2008 NMRA Nitto Tires Spring Nationals Bradenton - Wind Shear

Charlie Booze Jr. served notice that he was back on top in Edelbrock Hot Street with the class win and a record-setting performance. He was quick to thank his wife, Kate, and newborn daughter, Anne, for letting him get away for the weekend. Booze was first to run in the 8.60 range with an 8.62 at 162 mph. A naturally aspirated 400ci engine by Kuntz and Company powers the red GT.

Ford Racing Performance Parts had its 18-wheeler display, which included the company's crate engine line and other hard-core engine parts. However, the FRPP team, led by Jesse Kershaw, didn't have a car to put on display. The team had the great idea of renting a Shelby GT-H from Hertz. They cleaned it up and popped the hood. The Shelby GT-H has FRPP's Handling and Power Packs.

It wasn't a good weekend for Drag Radial racer Enzo Pecchini, as he lost control of his low eight-second ride and hit both retaining walls--hard.

Thanks to the safety equipment, he walked away without injury.

A familiar face was among the Drag Radial entries. The original Spring Break Shootout winner, Shawn Lyons, was on the property with a gorgeous yellow coupe built by Team Z Motorsports.

The Panhandle Performance-built 358ci engine wears a Precision 85mm turbocharger. We'd love to say this was the same car Lyons used to win the inaugural event, but it wasn't.

Conrad Scarry went 3-0 this year in Kenny Seeger's New Edge Mustang by winning the NMRA event. The team won the U.S. Street Nationals, the FFW opener, and the NMRA Bradenton event. Keith and Randy Auwarter are credited with keeping the 2,200hp, twin-turbocharged small-block Ford running in tip-top shape. The team qualified with an easy 7.23 but then showed off consistent 6-second runs at 208 mph to head to the finals. In the final round, the track went away, but Scarry still managed to run a 7.07 at 203 mph to take the win.

Steve Gifford (far lane) outran John Leslie Jr. (near lane) in the final round of ACT Factory Stock. Gifford relies on a potent Two-Valve modular engine, maintained and tuned by Modular Depot, to run in the 11.20 zone. Factory Stock is the NMRA's version of NHRA Stock Eliminator, mostly consisting of stock and street-oriented aftermarket parts, which are pushed to the limits.

Reggie Burnette Jr. (near lane) got the best of Susan McClenaghan in Roush Performance Modular Muscle. Burnette added a new engine over the winter, as well as a cage, to get his '00 Mustang GT to run on an 11.24 index. McClenaghan broke out of her 10.51 index with a 10.49, handing the win to Burnette.

Urist's new Super Street Outlaw ride was built by Behind Bars Race Cars and carries major sponsorship from Nitto Tire. The coupe has a lot of unique features that Urist designed thanks to having 10 years of experience in the category. One neat trick we saw was the blower-mounting position, which uses a short belt--requiring less horsepower to turn it, and that means more power at the crank.

Lucas Oil stepped up with major sponsorship on Ben Mens' Hot Street entry. The Roush Engine Shop foreman is the defending class champion. He made it to the finals thanks to a barrage of 8.70 performances but got loose in the final-round match-up with Charlie Booze Jr.

MV Performance's Tim Matherly goes wheels up with his ProCharger-blown Real Street entry. He ran the class' quickest run to date, a 9.62 at 142 mph. Matherly beat Jim Breese in the final round.

Robby Blankenship showed up with a brand-new Hot Street ride, built by Matukas Motorsport Race Cars. It sported a controversial K-member and A-arm assembly, one that was deemed illegal by the rule book. Blankenship and chassis-builder Steve Matukas headed to a local fab shop and rebuilt the frontend to meet the NMRA rules. The car ran 8.70s and went to the semifinals.