Written by Mike Galimi
Photography by the NMRA Staff
Earlier this year, the Holley NMRA Ford Nationals announced a brand-new shootout category that combines a heads-up start with a breakout index, and it is aimed directly at the street car market. The goal was stay away from the NHRA-imposed 8.50 barrier, which requires a significant upgrade in chassis roll cage. Racers could opt to run an SFI 25-series style cage, but—and most importantly—it wouldn’t be required to remain competitive. SunCoast Performance stood up and shouted “We’re IN!” and the class officially became known as SunCoast Performance 8.60 Street Race. The new index eliminator is slated to run at four NMRA events in 2022.
The Canadians invaded the Spring Break Shootout once again and Jeff Bloem walked away with the win using a bit of luck and a twin-turbocharged Fox Mustang. His better-known street car, a Mustang LX coupe that won True Street and Spring Break Shootout eliminator in 2019, is down for serious upgrades as he looks to run deeper in the 7s, so Bloem entered his other toy in SunCoast Performance 8.60 Street Race.
In early March, the Spring Break Shootout saw 22 cars enter the category and they provided exciting qualifying and elimination action. Racers focused on hitting the 8.60 index and not going below 8.50, otherwise facing a run DQ. The fresh class rules offered a slightly different twist with the index—all racers are aiming to hit the 8.60 mark, without going under. Think of it like a dial-in, but competitors only have a one-tenth breakout (8.500 max) before the run is completely disqualified. In qualifying, that means the entry is placed at the bottom of the ladder and that is an automatic elimination on race day, regardless of what your competitor ran.
It didn’t take long for racers like Willie Lujan, a former Limited Street racer and current automotive performance shop owner from Miami, to get into a groove and flirt with the 8.60 index. He found his way to the top with a stellar 8.605, while customer Luis Mellado, who posted a best of 8.609, trailed him. Both racers compete in flawless Fox Mustangs, but their approach is dramatically different. Lujan sports a nasty little 363ci small-block Ford with a Vortech T-trim supercharger, while Mellado relies on a turbocharged Coyote Aluminator powerplant.
Our buddy Willie Lujan of Lujan Motorsports out of Miami had four cars entered in the Street Race category. Of his four team cars, his personal Vortech-supercharged entry secured the top spot with an 8.605 on the 8.60 index. He was fresh off a win at 2022 Sick Week in the 8.50 class and backed it off a tenth to run in NMRA. Side note—we dig the tailpipes!
The two Miami racers were in good company as Houston McClain (8.615), Matt Ballard (8.619), Canada’s Jeff Bloem (8.635), and True Street veteran Tony Whetstone (8.637) kept the pressure on them. In all, nine of the qualifiers were in the 8.60 zone with three more strung out in the 8.70s and 8.80s. A few more competitors who are well-versed in 8.50 index racing, like what is popular at Cecil County Dragway and on Drag Week, struggled in qualifying, but could definitely play spoiler during eliminations.
“One consistent theme with the 8.60 Street Race class has been the diversity of entries and we love it,” said Rollie Miller, General Manager and National Event Director of the NMRA. He continued, “We have seen many familiar faces that have run True Street with us making the switch, as well as several of our friends who compete in Drag & Drive events, where the 8.50 index is quite popular.”
Leticia and Rick Hughes have made a lot of noise over the winter as they garnered sponsorship from Raybestos and SunCoast Performance and swapped to a TKM-built Coyote with a nasty Whipple supercharger on top of it. She dropped a stellar 8.69 off the trailer in testing, but encountered problems during qualifying and eliminations. Her persistence and guidance were paramount in making the 8.60 Street Race class a reality.
The diversity in vehicles that Miller references is the eclectic mix of body styles from the modern S550 Mustangs that are packing supercharged or turbocharged Coyote engines to even a 1971 Maverick, which relies on the tried and true 351 Windsor with a carburetor/nitrous induction system. Each one deemed a street car through a strict set of guidelines that closely resemble the True Street rules package.
