With only two races left in the 09 Heads Up Madness Series, there were some shakeups in points, which should make for some interesting races in several classes at the November race.
This month's race was plagued by unseasonably hot weather for October, with track temperatures right at 117 degrees at start time. There was also an unusual amount of attrition, with several cars being pushed back or just plain not making the call.
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7.50 Index
In the 7.50 index class this month, previous event winner Kyle Moore led qualifying with a perfect 7.500, followed closely by Chris Schild, who was only .009 behind in the nineteen car field.
Joe Duncan, driving his '73 Nova, qualified in third with a 7.51. Ducan is half of a husband and wife crew, and his wife Robin drives a '62 Chevy II Survivor, also in the same class. They had the car shipped from California and swapped out the running gear to go racing. Robin qualified in eleventh, with a 7.60.
Shaun Smith and Matt Cummings round out the top five.
Eliminations
Duncan had an easy lap against Rob Findley from Parrish, Florida with an off-pace 8.36. Points leader Billy Hamilton took out new racer Evin Chamberlin’s '78 Malibu. Chamberlin shredded the edge of the slick during round one qualifying, which resulted in a little clean up. Chamberlin is part of Mr. Tip Racing, and they also have a nitrous assisted '90 Camaro for the 6.50 class.
Shaun Smith killed the tree racing Shawn McNaughton’s sweet '68 Chevelle. Smith was .006 on the tree and 7.501 on the top end - that’s mighty tough to beat, I don’t care who you are.
Jim and Stephanie Floyd, from New Port Richey, are another husband and wife team. They both drive four-eyed Fox body Mustangs - his has a 327 SBC for power and hers has a crate 351 Windsor. She has also been racing some in the 6.50 class with some nitrous assistance. They stepped it back down for the race, after some tuning issues cropped up during testing Wednesday night.
Thomas Orr was the only red light in the first round, giving the win to third in points Jeff Gibbud. Corky Markwart also had an easy go of it first round over Herman Hernandez from Dunedin. Hernandez was late at the light, with Markwart running a .031. Moore had the earned bye and ran exactly .01 under index.
Round two would be the last stop for the Floyds, after both were late on the tree and unable to make up the difference on the top end. Shaun Smith and Kyle Moore would advance instead.
Duncan and Gibbud would have a good close race, with Duncan getting a .030 lead out of the gate and running just .003 faster, for a total margin of victory of just .033. Robin Horn took out Billy Hamilton with a hole shot, and both racers were working the finish line, with Horn’s slower 7.59 taking the win.
With numbers one and three out in the points chase, Matt Cumming's win thanks to Markwart’s foul start is a much needed break for him.
Round Three
Cummings was again tight on the tree with a .012 in round three taking out Duncan who ran under with a 7.47 trying to run him down.
Smith and Moore had a tight race with a double break out finish, with Smith taking the win, his 7.499 closer to the index than a 7.472. Robin Horn had the bye, 7.62 @ 89mph. Smith and Horn would match up for the semi-finals, with Smith getting a good advantage at the start. His .055 light was enough to stay out front, 7.601 to 7.621. Cummings had the bye this round and ran a .001 light and 7.549 ET, in preparation for facing off with Smith next round.
For the final, it would be Smith’s .016 light and 7.516 to put Cummings on the trailer and take the first win for this father and son team. With the shakeup in points and Cummings now in the lead, next month should be interesting.
6.50 Index
Mario Barbara led the field in 6.50 index this October, with a 6.514 @ 106. When the TSR Racing crew first arrived, the car would not fire. The problem was traced to a faulty ignition box, which they were able to replace at the track.
Bill Lee Jr. took second place, running a 6.521. Roel Rios put his '68 Camaro in third spot, just .004 behind points leader Lee. Eugene Rodriguez was behind the wheel of Bill Lilly’s Mustang and qualified the car in fourth. Nicole Markwart would round out the top five cars (out of eight).
Eliminations
Eddie Chamberlin has clearly been working on the car recently, as now it’s wheels up launches for the Camaro (well, except on this pass). Rios got a front row seat, with a late .142 light giving the win to Chamberlin.
