When the NMRA and NMCA team up for a dual event, the show is always exciting. An amazing mix of Ford and Brand-X race cars combine to equal blistering-fast on-track action, a packed manufacturer's midway, and an amazing array of flawless show cars, which made the 3rd Annual Nitto Tires NMRA/NMCA All-Star Nationals the Southeast's Mustang and muscle car event of the year.
But frankly, just saying excitement doesn't begin to describe the energy level and the quality of the show put on at Atlanta Dragway in Commerce, Georgia, on the third weekend of April. Multiple wrecks, insane side-by-side racing action, and a huge fireball were just a few of the sights the fans got to see, and we were there to catch it all.
Qualifying was rough on more than a few teams. Turbosmart Pro Outlaw 10.5 racer Mike Murillo got crossed up passing through the lights, and lightly caressed the wall. Afco Xtreme Drag Radial favorite, Jason Lee also had a run-in with the barrier due to a flat tire. "We broke a control arm mount," explains Lee. "When the mount broke, the rearend shifted about 6 inches under the car. By about half-track, one of the tires went flat and I went for a ride." Luckily for both drivers, and teams, the damage was minimal, and both made the call for the first round.
ProCharger SuperStreet Outlaw hosted the quickest and fastest field in the history of the class. Coming off his record-setting weekend at the Spring Break Shootout, Chris Tuten blasted down the quarter-mile in a lightning-quick 7.08 seconds at 202 mph, but was not able to back it up to take the record. John Kalivas, Samuel Vincent, and Andrew Demarco, who all qualified quicker than 7.20, followed Tuten closely.
When it came time for eliminations, oil downs and lengthy clean-ups extended the race schedule well past its normal run time. Many of the final rounds did not run until after 9 p.m., which made for some tricky track conditions as the temperature dropped. Needless to say, the racing was extremely exciting, right down to the last pass.
When the NMRA and NMCA come together, True Street is contested on Sunday's schedule instead of its normal Saturday spot. Fifty-nine cars took to the streets of northern Georgia, and the Mustangs ruled the road taking 42 of the 59 spots in competition. A Blue Oval did not hold the top spot, unfortunately, but Ford drivers did capture every other winning position with the exception of the 11-second spot.
Atlanta Dragway was alive with an amazing array of muscle Mustangs, fast Fords, and muscle car iron from all over Detroit. From the track to the car show, to True Street, to the midway, the 3rd Annual Nitto Tires NMRA/NMCA All-Star Nationals was truly a sight to behold. This kind of excitement leaves you wanting more, and we can't wait to head to the next event in Atco, New Jersey!
Among the excitement of the...
Among the excitement of the weekend was Tony Nesbit’s huge fireball. A bolt on the crankshaft sheared a fuel line, causing the intense flames you see here. “It was one of those freak things,” explains Nesbit. “There was no fire in the car until the door was opened. That was the only time the fire came inside.” Nesbit and the rest of Team Midnight worked diligently, and with the help of many other racers, made the call for the first round the next morning. Unfortunately, a transmission leak ended Nesbit’s attempt before it started.
Gary “Hollywood” Parker takes...
Gary “Hollywood” Parker takes the green light under the lights at Commerce. The defending Modular Muscle champion went all the way to the Third Round where he lost to Charlie McCulloch. McCulloch went to the finals where he lost to Jacob Lamb.
The car show was the place...
The car show was the place to be on Saturday and Sunday. The sheer number of super-slick cars was very impressive.
Defending Drag Radial champion,...
Defending Drag Radial champion, Jason Lee, had a rough weekend. A broken control arm mount in qualifying started a chain reaction, which ended up introducing Lee to the retaining wall. Lee and his team worked all night to get the car ready for Sunday eliminations, and went all the way to the finals where he lost to Sean Lyon.
The midway was packed with...
The midway was packed with anything you could possibly need or want for your Mustang or muscle car. If you were looking for those hard-to-find parts, the swap meet area was equally as packed.
Scott Boda brought out Steeda...
Scott Boda brought out Steeda Autosport’s ’11 Steeda Sport Edition Mustang. The Coyote has been equipped with a Boss intake manifold and an NX nitrous kit since gracing the May ’11 cover of MM&FF. The Steeda steed cranked out an 11.30 average once three runs were said and done.
The crew from Injected Engineering...
The crew from Injected Engineering brought out a slew of cars to compete in True Street. One of our favorites was this ’96 GT. Russell Haskins upgraded to a Four-Valve 4.6L, which is force-fed by a 76mm Turbonetics turbocharger. Russell clocked a 10.02-second average, just missing the 10-second win.
Thomas Garrett Heats the hides...
Thomas Garrett Heats the hides with his ’95 Lightning during True Street. Thomas ended up with a 12.20 average after his three runs.
Dwayne James and the Hellion...
Dwayne James and the Hellion “B” Team fought the track all weekend trying to get a clean pass. The Mystic ’03 Cobra had no problem showing how much power the ProCharged combination makes, but the Hellion team struggled getting the power to the pavement.
This New Edge was one of the...
This New Edge was one of the coolest cars on the property. The mod motor has given way to a pushrod mill, and the gears are selected with a Lenco transmission. Oh, yeah—there was a huge turbo hiding under the hood as well!
Drew Lyon came out for Pure...
Drew Lyon came out for Pure Street and left it all on the track—literally. As you can see in the photo, the bulk of his exhaust came off right at the hit.
MM&FF feature-car owner Darryl...
MM&FF feature-car owner Darryl Buckner laid down some smack with his ’85 LTD in True Street. Buckner averaged 9.23 seconds, which was good enough for the runner-up position.
The crew from Emmitt Head...
The crew from Emmitt Head Performance came out for True Street. Nick Blankenship piloted his ’88 Mustang to an 11.09 average, while James Watson took the 14-second win in his ’11 GT. Did we mention he took the win manually shifting the gears at only 16 years old?
JD Coon took a break from...
JD Coon took a break from running JDM Super Stang and Eaton Truck and Lightning to compete in True Street with his ’94 Lightning. The move paid off for the Jena, Louisiana-native, who took the win in the 15-second class.
The crew from Emmitt Head...
The crew from Emmitt Head Performance came out for True Street. Nick Blankenship piloted his ’88 Mustang to an 11.09 average, while James Watson took the 14-second win in his ’11 GT. Did we mention he took the win manually shifting the gears at only 16 years old?
The Brenspeed crew was also...
The Brenspeed crew was also on hand for the weekend’s festivities. Karen White took the company’s ’10 Saleen Mustang and cranked out an 11.79-second average.
Mike Murillo was another one...
Mike Murillo was another one of the unfortunate racers who met the retaining wall in Georgia. Murillo’s team worked feverishly to repair the car, but it paid off as they took the LX all the way to the Finals. Ultimately, Murillo would not take home the top prize, as Edgar Rice defeated him.
John Zeilinga fielded the...
John Zeilinga fielded the only ’11 Mustang in BFGoodrich Factory Stock. The Coyote-powered Blow-By Racing entry ran strong through qualifying, but Zeilinga went red in the first round ending his day.