Show West—All manner of American muscle machines put on an impressive display at World Wide Technology Raceway
Written by Steve Turner
Photography by Dr. Rudy Rouweyha and Evan J. Smith
As the Holley NMRA Ford Nationals and Red Line Oil NMCA Muscle Car Nationals headed west to Race For The Rings, there weren’t just amazing muscle cars on the race track. Between the times when jet cars lit up the drag strip and FMX Freestyle Motocross riders flew through the air, fans could also enjoy an impressive display of muscle cars from the Big Three automakers.
Just steps away from the World Wide Technology Raceway’s storied drag strip were rows of amazing vehicles on display within the UPR Products-backed car show. From AMX and Anglia to Regal and Shelby, there was something for everyone on the property to enjoy.
Of course, with such a wide range of machines on display, the judges from the host car club, the Southern Illinois Mustang Association, were challenged to pick the most deserving rides to roll away with awards. We are highlighting some of those winners here, but to see them all you must plan to attend next year’s event. Until then, enjoy some highlights from the show field.
Your scribe has a soft spot for SVT Cobras from the SN-95 era, and Jason Serio’s 1994 Mustang Cobra convertible is a fine example from that era. It scored the Best Mustang ’94-’04 honors.
One of the most under-appreciated eras for Ford’s pony car, the Mustang II kept the lineage going through tough times. These days they aren’t common, but when you see one, they stand out. Kim Strickell’s 1978 Mustang II earned Special Recognition honors at World Wide Technology Raceway.
Exuding all those classic hot rod vibes, Craig Miller’s 1931 Ford brought the old-school performance look to the UPR Products Car Show. His ride rumbled away with the Open Ford award.
Shout out to the Southern Illinois Mustang Association for serving as the host club for the UPR Products Car Show at the NMRA/NMCA Race for the Rings & Thrill Festival.
2024 NMRA NMCA St.Louis Car Show Award Winners
SATURDAY CAR SHOW AWARDS
Special Recognition Awards:
1. Jack Garris Union, MO 1969 Mustang
2. Rob O’Neal 1969 Camaro
3. Dave Duvall New Haven, MO 1969 Chevy P/U
4. Barry Wallner Carlinville, IL 1957 Chevrolet 5700
5. Andrew Coulter Petersburg, IL 2017 F-150
6. Jess Gatlin Belleville, IL 2013 Mustang
7. Larry Balch Ferguson, MO 1948 Chevy Sedan Delivery
8. Mike Castrale Lebanon, IL 1996 Pontiac Firebird
9. Colin Davis Granite City, IL 1968 AMC AMX
10. Michael Hayden Villa Ridge, MO 1969 Chrysler New Yorker
11. Larry Baker Granite City, IL 1973 Pontiac GTO
12. Paul Clark Barnhart, MO 1959 Cadillac
13. Pete Pfister St.Charles, MO 1969 Chevelle
14. Robert Dalton Litchfield, IL 1970 Plymouth Cuda
15. Paul Oelklaus St.Peters, MO 1963 Anglia
16. John & Sherrie Sanders O’Fallon, MO 1965 Chevy Malibu Wagon
17. Catherine & Clyde Dunphy Pleasant Plains, IL 2014 Mustang
18. Dan Mueller Troy, IL 1965 Mustang
19. Rick Sudowski Belleville, IL Ford Thunderbird
20. Kim Strickell Highland, IL 1978 Mustang II
21. Ray Biver Fairview Heights, IL 1969 Olds 442
22. Barry Walner Carlinville, IL 1957 Chevy Sedan Delivery
23. Bobby Strobel St. Jacob, IL 1972 Chevy Blazer
24. Terry Gatlin Memphis, TN 2015 Mustang
25. Gerald Zielinski St. Louis, MO 1940 Chevrolet
Directors Choice Awards:
· Best GM Muscle
· Winner: Larry Baker Granite City, IL 1973 Pontiac GTO
· Best Ford Muscle
· Winner: Jack Garris Union, MO 1969 Mustang
· Best Chrysler Muscle