Barbara got the hole shot against Nicole Markwart, but took too much strip at the finish in a double break out race. Lee Jr. took the win over Charles Johnson out of Seffner, Florida. Rodriguez ran a 6.493 on the bye run, and Lee took himself out in round two against Rodriguez, with a .009 red light.
Both Eddie and Nicole were late in their matchup, with Nicole taking the win by running a 6.62 to the losing 6.86.
It was Markwart and Rodriguez in the final, with Rodriguez have a perceived advantage if you looked at previous reaction times through the night. Again, it would be Rodriguez with the better light, .023 to Nicole’s losing .123.
5.50 Index
There were nine cars running this month in the uncharacteristically hot October Florida weather - I can’t wait until it cools off down here, that’s for sure.
Sam Bernardi took top qualifying honors this month with his '53 Studebaker. The car runs a 468 cubic inch big block Chevy and a little nitrous for motorvation. Ralph Stenger, currently first in points, put his '90 Corvette in second.
Ed Wester, last month's winner, sat in third with a 5.530. The car is owned and sponsored by Phil Maquen and maintained by Real Speed Racing. Chris Knapp and George Shrader III round the top five cars.
Eliminations
Neal Watkins got lucky with his win over Stenger. Stenger cut a .003 light, only to break out with a 5.46 and sending Neal to the round two bye. Shrader got his win over the way late Billy Donald, .022 to .296.
Chris Knapp was driving a borrowed car for this race - it’s always a good bet to put the former NHRA Champion behind the wheel. He got the first round win on a foul start by J.R. Atkins. Wester also got his win on a foul, this one by Sam Pagano. Bernardi had the single as top qualifier in the odd numbered field.
[i]
J.R.'s is the only car in class to run a stick shift trans in his '93 Mustang.[i]
Round two had Knapp with a .017 light to Bernardi’s .082 and breakout trying to catch up. Wester caught some luck after Shrader III cut down the tree with a .001 light, however his off-pace 5.60 gave up the win.
Watkins got the bye for round two - he ran a 5.61 and would face off against Chris Knapp in the semis. However, his late .119 light would be his undoing, and Knapp would go on to the final vs. Wester.
The final would have the advantage to Knapp at the tree by .026, with Wester going to fast with a 5.48 through the lights.
Mafia Motorsports Real Street
With five of the twelve car field coming up from South Florida, it was promising to be an interesting race in Real Street.
Brian Goss put his blown 347 cubic inch Mustang on top in qualifying, with a 5.32 @ 134. Goss and Mike Freeman are partners and brought up two cars, with this being Freeman’s race debut here at Sunshine. Freeman, whose car has been converted back to stock suspension and was formerly run in the NMRA Super Street Outlaw class, qualified ninth.
Rick Losee (out of Ft. Myers) qualified in second, running 5.40 @ 129. Local racer Mike Miller took third with a 5.44 @ 129. James Tall put the Trans R Us '64 Nova in fourth, with a 5.51. Fifth would go to Bobby DeBlasio in the “Blue Bomber,” another old school shoebox Chevy.
Kevin Smith and Eric Kenward would represent more of the South Florida contingent. Although Smith is actually from Alachua, the turbocharged Malibu is owned by Kenward and is a joint project with Kenward and TRZ Motorsports (out of Kissimmee). Both cars were off-pace in qualifying.
Eliminations Round One
DeBlasio outran Gramer, after getting beat on the tree 5.56 to 5.64. Charlie Pixley didn’t qualify well, but he treed Clint Lonon (pictured) and got the win with a 5.454 to Lonon’s losing 5.437. Troy Pirez Jr. was another racer who did poorly in qualifying - he broke the tires loose again, running a 5.77 @ 129 on an opponent broke single. Brian Goss was pushed back for leaking.
Freeman was also pushed back after his burnout, giving the win to Tall, who ran 5.45 @ 127. Kenward and Smith both had identical .001 red lights during their matchups this round, advancing Miller and Losee.
Round two action had Losee and DeBlasio up first with Losee hooked up and gone to a 5.44 @ 127 while DeBlasio kicked the tires at the hit.
Charlie heats the tires as car owner Mike Burkhart looks on and tells him when to stop.
