Written by Mary Lendzion
Photos by Evan Smith and Rudy Rouweyha
Many things made the Holley NMRA/Red Line Oil NMCA Race for the Rings & Saturday Thrill Festival memorable for racers and race fans, from edge-of-the-seat racing to exciting entertainment.
But for select standout racers who were points leaders or qualifying leaders and took part in the Race for the Rings runoff, the event on May 3-5, 2024 at World Wide Technology Raceway in Illinois was substantially more significant, and with the Nitto Diamond Tree Rings in their sights, they set out on their paths.
There was a battle of beloved racers in NMCA Edelbrock Xtreme Street/NMRA VP Racing Lubricants Renegade with Joel Greathouse of Oakland, Kentucky, and Josh Hutnick of Westville, Indiana. Greathouse, who hurt his Mustang at the NMRA/NMCA event in North Carolina in April, was piloting John Kolivas' Mustang, and pushed to the win with an .035 reaction time and a 4.56 to Hutnick’s .079 reaction time and 4.60 elapsed time. Incredibly, Greathouse also won the main event race against Ray Cox.
"We have had insane luck and team effort, and the effort has gotten us wins and rings in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2024," said Greathouse. "To win the race and to have another (NItto Diamond Tree) ring was without question emotional for me. I'm happy more than I can express. Without John Kolivas, KBX and my team of Justin McChesney and Ben Thomas, none of this would exist, period."
In Vengeance Clutch Coyote Stock, reigning class champion Ed Bennett of Carleton, Michigan, climbed into the cockpit of his 1991 Mustang to face tough racer Charlie Booze Jr. of Marion, Pennsylvania and his 1990 Mustang. Bennett got the win when Booze Jr. turned on the red light, but both drivers kept their foot firmly planted on the pedal, and Bennett clocked a 9.77 to Booze Jr.’s 9.76, showing they would have had a very close race. Bennett also won the main event race against Nathan Stymiest.
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Chris Tino of Liberty Township, Ohio and Gavin Black of Elkview, West Virginia, took the SunCoast Performance 8.60 Street Race stage in their 2015 and 2011 Mustangs respectively, and Tino, whose car recently had work performed at Connelley Racing, won with an 8.58 as Black dipped under the 8.60 slightly more with an 8.56.
“A lot of preparation went into getting our hotrod ready for the NMRA/NMCA Race for the Rings, and we were excited to see what the car could do,” said Tino. “When we went 8.603 and made number one qualifier, we were ecstatic. Lining up against Gavin in the Race for the Rings was an honor, and winning really gave our team a sense of accomplishment that we needed mid-year. We are humbled and grateful to be a part of this racing family and share these experiences with our family, friends and racing community.”
For Richmond Gear Factory Stock, Mike Bowen of Girard, Pennsylvania, got into his 1971 Maverick and Damien Stephens of Hamilton, Ontario, got into his 1989 Mustang. Bowen won with a 10.08 to Stephens’ 10.27. Bowen also won the main event race against Stephens.
Mike Winters of Shelby Township, Michigan has been on a roll this year, and he was ready to take on equally tough racer Bill Wittenauer of Crestwood, Kentucky, for this Race for the Rings in Whatever It Takes Transmission Parts Street Bandit 10.10. Winters won in his 1982 Mustang when Wittenauer went -.006 red in his 1989 Mustang.
In ARP Open Comp, multi-time champion Dennis Corn of Northville, Michigan was quick on the tree with an .010 in his 1988 Thunderbird, and traveled to a 9.13 to defeat Taylor Dietsch of Edgerton, Ohio, who drove to an 8.97 in a Mustang Cobra Jet.
In Truck and SUV, Gregory Collins of Burkesville, Kentucky, got the win in his 1991 Ranger when Robert Chuhran of Wixom, Michigan, went -.006 red in his 1999 Lightning. Collins also won the main event race against Tim Jacobsen.
David Mormann of Tampa, Florida, and Andy Ransford of Carleton, Michigan, faced each other in CJ Pony Parts Ford Muscle. In his 1970 Mustang Mach 1, Mormann won with a good reaction time and a 10.79 while Ransford raced to a 13.48 in his 2006 Mustang.
Steady racer Susan Roush McClenaghan of Livonia, Michigan, was in her famous 2010 Mustang when she pulled up alongside Wes McPeake of Henderson, Tennessee, and his 1965 Mustang in Exedy Racing Clutch, and McClenaghan got the win when McPeake turned on the red light.
Longtime NMRA racers Rodney Ward of Muncie, Indiana, and Marvin Knack of Lexington, Illinois, were ready to square off in HP Tuners Super Stang. Ward, in his 2014 Mustang, wheeled to the win with a 12.89 over Knack, who ran to an 11.94 in his 2011 Mustang GT.
“The NMRA is known for having competitive racers who continuously push themselves to new heights, and the annual Race for the Rings definitely puts that on display,” said Rollie Miller, General Manager and National Event Director for NMRA and NMCA. “During this year’s Race for the Rings, we saw their unwavering commitment, and we stand with all of their fellow racers and race fans in appreciating and applauding it.”
