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SUNDAY NOTEBOOK - QUICK HITS: RACE REPORTING IN RAPID FASHION

OILDOWNS CHANGE RACING DISTANCE – From 8 a.m. Sunday, race cars were causing a variety of delays because of oildowns, engine problems, and pretty much anything you could think of.

After four hours of racing and still not being done with first round in Outlaw 10.5s, Mel Roth, the president and founder of the Pacific Street Car Association, made the decision at 2:25 p.m. Pacific Time Sunday to race all classes to the 1/8th-mile instead of the quarter-mile.

“We decided to race the cars to the eighth-mile because of the wind,” Roth said. “It was blowing the cars around past the grandstands.”

As of 2:45 p.m. Pacific Time, it was 56 degrees in Las Vegas with 27-mph winds, gusting to 35 mph.

NOT IDEAL WEATHER – All weekend, the weather in Las Vegas has been chilly, windy and rainy. Sunday was no different.

At 10:05 a.m. it was 49 degrees and the temperature felt like 41 degrees because the wind was blowing 25 mph.

“The wind helps and hurts you depending on which way it is going,” Kirk Wilmes said before first-round action. “The track has been really good, so I do not know if the weather is that big of an issue right now.”

Weather or not, the first round of the Pro Street was littered with upsets as first round action in Pro Street and Outlaw 10.5 was plagued with long delays because of oildowns.

PRO STREET

ROUND 1

MARINO SHOCKS WILMES - Being the No. 1 qualifier in the Pro Street class didn’t benefit Kirk Wilmes.

Wilmes, who was the top qualifier at 6.025-seconds, slowed to a 6.612 lap in first round. Wilmes was shocked by Tony Marino, who had a 6.527-second run.

Marino’s win was especially improbable because he didn’t even know he was going to race until Sunday morning. As  the first alternate, Marino took Jay Diedrich’s No. 32 spot in the ladder because Diedrich couldn’t make the call.

Diedrich clocked a 6.576-second elapsed time at 229.08 mph on Friday, but blew his motor which ended his weekend.

Wilmes’ top qualifying run was a 6.026-second effort at 243.99 mph on Saturday night after a three-plus hour rain delay.

“We tried to hop up the car Saturday night and it worked,” Wilmes said.”We were really happy with the performance of the car.”

The only drawback to Wilmes’ blistering pass was he hurt the Main Cap in his engine.

“We changed motors Saturday night and this is our spare engine and we’re starting fresh Sunday,” Wilmes said before first round.

Wilmes said his crew was working until around 11 p.m. Pacific time Saturday night putting the spare motor in his Firebird.

“The last time we used this (spare) motor was in Martin, Mich., for the ADRL race (June 11-12). But, it is completely fresh, brand new rod springs and everything, so we should be good.”

Unfortunately for Wilmes it wasn’t good enough.

MUSI EXITS EARLY – This wasn’t the plan Pat Musi had in mind. The No. 2 qualifier in Pro Street picked a bad time to have a bad run.

Musi, who was in the low 6-second range all weekend, slowed to a 7.011-second effort in round one and Mike Holdridge drove around him with a 6.538-second lap.

Holdridge was the No. 31 qualifier in his 1962 Impala at 6.556 seconds.

SHORT DAY FOR PERSONETT – The world record pass by Brad Peronett on Friday was a distant memory by Sunday morning.

Personett, the No. 3 qualifier, was stunned by Randy Walker in first round of Pro Street. Personett slowed to a 7.917-second run, while Walker had just enough for the win at 6.986 seconds.

On Friday, Personett set a new world record with a 6.088-second elapsed time at 250.37 mph on a 10.5-inch tire during the first round of Pro Street qualifying. Personett also ran a 6.12-second time at 238.66 mph on his second qualifying run Friday.

Personett, however, chose not run Saturday because of the cooler rainy weather. Walker qualified 29th at 6.512 seconds in his ’74 El Camino.

PEDERSON BEATS MYERS – Dale Pederson had his best run of the weekend Sunday morning in first round, with a 6.348-second effort to beat Dan Myers. Pederson 1999 Monte Carlo recorded the time despite having to pedal the car late in the run.

Pederson gets Martino in the second round.

JONES WINS – Shawn Jones, despite the chilly weather conditions, had a hot run in first round. Jones of Albuquerque roared past Jay Syverston with a solid 6.311-effort at 229.81 in his 1957 Chevy.

RADFORD SURVIVES OPENING ROUND – Veteran racer Dennis Radford had a tough-go in first round, but still managed to get past Kelly Bluebaugh.

Radford, the No. 8 qualifier, got out of the groove early and his 1970 Duster was popping and banging, but he did get the win light at 6.596 seconds.

PEARCE CAPTURES UPSET – Rod Pearce of Phoenix, Ariz., qualified No. 24 in the Pro Street Class, but that didn’t matter Sunday. Pearce had a 6.649-second lap in his 1970 Camaro to get past Scialpi’s 1957 Chevy which had problems right off the line. Scialpi was the No. 9 qualifier at 6.231 seconds.

WINDHAM GETS DISQUALIFIED – Bill Windham started up his 1968 Camaro for round one and was ready to go against his first-round opponent Keith Goolsby.

Windham, however, had his chances for a victory end almost instantly when his Camaro went dead sideways on the burnout and tapped the right wall. Once Windham hit the wall he was disqualified. Goolsby took the win in his ’55 Chevy.

BUNKER JR. HANDS WIN TO WOLFE – Bob Bunker had a victory in his sight in round one against Mark Wolfe. Unfortunately for Bunker, his ’41 Willys started having major handling problems and crossed the center line right before the finish line and handed Wolfe the win.

HAIRSTON’S STOUT: Clint Hairston wasn’t messing around in first round against Yvonne Lucas. Hairston was on the gas and roared to a 6.211-second time at 238.68 mph in his 2007 GTO. Lucas did made a solid pass at 6.417 seconds, but she just came up short.

MAGGIO STRUGGLES BUT WINS – Mike Maggio was one of the fastest cars in Pro Street all weekend, but in first round, he had a sub-par 6.742-second run.

Fortunately for Maggio, that was enough for the win as Tim Henry’s 1970 Camaro came unglued at about the 700 to 800 foot mark and slowed to 7.43 seconds.

GIUSEPPE WAS RIGHT ON - On Saturday, Giuseppe Gentile was confident his 2008 Cobra Jet had more power in its engine.

Gentile, who resides in Sun Valley, Calif., was right. He clocked his top time of the weekend at 6.132 seconds at 227.38 mph in first round against Wayne Hofer.

Gentile qualified fifth with a 6.155-second lap.

“We put more in the car and went faster,” Gentile said.

CONSISTENCY PAYS OFF FOR BURBAGE, THORNTON – Rod Burbage of Redding, Calif., didn’t do anything fancy, he just clocked a 6.138-second run to blaze past Garrett Richards’ 2006 Siverado.

