Written by Mary Lendzion
Photos by the NMRA Staff
Even though Danny Towe has been competing for many years, he still gets a case of nerves every now and then.
Whether it happens before the first round of eliminations or before the final round of eliminations, he reminds himself that it is not his first race, and that he has pulled up to the starting line, put his Mustang in the beam and pulled off a win plenty of times.
Towe relied on those reassurances in 2022, while taking on both NMRA SCT Ford Muscle and NMCA Detroit Truetrac Nostalgia Muscle. This story covers his NMRA SCT Ford Muscle season, and a separate story on NMCADigital.com and RacePagesDigital.com covers his NMCA Detroit Truetrac Nostalgia Muscle season.
After loading into the trailer his 1970 Mustang Sportsroof powered by a 393 cubic-inch Windsor engine he put together and paired with a Powerglide, Towe headed to the NMRA Spring Break Shootout in March at Bradenton Motorsports Park in Florida. He qualified in the first spot with an 11.75 index, and won the first round of eliminations with an 11.87, and posted an all-out 11.69 on a solo pass in the second round of eliminations. He got by the third round of eliminations with an 11.84 and finished as the runner-up with a breakout time of 11.69 against John Butsko.
Towe qualified in the sixth spot with an 11.78 on an 11.75 at the Scoggin Dickey Parts Center NMRA/NMCA All-Star Nationals presented by MAHLE Motorsport in April at Rockingham Dragway in North Carolina, and won the first round of eliminations with an 11.83, and the second and third rounds of eliminations after his opponents turned on red lights. Towe then lined up alongside David Mormann for the final round of eliminations, which saw a double breakout, and went to the NMRA Winner’s Circle with an 11.73.
From there, Towe qualified in the fourteenth spot with a breakout time of 11.99 on his chosen 12.00 index at the NMRA/NMCA Super Bowl of Street Legal Drag Racing presented by Fuelab in May at World Wide Technology Raceway in Illinois. He won the first round of eliminations with a dead-on 12.00, and got by the second round of eliminations, another double breakout, with an 11.97 before exiting in the semifinal round of eliminations with a breakout time of 11.93.
Ready, willing and able to go rounds, Towe qualified in the twelfth spot with a 12.14 on a 12.00 index at the NMRA Ford Performance Nationals in June at Summit Motorsports Park in Ohio. He won the first round of eliminations with a 12.01, won a double breakout with an 11.98 in the second round of eliminations and the semifinal round of eliminations with a 12.11. The spotlight was on Towe and David Mormann in the final round of eliminations, and Towe won with a 12.03.
Rounding the corner on a full season of competition, Towe led qualifying with 12.00 on 12.00 at the Arrington Performance NMRA/NMCA Power Festival presented by TorqStorm Superchargers in July at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park in Michigan. He won the first round of eliminations, a double breakout, with an 11.98, and he exited in the second round of eliminations after a red light start.
In the homestretch, Towe qualified in the sixth spot, out of 19 other racers, with an 11.77 on an 11.75 index at the Whipple Superchargers NMRA Ford World Finals presented by Competition Clutch featuring the Holley Intergalactic Ford Festival in late September, early October at Beech Bend Raceway in Kentucky. He won the first round of eliminations, a double breakout, with a close 11.74, and won the second round of eliminations when his opponent saw red. He exited in the third round of eliminations with a breakout time of 11.74.
While Towe didn’t win that race, he won the season-long points chase to be crowned the 2022 NMRA SCT Ford Muscle champion for the second year in a row and for the third time overall.
“I started out the year focused on backing up my Ford Muscle championship,” said Towe. “I knew it wasn’t going to be easy, and on top of that, I had ignition issues all year that were causing the engine to miss. I had to change every component that touched the ignition system until I finally tracked it down at the last race. I want to thank my wife, Suzanne, my primary sponsor, Harland Sharp, all of the sponsors for the series, David Mormann, Shane Williams and all the friends I have made and race with. I’m looking forward to 2023.”
Towe is ready to celebrate among his fellow champions at the Holley NMRA Ford Nationals Awards Ceremony, held during the Performance Racing Industry Trade Show, Dec. 9, 2022, at the Indiana Convention Center.
(Towe also cemented the NMCA Detroit Truetrac Nostalgia Muscle championship. For that story, please visit NMCADigital.com or RacePagesDigital.com)
Photos by the NMRA Staff
Even though Danny Towe has been competing for many years, he still gets a case of nerves every now and then.
