Nitto Tire All Star Nationals Wrap Up – NMCA
Courtesy of Promedia
Commerce, GA – There were plenty of familiar faces in the Aerospace Components Winner’s Circle as well as a few new 
ones as the Fourth Annual Nitto Tire NMCA/NMRA All Star Nationals concluded at Atlanta Dragway in Commerce, Ga. This was the second race of the 2012 Flowmaster Drag Racing Series, featuring NHRA Unleashed presented by Aerospace Components.
2010 Kooks Custom Headers world champion, Chris Rini and his Camaro put together, a flawless weekend, running consistent 6-ohs, winning his second consecutive event, after beating Clint Hairston after Hairston was forced to abort his run.
In the semifinals Hairston ended up in the sand trap at the end of the track, resulting in suspension damage, but rather than press his luck in the final, the Tulare, Calif., driver took the green, and then coasted down track, watching Rini churn out a 6.06 234 mph.
In Mickey Thompson Super Street 10.5W action, defending class champ, Mike Murillo, who qualified his turbocharged Mustang, with a staggering 6.49, claimed his first win of the year by beating Eric LaFerriere in a very close 6.70 to 6.73 affair. Laferriere advanced to the final after a scary semifinal race against Frank Mewshaw which saw reach the finish line first, but soon after, Mewshaw’s Firebird got loose, crossed the center line and then out of control, crossing in front of Laferriere’s Malibu before rolling onto its top. Laferriere’s car was not involved in the incident. Mewshaw was uninjured in the incident.
During the off-season, Michigan’s Kevin Parent said he was going to be bringing his A-game to the table in ARP Nostalgia Pro Street this year, and he delivered, driving his Nova to a top qualifying position after a 7.26 189 mph run and then running the table, beating former champ Jeff Colletta 7.33 to Colletta’s tire-spinning, 10.51.
In Aeromotive Xtreme Street, Bob Kurgan driving his ’86 Mustang, qualified at the head of the pack with a 7.76 @ 181 mph shot, and went on two defeat number nine qualifier Jason Brock and his Baton Rouge-based 2003 Mustang.
Jason Lee, defending Stainless Works, Drag Radial 275 champion took his second win of the year and his first NHRA “Wally” of the season home after beating a slowing Dan Kroll, 7.96 to 10.83. Lee also qualified on top of the field by running a 7.49 at a shade of 189 mph.
In Comp Cams Pro Stock, former class champion Don Baskin got back to the winner’s podium after defeating number one qualifier Robbie Blankenship who redlit away, what could have been a winning 8.47 to Baskin’s slower 8.48.
Brandon Alsept qualified on top of a large B&B Race Cars Mean Street field and defeated Bradenton winner, Jeremy Gillam in the final with a 9.91 charge to Gillam’s 9.97.
In Tremec True Street action, Jack Young edged our Beth Henderson to take the win after compiling a three-lap average of 11.24 to Henderson’s 11.64.
In the nostalgia classes, defending champion Doug Duell, driving his totally rebuilt ’64 Plymouth wagon was back in championship form taking the win over last year’s champ and number one qualifier, Kurt Neighbor to earn his first Indy Cylinder Head Nostalgia Super Stock win of the young season.
In Eaton Posi Nostalgia Muscle Car, Bryan Parker, grabbed the win over Jacob Weigl after Weigl was forced to run under his index to offset a Parker Holeshot.
In the index classes, John Norris ousted William Smith after running three over his 11.58 index, in Hawk Performance Open Comp, while Smith was a bit slower running five over his 10.10 index. It was an all-Rickey final in Lakewood EFI Rumble as Tim Rickey beat David Rickey after running dead-on his 13-second index.
In bracket action, Mark Hancock defeated Hank Wilhelm in Super Pro, while David Hearn, who lost in Open Comp in the first round, beat Darryl Buckner in Pro.