Burbage qualified No. 6 with a 6.158-second time.

Ed Thornton put a 6.33-second time on the board which gave him the victory over No. 7 qualifer John Hall.

BERNEY BY A NOSE – In the best heads-up race in the first round of Pro Street, Monty Berney was able to just edge Sean Renteria.

The two cars, Berney in a 1955 Chevy, and Renteria in a 1965 Valiant, were almost dead even throughout the race before Berney pulled away at the end of the end of the quarter-mile.

Berney had a 6.509-second lap at 227.80 mph to clip Renteria’s 6.556.

VOGT CATCHES A BREAK – Dan Vogt is the defending Pro Street champion at the Street Car Super Nationals.

The Canadian native caught a break as John Mihovetz overstaged his 2007 Shelby and was disqualified. Mihovetz was the No. 10 qualifier at 6.250 seconds and Vogt was No. 23 at 6.433 seconds in his 1963 Corvette.

“We put some new red paint on the thing and we are glad to be back,” Vogt said. “Last year was a lot of luck and we got some in the first round.”

 

ROUND 2

FIVE AND STILL ALIVE - After nearly a five-plus hour wait between rounds, the Pro Street drivers came back to the staging lanes for round two.

PEDERSON ENDS MARINO’S RUN – The clock struck midnight or 4:15 p.m. Pacific Time in Tony Marino’s case ending his Cinderella run. Marino was the first alternate and his race day ended when he ran a 4.859 and was beat by No. 17 qualifier Dale Pederson. Pederson clocked a 4.217 in the eight mile.

MAGGIO EDGES GOOLSBY – Mike Maggio is confident his 1970 Camaro could go fast on Sunday and so far he has been right.

Maggio moved on to round three by winning a great drag race against Keith Goolsby. Maggio's 4.089 effort was just three hundredths faster than the hard-charging Goolsby.

BERNEY STAYS CONSISTENT – Monty Berney hasn’t been flashy this weekend, but he is producing results. Berney’s lastest effort was a solid win in second round with a 4.387-second run. That was good enough to beat Holdridge, whose 1962 Impala got out of the groove almost immediately.

WOLFE, GENTILE MOVE ON – Randy Walker upset No. 3 qualifier Brad Personett in round one, but Walker was no match for Mark Wolfe. Wolfe ran a decent 4.398-second lap to get past Walker, who had engine problems.

Giuseppe Gentile continues to turn heads at this event. Gentile, the No. 5 qualifier, has put together a string of consistent runs, the lastest being a 4.066-second lap against Clint Hairston. Hairston was no threat to Gentile since he recorded a redlight off the line.

THORNTON KNOCKS OUT THE CHAMP – Dan Vogt will not repeat as the Pro Street champion at the Street Car Super Nationals. Ed Thornton ran a 4.139 to get past Vogt’s 4.20 performance.

PEARCE KEEPS SNEEKING PAST COMPETITORS – Usually qualifying No. 24 in a 32-car field doesn’t bode well for a driver, but it is working just fine for Rod Pearce. Pearce latest upset came against veteran driver Dennis Radford. Pearce’s time wasn’t the best at 4.71, but it was enough to get past Radford, whose 1970 Duster backfired on the first hit.

BURBAGE STAYS IN CONTENTION – With all of the top drivers in the field losing, Rod Burbage is weaving his way through competitors. Burbage, the No. 6 qualifier in his 1958 Corvette, posted a strong 4.103 run to get past Shawn Jones’ 4.281 lap.

 

ROUND THREE

MAGGIO GIVES BURBAGE WIN – Mike Maggio’s memorable weekend at the Street Car Super Nationals ended abruptly in the quarterfinals. Maggio, who was the No. 3 qualifier, had a redlight to hand the victory to Rod Burbage.

Maggio, who was way early at the tree, was even more upset since he had the best time of the round at 4.001 seconds. Give Burbage credit, he clocked a 4.041 second time in his 1958 Corvette.

THORNTON STOPS BERNEY – Starting near the bottom of the qualifying ladder is uncommon for Ed Thornton.

However, the veteran driver from Chino Hills, Calif., keeps rolling through the competition from his No. 26 qualifying spot. Thornton’s latest win in his 1963 Corvette came against Monty Berney of Danville, Calif. Thornton had a stout 4.15 time, while Berney came in at 4.317.

GIUSEPPE GOES ANOTHER ROUND – Giuseppe Gentile found the right combination Saturday and he has kept his momentum and motor running on Sunday.

Gentile, in his red, white, blue Mustang, knocked off Mark Wolfe in the quarterfinals. Gentile came in at 4.087 seconds and Wolfe’s 1996 Thunderbird clocked a 4.477 after getting loose at the 60-foot mark.

Gentile faces Dale Pederson in the semifinals. Pederson, the No. 17 qualifier, disposed of Ron Pearce in the quarterfinals. Pederson had a 4.71 lap and Pearce’s ’70 Camaro took a hard right off the line and slowed to a 5.317-second run.

 

SEMIFINALS

GENTILE KEEPS ON MOVING ON – Giuseppe Gentile has not slowed down at all Sunday. Gentile put himself in the final round by eliminating Dale Pederson in the semifinals.

Gentile put together another consistent run with a 4.067 lap in his Mustang. Pederson, who was the No. 17 qualifier in his 1999 Monte Carlo, clocked a 4.236-second run. Pederson will make the long trip back to Dawson Creek, British Columbia after a strong showing.

Gentile has been a measure of consistency as he had 4.06 and 4.08 times in round two and three wins. All of Gentile’s runs have come in the left lane.

BURBAGE KEEPS WINNING – Beating veteran racer Ed Thornton is no easy feat, but that’s exactly what Rod Burbage did in the semifinals. Burbage had a stout 4.126-second lap to just edge Thornton’s 4.148-second run. Burbage improved his chances for victory in his 1958 Corvette by leaving on Thornton. Burbage’s effort at the tree spelled doom for Thornton in his 1963 Corvette.

Burbage also proved both lanes are strong at The Strip as he beat Thornton by running in the right lane.

 

FINALS

BURBAGE GRABS CROWN – Giuseppe Gentile had never won the Street Car Super Nationals before, and Rod Burbage kept him from doing it late Sunday night.

Burbage claimed the prestigious Street Car Super Nationals VI by defeating Gentile in the final round with a 4.03-second time at 186.72 mph.

Gentile’s red, white and blue 2008 Mustang left the starting line first but his car looked like it shook and jerked right toward the center line. Burbage’s 1958 Corvette would have been hard to beat anyway as it ran straight as an arrow to the eighth-mile finish line to pick up the $20,000 winner’s check.

Brubage qualified sixth and watched as the competitors in front of him, Kirk Wilmes, Pat Musi, Brad Personett and Mike Maggio all get knocked out of eliminations.

