Despite her destructive efforts, Mother Nature couldn’t manage to tip the scales in her favor at the NMRA/Red Line Oil NMCA Race for the Rings & Saturday Thrill Festival, May 3-5, 2024 at World Wide Technology Raceway outside of St. Louis.
The racing went on as planned with an added showcase of jet cars, high-jumping FMX Motocross, BIGFOOT monster truck, a car show and a manufacturers’ midway..
“After we were hit with the storm on Saturday, we concentrated on clean-up efforts so that we could produce this event as promised for our racers and race fans,” said Rollie Miller, General Manager and National Event Director for NMCA and NMRA. “Our NMCA Starting Line Team, TVC Track Prep Team and Brad Cannon of World Wide Technology Raceway were at the track late after the rain passed to dry the track and they were back well before dawn to prep the racing surface in time for an 8:30 a.m. start on Sunday. That led to some of the most amazing racing we have seen so far this season.”
In the Xtreme Pro Mod, Craig Sullivan led qualifying with a 3.66 in El Mero Mero, but it was Bob Glenn and Ed Marx. Glenn took the win with a 3.645 with Marx right on his heels with a 3.646.
Jason Dietsch led qualifying in Factory Super Cars with a 7.79 shot in his Mustang Cobra Jet, and on race day, he picked up to a 7.69 to defeat Marc Heidings who stopped the clocks at 8.10.
There were plenty of nitrous plumes in ARP Nitrous Pro Street, where Leonard Grawburg led qualifying with a 4.26 in his Camaro. He met fellow Floridian Kyle Salminen and his Camaro in the final round of eliminations, and after a tight race, Grawburg won with a 4.24 to Salminen’s 4.26.
Nearly 30 NMCA Xtreme Street and Renegade racers shared the stage at this event, giving race fans an extra dose of excitement. Joel Greathouse set the pace in qualifying with a 4.49 in John Kolivas’ Mustang, and got to the winner’s circle with a 4.62 after Ray Cox turned on the red light.
David Theisen and Leonard Long gave every indication they’d have a close race and as they lined up against each other for the NA 10.5 final round, they did not disappoint. They left the line together and Theisen’s Firebird made a move toward the wall, but the Michigan-based racer felt confident about keeping his foot planted on the gas pedal. He was side-by-side with Long through the traps, and Theisen went to the winner’s circle with a 7.82 to Long’s close 7.83.
Keith Vaughn and Bryan Williams worked hard to get to the final in Street Warrior 10.10, and Vaughn won with a 10.13 to Williams’ 10.14.
The Stock Eliminator attracts a wealth of neat race cars and this certainly includes Bruce Boyle’s championship-winning 1989 Camaro and Denny Hillman’s classic 1967 Camaro. Boyle belted in for the win with a good reaction time and an 11.63 on an 11.56 and Hillman turned in an 11.27 on an 11.26.
Multi-time champion Mark Nowicki and Jeremy Duncan had business to handle in Super Stock Eliminator, and Nowicki — who got engaged to Jen in front of his fellow racers at the NMCA Awards Ceremony last December in Indiana — won with a quick reaction time and a 9.55 on a 9.54 to Duncan’s dead-on 9.37.
Classic cars were commanding attention in Nostalgia Super Stock, and among them were Greg Deaton’s 1965 Belvedere and Doug Poskevich’s 1966 Fairlane. Deaton earned the event win with a 10.00 while Poskevich turned in a 10.64.
In Nostalgia Muscle, Jeff Toepper took the win with an 11.25 right on his 11.25 in his 1969 Camaro, while David Mormann broke out with a 10.73 on a 10.75 in his 1970 Mustang.
Successful racer Dennis Corn pulled off another win in Open Comp, where racers are dialed in quite tightly on both ends of the track. This time, it was against another successful racer, Frankie Radake, who turned on the red light.
Dennis Pearson and Steve Satchell were featured for the Street King final, and Pearson picked up the win when Satchell illuminated the dreaded red light.
Proform Rumble saw Bryan Benge and Kevin Rowand roll up to the starting line, and Benge beelined to the win with a 12.15 on a 12.00 over Rowand’s 11.17 on an 11.00
NMCA/NMRA True Street drivers went for a 30-mile cruise around World Wide Technology Raceway before returning and ripping down track in the street-driven cars. Tim Gehrs was the overall winner with an 8.20 average, and Willie Lujan was the runner-up with an 8.75 average. Also standing out were Bob Hoffman (9-second winner), Ricky Holcomb (10-second winner), David Schuler (11-second winner), Elaine Moistner (12-second winner), Trey Hamlin (13-second winner), Victoria Riehle (14-second winner) and Joe Parisi (15-second winner).
Drivers of Chargers, Challengers, and other cars faced off for the Dodge // Direct Connection Shootout. JJ Johnson was the overall winner with an 8.62 average. Bryce Rohrs was the runner-up with a 9.39 average. Other winners including Dale Arnold (9-second), Joe Ed (10-second winner), Adam Hicks (11-second winner), Robert Skalecki (12-second winner), Eddie Schoenfeld (13-second winner), Nathan McMaster (14-second winner) and Dan Koehne Sr. (15-second winner).
The eight quickest drivers in the Dodge // Direct Connection Shootout earned entry into the exciting Quick 8 on Sunday. Bryce Rohrs, who is no stranger to going rounds, won with a 9.06 on an 8.99 over Tripp Carter, who broke out with a 9.19 on a 9.21.
“We were ecstatic to see so many fans come out to enjoy racing and the Saturday Thrill Festival,” said Steve Wolcott, president and CEO of NMRA and NMCA. “We are working hard to enhance our fan experience, and to see people of all ages awestruck by the racing, FMX Motocross, BIGFOOT, Jet Cars and our other features inspires us to continuously come up with fresh ideas.”
The chase to the championships in the Red Line Oil NMCA Muscle Car Nationals continues at the 22nd Annual NMCA Muscle Car Mayhem, May 30-June 2, 2024 at Beech Bend Raceway in Kentucky.
