Heads Up Madness June 09 Coverage

Chevelle Rob · #1 (**permalink**) 06-22-2009, 08:58 AM

The June race is the last one before the summer break and usually has a good turnout and it was again even with the treat of bad weather according to reports but we stayed dry but hot with track temps right at 120 degrees at the 5 PM start time.

This months AutoWay Chevrolet Heads Up Madness at Sunshine Dragstrip is presented by Performance 2Way Communications and brought to you by SCT, as is all of our event coverage.

Auto Way Chevrolet is the title event sponsor and they usually bring out different cars to display. This month they had a 2009 Z-06 Corvette on hand for folks to gawk at.

Mike Wells the regions NHRA tech inspector was on hand to provide chassis certs. fort those who needed it. I caught him at work early in the afternoon. Several cars were here just for that service while Sam Pagano stayed for the race.

7.50 Index

Kyle Moore led the eighteen car field running just .001 over the index.

The next three cars were separated by a mere .007 in the 7.52 zone. Jeff Gibbud, Paul Silvernail, Thomas Orr and Stephanie Floyd.

Rich Perry brought out his Chevy 2 to run the 7.50 class this month. The car should be ready for the next Real Street race in September with the engine from the Chevelle installed along with some other updates. He qualified eleventh with a 7.58.

Walt Shipley was in attendance again. For some reason I really like this car, and you can’t go wrong with the old school 98 Rock license plate.

A newcomer to the class is Keith Kipling with his 2006 GTO, he landed seventeenth running an 8.05. It’s nice to see some true late model muscle bring more diversity.

Shawn McNaughton is a regular with his clean 68 Chevelle. This month he qualified seventeenth with a 7.48. He recently went live with his new website www.shawnmcnaughton.com which will feature regular updates about his racing exploits, photos and video provided by Devastation Motorsports as well as sponsor information.

Round 1

Thomas Orr and Tommy Lay were up first in eliminations. Lay was out first but way off pace with a 7.99, Orr got around him early and lifted to a 7.71 for the easy win. Tommy Lay pictured.

Paul Silvernail drives this gorgeous 55 Chevy, he faced Tony Stewart’s (no not THAT one) 87 Mustang. Stewart was late on the tree and tried to play catch up but ended up breaking out with a 7.38.

Cummings took the win over Kipling in a double break out race, 7.49 to 7.42.

Top qualifier Kyle Moore took himself out, going red with an -.004 for the first foul of the night against Shaun Smith. Smith Pictured.

Billy Hamilton took the win over Greg Maples’ Ford Futura breakout 7.47.

Shipley over Floyd where both racers were late getting started and playing games at the stripe.

Both Robert Egger and Joe Duncan have grey Nova’s and I have a hard time telling them apart. They would both advance to round 2, as well as Jeff Gibbud, who had an opponent broke bye after Rich Perry didn’t make the call.

Round 2

Orr was late on the tree again sending Egger on to meet up with Shaun Smith in round three who had a bye this round.

Gibbud took out Duncan with his slower 7.52 to 7.50 after a tenth advantage at the hit.

Hamilton beat Shipley on the tree and at the stripe, 7.52 to 7.58. Silvernail was also late and off pace giving the win to Cummings

Round 3

Smith defeated Egger with an .036 light running .04 over to Egger’s breakout 7.495. I dig the wrap on the trailer.

Hamilton went red against Cummings Monte Carlo. He will have a bye into the final. Gibbud had the bye this round and ran it out to 7.47 @ 88 MPH.

Round 4

Smith had to drive around Gibbud with a 7.51 @ 91, Gibbud’s low MPH shows his 7.54 was on the brakes.

Cummings ran out his bye for a 7.508 @ 90 showing he is on his game.

In the Final it would be Cummings out first in a close race, getting a .03 advantage on the tree and running just .007 over index while Smith broke out with a 7.499.

6.50 Index

Nicole Markwart took top qualifier with a nice 6.501. Bill Lilly was just .004 behind here for second qualifier.