In yet another starting line misfortune, Pirez Jr. was also pushed back after his burnout, giving Pixley the win this time. He ran it out to a 5.43 @ 129. Next up this round were Tall and Miller. Tall was out with a .026 to Miller’s .080. The late start had Miller on the losing end, and his 5.447 was not enough to catch the .5.50 in the other lane.
Round three would have the two remaining shoebox Chevy’s facing off. With near identical reactions, it would be Tall going on to the finals as Losee spun the tires.
Pixley had the single, running a 5.41, and his best ET of the night earned him lane choice in the final.
With both cars solidly in the 5.40 zone it was shaping up to be a great final. When the cars came up, it was Pixley out first with a .031 tree, taking over a .03 advantage at the hit. Tall passed him quickly as the ring gear broke, and went on to run a 5.43 @ 127 for his first win.
Stock Suspension/Drag Radial
During qualifying, Goodtimer Tony Ridenour led the first session just ahead of Troy Pirez. In round two, it would be Pirez taking the top spot, with a 4.79 to Tony’s 4.81 in a side-by-side match.
Kevin Fiscus held down third with a 4.97 @ 158, after pulling an all-nighter getting the car back together. Just two weeks ago at PBIR, a lifter gave out during eliminations ending the day. The motor was pulled and taken to Proline for repairs and was just finished up on Friday.
Pete Chevere is doing very well lately in his '70 Nova. He currently holds the record for the quickest leaf spring car in the 1/8th, with a 4.88. His 4.98 @ 148 was good enough for fourth. Kenny Markwich rounded out the top five cars with a 5.03 @ 147.
Amanda Long (Puddin) is back out, with a fresh bullet out of their own Fast Forward Race Engines in the New Edge Mustang. The Longs were still having electrical issues with the car, and were on one kit only. 5.05 @ 141 was still good for sixth.
Mel Nelson is back at it, after some upgrades to “pretty much everything” (according to Nelson). This is his first time back out at Sunshine and the car looks great with the new paint. He landed seventh with a 5.15 @ 146.
Jason Driggers brought out a turbo charged Ford Fairmont. They arrived late, so I missed out on photos. Be sure to check out the video for the wheelstand action in this class. He qualified in tenth position with a 5.45 @ 138.
Richard Ness is also back out with his Mustang. He has been out for a while, after breaking his anti-roll bar at Orlando last year. Ness ran 5.64 @ 135 for eleventh spot.
Round One
Fiscus set a low ET for the first round, with a 4.86 @ 161 on a bye run. David Boger broke a rocker on the burnout and was pushed back.
Markwich mowed the tree down with a .009 against Ness’s .073 and took the win with a 5.08 to the losing 5.29. adding another ten points to his lead over Pirez. This gives him a nineteen point advantage going into November.
Walt Drakeford also won on an opponent broke single, due to the missing Ridenour. Amanda Long was late on her light, but good to go on ET, driving around Archie Marasco’s SBF Turbo Mustang. Mel Nelson took out number one qualifier Troy Pirez with a small advantage at the tree and outran him on the top end, 4.89 @ 156 to 4.91 @ 151 in a good close race.
Chevere stepped it up for eliminations, taking out Driggers’ Fairmont, 4.93 to 5.07.
Round Two
Fiscus ran a nice 4.83 @ 160 after Long’s car backfired going on the transbrake. Drakeford got the hole shot win over Markwich with a .057 light, taking the win with a slower 5.075 to Markwich’s 5.061. Nelson just took low ET for round two, with a 4.81 @ 157 in a win over Chevere, who lost traction at the hit.
Drakeford and Fiscus would be the upset of the event, with Fiscus getting into a wheelstand. He was forced to pedal the car and he came down hard, coasting to a 5.40 @ 105 while Drakeford took the T-Bird on to a 5.10 @ 143. Nelson ran 4.86 @ 160 on the bye run.
The final would also be filled with excitement, with Nelson late on the tree and Drakeford’s car reaching skyward this time. He pedaled the car several times to no avail, as the front end just wanted to be in the air. Nelson set low ET for eliminations and his best run since being back out with the car, running a 4.79 @ 160 for the win.
King of the Street Outlaw 10.5
Bryan Markiewicz led qualifying with a 4.39 @ 175. During Friday’s test session he ran a 4.36 off the trailer, then a 4.44, so it was no surprise for him to lead the field. He had to leave for the hospital after the first session, as they are expecting a baby any day. He did make it back for first round, and as of yet there is no word regarding the new addition.
