NMCA KY 2008 - Sunday Coverage

[powerjames]

It's race day at Beech Bend Raceway here in Bowling Green, as the NMCA's racers are looking at a stellar day although slightly windy for eliminations. We'll bring you all of the photos, videos, and action that our pathetic internet connection can muster.


The talk in the pits last night from the exhaust racers was Spiro's 6-second Super Street blast. He's distancing himself from the field with his ability to half track the single turbo car. At this point, some people have stated they feel like they are racing for second place, and this is before his big block car is dialed in.

[DNRC]

Originally Posted by powerjames

It's race day at Beech Bend Raceway here in Bowling Green, as the NMCA's racers are looking at a stellar day although slightly windy for eliminations. We'll bring you all of the photos, videos, and action that our pathetic internet connection can muster.

The talk in the pits last night from the exhaust racers was Spiro's 6-second Super Street blast. He's distancing himself from the field with his ability to half track the single turbo car. At this point, some people have stated they feel like they are racing for second place, and this is before his big block car is dialed in.

So who's driving the "evil twin" of Spiro's?

[powerjames]

Spiro is making test passes. As mentioned yesterday, Scavo is out of the driver's seat of the car. "Just didn't work out" is what we were told, and we have no insight as to why the partnership fell apart.

Scavo is driving both cars at Bowling Green, the single turbo car is the #1 qualifier in S/S. The other was running with the Pro Street guys.

[powerjames]

The first round of Xtreme Street is in the books and here are your highlights:

Xtreme Street Round 1 Eliminations
www.streetlegaltv.com

• Shemwell is inching toward the 7-second zone, with a 8.02 at 174.98 mph to say good bye to Bob Curran. Shemwell ran a 1.37 60-foot and a 5.21 in the 1/8 telling the world he has low 7.90s in the bag when he gets his 60-foot fixed.

• Bob Kurgan stepped things up in a single run, as Pete Johnson was unable to make the call, with a 8.18 at 170.41 mph. Kurgan ran a nice 1.30 60-foot.

• In a pedal fest, Nick Rinehart trailered #6 qualifier Steve Cagle with a lifting 10.74 at 112.48 mph as Cagle had problems from the get-go with a 1.644 60-foot. This ends the day for Cagle who qualified with a 8.27.

• By all accounts it looked like Bart Tobener was going to eliminate Mackowski and his #16 qualified X/S ride, but it was not to be. Even though Haskell smoked the tires (2nd in a row in that lane) something went away on Bart's machine and Haskell streaked by with a narrow win.

• Cameron Coble, Zoop, and Stapleton also advanced, as Aaron Stapleton took a single when Chuck Bartholme broke in his last qualifying session. He had qualified #2 but this heavy hitter is headed home.

[powerjames]

Pro Street and Super Street are up next for Round 1 Eliminations

Round 1 Eliminations - P/S and S/S

• 6.28 was the magical number, as both Vinny Budano and Steve King would dial up that Pro Street fantasy land e.t.. What is this, Pro Mod? King defeated Al Suggs with a 6.28 at 230 mph, and Vinny Budano took out sportsman Tony Williams with his own 6.28 at 221 mph.



• A tight round between Randall Haynes and George Landis ended with Randall taking the victory by the virtue of Landis slow reaction time (a .228), and Haynes slightly faster 6.56 to 6.58 win.

• Steve Miller is going home. Trouble on the starting line felled Miller, whose 2.81 60-foot said "trailer" faster than Noel Felton could trip the clocks with a lifting 7.21. It's a long drive home for the Minnesota-based crew who was looking to improve on their 6.41 qualifying effort.

• Bischoff would advance against O'Hare as he outpaced the blown Big-block with a nice 4.15 at 177 1/8 mile and 6.38 run. Micke also advanced.

[powerjames]

Super Street - Eliminations Round 1
www.streetlegaltv.com

• Spiro Pappas again made another 6-second lap. A 6-second lap with a 6.98 at 207 mph with a pedestrian 1.21 60-foot. Ray Sanchez was on the loosing end of Pappas single turbo thunder.

