For the second year in a row, Johnny Lightning entered both the Diesel Challenge and Pro Lightning categories. Against all odds he captured both titles, same as he did last year. That is quite an accomplishment when you consider he jockeyed a mid-14-second Econoline Van and his 10-oh '01 Lightning.
Mike Post denied Brian Mitchell three straight WFC Renegade victories. The Chicago-based tuner ran consistent 8.60s at over 160 mph to lay claim to his first WFC win. The School of Automotive Machinists (SAM) team went back to class with its first Hot Street win. Driver Pat Topolinski laid down the gauntlet with an 8.92 run to beat Adrian Doran in the finals.
Wild Street was indeed wild...
Wild Street was indeed wild thanks to the True Street/heads-up race category that it has morphed into. The head honchos at WFC took the popular MM&FF True Street idea and then twisted it a bit by using the three-run average as your qualifying runs. On Sunday, the cars then ran off as a heads-up class. Former MM&FF feature car owned by Michael Saponara was the champion in Wild Street. This turbocharged Mustang ran consistent 8.80s. The name of the game in Wild Street is survival. The field consisted of cars quicker than Saponara's Florida-based ride, but they either broke or had issues come eliminations time.
Gary Rohe's legendary '80...
Gary Rohe's legendary '80 coupe showed up with a 25.2 back-half chassis under its classic body courtesy of his new chassis shop, Performance Racecraft. He also had Bishoff Engine Service convert his engine to a ProCharger-blown bullet. In the end, it made simply too much power for the tiny tires and there wasn't enough time to figure it out. Rohe ran high sevens but lost in the earlier rounds of Pro Street Outlaw competition.
This year the turbocharged...
This year the turbocharged contingent was out in force to take on the blown and nitrous-injected entries in Wild Street. Ryan Martin represented the turbo camp well and eliminated James Garrett's nitrous '69 Stang, Dan Shipley's blown '91 GT, and Nick Yarber's nitrous-powered '95 Stang. Martin had the quicker car in the finals but lost when he turned on the red light, handing the automatic win to Michael Saponara.
WINNER This marked the first...
WINNER This marked the first time Mike Post won the WFC Renegade title. He has won an NMRA championship and vowed he wanted one from WFC before his Renegade career ended. The Vortech-blown ride flew into the mid-eight-second zone at over 160 mph.
Last year Travis Franklin...
Last year Travis Franklin showed off mid-seven-second performances. He ran similar times this year and made it all the way to the semifinals where he bowed out of competition to Manny Buginga. Franklin has a 400ci engine with a ProCharger F3R huffing serious boost into it.
Two-time WFC Renegade champ...
Two-time WFC Renegade champ Brian Mitchell was looking to add a third trophy to his collection. But Mike Post denied it by taking him out with an 8.64 to Mitchell's 8.76.
Ed Rice's '98 Mustang was...
Ed Rice's '98 Mustang was fresh out of Racecraft's shop and was upgraded to a 25.2 cage. The engine checked in at 402 cubes and it inhales boost from a 94mm turbo. Rice slams the gears of a Liberty five-speed transmission. That package was good for 7.70s in Pro Street Outlaw.
This Hot Street runner-up...
This Hot Street runner-up should look familiar. Adrian Duron enters his '98 Cobra at many FFW events in the Street Bandit category. He qualified number one with an 8.86, the quickest pass ever in WFC Hot Street competition.
WINNER Tim Matherly of MV...
WINNER Tim Matherly of MV Performance was tough in the Real Street ranks. He relies on a Mod Motor with a ProCharger P1SC blower to run in the 9.50s, sans intercooler. Not bad for a car with ported stock heads and OEM camshafts.