2010 NMRA Annual Spring Break Shootout

Racers And Fans Leave The Winter Blues Behind And Head To Florida For The 16th Annual Spring Break Shootout.

From the July, 2010 issue of Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords

By Pete Peterson

Photography by Team MM&FF

Nmra Brandenton Spring Break Shootout Racing

The winter of 2009/2010 will go down in the books as one of the coldest and toughest winters on record. Fierce temperatures and shoveling snow trumped working on racecars, or even preparing for the fast-approaching 2010 race season, but still, the clocked ticked and March was coming fast. And for many, this March brought a chance to head to Florida the 16th Annual Nitto Tire NMRA Spring Break Shootout.

Ford fans couldn't wait to break free from the cold, as record crowds, amazing show cars, and some of the most exciting racing in NMRA history took place March 4-7. It was easy to see, the 2010 NMRA season was in full swing!

Returning to the track can be difficult, but many racers slipped into a quick groove, including five-time ProCharger Super Street Outlaw champion John Urist, who laid down a stout 7.29-second pass to set the tone. Urist's position as top qualifier would not last, as Samuel Vincent rolled his teal coupe to the line and he rocketed to the top spot with the quickest pass in Super Street Outlaw history at 7.28-seconds and 192 mph.

Nmra Brandenton Spring Break Shootout Crowd

By the time the session ended, multiple records were set, with Charlie Booze Jr. screaming his naturally aspirated GT to an 8.41 at 160 mph to take the top spot in Edelbrock Hot Street. He would later better his qualifying time with the quickest pass in Hot Street history, an 8.40-second blast. Bob Kurgan ripped down the strip with his Vortech Supercharged Mustang to an ultra-quick 7.947-second pass in BFGoodrich Drag Radial. Unfortunately for Kurgan, this would not hold, as returning champion Jason Lee lit up the scoreboards with a quicker 7.941 to steal the top spot.

ACT Factory Stock champion Tommy Godfrey skipped Friday's qualifying session and arrived Saturday to find his tow rig damaged from an accident in North Carolina when his crew chief had to battle snow getting to the track. After numerous 11.0 passes in '09, Godfrey was determined to break the 10-second barrier. His goal was accomplished when he became the founding member of the Factory Stock 10-second club, ripping off a 10.96 in qualifying.

Nmra Brandenton Spring Break Shootout Girls

Saturday's festivities also played host to the super-popular Tremec True Street presented by Muscle Mustang & Fast Fords magazine. Our entire staff was on hand, checking out the cars and riding along on the cruise as the field of 88 cars took to the streets of central Florida before returning to Bradenton Motorsports Park for three back-to-back runs-which also set the ladder for Sunday's Muscle Mustang & Fast Fords Spring Break Shootout presented by Pro50.com. For all of the information on True Street and the Spring Break Shootout, check out Marvelous Marc Christ's coverage on page 150.

There was certainly a buzz in the air as teams prepared for the first round of eliminations in the hotly contested NMRA classes. After suffering mechanical issues, Mike Murillo and Jim Blair we unable to make the call on Sunday morning for Round 1 of Pro Outlaw 10.5. Conrad Scarry, who took the win with a 6.80 at over 206 mph, dominated the four-car field.

Nmra Brandenton Spring Break Shootout Ford Fiesta

In Super Street Outlaw, top contender John Urist and the Hellion team worked through the night after having the engine stripped down the bare block. But when the '09 champion took the green light against Chip Havemann, the car did not respond well. Nevertheless, it was still a race to the finish as mechanical issues slowed Havemann. Havemann clearly saw Urist's machine slowing, and he stabbed the gas to creep around Urist for the win. Number four qualifier, John MacDonald, chewed through the field to take down Daniel Pachar, the number one qualifier; Samuel Vincent; and Chip Havemann on his way to the final. MacDonald met Chris Tuten in the championship round. When the lights came down, both cars left hard, and Mac-Donald drove around him to take the event win with a 7.42 e.t.