OUTLAW 10.5

ROUND 1

WILD, WILD RIDE – John Wall lost his first round match to Mark Luton, but that was the least of his worries.

About the 400 foot mark down the track, Wall’s 1992 Mustang began spewing smoke and leaking oil. At the 1,000-foot mark, Wall, who was in the left lane had his tires get loose in the oil and it jerked across the center line. After just missing the right wall, Wall’s car came back left across the center line and knocked the cone down at the quarter-mile mark at 199 mph. With the chutes out, Hall’s car continued to snake back and forth just missing the right and left walls before finally coming to a stop. Hall walked away from the wild ride. The only real damage on Hall’s car was to his wheelie bars.

“We came up to the line and I was on the converter for awhile,” the 54-year-old Hall said. “I do not know if they had autostart still on. The transmission, the temperature gets up and its starts to boil. Basically, it just throws the front bump seal out. At that point, you have no control and I was trying to keep it off the wall.”

Despite the danger of the moment, Hall slowed his heartbeat down.

“I’m a funny guy when it comes to that kind of stuff,” Hall said. “Some people get overly excited and their adrenaline goes way up and it actually calms me down (when things like this happen). Everything is kind of going in slow motion. I thought here comes a wall, let’s turn away from that one. Here comes another wall, let’s turn away from that one. Oh sh*t let’s get the chutes out. Then let’s try not to try and tag anything and I was fortunate enough to not hit anything. I just built the wheelie bars and they clipped the left wall and I crunched them. There was a lot heat in my car and that’s why I got out of my car as quick as I could.”

Luton, who was less than half a car-length ahead of Hall when Hall’s car began smoking, took the win light.

Hall’s engine woes caused roughly an hour delay as track officials were having a hard time cleaning up all the fluid his Mustang lost.

TAMEZ FAILS TO MAKE SHOW - Kurtis Tamez had the best run in the Outlaw 10.5 class, with a 6.635-second run at 211.13 mph on Friday.

The run, however, was the last one Tamez would make the rest of the weekend. Tamez dropped a valve on the run and he couldn’t get things fixed by race day. Tamez’s place in the ladder was taken by the first alternate in the 32-car field Kevin Wallauer.

Actually, Wallauer had bye in the opening round when Smiley Cordero couldn’t make the bell for the first round.

Wallauer’s couldn’t celebrate his win as he got loose in fluid, which was believed to be water at the end of the quarter-mile, and his 1967 Camaro started sliding. The Camaro didn’t come to a stop until it hit the right wall.

GLIDDEN GETS FIRST-ROUND BYE RUN – Billy Glidden was supposed to race Rich Zehring in the first round, but Zehring had a damaged motor and didn’t make it to the staging lanes.

Glidden, who stopped by the media room a couple of times because of the delays, clocked a 6.82-second lap.

 

ROUND 2

GLIDDEN LIKES 660 – When the Street Car Super Nationals were moved to an eighth-mile for racing because of the wind, it played right into Billy Glidden’s hands.

Glidden, a veteran of eighth-mile racing in the American Drag Racing League, made through round two by defeating Dan Saitz. Glidden ran a 4.27 lap to hold off Saitz’s 4.40 effort.

Glidden will have to step it up again in the next round as he faces Mike Murillo. Murillo defeated Sheldon Root with a 4.36-second lap, compared to Root’s 4.58.

SNAVELY KEEPS GOING ROUNDS – Rick Snavely is a standout racer in the Outlaw 10.5 class and he’s showing why this weekend. Snavely, the No. 2 qualifier, rolled past Steve George in the second round. Snavely had a 4.512-second winning run.

Surprisingly, Snavely will not have lane choice in the third round, as his next opponent, Craig Pullin recorded a 4.456-second lap in his victory over Shawn Miles.

SIKORA, ALSTON WIN – Doug Sikora used a consistent 4.459-second run in his 2000 Mustang to beat Mark Luton.

For Sikora’s effort, he will face Chris Alston in the third round. Alston will have lane choice as he recorded a 4.41 effort in his win over Ron Weems.

KEPHART-HUNTER ON TAP – Chris Kephart had a bye run in his 1962 Impala and he moves on to clash with Greg Seth Hunter.

 
ROUND 3

HUNTER, SIKORA WIN – On paper, Greg Seth Hunter should have had the advantage over Chris Kephart and he did.

Hunter of Simi Valley, Calif., ran a 4395-second lap in his 1970 Nova. Kephart, who also is from Simi Valley, Calif., had a 4.62-second run in his 1962 Impala.

Now, Hunter will get Doug Sikora in the semifinals. Sikora’s 2000 Mustang ousted Chris Alston’s 1964 Nova. Sikora was the No. 4 qualifier and Alston was in the No. 5 spot. Sikora beat Alston with a 4.459-second lap, while Alston’s 1964 Nova had engine trouble on the first hit off the line.

PULLIN UPSETS SNAVELY - Winning rounds is never easy, and that proved to be the truth when Rick Snavely met up with Craig Pullin in the quarterfinals. Craig Pullin’s 1964 Nova clocked a 4.407-second run, while Snavely’s had his 2005 Mustang get way out of the groove early and fall to defeat.

Snavely qualified second and Pullin qualified seventh.

MURRILO ELIMINATES GLIDDEN - Billy Glidden knows a thing or two about winning races, but he couldn’t overcome engine problems in losing to Mike Murillo. Murillo, who qualified third, had a 4.36 effort in his 1993 Mustang to blast past Glidden.

Glidden’s 2010 Ford Mustang had engine woes right off the line and he saw his victory hopes vanish.

 

SEMI-FINALS

SIKORA DEFEATS HUNTER – Doug Sikora keeps finding ways to reach the finish line first in his 2000 Mustang.

The Barstow, Calif., resident sped past Greg Seth Hunter with a 4.341-second run.

MURILLO STOPS PULLIN – Mike Murillo is making his trip from San Antonio worthwhile.

Murillo drove his 1993 Mustang to a semifinal win over Craig Pullin, who recorded a redlight. Murrillo had a 4.361-second lap for good measure.

 

FINALS

MURILLO CAPTURES TITLE – In the highly-competitive Outlaw 10.5 class, Mike Murillo was the last one standing.

Murillo, who is from San Antonio, survived the marathon day of racing and beat Doug Sikora with a holeshot in the finals. Murillo’s 4.378-lap in his 1993 Mustang defeated Sikora’s 4.309-second elapsed time. The difference for Murillo was the fact Sikora set at the starting light for over one second.

Murillo made to the finals by beating Craig Pullin in the semis when Pullin had a redlight off the line.

The race between Murillo and Sikora was a matchup of No. 3 and No. 4 qualifiers.

 

EXTREME DRAG RADIAL

ROUND 1

MAJOR, KEENAN MISS ROUND 1 CALL – Paul Major and Mike Keenan were the favorites to win the Extreme Drag Radial title at the Street Car Super Nationals VI at The Strip.