John Morrell for RMP Automotive landed in third position with his 1980 Malibu, 6.516.

Roel Rios was number four running a 6.537.

Closing out the top five was Bill Lee Jr. with a 6.57.

Dunedin racer Mario Barbara broke a lifter during Friday nights test session and the TRS racing crew had to pull a late night thrash to repair the car which included pulling both heads.

Round 1

John Morrell and Charles Johnson were up first with Morrell getting the best of Johnson but getting DQ’d for crossing the center line putting Johnson back in.

Richard Bakan went red in a big way handing the win to Lee Jr.

Rios took out Mike Lohmeyer’s turbo Lightning Pickup with a 6.56 to Lohmeyer’s 6.67. This was his first event in the Real Speed Parts prepped entry.

Markwart got around the off pace Barbara early for the easy win blipping the throttle through the traps.

Eddie Chamberlain was late on the tree against Lilly, though he was quicker he would go home early and Lilly would go on to face Rios.

Round 2

Nicole had a single this round and ran just under index 6.491.

Lee Jr. got around Charles Johnson’s ,031 light with a 6.59 to the off pace 6.91 of Johnson.

Number two man Lilly took down fourth qualifier Rios on the tree, getting the win with a 6.513 to Rios’ 6.503

Semi Finals

Lilly had the bye this round running it out to a 6.44 @ 105.

Lee took a slight advantage over Markwart on the tree, .012 to .022 hanging on for the win while Markwart ran an under index 6.486 trying to make up the difference.

Both Lee and Lilly have been here before but Lilly was late on the tree with a .082 to Lee’s .023. Lee got the win with both racers running under index.

5.50 Index

The 5.50 class seems like a hit as it keeps growing with ten cars this month. Ralph Stenger led the filed with a 5.502 for top honors in qualifying.

Sam Bernardi took second with his 53 Studebaker.

Ed Wester was third running 5.512.

Timothy Ray took forth spot with 5.519.

Last months winner Neal Watkins was fifth qualifier with a 5.54.

New guy George Schrader came over from Lakeland with his 1990 Mustang and pitted with series regular J.R. Atkins, also from Lakeland.

This beautiful Nova belongs to Ray Degiovine from Port Charlotte, he qualified seventh at 5.61.

Another new face in class is local and long time bracket racer Sam Pagano. Sam has been racing this sweet 55 Bel-Aire as long as I can remember coming to Sunshine and owns a detail shop in Clearwater.

Robert Jackson is coming out to have some fun racing with the TSR crew. His current engine is a 434 ci SBC on nitrous. It’s basically a hot street engine and they area working on running faster but are looking to change things up engine wise before it will run on the index.

Round 1

Stenger took out the late Schrader with an .021 light and 5.55 pass while Schrader ran under trying to catch up.

Wester and Pagano had identical .022 lights in their match up, but Wester had a car advantage at half track and took the win with a 5.52.

Bernardi took the win over Degiovine, 5.51 to 5.63.

Watkins got an easy win over Atkins who shut down early.

Ray also had it easy against Jackson’s 6.16, running a 5.52 @ 120 for the win.

Round 2

Bernardi got out first and stayed there sending Ray home early.

Next up were Watkins and Wester with Wester turning the red light on giving the win to Watkins.

Stenger had a bye for this round and ran 5.64 @ 123.

Semi Finals

Number one qualifier Stenger was off pace against Watkins’ El Camino with a 5.64. He would face Bernari in the final after he simply took the tree and drove down on his bye run.

In the final Bernardi was dead late with a .169 light and he knew it so he shut down early handing the win to Watkins for two in a row. That makes him 2 and 0 for events attended.

