Open Outlaw
Open Outlaw is gaining momentum and fans with six cars this month and one of three classes to have organization off track.
Open Outlaw.com
Eric Morrison brought out his car for the May race. Gotta love a nostalgia funny car SVO Mustang.
They were having issues with the car running properly and hope to have it all worked out for the next race in June.
Matt Gilmore led the field early running a 4.02 @ 178 in the first session.
Larry Dripps was right behind with a 4.03 @ 181.
Ron Logan took the T N A racing digger to a 4.11 @ 175 for third.
Bill Heister, Marty Carpenter and Matt Wirth round out the field.
In the second qualifying Dripps would take over number one position with a 3.97 @ 182 while Gilmore and Logan would stand on their earlier runs.
Matt Wirth advanced to fourth with a 4.27 @ 156. Heister and Carpenter would improve their ET slightly but were bumped back by the advancing Wirth.
Round One
Logan took out Wirth, first on the tree by .2, then running a 4.33 @ 169 to Wirth’s loosing 4.39 @ 158.
Heister beat himself on the tree, turning on the red bulb, Gilmore would run a 4.12 @ 172.
Dripps and Carpenter were up next with Dripps leaving first, then loosing traction. He was able to pedal the car and recover, driving around Carpenter for the win. 4.56 @ 178 to 4.76 @ 144.
Dripps would have a bye in round two and run a 5.60 @ 97 after spinning the tires.
Logan took the advantage with an .038 tree against Gilmore, who had a .074. Logan gets the win, 4.111 to Gilmore’s 4.124 setting up the final with Dripps.
Dripps was clearly having problems getting down the track as it got cooler. The cooler air really makes the power turn on and they were having difficulty getting it planted. Logan had lance choice going it and put Dripps in the right side. Logan left first and went on to a 4.10 @ 169 while Dripps spun the tires and shut off, making it two in a row for Ron Logan.
Ron Logan - Open Outlaw Winner
Larry Dripps - Open Outlaw Runner up
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