Well, neither of the drivers were contenders on race day. Major, the top qualifier, and Mike Keenan, who was No. 2 on the ladder, both missed the call for the first round.

Major took the top qualifying spot with a 6.856-lap at 219.33 mph Saturday night. The run, however, did too much damage to Major’s 2001 Corvette.

“The head gasket just let go on that last pass,” said Major, whose team was chasing engine problems all weekend. “Unfortunately, we were working in the pits until 2 a.m. (Sunday) and we weren’t able to fix it at the track. It is going to need a little bit of welding and some machine work. Unfortunately this season, we have had a lot of fast runs, but we have not been able to put things together. It is just a matter of testing. We didn’t have enough time this year and this was a whole new program.”

Keenan had a 7.039-second time, which placed him as the second qualifier, but it did not matter on race day because he gave Johnny Coleman the first-round bye. Coleman faces Walter Grosse in round two.

Unlike Major and Keenan, Derek Przeginiak, the No. 3 qualifier took care of business in the first round by defeating Slim Zeinaty.

Dave Bowman and Rich Hoyle won in the first round of Extreme Drag Radial. Other first-round winners were Al Jimenez, Dave Boyles, Rich Holder, Ageel Hammi, Steven Fereday, Paul Silva, Brant Campbell, Josh Lindsay and Brant Palmer rounded out the first-round winners.

 

ROUND 2

PRZEGINIAK KEEPS MOVING ON – Derek Przeginiak was the top qualifier in the Extreme Drag Radial field, since the top two qualifiers, Paul Major and Mike Keenan couldn’t make the call for the first round.

Przeginiak had an easy win in round 2 as Brant Campbell recorded a redlight. Up next for Przeginiak is Josh Lindsay. Lindsy defeated Brant Palmer in round two.

Steven Fereday advanced his 2002 Firebird into the third round by roaring past Paul Silva, whose 1990 Mustang veered toward the center line. Fereday clocked a 4.874-second run. Fereday tangles next with Johnny Coleman. Coleman, the No. 31 qualifier, beat No. 15 qualifier Walter Grosse with a 5.04 effort.

BOLES UPSETS JIMENEZ – Al Jimenez qualified No. 4, but his race day didn’t last long. Jimenez was upset by Dave Boles. Boles’ clocked a 4.993 lap to take the win light. Up next for Boles is No. 5 qualifier Roger Holder.

Dave Bowman, who qualified No. 8, moved on to the third round with a 6.726-second run. Bowman’s 2002 Camaro beat Rich Hoyle. Hoyle’s 1963 Nova had trouble right off the line.

Bowman gets Lonnie Patrick in the next round. Patrick had a bye in the second round but did some damage to his 1980 Malibu on the pass. Patrick’s car lifted the wheels off the line and smashed to the ground. Patrick did make it past the finish line, but his car left some debris which had to be cleaned up by the Las Vegas track officials.


ROUND 3

PATRICK, HOLDER MOVE ON – Lonnie Patrick looked like he may have damaged his car in the second round, but he came back for round three and beat Rich Hoyle. Patrick’s 4.90 was good enough for the win.

Patrick was actually supposed race against Dave Bowman in the quarterfinals since Bowman beat Hoyle in the second round. Bowman, however, was disqualified after his win because he didn’t stop at the scales after his win in his 2002 Camaro.

Patrick gets Roger Holder in the semifinals because Holder knocked off Dave Boles in the quarters. Holder is the top qualifier left in the field as he qualified No. 5 with a 7.262-second time.

FEREDAY, LINDSAY CLAIM VICTORIES – Steven Fereday had a heart-pounding ride in his 2002 Firebird when he beat Johnny Coleman in the quarterfinals. Fereday had his front wheels in the air past the 330 foot mark and when the wheels came back down to the ground he claimed the win with a 4.837-second time. Coleman had engine problems off the line.

Josh Lindsay scored a mild upset in the quarters by beating Derek Przeginiak. Lindsay had a 4.74-second run, while Przeginiak didn’t have enough horsepower to catch Lindsay as he had a 4.86 time.

Przeginiak qualified third in his 2007 Mustang and was sixth in his 2004 Mustang.

 

SEMIFINALS

HOLDER WINS – Lonnie Patrick’s memorable run through the Extreme Drag Radial competition ended late Saturday night against Roger Holder.

Holder, the No. 5 qualifier, blazed to the win in his 2000 Camaro, clocking a 4.754-second time. Patrick, the No. 16 qualifier, had his 1980 Malibu ready to go, but the wheels came off the ground on his launch and when they came down he spun the tires and lost traction.

LINDSAY STOPS FEREDAY – Josh Lindsay keeps coming up against standout racers and each time he has claimed a victory.

Lindsay came in at 4.741 seconds in his 2004 Mustang to just edge Steven Federay’s 4.812 effort.

Fereday cut a near perfect light in his 2002 Firebird, but he didn’t have enough horsepower to hold off Lindsay.

This was a matchup of two drivers who qualified well. Lindsay was No. 6 and Fereday was in the No. 7 spot.

 

FINALS

HOLDER IS CHAMP – Roger Holder’s 2000 Camaro had no equal in the finals. Holder saved a strong run for his last run and it was enough to beat Josh Lindsay’s 2004 Mustang.

Holder came in with a 4.729-second lap and Lindsay came across the line at 4.778. Holder actually was beat off the line, but once he turned on the turbo boost Lindsay couldn’t catch him.

Holder, the No. 5 qualifier, is from Bakersfield. Lindsay of Collyville, Texas, qualified sixth.

   

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SATURDAY NOTEBOOK: RAIN COOLS DOWN THE SCSN; BUT DOESN'T QUENCH THE RIVALRIES

RAIN RAIN GO AWAY: The weather was chilly and windy all day Saturday and then at 3:03 p.m. Pacific Time Mother Nature halted the racing action with rain. The rain delay was still in place at 4:20 p.m.

When the rain hit, the Street Car Super Nationals VI were in the midst of completing the fourth and final round of qualifying for Pro Street. There were 56 cars entered into the Pro Street field with the field limited to 32 spots.

Three hours and three minutes after Mother Nature brought a halt to the racing at The Strip in Las Vegas the action resumed.

Final round qualifying for Bracket-1, the biggest class at the event, got the evening started followed by Limited Street and Hot Street. It was 10:24 at night Pacific Time before qualifying was halted.

MUSI, ROTH DO NOT SEE EYE TO EYE: Racing is inherently dangerous.

That’s what led to Pat Musi’s actions Saturday morning.

Musi qualified No. 1 in the Pro Street class Friday with a 6.066-second elapsed time.

