Racers in the Holley NMRA Drag Racing series showed a wealth of heart, perseverance, and even a bit of patience as the 2024 season came to a close at the Nitto Tire NMRA World Finals
and Holley Ford Fest, from September 27-29 at rustic Beech Bend Raceway Park in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
The NMRA and Beech Bend Raceway staff put forth their best effort in order to complete the sixth and final event of the season, but drag racing was ultimately canceled due to heavy rains from Hurricane Helene.
Points for the final event were based on qualifying and tech-in for index classes and tech-in points only for heads-up classes, but the results are pending the seven-day challenge period. The following is a salute to the presumed 2024 Holley NMRA Drag Racing Series world champions…
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One week after clinching the title in NMCA Edelbrock Xtreme Street, Joel Greathouse locked up a second title in VP Racing Madditives Renegade. Greathouse got off to a slow start with a round-two loss in Gainesville but quickly regained his footing with wins in Rockingham, St. Louis, and Martin to distance himself from the field, including Bob Cook, Kelly Shotwell, Terry Wilson, and Martin Connelly who rounded out the Top 5. Greathouse finished with a monster score of 3,310 points to 2,030 for second-ranked Cook.
Charlie Booze Jr. and Ed Bennett III traded punches all season in Vengeance Clutch Coyote Stock, and in the end, it was Booze who prevailed by a 3,155 to 2,825 score. Booze missed the Top 10 last season but earned a measure of redemption with a season that opened with wins in Gainesville and Rockingham and also included victories in Norwalk and Martin. The only blemish on Booze’s record was a semifinal loss in St. Louis. After Booze and Bennett, Chad Stephens, Scott Milhimes, and Shane Stymiest completed the Top 5.
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Following last year’s sixth-place finish, Damien Stephens took a big leap forward to earn the title in Richmond Gear Factory Stock. Stephens held off Mike Bowen, who was sidelined at mid-season due to illness. Stephens made a bit move when he won the TorqStorm Superchargers NMRA/NMCA Power Festival presented by Nitto in Martin, Michigan, Stephens also added three final-round finishes during the season to post a score of 2,115 while Bowen, Mark Anderson, Brandon Kessinger, and Frank Brancaccio rounded out the Top 5.
There was a heated battle in the race for the Suncoast Performance 8.60 Street Race title, and in the end, Gavin Black will carry the No. 1 into the 2025 season. Black tallied wins in Gainesville, Rockingham, and Martin, combined with a runner-up in Norwalk, to put up an impressive 3,035 score, which was significantly larger than runner-up Tom Muller’s 2,085 total. Logan Day continued to make steady progress with a third-place finish, followed by Paul Sienkiewicz and Cody Poston.
The first full season of the Whatever It Takes Transmission 10.10 Street Bandit class did not disappoint, as James Meredith outlasted a large field to claim the title. Meredith enjoyed his best weekend of the season with a win at the NMRA/NMCA Race for the Rings in St. Louis and held on to the lead over Bill Wittenauer by a scant 10 points, 2,320 to 2,310 in the closest championship battle in the entire Holley NMRA Drag Racing Series. Mike Winters, Carey Shotwell, and Jaden Dietsch rounded out the Top 5 in Street Bandit.
Charlie McCulloch avenged last season’s runner-up finish in Exedy Racing Clutch Modular Muscle by turning the tables on defending champion Susan Roush McClenaghan. McCulloch opened the season with a win at the NMRA Spring Break Shootout in Gainesville and added additional titles in St. Louis and Martin to boost his score to 2,835 to Roush McClenaghan’s 2,190. The rest of the Top 5 in Exedy Racing Clutch Mod Muscle included John Rusch, Adam Cox, and Shane Williams.
Historically, the ARP Open Comp class has some of the biggest car counts in all of NMRA racing, and that was the case this season as more than 60 drivers earned points, although none of them scored more than new champion Taylor Dietsch, who tallied 2,360 to barely hold off runner-up Cameron Bowles, who scored 2,325. Dietsch scored wins in Gainesville and St. Louis to remain in contention all season. Terry Haynal, defending champ Dennis Corn, and Larry Geddes completed the Top 5 in ARP Open Comp.
For the first time, Mike Moistner is an NMRA world champion following an impressive season in HP Tuners Super Stang. Moistner won three straight events at mid-season in St. Louis, Norwalk, and Martin to secure the title with a 2,425 score to narrowly hold off second-place Rodney Ward’s 2,330. Past world champions Chris Parisi, Ray Williams Sr., and Dale Aldridge completed the Top 5 in HP Tuners Super Stang.
Gregory Collins went from No. 4 to No.1 in the Truck & SUV category following a season that included wins in Gainesville and St. Louis. Collins with a total score of 2,460 points, while runner-up Mike Roup, who repeated last year’s runner-up finish, scored 2,060. After Collins and Roup, Tim Jacobson, Bob Dill, and Johnny Lightning made up the Top 5 in Truck and SUV.
David Mormann missed the Top 10 in CJ Pony Parts Ford Muscle last season, but he’s back in form with a championship performance in 2024. Mormann won in Rockingham and St. Louis to claim the lead and held on for the remainder of the season, ultimately beating second-place Mark Schiffner 2,405 to 1,805. Bill Worstell, Ken Mason, and Cindee Hall finished the season ranked in the Top 5.