Real Street

This is a list of class sponsors for Mafia Motorsports Real Street Further information about the class schedule and driver profiles can be found on Florida Real Street.com

TRZ Motorsports
407-933-7385

Skeeter's Smokehouse Bar-B-Que
727-647-2117

FordSpeed Racing
727-549-8255

John's Automotive Machine
727-544-6622

Joto's Pizza Pub
727-544-6694

Steve Johnsons Induction Solutions
815-341-8853

Genium Performance
727-547-6390

All-American Street Car Performance
727-535-6905

Slavin Law Firm
727-474-3785

Please support the companies that support the racers.

Qualifying

We had a good showing in Mafia Motorsports Real Street this month with the South Florida crew making the trip up for the race. With nothing on the schedule for the class at Immokalee either this should will likely be the last race for them until September.

Rick Losee landed the top position with a 5.37 @ 130. He is back in the .30’s and surely taking advantage of the nostalgia allowance of a .010 upsize on the jet restriction, which would normally be an .082 for his 18* SBC @ 3100 LBS.

Charlie Pixley put the Real Speed Parts entry to the number two position with a 5.38 @ 130. With three wins in a row he is the likely favorite to win.

Walt Drakeford from Real Speed and car owner Mike Burkhart.

West Palm Beach racer Howard Spires is always tough whatever ever class he races. Bum and Pedro dragged him up here and they qualified third with the 615 ci BBC. They had been running NA but decided to switch to nitrous after the rules unification between the tracks. Big block combos are limited to .73 jet and powershot size solenoids which most people use as purge valves.

Clink Lonon has struggled a bit recently after making some weight reduction changes and having to remove the forward facing scoop and the jet limitation, he qualified fourth but broke the flywheel and done for the day.

The other Ford Speed Racing entry of Mike Miller rounded out the top five with a 5.48 @129.

Mike Fratena had the top turbo car on the lot running 5.50 @ 131 for sixth spot.

James Tall from Palm Harbor is back behind the wheel if the Nova out of the Trans R Us shop. He qualified seventh with a 5.50. They just picked up some sponsorship from Chimera Customs, also in Palm Harbor. I am going to sop there this week, word is thses guys build some very nice rides.

Archie Marasco is back to give Real Street another shot with a T-6 flange 76 MM turbo on 347 ci SBF. They had tried under the previous T-4 housing rule but were making excessive back pressure with the big motor. He qualified eighth with a5.71 @ 124.

Sean Snodgrass from Davie landed tenth running a 5.90 @ 125. He’s got a fresh wrap from Big Idea and looks great.

Friend, racer and crew member Enrique Perez lost his son recently, this graphic was applied to the rear window in memorium. Very sorry for your loss my friend.

Newcomer Brian Goss showed up with a blower combo in a joint effort with two other partners on the car. Their first pass on radials was a 6.06 @ 117. A faulty water pump switch ended their day with blown head gaskets as the temp spike wasn’t caught in time. Everything else seems fine and they will be back, likely with two cars in September.

Round 1

Rick Losee over Ed Schwarz, 5.36 to 6.46 shut off run.

Tall took the win on the tree taking out the quicker Fratena’s 5.51 with a 5.55@ 127.

Pixley had a bye over the broken Goss,running a 5.38 giving him lane choice over Miller in round two after he sent Marasco home early.

Spires got low ET first round with a 5.35 @133 to beat Snodgrass.

As mentioned earlier Clint Lonon broke a flywheel giving Bobby DeBlasio a bye run in the “Blue Bomber”, 5.68 @ 125.

Round 2

Losee took out Tall with a 5.34 @ 130 in a close race.

Pixley stepped it up a bit to a 5.36 to get bye Miller’s 5.43

Spires took out DeBlasio with a 5.36 while DeBlasio shut off.

Semi Finals

Losee had an earned bye into the finals he ran it out, 5.347 @ 131

Spires took down Pixley in a tight race decided by .07 at the stripe, getting lane choice with a 5.31 to Pixley’s 5.35.

The final would pit the number one and three qualifiers with Spires taking the left lane. Losee got a tenth advantage on the tree but kicked the tires as Spires went on the a 5.313 @ 132 for low ET, high MPH and the win.