Whether it happens before the first round of eliminations or before the final round of eliminations, he reminds himself that it is not his first race, and that he has pulled up to the starting line, put his Mustang in the beam and pulled off a win plenty of times.
Towe relied on those reassurances in 2022, while taking on both NMRA SCT Ford Muscle and NMCA Detroit Truetrac Nostalgia Muscle. This story covers his NMRA SCT Ford Muscle season, and a separate story on NMCADigital.com and RacePagesDigital.com covers his NMCA Detroit Truetrac Nostalgia Muscle season.
After loading into the trailer his 1970 Mustang Sportsroof powered by a 393 cubic-inch Windsor engine he put together and paired with a Powerglide, Towe headed to the NMRA Spring Break Shootout in March at Bradenton Motorsports Park in Florida. He qualified in the first spot with an 11.75 index, and won the first round of eliminations with an 11.87, and posted an all-out 11.69 on a solo pass in the second round of eliminations. He got by the third round of eliminations with an 11.84 and finished as the runner-up with a breakout time of 11.69 against John Butsko.
Towe qualified in the sixth spot with an 11.78 on an 11.75 at the Scoggin Dickey Parts Center NMRA/NMCA All-Star Nationals presented by MAHLE Motorsport in April at Rockingham Dragway in North Carolina, and won the first round of eliminations with an 11.83, and the second and third rounds of eliminations after his opponents turned on red lights. Towe then lined up alongside David Mormann for the final round of eliminations, which saw a double breakout, and went to the NMRA Winner’s Circle with an 11.73.
From there, Towe qualified in the fourteenth spot with a breakout time of 11.99 on his chosen 12.00 index at the NMRA/NMCA Super Bowl of Street Legal Drag Racing presented by Fuelab in May at World Wide Technology Raceway in Illinois. He won the first round of eliminations with a dead-on 12.00, and got by the second round of eliminations, another double breakout, with an 11.97 before exiting in the semifinal round of eliminations with a breakout time of 11.93.
Ready, willing and able to go rounds, Towe qualified in the twelfth spot with a 12.14 on a 12.00 index at the NMRA Ford Performance Nationals in June at Summit Motorsports Park in Ohio. He won the first round of eliminations with a 12.01, won a double breakout with an 11.98 in the second round of eliminations and the semifinal round of eliminations with a 12.11. The spotlight was on Towe and David Mormann in the final round of eliminations, and Towe won with a 12.03.
Rounding the corner on a full season of competition, Towe led qualifying with 12.00 on 12.00 at the Arrington Performance NMRA/NMCA Power Festival presented by TorqStorm Superchargers in July at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park in Michigan. He won the first round of eliminations, a double breakout, with an 11.98, and he exited in the second round of eliminations after a red light start.
In the homestretch, Towe qualified in the sixth spot, out of 19 other racers, with an 11.77 on an 11.75 index at the Whipple Superchargers NMRA Ford World Finals presented by Competition Clutch featuring the Holley Intergalactic Ford Festival in late September, early October at Beech Bend Raceway in Kentucky. He won the first round of eliminations, a double breakout, with a close 11.74, and won the second round of eliminations when his opponent saw red. He exited in the third round of eliminations with a breakout time of 11.74.
While Towe didn’t win that race, he won the season-long points chase to be crowned the 2022 NMRA SCT Ford Muscle champion for the second year in a row and for the third time overall.
“I started out the year focused on backing up my Ford Muscle championship,” said Towe. “I knew it wasn’t going to be easy, and on top of that, I had ignition issues all year that were causing the engine to miss. I had to change every component that touched the ignition system until I finally tracked it down at the last race. I want to thank my wife, Suzanne, my primary sponsor, Harland Sharp, all of the sponsors for the series, David Mormann, Shane Williams and all the friends I have made and race with. I’m looking forward to 2023.”
Towe is ready to celebrate among his fellow champions at the Holley NMRA Ford Nationals Awards Ceremony, held during the Performance Racing Industry Trade Show, Dec. 9, 2022, at the Indiana Convention Center.
(Towe also cemented the NMCA Detroit Truetrac Nostalgia Muscle championship. For that story, please visit NMCADigital.com or RacePagesDigital.com)