The coveted Nitto Tire Diamond...
The coveted Nitto Tire Diamond Tree ring was awarded to the winning team members. Nitto also presents a version of this ring to the class champions at the conclusion of the racing season.
It's called the Super Bowl of Street-Legal Drag Racing and pits the best of the best in heads-up drag racing competition. Many know it as the NMRA against the NMCA, and there are huge bragging rights at stake.
This year marks the fourth time the Pro Media gang (promoters of both the NMCA and NMRA) has held this party at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Illinois. Once again Nitto Tires was onboard to back this prestigious event, providing its coveted Diamond Tree ring and bonus money for the shootout champions.
The format is simple-each organization competes separately with qualifying and eliminations over three days. On Sunday, after each racing class crowns an event winner, the NMRA/NMCA officials pair each class with the corresponding one in the other organization. Obviously the rules and performances are different, so the racers run off an index using their best run in competition. The heads-up classes don't have to worry about a breakout.
Mark Anderson goes wheels...
Mark Anderson goes wheels up against his NMCA rival, Don Baskin in his Mean Street Chevy II. Anderson was spotted 0.19 in his match race against Baskin. Anderson couldn't hold off the hard-charging Baskin and lost the pairing. It would be one of eight losses Team NMRA suffered in the Super Bowl shootout.
This year, officials decided to award the rings to the organization with the most wins in the 12-pair match race. The bad news is that Team NMRA lost-Team NMCA won its first Super Bowl of Street-Legal Drag Racing. The final tally was eight wins for the NMCA versus the NMRA's four. In years past, the team challenge was close. The NMRA usually squeaks out the win with the last pairing.
Despite Team NMRA losing the Super Bowl challenge in 2009, the event is a must-see-fans get two events for the price of one with over 500 cars in competition, and a massive car show and manufacturer's midway.
Dyno Joe entered Super Stang...
Dyno Joe entered Super Stang with his Edelbrock-supercharged '07 Saleen-clone. The class is designed for S197 Mustangs only, and racers dial-in an index for Sunday's eliminations. Joe, unfortunately, went out in the first round.
Jon Huber was on his way to...
Jon Huber was on his way to giving Chad Slattery some tough competition in True Street. Unfortunately, the car started leaking fluid on the track and he was pulled out of competition. Huber was off to a great start with a couple of 8.80 runs with his four-cylinder powerplant. It boasts a new ARCA cylinder head, Jesel valvetrain, and a billet torque converter. Huber said it laid down 890 rwhp on the chassis dyno.
Roush Competition's Ben Mens...
Roush Competition's Ben Mens has been a frequent flier lately with his naturally aspirated ride. He normally competes in Hot Street but chose to run on the NMCA side of the program in the Pro Stock class.
We know Jeff Schmell-he always...
We know Jeff Schmell-he always goes to the outside! Schmell makes a move on a big Mopar with his '07 Shelby GT500 during the 30-mile cruise.
William Hochfellner leads...
William Hochfellner leads a few Gen 2 Lightnings through turn three in a scene that is more like a Camping World Truck series race than a True Street cruise.
At first glance we thought...
At first glance we thought a Shelby GT500KR was competing in True Street. With further inspection and investigation, Jason Lestarge told us it is a clone car that used to be a V-6 ride. He converted it to Shelby looks and added a 4.6L Three-Valve engine with a Vortech V3 H.O. blower. All told, the car produces 460 rwhp.