Elimination rounds aren’t run off a traditional ladder, but instead a chip-draw is used for competitors that respond to the first-round call. In the event there are an odd number of racers that pull into the staging lanes, the number-one qualifier gets the automatic bye-run. It was Lujan who earned that bonus at the Spring Break Shootout.
Colin Welsh is exactly the type of enthusiast we love seeing compete at the NMRA. His car didn’t fit any class particularly well, so he jumped into 8.60 Street Race due to its loose rules and his ability to stay WOT and achieve a best time. The car also embodies the new NHRA rules that allow 2014-newer vehicles to run down to 9.00 with the OEM safety gear and proper driver racing attire and helmet. The Livernois Motorsport-tuned machine turned 9.20 performances without any problems.
The first round of eliminations was not without its drama, as both Bloem and Ballard submarined the 8.60 index and ran dangerously close to the 8.50 threshold—Bloem ran 8.514 while Ballard went further under the index with an 8.512, giving Bloem the narrow win. Bloem continued his lucky streak when Whetstone broke against him in round two, and he had a bye-run in the semifinals, earning his spot in the first-ever, final round of the 8.60 Street Race class.
Tony Whetstone has competed in every single Spring Break Shootout since its inception in the 1990s and his streak continued in 2022. The noted Mustang drag racer gravitated toward the 8.60 Street Race for the most obvious reason—there is no need to add an SFI-style cage to his beloved 1990 Mustang GT convertible. The stroked 302 sports a single turbocharger and Whetstone converted to a Powerglide recently. Normally, his ragtop is an 8.30-capable machine, but he backed it off to 8.60s and went a couple of rounds.
On the other side of the ladder it was Randy Thomas and his well-known 2010 Shelby GT500 that knows the 8.50-limitations of the NHRA rulebook very well. He advanced to the finals by beating Kevin McCotter in round one, the top qualifier Lujan in round two, and McClain in the semifinals. That set up the battle between two dramatically different looking vehicles in the final—Bloem in his convertible Fox Mustang and Thomas in his Grabber Blue GT500.
Kentucky’s Matt Ballard’s twin-turbocharged 2017 Mustang was impressive, as he qualified fourth thanks to a stout 8.619. Unfortunately, he dialed in too much boost for the opening round of eliminations when he unleashed an 8.512 as he tried to stay ahead of Bloem on the top-end. Both racers broke through the 8.60 index, but barely remained slower than the 8.50 cut-off. Bloem advanced with a slower, but-winning 8.514.
The finals would be an exercise of the rulebook—Bloem went red and normally that would declare Thomas as the champion, however the Kentucky-racer cruised past the 8.50 rule with an 8.48, handing the win over to Bloem who had posted an 8.62 in the final round.
Normally a fixture on the 8.50 Index scene at Cecil County Dragway and Atco Raceway, Brian Larsen made the trip down from New Jersey for the first time. A ProCharger F-1A-94 pumps up his 349ci engine and tuner Brian “Freezy” Friedentag worked the Holley EFI to get the car backed off to 8.60s. Larsen provided a little drama with entertaining wheelstands and a drift exhibition on the top-end when a radiator hose blew off. But he got it together for eliminations and won first round, but then missed the lane call for round two.
Tight competition with gamesmanship thrown in as racers took aim at hitting the index created a fun and exciting new category for the NMRA crowd. The 8.60 Street Race class is scheduled for action during the Scoggin Dickey Parts Center NMRA/NMCA All-Star Nationals Presented by MAHLE Motorsport at Rockingham Dragway (Rockingham, NC) April 21-24. The next time it drops is during the NMRA Ford Performance Nationals at Summit Motorsports Park (Norwalk, OH) June 9-12. And the big finale will happen at the raddest all-Ford event of the year—the Whipple Superchargers NMRA World Finals Presented by Competition Clutch + Holley Intergalactic Ford Festival at Beech Bend Raceway (Bowling Green, KY) over the weekend of September 29-October 2.