Rob Wells from Ford Speed Racing qualified in second, with a 4.54 @ 171. Well is second in points right now, just twelve points behind Salminen with 152. Matt Salminen put his '69 Twin-turbocharged Camaro in third, running 4.55 @ 169. Bill Futch qualified the CZR Racing Corvette fourth with a 4.71 @ 158.
Local Safety Harbor Racer Scott Husted made some changes recently and now the engine is making full boost. He landed fifth with a 4.96 @ 153.
Round One
Wells had an opponent broke bye over Husted, but had to abort the run after the car made a move towards the center line, running a 5.22 @ 107.
Salminen got all kinds of sideways in his match against Futch, with both cars off-pace and it was Futch for the win. Number one qualifier Markiewicz had the bye and he ran another 4.39 @ 175. He would line up with Futch in round two and get around Futch’s .007 light, with a 4.42 @ 172 to the losing 4.56 @ 167.
Wells again lifted to a 5.23 on his bye to the final. He moves into the points lead with this round win and 192 points.
Markiewicz and Wells staged up for the final, and Wells was just a touch too early bringing out the red bulb with a .001. Markiewicz went on to a 4.47 @ 172 taking the win.
Pro Mod
Ray Chavez (from Miami Lakes) took the top spot on Pro Mod qualifying, with a 4.18 @ 176 - a potential track record pass.
Series Regular and points leader Fast Frank Cersosimo ran a 4.23 @ 174 for second position with his Dodge-powered '99 Avenger. Jon Adams put his '07 Mustang in third with a 4.37 @ 164. Adams is second in points, and the season win will come down to him and Cersosimo in November.
Chris Mendola is out for the second time with the new car. This '68 Camaro had a blown 400 cubic inch small block Chevy, which freshened up recently by Scotty’s Racing Technology in Spring Hill, and ran a 4.94 for fourth. Jimmy Stoupas and Mike Reid round out the field of six cars.
Chavez ran a nice 4.221 to get around Mike Reid, just enough to secure the track record, which was previously a 4.19 held by Jeff Enslinn. Adams and Mendola were consistent players, with Adams running a 4.42 to Mendola’s 4.97 and taking the win. Stoupas was not able to show for the first round, giving Cersosimo the win. He ran a nice 4.24 @ 175 and would have lane choice for the next round against Adams.
In that matchup, Adams would do his job at the tree and Fast Frank spun the tires, giving the win to Adams who ran a 4.54 @ 158. Chavez must have tried something that didn’t work, as he shut it down on his bye with a 5.15 @ 96.
In the final, Adams was late on the tree with a .145 to Chavez’s .072, though both cars were back on form with Chavez running a 4.24 @ 172 to consistent (just not enough) 4.39 @ 165 run of Adams. The appearance by Adams in the final now puts him within one point of Cersosimo for the year, 195 to 194.
Open Outlaw
Eight cars were on site for Open Outlaw this month, and the class is drawing more cars all the time. Matt Gilmore led qualifying with a 4.03 @ 177. Multiple event winner Ron Logan was second, with a 4.12 @ 172 in the T & A Racing Mullis dragster.
Steve Bush’s 4.29 @ 164 put him in third position. Tom Wirth took fourth spot with a 4.43 @ 153. Craig Andrews, Bill Heister, Steve Tiona and Bob Ewing round out the field.
Six cars were paired up for first round, with Tom Wirth and Craig Andrews being the first pair out. Andrews had .019 advantage at the light, but his 4.62 wasn’t enough for Wirth’s 4.45. Logan took out Tiona with a 4.12 @ 173 after getting beat on the tree. Bob Ewing got a bye with his '32 Bantam Roadster, as Gilmore didn’t make the call for first round. He ran a 4.66 @ 150, giving up lane choice to Wirth.
Wirth and Ewing had identical reaction times at .032 and both cars were consistent with their previous round time,s which put Wirth about two tenths in front for the win. Logan would slow to a 4.71 @ 106 after lifting on the bye.
In the final, Logan was out first by .04, running a 4.38 @ an easy 147 MPH to take out the consistent Wirth who ran a 4.48 @ 152.
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