Stock Suspension

As usual Troy Pirez led the Stock Suspension/Drag Radial field qualifying with a 4.87 @ 151 in the second session, and the only 4 second run of the night.

Kenny Markwich was second but struggled with a 5.23.

Erwin Rackley took third position with a 5.44 @ 140.

Ruben Tetsoshvili is back for the first time after a failed turbo caused some engine damage. Ford Speed handled the repairs and the switch to twins.

David Boger took fifth position with his old school 565 ci BBC 67 Camaro.

Larry Hart, Ben Wolverton and Chris Tedeschi rounded out the eight car field.

Tony Ridenour was here but broke an input shaft during qualifying putting him out.

Round 1

Rackley and Wolverton were the first pair out with Rackley getting the win with a 5.31 @ 140.

Markwich was still off his pace, running a 5.43 against Hart’s out of shape super clean 56 Chevy.

In the upset of the night Dave Boger took the win over Troy Pirez who spun at the hit, then went right into a wheel stand after pedaling the car and couldn’t catch up, 5.35 @ 140 to Pirez’ 5.41 @ 147. He also had a flywheel let go on the run

Tedeschi was another racer struggling Saturday. He faced Ruben T and spun the tires before the 60’ while Ruben went on to a 5.31 @ 150.

Round 2

Boger got bye Rackley’s shut off 8.62 with a 5.29 @ 140.

Markwich got a handle on things taking out Ruben T with a 5.04 @ 149.

That left Boger and Markwich in the final with Markwich getting beat on the tree with his late .135 to Boger’s .089. Markwich ran another 5.04 to get around Boger’s 5.27 @ 141, his best MPH of the night. I am glad to see Dave getting some consistency recently, he has been working hard at it.

King of the Street – Outlaw 10.5

The 10.5 class had seven cars this month, with big hitters Stavrinos, and Futch coming back to “The Jungle” for the June race. Bill Futch would lead the field after qualifying with a 4.42 @ 175.88.

Bryan Markiewicz was a close second with a 4.45 @ 173 MPH blast.

Mike Stavrinos landed third with the Speed and Truck World 08 Corvette, representing for the nitrous crowd, 4.48 @ 161.

Local racer and Ford Speed Racing owner Rob Wells took his new edge Mustang to fourth on a 4.54 run @ 170.

Matt Salminen is a regular here and former event winner as well. His 4.55 @ 172 rounded out the top five.

Orlando 08 Heavy Street winner and number six qualifier Scott Husted is also a regular local racer. Husted runs a Nelson Competition 598 with twin 88’s in his Camaro.

Melborne racer Frank Meshaw had problems with his car, and shut off to a 5.47 @ 110 in qualifying.

Round 1

Wells nailed a perfect tree on a 4.48 @ 174 pass to take out Salminen’s 4.61.

Stavrinos ran a nice 4.48 over Husted’s, good for him, but not enough 4.75 @ 160.

Meshaw’s breakage would give Markiewicz a bye, he ran it out the back door with a 4.44 @ 172.

Futch had the earned bye and laid down a 4.36 @ 170

Round 2

Back in April of 2008 Carlos Zaldivar set the MPH track record in 10.5 with a 4.60 @ 178 run. Now the team holds both ends of the record after Bill Futch ran a string of 4.30’s in eliminations with a best of 4.354 in round two against Rob Wells.

Wells ran a 4.55 shutting down after a .006 red light.

Stavrinos killed the tree with a .001 on his way to a 4.50 @ 161 in a nail biting loss to Markiewicz 4.43 @ 172 setting the top two qualifiers in the final.

Markiewicz turned the red light on with a - .012 as Futch got bye him with yet another 4.35 @ 169 MPH blast for the win.

King of the Street - Pro Mod

Ray Chavez brought out “The Judge” GTO Pro Mod to Sunshine for the first time and landed on top of the field with an awesome 4.20 @ 174.