However, Musi aborted his Saturday morning qualifying pass because of a disagreement with Mel Roth, the Pacific Street Car Association president/founder, over safety concerns Musi had with running in the left lane at the Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

“I have no issue with NHRA or the race track, everything is fine there,” Musi said. “It was purely Mel’s bad call that got the track upside down. It got me upside down and he put me in an unsafe condition and he’s got to be the worst promoter I have ever run for in 40 years.”

Musi was in the back of the pack in the qualifying order Saturday morning and it was his understanding he was going to run in the right lane because he had run the left lane on his last lap Friday.

“Everybody was backed up and they ran out of cars in the left lane because I guess a bunch of guys broke,” Musi said. “I was supposed to run in the right lane. They let four cars make single bye runs in the right lane, which took at least 25 minutes. My deal was you know how cold it was, and the track temperature had gone down so far (in the left lane) that I could have crashed my car. You can’t send a high-powered car down a race track without any cars going in front of you. I was supposed to go in the right lane and then at the last minute, he (Roth) decided he wanted to have a side-by-show, so he put me in the left lane. I didn’t want to go in the left lane because no cars had gone down (that lane).”

When his 2009 Stratus was put in the left lane, Musi proceeded to get out of his car and he aborted the run. According to Musi, the track temperature in the left lane had dropped to 62 degrees before he refused to make his run. Musi said the track temp in the right lane at that time was 72 degrees.

“I wasn’t going to run because I felt he (Roth) put me in an unsafe situation,” Musi said. “I want everybody to know the track didn’t put me in the situation because they really didn’t know what was going on. He (Roth) made the call. He (Roth) was trying to force me to go in that (left) lane and I wasn’t going to make a run in that lane. I would have gladly run in the left lane if everybody else was running in the left. Why did he (Roth) pick me out of the group to run in the left lane?”

Roth deflected Musi’s claim that he was responsible for Musi’s plight.

“I have no comment,” Roth said.

Roth directed Musi’s dispute to Chris Blair, the VP of Racing Operations for Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

“It basically boiled down to a disagreement over which lane Pat (Musi) was supposed to take,” Blair said. “When he (Musi) came rolling up we were in the position where we had to make pairs. It was chosen he would go to the left lane, knowing that the next time back he would have the opportunity to go to the right lane. His statement was there had been too big of gap in the amount time cars had gone done that (left) lane. Well, there had only been a gap of a couple of cars. So, the track didn’t cool off. Kirk (Wilmes) ran a 6.063-second time just before that which was the No. 1 qualifying time (at the time). So, his argument the track wasn’t good is completely false. He (Musi) is throwing a few things out there and it is just a matter of he didn’t get his way. That was it. When it comes time for us to start pairing cars, we’re going to pair them the way they come to us. We do not care what the person’s last name is.”

After listening to Blair, Roth decided to go on the record.

“We made the announcement Saturday morning, just like we did Friday morning, and that announcement was if you want a specific lane, you better be up there (in the staging lanes) first because when we get to the end, we’re going to pair you no matter what lane you are in. We didn’t do anything shady or anything like that. I didn’t even know Pat Musi was back there.”  

Musi did make his final qualifying pass Saturday night before the rain. Musi clocked a 6.09-second time in the right lane.

“Listen, I do not want any hard feelings at the race track,” Musi said. “I’m just not comfortable racing for this guy (Roth) if he is going to go over any safety issues. I can deal with it and I know what I’m dealing with now. I have ran in this Pacific Street (Car Association) before and to be honest, with you know it is going to be a circus with him (Roth), and you have to deal with. But, now when he gets into the driver safety issue, then I really have an issue.”

Nonetheless, Musi is ready to compete Sunday for a title.

“We’re going to put everything behind us and go out there and win the race,” Musi said.

GLIDDEN NOT SURPRISED: When Brad Personett made his world-record run Friday, it didn’t go unnoticed by fellow racers.

Personett set a new world with a 6.088-second elapsed time at 250.37 mph on a 10.5-inch tire during the first round of Pro Street qualifying Friday morning at the Street Car Super Nationals VI at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

The run, however, didn’t surprise veteran racer Billy Glidden. Glidden qualified fifth in the Outlaw 10.5 class Friday with a 6.763. On Saturday, Glidden didn’t better that run and dropped to sixth.

“No, why would I be surprised with his (Personett’s) time (on Friday)?” Glidden asked. “If he was going to run in my class (Extreme 10.5) in the ADRL, I would stomp his a** right now. His 4.06 and 4.10 (in the eighth-mile) in his two runs Friday, you’re not even a top eight car (in the ADRL), going 4.06 to 4.10. If he wanted to run my class (Extreme 10.5 in the ADRL), he would have to step his sh*t up a bunch.”

Glidden competed in the 2010 ADRL Extreme 10.5 point class this past season. Glidden had a decent year, losing a lot of close races.

“This year I have been .002 (reaction time) and (run) 3.99 and got waxed,” Glidden said. “I have been .002 and 3.97 and got waxed. I have been .004 and 4.01 and got waxed. I have been .004 and 4.03 and got waxed. With my small block, I can take all my weight out and run ADRL and I can beat him (Personett) to the eighth-mile right now.”

Personett  finished third in the point standings in the NHRA’s inaugural Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series this past season behind Von Smith and Danny Rowe.

Personett said he has no plans of competing in the American Drag Racing League.

“We have got a Sherman Tank and those (ADRL) guys are racing beer cans,” Personett said. “That’s just the way it is and their race is half as long. Rules are rules and my car is built around (NHRA) rules. My car is 250 to 350 pounds heavier than the average guy out there (in the ADRL).”

Glidden didn’t buy Personett’s reasoning for not racing in the ADRL.

“He (Personett) has 3800 horsepower,” Glidden said. “Right now with this thing (his car) with all three stages on, I have 1450 (horsepower). So, if you go weight to power, he (Personett) is still way ahead of me. There are all kinds of different ways to have that argument.”

On Saturday, Glidden clocked a run of 16.427 seconds with weather near the 60-degree range and high winds. The first run Saturday, Glidden’s car sputtered off the starting line and his final run was delayed by rain.

“I do not know that the track will change a lot from day-to-day here (in Las Vegas) unless it got real hot,” Glidden said. “It is just different up here all together. It is just a matter of trying to figure what this thing (his car) wants for being in altitude and dry. We ran really good Thursday on the test run and the first run Friday it actually shot a spark plug out of the No. 8 hole when I let the clutch out. The last run Friday, it wasn’t happy, so I pushed the clutch in. We changed engines after that last run Friday. The engine power-wise should be fine, but I wasn’t really happy with the clutch we were running, so I put a different clutch in Saturday that I had never run before.”  

As for 2011, Glidden isn’t sure what he’s going to be doing race-wise.

