It seems that Florida missed NMRA drag racing as much as we did, as the sun shined while rigs big and small began to flood into Bradenton Motorsports Park in preparation for the season-opening 28th Annual NMRA Spring Break Shootout. Today kicked off a series of Test ’N Tune passes so racers can dial in their combos before qualifying begins tomorrow. Today’s action culminates with the Weldon Racer Appreciation Party, where participants and sponsors take a moment to enjoy a cold beverage and some snacks.

 

With some new entries like the Suncoast Performance 8.60 Street Race class, and the celebrated heads-up and index categories on tap for the weekend, the action will be fast and furious, so stay tuned to this page and our social media outlets for all the latest updates.

 

Here’s how the action goes down today at Bradenton Motorsports Park for the 28th Annual NMRA Spring Break Shootout.

 

Leticia Hughes is ready to run it out in the new SunCoast Performance 8.60 Street Race category. In the off-season, she added a TKM Stage 2 Coyote short-block and topped by a 3.8-liter Whipple supercharger, which gives her ride the potential to run right up to the limit and beyond in the class. She didn’t skimp on safety, however. Stepping up from an NA to a blown combo necessitated a new 8.50-cert cage and all the other safety upgrades. "I am very excited. I think it will go over well, and it goes along with how drag racing is changing," she said of the new class. "...Street cars are the new evolution in drag racing."

 

Richmond Gear Factory Stock competitor Chris Niebauer stepped up to a Gen 2 Coyote in the off-season and ran quickly with it in outlaw trim at the World Cup Finals. He also dropped out his more modern automatic in favor of a tried and true Ford C4 auto. He ran 10.05 in testing with his latest combo and hopes to go rounds this weekend in his sharp, four-eye Fox Mustang.

 

Mustang racing legend Joe DaSilva headed south from his home base in Canada to compete in the TorqStorm True Street class with his personal 2015 Mustang GT. Fitted with a Whipple supercharger and all the necessary supporting hardware, including beefed halfshafts, and he plans to run low-10s in the class and then cruise it back to his beach-side lodging in the evening. 

 

If you see Willy Diaz's 2018-F150 blasting down the track in TorqStorm Superchargers True Street, you might wonder what Rayito means. Well, that translates as Lightning in Spanish, and his truck lives of to that charged up billing thanks to a VMP Odin TVS supercharger system atop its Coyote engine. Supported by a fuel system from his MAK Performance shop based on twin Hellcat fuel pumps and running a modified Killer Chiller system, it puts down 908 horsepower to the wheels on a Mustang Dyno, and cuts 1.42 60-foots on the drag strip thanks to its Calvert Racing rear suspension.

 

Flying in all the way from California, Rodney Apperson brought out his striking 2017 Mustang GT to run in TorqStorm Superchargers True Street this weekend with a host of other hot S550s in the Coastal Dyno stable. Its unique wrap makes the car stand out visually, but the custom ProCharger F-1 supercharger setup by Coastal makes it stand out on the quarter-mile, where he hopes to compete in the 10-second category.

Thursday’s action would wind down with a robust crowd at the Weldon Racing Racer Appreciation party, where racers, crew, sponsors, and media all gathered to bench race and share an ice-cold beverage or two.