Photography by the NMRA Staff
Earlier this year, the Holley NMRA Ford Nationals announced a brand-new shootout category that combines a heads-up start with a breakout index, and it is aimed directly at the street car market. The goal was stay away from the NHRA-imposed 8.50 barrier, which requires a significant upgrade in chassis roll cage. Racers could opt to run an SFI 25-series style cage, but—and most importantly—it wouldn’t be required to remain competitive. SunCoast Performance stood up and shouted “We’re IN!” and the class officially became known as SunCoast Performance 8.60 Street Race. The new index eliminator is slated to run at four NMRA events in 2022.
The Canadians invaded the Spring Break Shootout once again and Jeff Bloem walked away with the win using a bit of luck and a twin-turbocharged Fox Mustang. His better-known street car, a Mustang LX coupe that won True Street and Spring Break Shootout eliminator in 2019, is down for serious upgrades as he looks to run deeper in the 7s, so Bloem entered his other toy in SunCoast Performance 8.60 Street Race. In early March, the Spring Break Shootout saw 22 cars enter the category and they provided exciting qualifying and elimination action. Racers focused on hitting the 8.60 index and not going below 8.50, otherwise facing a run DQ. The fresh class rules offered a slightly different twist with the index—all racers are aiming to hit the 8.60 mark, without going under. Think of it like a dial-in, but competitors only have a one-tenth breakout (8.500 max) before the run is completely disqualified. In qualifying, that means the entry is placed at the bottom of the ladder and that is an automatic elimination on race day, regardless of what your competitor ran.
It didn’t take long for racers like Willie Lujan, a former Limited Street racer and current automotive performance shop owner from Miami, to get into a groove and flirt with the 8.60 index. He found his way to the top with a stellar 8.605, while customer Luis Mellado, who posted a best of 8.609, trailed him. Both racers compete in flawless Fox Mustangs, but their approach is dramatically different. Lujan sports a nasty little 363ci small-block Ford with a Vortech T-trim supercharger, while Mellado relies on a turbocharged Coyote Aluminator powerplant.
Our buddy Willie Lujan of Lujan Motorsports out of Miami had four cars entered in the Street Race category. Of his four team cars, his personal Vortech-supercharged entry secured the top spot with an 8.605 on the 8.60 index. He was fresh off a win at 2022 Sick Week in the 8.50 class and backed it off a tenth to run in NMRA. Side note—we dig the tailpipes!The two Miami racers were in good company as Houston McClain (8.615), Matt Ballard (8.619), Canada’s Jeff Bloem (8.635), and True Street veteran Tony Whetstone (8.637) kept the pressure on them. In all, nine of the qualifiers were in the 8.60 zone with three more strung out in the 8.70s and 8.80s. A few more competitors who are well-versed in 8.50 index racing, like what is popular at Cecil County Dragway and on Drag Week, struggled in qualifying, but could definitely play spoiler during eliminations.
“One consistent theme with the 8.60 Street Race class has been the diversity of entries and we love it,” said Rollie Miller, General Manager and National Event Director of the NMRA. He continued, “We have seen many familiar faces that have run True Street with us making the switch, as well as several of our friends who compete in Drag & Drive events, where the 8.50 index is quite popular.”
Leticia and Rick Hughes have made a lot of noise over the winter as they garnered sponsorship from Raybestos and SunCoast Performance and swapped to a TKM-built Coyote with a nasty Whipple supercharger on top of it. She dropped a stellar 8.69 off the trailer in testing, but encountered problems during qualifying and eliminations. Her persistence and guidance were paramount in making the 8.60 Street Race class a reality. The diversity in vehicles that Miller references is the eclectic mix of body styles from the modern S550 Mustangs that are packing supercharged or turbocharged Coyote engines to even a 1971 Maverick, which relies on the tried and true 351 Windsor with a carburetor/nitrous induction system. Each one deemed a street car through a strict set of guidelines that closely resemble the True Street rules package.