“We do not have a plan,” Glidden said. “It will depend on what the people we are working with like Mickey Thompson. If we stay the development car for big tires, I do not know (what will happen). The last four races (in the ADRL) we were probably the second or third quickest car in my class (Extreme 10.5), and we were 15 hundredths behind. So, why would you do that? Do you think many of the Pro Stock guys, if Mike Edwards were going 6.35 and the other guys were going 6.50, do you think the other guys would keep showing up on a regular basis? Here we are again with the beer can and power crap, I can run right with that quickest car (in the ADRL) to the 330 mark, and when we get to the 330 it is not like he kind of starts moving away from me. It’s like I’m riding a bike on a freeway, he just goes away from me.”

Glidden doesn’t really care what he does next season as long as he’s racing.

“I just have to make a living,” Glidden said. “I have got to make a paycheck. We used to win the races and not winning the races is really hurting us a lot.”  

WILMES GOES TO TOP: On Thursday, Kirk Wilmes was the best there was  in the Street Car Super Nationals VI Quickest Pass Challenge.

Wilmes, who is from Altus, Okla., won $500 for low elapsed time at 6.081 seconds and he also took home another $500 for clocking the top speed at 240.85 mph.

“That was really good,” Wilmes said. “We were fortunate to get down the track because it was pretty cold. We took a stab in the dark and it all worked out for us.”

That great run didn’t return for Wilmes Friday as he only clocked a best time of 6.221 seconds.

“It was on a really good run and I had some driver error and I just lifted too early,” Wilmes said. “I was pretty upset with myself, but the run did give some information for Saturday.”

Some really good information.

Everything was clicking for Wilmes as he ran a 6.063-second time in the first qualifying session Saturday to rocket his 1968 jet black Firebird to the top of the Pro Street qualifying ladder.

“We just tried to make it down the track and we weren’t worried about trying to rotate the earth,” Wilmes said. “We were trying to just go A to B and we had a really good run.”

Pat Musi and Mike Maggio are second and third in the Pro Street ladder at 6.066 and 6.085 seconds respectively. Brad Personett is fourth at 6.088 seconds, using those 10.5-inch tires.

“I think it is incredible that he (Personett) did that,” Wilmes said. “I think it is awesome he is able to make it down the track and go 250 mph. Those guys have really progressed with the turbos this year and last year. I think it is great that there is somebody else who is having some success with a different combination and it just brings that much more excitement to the class. We really enjoyed seeing that and it couldn’t have happened to nicer guys.”

Wilmes is unsure what 2011 will hold for him.

“We’re evaluating everything,” Wilmes said. “We have an opportunity to do a team deal in the ADRL with Mike Stawicki next year, but we are not sure where we are going to be next year. We just have not really had the opportunity to sit down and evaluate where we need to be with our car. It is still a great car.”

Stawicki competes in the Pro Extreme class in the ADRL, and he is planning on competing in the ADRL on a more regular basis next year.

“We ran at three ADRL races this past season and we qualified in Martin, Mich., and then we got put out in the first round by the Sheikh (Khalid Bin Hamad Al Thani),” Wilmes said. “We also ran in the (NHRA’s) Get Screened Pro Mod Drag Racing Series last year and we still have a legal car for that series because our car weighs 2680 (pounds) with me in it. We feel like we’re fighting an uphill battle with the ADRL deal with the weight.” 

 

 
 
KEENAN IS ATOP EXTREME DRAG RADIAL: While some drivers were scuffling Saturday to find the right combination, Mike Keenan was right on target.

Keenan of Albuquerque, N.M., clocked a 7.039-second time at 208.23 mph. He overtook Paul Major atop the the Extreme Drag Radial class qualifying ladder.

Major ran a 7.051-second pass at 197.62 on Friday. Keenan made marked improvement Saturday as his best run Friday was 7.242 seconds.

PFNISER STILL LEADS WILD STREET: Dee Pfnister of Goodyear, Ariz., is still leading the Wild Street class after three rounds of qualifying.

Pfnister clocked a 7.653-second run at 181.23 mph Friday to take the No. 1 spot.

Dave Eggerling and Bob Thompson are still second and third at 7.722 and 7.794 seconds. Thompson also still has the top speed of the class at 186.79 mph.

ALDRICH STILL HAS NO EQUAL IN LIMITED STREET: Erick Aldrich of Oceanside, Calif., tuned up his 1972 Maverick for an 8.404-second run on Friday, and through three rounds of qualify Aldrich remains the No. 1 qualifier.

Fellow Californian Mike Orban is still second on the ladder at 8.506 seconds. Dana Westover moved up to third in the qualifying chart with a 8.532-second time. Westover also had the top speed in the class on the lap at 164.13 mph in a 1968 Camaro.

Andrew Osborne of Wheat Ridge, Colo., a suburb of Denver, dropped to fourth at 8.571 seconds in his ’91 Mustang.

BLANKENSHIP STILL PACES HOT STREET: Robbie Blankenship of Hudson, Fla., ran his 2004 Mustang to the top of the Hot Street qualifying ladder Friday and he’s still there on Saturday afternoon.

Blakenship came in with an 8.248-second time at 167.70 mph. There were only eight cars that attempted to qualify Friday in Hot Street and by Saturday afternoon 10 cars had qualified.

Rod Dewild of Thornton, Colo., is second at 8.278 seconds.

SHAW GRABS STREET CHALLENGE TOP SPOT: Ron Shaw made a charge to the top of the Street Challenge charts with a 9.678-second run Saturday morning.

Shaw is driving a 1984 Ford Mustang and he took the No. 1 qualifying position from Steve Fulgham.

Fulgham’s 1975 Corvette had a 9.693-second run on Friday which leaves him in second in the qualifying ladder.

Matt Sendejas registered the top speed of the class at 155.33 mph during his 9.779-second run in his 1988 Mustang Saturday morning.

 

 

 

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FRIDAY NOTEBOOK - LET THE MADNESS BEGIN

MUSI ATOP PRO STREET LADDER: Pat Musi, didn’t win a race Friday, but he did have reason to celebrate.

Musi, who resides in Carteret, N.J., is the provisional No. 1 qualifier in the Pro Street class with a 6.066-second elapsed time at 235.97 mph in the Street Car Super Nationals VI at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Mike Maggio was second in the Pro Street qualifying at 6.085 seconds.

That top time for Musi was quite surprising considering the adversity his team had to deal with Friday morning.

“We’re just happy to get down the track,” Musi said. “We broke the chassis and we were welding that car from 7 o’clock this morning (Friday) until 10 a.m. We broke the chassis Thursday night during the Test & Tune. The X-bar underneath the transmission broke because it shook violently. We had to fix that this morning (Friday) and you have to be careful around electronics and not screw anything up when you’re welding.”

Musi didn’t hesitate to give Rickie Smith plenty of credit for tuning his 2009 Stratus.

“Rickie Smith is at home glued to the screen,” Musi said. “He is tuning me, Dennis Radford, Billy Harper and John Hall. He is the best at what he does. I give him all the credit. We were struggling and he got that thing down. He’s watching all weekend (from King, N.C.). It has been a struggle with the fuel injection, but Rickie has been a big help with that also because he’s a worker and he always wanting to try new things.”