Multiple event winner and 08 track champion Corky Markwart held down number two position with the Motive Gear Mustang owned by Jimmy Berry, running a 4.23 @ 173.

“Fast” Frank Cersosimo put his 99 Dodge Avenger in third with a 4.28 @ 172

Bobby Glen is back with the BAE Blown Dodge Dakota pickup. He dropped a valve earlier this year and just got the truck back together about a week ago after HPS Cylinder Heads freshened up the heads. He ran a 4.41 off the trailer but lost oil pressure on the second qualifying run. They don’t think it’s serious but plan to tear it down for inspection anyway.

Jon Adams was fifth qualifier with a 4.53 @ 147.

Jimmy Stoupas was till fighting tire shake and qualified with a 7.99.

Steve Weakley rounded out the field of seven cars and had problems all night keeping the car pointed straight. He did a nice job of avoiding the 330’ cone on his first qualifier.

Round 1

For round one Stoupas got around the shake taking out Cersosimo with a 4.38to 4.40 after getting beat on the tree.

Jon Adams had a bye over the broken Glenn and ripped off a personal best 4.34 @ 165 in his new car. They are stepping it up with Steve Johnson’s help and still on a soft tune-up.

Markwart showed some early consistency with a 4.22 @ 173 to beat Weakeley. Ray Chavez could not make the call for first round and was removed from the ladder.

Round 2

Three cars left now with Markwart ripping off another 4.22 @ 173 driving around Stoupas’ 4.82 shut off run.

Adams had the bye and ran 4.35 @ 163; Markwart would have lane choice in the final.

In the final it would all Scotty Racing Technology engines and Induction Solutions nitrous cars. In the semis the flywheel ring gear had come loose in the Motive Gear car and Adams was a great sportsman giving them time and help to repair the car. You know it’s no easy task to pull the trans on a Pro Mod between rounds. The replacement part was used and had been replaced for mashing up starters. They were able to start the car though the sound was not pretty and make the final. Markwart got out first and went on to another 4.23 @ 173 to Adams’ 4.36 @ 162 for the win.

Open Outlaw

Number one qualifier this month was two time event winner Ron Logan with a 4.05 @ 175.

Behind him was first time Heads Up Madness participant Steve Bush with a 4.23 @ 165, Steve is from Port St. Lucie and runs a naturally aspirated Sonny’s 762 for power.

Open Outlaw regular Bill Heister took third spot with a 4.49 @ 153.

Another new face was Craig Andrews from Loxahatchee Florida with a blown 540 in an altered. He ran 4.69 for fourth position.

Tom Wirth put the Lil’ Pup racing entry in fifth spot with a 4.76 @ 145.

Another new ride in class was the 84 Corvette Funny Car of Mike Puzycki (aka Backmotor). It’s a unique ride with a rear engine configuration and uses a 489 ci BBC for motivation. He ran a 5.68 to round out the field. Mike has a website devoted to the car and is seeking out additional sponsors. I checked it out today and he has a new video on the there, you have to love a guy who does burnouts in his own driveway with a fuel altered. Woo !! www.backmotor.com

Oh don’t forget you can also check out www.openoutlaw.com for the latest goings on with them.

For round one Andrews had a single after Bill Heister could not make the call. He ran a 4.69 @ 155.

Steve Bush faced off with Tom Wirth who had a bad reaction time. Bush had an .025 and ran 4.61 clicking it early.

Both Logan and Puzycki were late .353 to .496 but Logan had it easy running a 4.07 to the loosing 5.70.

Round 2

Bush and Andrews were up first but Andrews rolled the beam giving the win to Bush, he shut down early to a 5.14 @ 91.

Logan had the bye and also shut down early to a 4.66 @ 108.

Ron Logan and first timer Steve Bush in the all dragster final and it would be Bush’s -.005 red light to decide the winner with Logan shutting off to a 4.16 @ 148 to Bush’s 4.35 @ 165.

http://video.streetlegaltv.com/video/9659

7.50 Index