The 9th Annual NMRA Ford Nationals marks the fourth stop of the NMRA Keystone Ford Nationals series. The points chases have started to shape up and with this race in the perfect middle of the season, every round win is crucial to the championship battle.
In ProCharger Super Street Outlaw, John Urist lead the pack in qualifying with a 7.19 pass at almost 203 miles-per-hour. He made it to the final round, where he faced freshman SSO racer Larry Prykucki. Prykucki took the starting line advantage, but was forced to abort the passes, allowing Urist to streak to the win.
Blow-By Racing Renegade had a nine-car field, with a number of new faces in the field. After four rounds of qualifying, Brian Mitchell sat atop the field with an 8.42 at 162 mph. After three rounds of eliminations, it was down to Mitchell and Chad Allmandinger. Allmandinger cut a .055 light to Mitchell’s .076, but Mitchell was able to power around him to the win.
AFCO Drag Radial had a light turnout, but as seems to have become the norm lately, Jason Lee took the number one qualifier spot with a 7.47 at over 188 miles per hour. The final round consisted of Lee and class newcomer Chris Maiorano. Lee was forced to pedal the car several times, but was still able to hold on for the win.
Edelbrock Hot Street is one of the tougher classes to compete in, especially when the warm, humid weather rolls in. Still, Don Bowles was able to take the number one spot on the ladder with an 8.59 at almost 157 miles per hour. In the final, it was Max Gross who found himself facing Bowles. Gross hit the tree hard with an .021 and managed to stay out in front the entire 1,320 feet, to turn on the win light in his lane.
There was a four-car field in Strange Engineering Coyote Stock presented by 5.0 Mustangs & Super Fords. Justin Burcham took the number one spot with a stout 10.85 at 123 mph. In the final, it came down to Burcham and Joe Charles. Breaking Charles’ 3-race winning streak, Burcham led stripe to stripe and made sure to hit the flashers on the top end, returning the favor paid to him by Charles in Maryland.
Nitto Tire Factory Stock had nine cars vying for the winner’s circle in Michigan. Coming out on top was Matt Amrine, carding a 10.92 to lead the field into eliminations. There, Carlos Sobrino worked through one side of the ladder, while Louis Sylvester made his way through the other. The pair left the tree in the final only .005 second apart, but Sobrino’s 10.89 took the win over Sylvester’s 11.17.
In Exedy Racing Clutch Modular Muscle, Dennis Duval took the number one qualifier spot and made it to the final round, where he defeated Tom Motycka with a 10.55 on a 10.55 index.
Trick Flow Open Comp saw Dale McClenaghan take the top spot in qualifying. However it would be Mike Buczynski and Dennis Corn in the finals. Buckzynski made it two in a row by taking the win.
Bryan Hearn took the top spot after the first round of Roush Racing Super Stang. In the final, Brent White took the win over teammate Miles Wagoner when Wagoner went .015 red.
In Detroit Locker Truck and Lighting, Mike Motycka wheeled “Uncle Jesse” to the top qualifier spot and made it to the final round, where he defeated former-champ Bob Cochran for the event win.
In Tremec True Street, Mark Whitmore took the win with a 10.610-second three-pass average.
In Aeromotive Bracket action, Rick Graustein won Bracket 1, Harold Correy won Bracket 2, and Don Kinney won Bracket 3.