Musi admitted joining forces with Smith a couple of years ago, has helped him relax more at the track.

“When I was by myself it was tough because I had to worry about getting the car down the track,” Musi said. “Now, I can get that out of my mind and work on the engine. We did what we wanted to (Friday). We were real safe and we could make 30 laps like that and that is what Rickie wants to do. When we need to get after it, trust me, you will see that run. It will flash up on the board. We’re trying a total different approach. A real soft approach that will make it down the race track every single time. Not the fastest, because you know I have been faster than 3.99 (in the eighth-mile). We are worried about getting stuck, so we need to do what we need to do and that’s be fast when we need to be fast.”

                         

PERSONETT HAS NEW LOOK:  No one can say Brad Personett is afraid to take chances.

Personett, who made a name for himself in the NHRA Pro Mod ranks, took center stage Friday morning at the Street Car Super Nationals.

Personett set a new world record with a 6.088-second elapsed time at 250.37 mph on a 10.5-inch tire during the first round of Pro Street qualifying Friday morning.

Personett, however, wasn’t celebrating when he came back to the pits because he was concerned he hurt his engine on the record pass.

“The car backfired and I can’t find out what it did,” said Personett, who is third on the Pro Street qualifying ladder. “Then, it instantly goes into my head that I hurt my sh*t. Everything is OK. But, those things don’t happen without a reason. It will show up soon or later and I just hope it doesn’t happen two runs or three runs from now.”

Personett, who was racing with the Mickey Thompson 10.5-inch tires for the first time on his turbo powered 1968 Camaro, wasn’t surprised what the tire did on his car.

“That tire is amazing,” said Personett, who lives in Elkhart, Ind. “Everybody has known that for a long time. I’m not really surprised that we set a world record for that tire (10.5-inch), but we were not expecting to figure it out overnight. We’re just gradually walking into this thing. We are not trying to tip it upside down. This is the first time in a long time I have run a 10.5-inch tire.”

Personett chose to try the smaller 10.5-inch tires because of the rules in the Pacific Street Car Association.

“If you run 10.5-inch tires in Pro Street it is a 200-pound weight deduction,” Personett said. “There is all this other bullsh*t penalty-wise. Here is the base weight, this size turbo you have to add this much weight. Another size turbo add this much weight. I’m running Pro Street with 10.5s (tires), so I do not have to pile 200 pounds of lead into the car. If I ran the big tire in Pro Street, I would have to add that weight. I had to add some weight to meet the rules to run the 10.5 tires, but not a person and a half. I have turbos and parts in the trailer to where I would not have to put so much weight into it (the car), but I do not want to do it. It’s a lot of work to tear them apart and change them and that’s something we should be doing back in the shop, not in the trailer. So, I would rather do this (run 10.5-inch tires).”

Personett ran a 6.12-second time at 238.66 mph on his second qualifying run.

“This is a pretty big challenge and gets us exposure,” Personett said. “Look, you had to come over and talk about it with me.”

Personett  finished third in the point standings in the NHRA’s inaugural Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series behind Von Smith and Danny Rowe. Personett did win the NHRA’s Pro Mod season-finale at Las Vegas last month.

“As of right now the plan is for us to race in the Get Screened America Pro Mod Series again next year,” Personett said. “For year No. 1, only great things can come out of it for years two, three, four and five. The economy is making a turn and we will get more sponsors and a better TV package.”

Personett also said he has no plans of competing in the American Drag Racing League.

“We have got a Sherman Tank and those (ADRL) guys are racing beer cans,” Personett said. “That’s just the way it is and their race is half as long. Rules are rules and my car is built around (NHRA) rules. My car is 250 to 350 pounds heavier than the average guy out there (in the ADRL).

 

 

HARPER’S BACK: Billy Harper knows what it’s like to be a champion.

The veteran driver won the Pro Nitrous ADRL championship back in 2008.

However, since that time Harper has not raced in the ADRL and he’s only competed on a very limited schedule in other events put on by different sanctioning bodies.

Harper is competing this weekend at the Street Car Super Nationals VI at The Strip. Harper entered his 2000 Pro Mod Viper in the Pro Street Class.

“It’s good to be out (here),” Harper said. “Any time you come to a race you want to win, and I have raced very little this year. This year is the first year out for this car and we’re just trying to sort things out. We raced here (in Las Vegas) two weeks ago (at the NHRA’s Get Screened America Pro Mod Racing Series). We just left the car out here (in Las Vegas) and thought we would come to this race (this weekend) to shake the car down again.”

Harper, who failed to qualify at the NHRA event, had a best run Friday of 15.685 seconds.

Harper also had engine problems right off the starting line and coasted through the finish line on his second qualifying past.

“This our fifth race this year and we have not done well at all,” Harper said. “I guess I got spoiled two years ago with the other black Viper. We will get it sorted out and it will be fine. We have not had time or the money to really race this year. These cars are all replicas of the 2000 Viper and this is the fourth one in the series we built. I just can’t get the car down the track and we will keep working with it to find the sweet spot with the tuneup, but, we will get there. We just keep trying new things and we have to work to try and get this thing consistent.”

Harper is based in Padukah, Ky., and he is in the construction business.

“I ran four NHRA events this past season, but I didn’t try to run a full series or run for a championship,” Harper said. “My thought for next year is that I will probably run four or five races and I will probably not start until midseason. We just need to get through a little bit more of this economy and get things worked out.”

Harper also isn’t ruling out a return to the ADRL circuit.

“We’re just going to wait and see how ADRL sorts out and what is left there,” Harper said. “We will consider racing there as well. It is more from the economy than anything else. We still have the ADRL car sitting ready to run. It is exactly like this car I’m running this weekend, except it is an earlier version and has a smaller engine in it. It wasn’t sour grapes or anything like that (on why he hasn’t raced in the ADRL since 2008). That was just the final race of that season and the next year we just had to shut everything down.”

TAMEZ NO. 1 in OUTLAW 10.5: Kurtis Tamez is leading the qualifying in the Outlaw 10.5 class. Tamez clocked a 6.635-second time at 211.13 mph to grab the provisional pole in his 2007 Cobalt.

Eick Shavely and Doug Sikora were second and third at 6.642 and 6.675 seconds. Curtis Alston and Billy Glidden were fourth and fifth in qualifying at 6.759 and 6.763 seconds.

 

 

 PFNISER LEADS WILD STREET: Dee Pfnister of Goodyear, Ariz., is leading the Wild Street class after Friday’s two sessions of qualifying. Pfnister clocked a 7.653-second run at 181.23 mph.

Dave Eggerling and Bob Thompson are second and third at 7.722 and 7.794 seconds. Thompson also has top speed of the class at 186.79 mph.

