Race Wrap | TorqStorm Superchargers NMRA/NMCA Power Festival

Written by Mary Lendzion
Photos by Rudy Rouweyha, John Moore & Evan Smith

Martin, MI – As racers reach the middle of the race season, it would be understandable if they were worn out. Abundant attention, exhaustive effort, and staying alert through adversity are relentlessly required, but rather than throwing in the towel, racers are throwing everything they have at their programs, and they proved that at the TorqStorm Superchargers NMRA/NMCA Power Festival presented by Paul’s High Performance, July 20-23 at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park in Martin, Michigan.

There were personal bests and personal victories, as well as meaningful moments and memories made at this event. Along the way, racers left their mark on the facility known as the Fastest Track in Michigan. This story focuses on NMCA racers, while a separate story focuses on NMRA racers.

“NMCA competition is always intense and incredible as racers continue to push their combinations and themselves to peak performance levels,” said Rollie Miller, NMCA General Manager and National Event Director. “We witnessed wonderful results at this event, and suspense is high as we head into the last two NMCA events of the year where championships will be cemented.”

Big things were happening in the blink of an eye in VP Racing Lubricants Xtreme Pro Mod at this event in the Great Lakes State. Jeff Rudolf set the pace in qualifying with a 3.62, but staying in the game were Scott Wildgust and Mike DiDomenico, who got to the final round of eliminations. The racers were close on the tree, with a .025 and .021 respectively, and it was going to be anyone’s race, but Wildgust went through the traps first with a 3.63 followed by DiDomenico, who wheeled to a 3.76. The hard work should see Wildgust move up from the 11th spot in points and help DiDomenico move up from the fourth spot in points.

Tony Scott stopped the timers at 7.69 to take the lead qualifying spot in Holley EFI Factory Super Cars, and he stayed steady through the weekend to wind up in the final round of eliminations against the always-tough AJ Berge. Scott was quick at the hit with a .007 and hauled to a 7.64 and the NMCA Winner’s Circle after Berge uncharacteristically recorded a red light, but kept his foot planted to a 7.63, demonstrating that it would have been a decidedly tight race had he gone green.

Reigning ARP Nitrous Pro Street champion David Fallon Jr. drove his wicked white Camaro to a 4.23 to lead qualifying. Proving he wants to hold onto his points lead, Fallon Jr. flew to a 4.21 and the win against fellow Michigander Nicole Liberty, who was not giving him a lot of breathing room with a 4.29 in her new Cavalier.

NMCA Edelbrock Xtreme Street and NMRA VP Racing Madditives racers were sharing the sticky stage this weekend, and Terry Wilson wheeled to a wild 4.52 to lead his fast fellow racers in qualifying. Points leader Martin Connelley continued on his path by picking up another win, this time with a holeshot and a 4.54 over Terry Wilson, who was just slightly quicker with a 4.53.

John Langer, who had a choice of two races in two different states to attend this weekend, selected this one and made it count as he cruised to a 7.72 to lead qualifying in the high-winding world of Dart NA 10.5. Joe Clemente, however, is on a mission to hold onto his points lead in the extremely competitive category and made that known at this event. In his beautiful, blue Mustang, Clemente, whose crew is pictured in this story, clocked a 7.79 to capture the win over Rick Hornback, who raced to an 8.50.

Fresh off a win at the NMCA/NMRA race at World Wide Technology Raceway in Illinois, Kevin Lumsden landed a 9.811 to lead qualifying in Chevrolet Performance Stock presented by Scoggin Dickey Parts Center. Super-focused on securing another win, Lumsden pushed to the final round of eliminations, where he faced Charlie Booze Jr., who regularly competes in the NMRA. Lumsden accomplished what he set out to accomplish by winning with a 9.81 against Booze’s 10.00.

Sitting in third place in points Micro Strategies Stock Eliminator, Dave Swanson set his sights on moving up a spot at this event and got off to a good start with a 7.96 on a 9.40 to lead qualifying. The final round of eliminations put the focus on Aaron Puff and Craig Saurbaugh, and Puff pulled off the win with an 11.83 on an 11.75 to Saurbaugh’s 11.02 on a 10.95.

Chris Lozon and Kurt Neighbor met in the final round of eliminations in Micro Strategies Super Stock Eliminator, and Lozon ran closer to his 9.81 dial with a 9.83 and collected the win over Neighbor, who navigated to a 9.89 on a 9.80.

In Quick Fuel Technology Nostalgia Super Stock, Andrew Wheeler arrived at a 10.753 on a 10.75 index to lead qualifying in his 18-car category. Later in the weekend, Tim Frees and Joe Ewing battled in the final round of eliminations. Frees came out on top this time despite a breakout time of 10.49 on a 10.50 after Ewing went -.010 red.

Audrey Baize, who was interviewed for a Spotlight in a recent issue of Fastest Street Car, which covers NMCA and NMRA racing, ran right on her 12.00 index, with a 0, to lead a field of 14 in qualifying in Erson Cams Nostalgia Muscle. While she exited eliminations early, her boyfriend, Jacob Weigl, went to the NMCA Winner’s Circle after he ran right on his 11.00 index against Noah Winters, who slightly dipped under his 10.75 index with a 10.74.