Elimination rounds aren’t run off a traditional ladder, but instead a chip-draw is used for competitors that respond to the first-round call. In the event there are an odd number of racers that pull into the staging lanes, the number-one qualifier gets the automatic bye-run. It was Lujan who earned that bonus at the Spring Break Shootout.
Colin Welsh is exactly the type of enthusiast we love seeing compete at the NMRA. His car didn’t fit any class particularly well, so he jumped into 8.60 Street Race due to its loose rules and his ability to stay WOT and achieve a best time. The car also embodies the new NHRA rules that allow 2014-newer vehicles to run down to 9.00 with the OEM safety gear and proper driver racing attire and helmet. The Livernois Motorsport-tuned machine turned 9.20 performances without any problems. The first round of eliminations was not without its drama, as both Bloem and Ballard submarined the 8.60 index and ran dangerously close to the 8.50 threshold—Bloem ran 8.514 while Ballard went further under the index with an 8.512, giving Bloem the narrow win. Bloem continued his lucky streak when Whetstone broke against him in round two, and he had a bye-run in the semifinals, earning his spot in the first-ever, final round of the 8.60 Street Race class.
Tony Whetstone has competed in every single Spring Break Shootout since its inception in the 1990s and his streak continued in 2022. The noted Mustang drag racer gravitated toward the 8.60 Street Race for the most obvious reason—there is no need to add an SFI-style cage to his beloved 1990 Mustang GT convertible. The stroked 302 sports a single turbocharger and Whetstone converted to a Powerglide recently. Normally, his ragtop is an 8.30-capable machine, but he backed it off to 8.60s and went a couple of rounds.On the other side of the ladder it was Randy Thomas and his well-known 2010 Shelby GT500 that knows the 8.50-limitations of the NHRA rulebook very well. He advanced to the finals by beating Kevin McCotter in round one, the top qualifier Lujan in round two, and McClain in the semifinals. That set up the battle between two dramatically different looking vehicles in the final—Bloem in his convertible Fox Mustang and Thomas in his Grabber Blue GT500.
Kentucky’s Matt Ballard’s twin-turbocharged 2017 Mustang was impressive, as he qualified fourth thanks to a stout 8.619. Unfortunately, he dialed in too much boost for the opening round of eliminations when he unleashed an 8.512 as he tried to stay ahead of Bloem on the top-end. Both racers broke through the 8.60 index, but barely remained slower than the 8.50 cut-off. Bloem advanced with a slower, but-winning 8.514. The finals would be an exercise of the rulebook—Bloem went red and normally that would declare Thomas as the champion, however the Kentucky-racer cruised past the 8.50 rule with an 8.48, handing the win over to Bloem who had posted an 8.62 in the final round.
Normally a fixture on the 8.50 Index scene at Cecil County Dragway and Atco Raceway, Brian Larsen made the trip down from New Jersey for the first time. A ProCharger F-1A-94 pumps up his 349ci engine and tuner Brian “Freezy” Friedentag worked the Holley EFI to get the car backed off to 8.60s. Larsen provided a little drama with entertaining wheelstands and a drift exhibition on the top-end when a radiator hose blew off. But he got it together for eliminations and won first round, but then missed the lane call for round two. Tight competition with gamesmanship thrown in as racers took aim at hitting the index created a fun and exciting new category for the NMRA crowd. The 8.60 Street Race class is scheduled for action during the Scoggin Dickey Parts Center NMRA/NMCA All-Star Nationals Presented by MAHLE Motorsport at Rockingham Dragway (Rockingham, NC) April 21-24. The next time it drops is during the NMRA Ford Performance Nationals at Summit Motorsports Park (Norwalk, OH) June 9-12. And the big finale will happen at the raddest all-Ford event of the year—the Whipple Superchargers NMRA World Finals Presented by Competition Clutch + Holley Intergalactic Ford Festival at Beech Bend Raceway (Bowling Green, KY) over the weekend of September 29-October 2.