· Winner: Robert Dalton Litchfield, IL 1970 Plymouth Cuda
· Best Late Model
· Winner: Colin Davis Granite City, IL 1968 AMC AMX
· Best Street Rod
· Winner: Mike & Diane Mclemore Washington, IN 1970 Chevrolet Coupe
· Best Traditional Hot Rod
· Winner: Larry Balch 1948 Chevy Sedan Delivery
· Best Pro Street/Race Car
· Winner: Barry Wallner Carlinville, IL 1957 Chevy Sedan Delivery
· Best Truck
· Winner: Barry Wallner Carlinville, IL 1957 Chevrolet 5700
· FSC Editors Choice Best Classic
· Winner: Jocko Ferguson Granite City, IL 1970 Olds Cutlass
· FSC Editors Choice Best Modern
· Winner: Catherine & Clyde Dunphy Pleasant Plains, IL 2014 Mustang
· Best Engine
· Winner: Dave Duvall New Haven, MO 1969 Chevy P/U
· Best Interior
· Winner: Mike Castrale Lebanon, IL 1996 Pontiac Firebird
· Best Paint
· Winner: Pete Pfister St.Charles, MO 1969 Chevelle
· Directors Choice Conservative
· Winner: Rob O’Neal 1969 Camaro
· Directors Choice Modified
· Winner: Pete Oelklaus St.Peters, MO 1963 Anglia
SUNDAY GM CAR SHOW CLASSES & AWARDS:
· Camaro 67-69
· Winner: Mick Price Atwood, IL 1969 Camaro
· Camaro Gen 6
· Winner: Mike Samra St.Louis, MO 2019 Camaro
· Firebird All years
· Winner: Mike Castrale Lebanon, IL 1996 Pontiac Firebird
· Nova 68-Up
· Winner: Keith Flood St.Charles, MO 1970 Nova SS
· GM G-Body (Monte Carlo/Regal/Grand Prix/Cutlass)
· Winner: Craig Powell St.Louis, MO 1987 Buick Regal
· Corvette 53- 82
· Winner: Tim Rowan Pacific, MO 1967 Corvette
· Early Chevrolet Up to 49’
Winner: Mike & Diane Mclemore Washington, IN 1970 Chevrolet Coupe
· GM Full Size All Years
· Winner: Joe Lewis St.Louis, MO 2014 Impala
· 55-56-57 Chevy
· Winner: Ron Feldman St.Peters, MO 1957 Nomad
· Full Size Truck All Years
· Winner: Dave Duvall New Haven, MO 1969 Chevrolet 4X4
· GM Compact Truck All Years
· Winner: John Gales Kirkwood, MO 1993 S-10
· Open GM (For GM vehicles that do not fit into above classes)
· Winner: Ernie Blackburn Hazelwood, MO 2003 Monte Carlo
· Best GM of Show
· Winner: Dave Duvall New Haven, MO 1969 Chevrolet 4X4
SUNDAY FORD CAR SHOW CLASSES & AWARDS:
· Mustang 64-78
· Winner: Larry Wesleman Belleville, IL 1969 Mustang
· Mustang 79-93
· Winner: Steve Strickell Highland, IL 1986 Mustang
· Mustang 94-04
· Winner: Jason Serio St.Charles, MO 1994 Mustang
· Mustang 05-14’
· Winner: Catherine & Clyde Dunphy Pleasant Plains, IL 2014 Mustang
· Mustang 15- 23’
· Winner: Chris Cobb Florissant, MO 2019 Mustang
· SVT & Cobra Mustang
· Winner: Rick Miller St.Charles, MO 2001 Cobra Mustang
· Shelby & Boss
· Winner: Steve Golz Montgomery, IL 2021 Shelby Mustang
· Ford Compact Truck All Years
· Winner: Bob Adney Florissant, MO 1923 Ford
· Ford Lightning
· Winner: Mac & Bonnie McCormick Edwardsville, IL 1993 Lightning
· Open Ford (For Ford vehicles that do not fit into above classes )
· Winner: Craig Miller Belleville, IL 1931 Ford
· Best Ford of Show
· Winner: Mac & Bonnie McCormick Edwardsville, IL 1993 Lightning
SUNDAY CHRYSLER CAR SHOW CLASSES & AWARDS:
· Chrysler E-Body (Challenger/Barracuda)
· Winner: Robert Dalton Litchfield, IL 1970 Plymouth Cuda
· Open Chrysler
· Winner: Steve Luber St. Charles, MO 2002 Dodge Stratus
· Best Chrysler of Show
· Winner: David Miller Missouri 2016 Challenger Hellcat
SUNDAY SPECIALTY AWARDS:
· Best Engine
· Winner: Ron Feldman St.Peters, MO 1957 Chevy Nomad
· Best Interior
· Winner: Blade Telefson Centralia, IL 2015 Mustang
· Best Body & Paint
· Winner: Joe Lewis St. Louis, MO 2014 Implala
SUNDAY BEST OF SHOW
Best of Show
Winner: Ron Feldman St.Peters, MO 1957 Chevy Nomad