The ability to consistently record good reaction times is crucial in MagnaFuel Open Comp, and among the racers who can pull that off is Gordon Harlow. He was .007 at the hit to lead qualifying out of 47 racers in the category, but brothers Mike and Doug Winters went on to the final round of eliminations. In the double breakout, Mike won with a 10.01 on a 10.02 while Doug drove to a 10.25 on a 10.34.

Joshua Bryant was dialed in with a 9.752 on a 9.75 index to lead qualifying in LME Street King presented by Chevrolet Performance, but longtime racers David Rickey and Michael Pryka met in the final round of eliminations. Rickey, who chose a 10.50 dial, drove to the win with a 10.52 while Pryka, who went with a 9.75 on his windows, slowed slightly to a 9.88.

Alan Kasper was another racer who parked on their index, as he put up a 12.507 on a 12.50 to lead qualifying in Proform Rumble presented by Chevrolet Performance. Making it to the final round of eliminations were Tim Poston and DeWayne Massengale, and in the double breakout race, Poston picked up the win with a 9.99 on a 10.00, and Massengale finished with a 12.22 on a 12.25.

NMCA TorqStorm Superchargers True Street and NMRA Circle D Specialties True Street racers put 30 miles on their odometers on the roads around US 131 Motorsports Park before returning to the track to make their three required back-to-back passes. When the results were tallied, Allen Hurley was rewarded with the overall win with a 7.83 average in his Fairlane, and Scott Oshinski of TorqStorm Superchargers secured the runner-up with a 9.13 average in his cool Cutlass. William Lujan made his trip from Florida worthwhile with the 9-second win in his Mustang. Other winners were Bob Hoffman (10-second), Bill Unkel (11-second), Elaine Moistner (12-second), Bob Huyser (13-second), Katie Clark (14-second) and Dani Lee (15-second).

Challengers, Chargers, and other conspicuous cars came together for the Dodge // Mopar HEMI Shootout, and Thomas Falk’s Challenger was among them. Falk, who drove in from Locust Grove, Virginia, flew to an 8.65 average to achieve the overall win. Jim Schmittinger was the runner-up with an 8.73 average. Also able to take a bow after a fine performance were Tony Demayo (9-second winner), Bryce Rohrs (10-second winner), Mike Smith (11-second winner), Rick James (12-second winner), Alberto Cerdo (13-second winner), James Burr (14-second winner) and Tim Burkett (15-second winner).

The eight quickest drivers in the Dodge // Mopar HEMI Shootout earned entry into the exciting HHP Racing HEMI Quick 8, and Mike England, who made the trip from Morganton, North Carolina, edged out Bryce Rohrs with a 9.63 on a 9.60 to Rohrs’ 9.61 on a 9.52.

The racing was tight in Bracket Open, where Jake Winters was successful over Trista Scholten with a 7.46 on a 7.45 to Scholten’s 6.28 on a 6.27.

The Great Lakes Stock/Super Stock Association vs. NMCA Micro Strategies Stock/Super Stock Classic was another special component of this event, and in the final round of eliminations, Randy Running, who was dialed in at 9.34, took the instant win when Paul Mecure, who was dialed in at 10.00, had issues and was not able to line up alongside Running.

A big hit at this event was Tom Bailey’s Sick the Mag Drive & Drive Invitational presented by Gear Vendors, which saw eight select racers compete against each other in a no-elimination round-robin exhibition.

It was a family affair in National Parts Depot F.A.S.T presented by Horsepower Depot, as Jordan Pennington and Julie Pennington squared off in the final round of eliminations. Jordan won with a 9.33 to Julie’s 10.50.

The final round of National Parts Depot F.A.S.T Factory Stock presented by Cor-A-Vent pitted Jim Keyes against Scott Pennington, and Keyes won with an 11.25 to Pennington’s 11.37.

In Dietsch Trailer Sales Junior Street, Jaden Dietsch was victorious over Cayden Burkett with a 9.47 on a 9.42 to Burkett’s 9.74 on a 9.72.

In addition to all of the on-track action, racers and race fans were able to see some eye-catching cars in the car show and impressive items in the manufacturers’ midway, and many of them had their pictures taken with the behemoth BIGFOOT monster truck that was on display.

The NMCA sincerely congratulates the winners, and thanks race fans and sponsors for supporting this event.

The chase to the championships in the Red Line Oil NMCA Muscle Car Nationals series will heat up even more at the last two events of the year, the 22nd Annual Mickey Thompson NMCA All-American Nationals presented by Sick the Mag, August 24-27 at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio, and the 22rd Annual NMCA World Street Finals presented by Chevrolet Performance, Sept. 21-24 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park in Indiana.

For stories, photos, results, and more content throughout the year, check out NMCADigital.com and RacePagesDigital.com.