• Glidden defeated long-time street legal racer Gino Cavalieri with a 7.30 at 193 mph.

• Jim Blair, #1 qualifier with a 7.01, defeats Sementilli's off pace 7.73 with a 7.17 at 194.02 mph run of his own.

• Other racers that advance include Ed Rice, Tony Nesbitt and Ron Lummus

Nostalgia Pro Street - Eliminations Round 1
www.streetlegaltv.com

• Jim Widener was right on target, with his competition bye running a 7.502 at 182.90

• Pete Ricart, back behind the wheel of his Nostalgia Pro Street entry, failed to make the call for Round 1 due to mechanical trouble, giving hte win to Billy Joe Gordan who improved to a 7.79

• Jeff Colleta matched Widener's power with a 7.49 at a stunning 191.70 mph to defeat Mitch Mika. That 191 top speed is likely to get a close look from the tech officials.



• In the closest e.t. to e.t. race we can recall in recent NMCA history, Kevin Parent defeated Barb Nesbitt on a hole shot with a 7.616 defeating a 7.615 when factoring in his .022 light.

[powerjames]

Xtreme Street Eliminations Round 2



• Zoop Zellonis is not a household name among NMCA fans. However, he is a big-time NMRA Mustang racer and has brought his game to the Xtreme Street class. Zoop who qualified #17 in Bowling Green has eliminated Bill Trovato with a game changing 8.09 at 170.75 mph. Zoop has always been a tough racer but he's in a whole new ball game in X/S recently.

• Another NMRA racer, another upset. Stapleton takes out Rinehart. Next run, Cameron Coble rips a 8.13 at 175 to defeat Haskell Mackowski. Shemwell and Bob Kurgan also advance.

[powerjames]

Pro Stock - Eliminations Round 1
www.streetlegaltv.com

• Butch Kemp had a bye run in Round 1, no improvement on his 8.45

• Maichle takes out Langer but spins a bit on the line running a 8.66 at 159.55 mph run over Langer's 8.77

• Jeff Chandler advances with a 8.70 over Brad Wise, who broke.

• Demayo was also broken, giving the win to NMRA shoe SAM School driver Justin Curry with a 8.76 at 155.04

Street Race - Eliminations Round 1

The only really notable thing here is that John Macaluso ran another 8-second run, a 8.96 at 154.32 in a single, the second closest was Brian Edwards 9.22. Other winners include Brad Schehr, Tim Hendricks, and Mike Fratena.

[powerjames]

Mean Street Round 1 Eliminations

Jeff Swanson and Jeremy Gillam go rounds over Don Baskin and Alan Von Ahnen. Because there are only 4 cars in the category - we won't hear from this group again until Finals time.

• Gillam defeated Baskin on a .055 holeshot as his 10.11 at 133.10 was a tick slower than Baskin's 10.08.

[powerjames]

It's a big deal, as racers and fans in the stands had their jaws dropped open when Billy Glidden handed Spiro Pappas, the favorite and #1 qualifier, a one-way ticket home courtesy of his truck and trailer.

Glidden and Pappas are not new rivals; they have been dueling since the mid 1990's in the NMCA days and know each other well. Pappas had run as quick as 6.83 in qualifying, and Glidden made a run which was surely a low 7.0 or 6.99. Glidden knew he had to get it done on the tree, and he did, with a .059 light, 1.07 60-foot, and a 6.99 at 204.70.

Spiro, for his part, ran a 1.19 60-foot, and ran Glidden down (almost) with a 6.95 at 208.55 mph. The total margin was .02 seconds.

That's what they race.

Also advancing is Jim Blair who ran a 7.01 over Ron Lumus (who was broke). Tony Nesbitt also advanced over Ed Rice. That leaves Blair, Nesbitt, and Glidden still in the field.