(A story about the NMCA Race for the Rings winners will be posted on NMCADigital.com)
Photos by Evan Smith and Rudy Rouweyha
Many things made the Holley NMRA/Red Line Oil NMCA Race for the Rings & Saturday Thrill Festival memorable for racers and race fans, from edge-of-the-seat racing to exciting entertainment.
But for select standout racers who were points leaders or qualifying leaders and took part in the Race for the Rings runoff, the event on May 3-5, 2024 at World Wide Technology Raceway in Illinois was substantially more significant, and with the Nitto Diamond Tree Rings in their sights, they set out on their paths.
There was a battle of beloved racers in NMCA Edelbrock Xtreme Street/NMRA VP Racing Lubricants Renegade with Joel Greathouse of Oakland, Kentucky, and Josh Hutnick of Westville, Indiana. Greathouse, who hurt his Mustang at the NMRA/NMCA event in North Carolina in April, was piloting John Kolivas' Mustang, and pushed to the win with an .035 reaction time and a 4.56 to Hutnick’s .079 reaction time and 4.60 elapsed time. Incredibly, Greathouse also won the main event race against Ray Cox.
"We have had insane luck and team effort, and the effort has gotten us wins and rings in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2024," said Greathouse. "To win the race and to have another (NItto Diamond Tree) ring was without question emotional for me. I'm happy more than I can express. Without John Kolivas, KBX and my team of Justin McChesney and Ben Thomas, none of this would exist, period."
In Vengeance Clutch Coyote Stock, reigning class champion Ed Bennett of Carleton, Michigan, climbed into the cockpit of his 1991 Mustang to face tough racer Charlie Booze Jr. of Marion, Pennsylvania and his 1990 Mustang. Bennett got the win when Booze Jr. turned on the red light, but both drivers kept their foot firmly planted on the pedal, and Bennett clocked a 9.77 to Booze Jr.’s 9.76, showing they would have had a very close race. Bennett also won the main event race against Nathan Stymiest.
Chris Tino of Liberty Township, Ohio and Gavin Black of Elkview, West Virginia, took the SunCoast Performance 8.60 Street Race stage in their 2015 and 2011 Mustangs respectively, and Tino, whose car recently had work performed at Connelley Racing, won with an 8.58 as Black dipped under the 8.60 slightly more with an 8.56.
“A lot of preparation went into getting our hotrod ready for the NMRA/NMCA Race for the Rings, and we were excited to see what the car could do,” said Tino. “When we went 8.603 and made number one qualifier, we were ecstatic. Lining up against Gavin in the Race for the Rings was an honor, and winning really gave our team a sense of accomplishment that we needed mid-year. We are humbled and grateful to be a part of this racing family and share these experiences with our family, friends and racing community.”
For Richmond Gear Factory Stock, Mike Bowen of Girard, Pennsylvania, got into his 1971 Maverick and Damien Stephens of Hamilton, Ontario, got into his 1989 Mustang. Bowen won with a 10.08 to Stephens’ 10.27. Bowen also won the main event race against Stephens.
Mike Winters of Shelby Township, Michigan has been on a roll this year, and he was ready to take on equally tough racer Bill Wittenauer of Crestwood, Kentucky, for this Race for the Rings in Whatever It Takes Transmission Parts Street Bandit 10.10. Winters won in his 1982 Mustang when Wittenauer went -.006 red in his 1989 Mustang.
In ARP Open Comp, multi-time champion Dennis Corn of Northville, Michigan was quick on the tree with an .010 in his 1988 Thunderbird, and traveled to a 9.13 to defeat Taylor Dietsch of Edgerton, Ohio, who drove to an 8.97 in a Mustang Cobra Jet.
In Truck and SUV, Gregory Collins of Burkesville, Kentucky, got the win in his 1991 Ranger when Robert Chuhran of Wixom, Michigan, went -.006 red in his 1999 Lightning. Collins also won the main event race against Tim Jacobsen.
David Mormann of Tampa, Florida, and Andy Ransford of Carleton, Michigan, faced each other in CJ Pony Parts Ford Muscle. In his 1970 Mustang Mach 1, Mormann won with a good reaction time and a 10.79 while Ransford raced to a 13.48 in his 2006 Mustang.
Steady racer Susan Roush McClenaghan of Livonia, Michigan, was in her famous 2010 Mustang when she pulled up alongside Wes McPeake of Henderson, Tennessee, and his 1965 Mustang in Exedy Racing Clutch, and McClenaghan got the win when McPeake turned on the red light.
Longtime NMRA racers Rodney Ward of Muncie, Indiana, and Marvin Knack of Lexington, Illinois, were ready to square off in HP Tuners Super Stang. Ward, in his 2014 Mustang, wheeled to the win with a 12.89 over Knack, who ran to an 11.94 in his 2011 Mustang GT.
“The NMRA is known for having competitive racers who continuously push themselves to new heights, and the annual Race for the Rings definitely puts that on display,” said Rollie Miller, General Manager and National Event Director for NMRA and NMCA. “During this year’s Race for the Rings, we saw their unwavering commitment, and we stand with all of their fellow racers and race fans in appreciating and applauding it.”
(A story about the NMCA Race for the Rings winners will be posted on NMCADigital.com)