ALDRICH HAS NO EQUAL IN LIMITED STREET: Erick Aldrich of Oceanside, Calif., tuned up his 1972 Maverick for an 8.404-second run, which was the best in the Limited Street class on Friday.

Fellow Californian Mike Orban was second on the ladder at 8.506 seconds. Orban did register the top speed in the class at 164.07 mph on his lap in his 1968 Camaro. Andrew Osborne of Wheat Ridge, Colo., a suburb of Denver, is third at 8.571 seconds in his ’91 Mustang.

BLANKENSHIP PACES HOT STREET: Robbie Blankenship of Hudson, Fla., ran his 2004 Mustang to the top of the Hot Street qualifying ladder Friday.

Blakenship came in with an 8.248-second time at 167.70 mph. There are only eight cars in the class and Rod Dewild of Thornton, Colo., is second at 8.278 seconds.

FULGHAM LEADS STREET CHALLENGE: Steve Fulgham’s 1975 Corvette was in a groove Friday. Fulgham guided his car to the No. 1 spot in the Street Challenge ladder with a 9.693-second effort at 145.99 mph.

Mike Saiki and Rick Hatch are second and third at 9.850 and 9.950 seconds. Robert Nasralla, who qualified fifth in the 16-car field at 10.115 seconds, has the top speed in the class at 154.03 mph in his ’88 Ford Mustang.

 

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THURSDAY NOTEBOOK - THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM

THE CHALLENGE - Conditions Thursday night were not ideal for the Test & Tune session at the Street Car Super Nationals VI at The Strip.

The cool track made it difficult for any of the cars to get any kind of grip.

Despite the conditions, 22 cars competed in the Pro Street Quickest Pass Challenge. All the participants made single passes and could choose to race down the left or right lane.

Kirk Wilmes, from Altus, Okla., won $500 for low elapsed time at 6.081 seconds and he also took home another $500 for clocking top speed honors  at 240.85 mph. Wilmes used the left lane for his run in his 1968 jet black Firebird.

John Scialpi was second behind Wilmes in 6.120 seconds at 226.66 mph in his 1957 Chevy.

Bracket time trials begin at 8 a.m. Friday Pacific Time. Street Car Super Nationals round one qualifying is at 10 a.m.  

INTERESTING RIDE - During Thursday night’s Test & Tune, Joe Kurjikin had more drama than he wanted during his run in his 1969 Trans Am. Kurjikin competes in the Hot Street Class.

Kurjikin clocked an unofficial 10.45-second elapsed time at 100 mph, but things became very interesting at about the 1,000-foot mark on the track.

“I wasn’t scared,” Kurjikin said moments after the run. “It didn’t want to shift and most likely I probably have something wrong with the steering. The Rack and Pinion is very tight. I’m going to have to look at that. The steering wheel didn’t come loose, I just couldn’t steer it because it was too tight.”

YEAH, IT'S AN EL CAMINO - Though 2010 has been an up and down year for Randy Walker and the Walker Racing Group, they’ve got one last shot at a big win when their sinister ’74 El Camino hits the The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for Pro Street competition at this weekend’s Street Car Super Nationals VI.

Arguably the biggest annual street car race in the country, the Super Nats draw the top competitors in all divisions year after year, all gunning for the huge purses in each class. There is no stiffer competition to be found than in Pro Street, and it’s something the Walker team looks forward to.

“We’ve had a lot of success in the last few seasons, setting records and winning Pro Street championships, but we haven’t had a lot of luck at the Super Nationals,” driver/owner Randy Walker admitted. “It’s definitely something we hope to change this year. We’ve had plenty of races at this track to gather our data and get a setup, so hopefully we can just apply that knowledge on the big stage this weekend.”

One of those races at the Strip was just a few weeks ago; Walker was at this very track for the NHRA Las Vegas Nationals, where he entered his Pro Street machine in the Get Screened America Pro Modified class for the first time.  Posting a best elapsed time of 6.287 at 223.43 MPH, Walker landed just outside the qualified field, finishing #17 in qualifying.

The Walker’s Procomp Motorsports El Camino, the quickest and fastest ElCo on the planet, dipped into the 6-teens earlier this season, posting bests of 6.16 at over 224 MPH. Recording similar numbers in the thin, dry Vegas air would be quite a feat, but it’s something the Walker team is shooting for.

“We’re hoping to lower our own personal best E.T. this weekend, and we almost need to in order to hang with the stellar field of cars that we’ll surely see on hand,” said crew chief Duane Walker. “The screw-blown cars, and especially the turbocharged cars, are regularly running 6.0’s and even some 5.90’s, so we’ve got to be on our game this weekend. Hopefully having our tuning consultant Charles Carpenter back on board will give us the added edge we need.”

Carpenter, the legendary Pro Modified pioneer and nitrous stalwart, has helped tune the Walker team to its multiple championships and record-setting performances, but has missed the team’s last few races due to the sudden passing of his wife last month.

“We’re thrilled to have Charles back,” Randy Walker said. “It just wasn’t the same without him. Hopefully we can all get back on track and focus on having fun one last time in 2010. Of course winning is the most fun, so that’s what we’re aiming for.”

THORNTON RETURNS - Thornton Racing will take their all black 1963 Corvette Pro Street drag race car to this weekend's Street Car Super Nationals at the Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, marking only the second outing for the team in 2010. Driver Ed "Plasticman" Thornton will be back behind the wheel reunited with tuner Shane Tecklenburg and Crew Chief and Clutch Specialist Doug Stewart calling the shots and Tom "Mr. Clean" Esbri will also return as Car Chief. The team had gone separate ways when Thornton was forced to park the car earlier this year due to lack of funding and while focusing on his business, SU Sand Cars.

"I'm excited to be back behind the wheel again with the whole team together," explained Thornton. "I've missed racing that's for sure but I have really missed being together as a team with these guys."

Together the Thornton Racing team has won the PSCA Pro Street Championship a total of four times including 2003, 2004, 2005 and again in 2007. However they have never had much success at SCSN.

"We've got some new parts and some refreshed parts on the car for this race and I have Doug and Tom who took their team (Hairston Motorsports) to the final last year, so I'm hoping they can show me the way too," quipped Thornton.

This season saw Stewart and Esbri assisting the Hairston Motorsports team to the 2010 PSCA Pro Street Championship while tuner Tecklenburg won the 2010 ADRL (Arabian Drag Racing League) Top Sportsman Championship while working for His Highness Sheik Khalid bin Hamad al Thani's Al Anabi Racing Team in Qatar. The team is expecting to face some of the fiercest competition the world has to offer at the SCSN and although they feel confident in their accomplishments, they are taking nothing for granted.

"We have all had a fairly successful year in 2010," said Tecklenburg. "but the BS stops on Sunday when the race starts. All the stats go out the window and this is a hard race to win. We just hope to be racing still when the sun is setting. That will be a fitting end to this year!"

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