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As sure as crisp fall air, each September you can depend on the Mid-Michigan Motorplex in Stanton, Michigan, to host around 120 of the nicest muscle cars you will ever see. We’re talking about the Pure Stock Muscle Car Drags, an event where the most valuable cars of the super car era are not behind velvet ropes, but burning rubber on the drag strip — just like God and John DeLorean intended.
How do you like your 400/4-speed packaged? Rick Watson chose the pony car option with his 1968 Firebird 400 Ram Air with a best run of 12.660 at 114.14 mph, while Chris Smetana opts for the low-option Pontiac GT-37 and a best of 13.442 at 110.53
Many of the machines at the Pure Stock Muscle Car Drags are family heirlooms, and some even have the original owners behind the wheel. Drivers insist that they are the to enjoy the event, see old friends, and celebrate a long-gone era of Americana. It is truly an event like no other.
Top left: The Buick contingent always comes out in force, with 19 cars in attendance this year. In this pairing, Dallas Shull (13.902/98.65) in the green auto 1971 Buick GS qualified just .007 ahead of Jim Rogers (13.909/100.36) in the blue 4 speed 1971 GS. When the lights came down, Dallas was able to find an extra speed in the 455 and swept the shootout in two close runs. Rarely do you see a pair of '65 Grand Sports face off, but you will at the PSMCDR (top left). Howdy, neighbor — 19 hours and 1,300 miles of travel earned Jeff Losapio’s 1970 Chevelle SS454 LS6 (12.201/114.48) a shootout against his travel partner Chris Teed’s 1968 Nova SS (L78 with L89 heads, 12.174/119.00). Chris won round one and then was forced to bow out with a mechanical issue giving the best-of-three victory to Jeff. Bottom right: Tom Hoover Jr came up from Virginia with his 1964 Max Wedge Plymouth and earned the number one qualifier with a 11.746 at 120.51 and a match up with Jim Lerum in his 1969 COPO Chevelle. Both cars are automatics with 4.30 gears. Tom took the win light in two straight, earning the bragging rights for the Mopar faithful.
Then the engines roar to life, the helmet straps are tightened, and we all get to return to a time when brand loyalty and bragging rights were all that mattered. The heart rate goes up, the grip on the wheel tightens. Tires strain for traction, engines race to the red line, or maybe even a little further. It’s go time once again, and no matter how quick you run, the next one needs to be just a little bit better. After qualifying, you are paired against your closest competitor, then it’s a best of two-out-of-three from there.
Bruno Beltrame (near lane, top left) debuted his 1967 Chevy II L79 this year and drew big game: Tommy Cannon’s 1971 Hemi Super Bee. In a study in contrast, Bruno is giving up 99 cubes, but Tommy is hauling 690 more pounds down the track. In qualifying, just .001 and a couple of mph separated the pair. Each race was close, but Bruno posted a personal best of 12.491 at 111.73 in round one on his way to a sweep of the shootout. How do you like your 400+6 packaged? Luke Krooswyk (near lane, lower left) chose the pony car option with his 1970 Cuda four-speed. He ran a best run of 12.228 at 115.01 mph while Mike Marple opts for the A12-optioned Road Runner/auto and a best of 12.250 at 113.99. Luke took round one by just .065, but Mike took the next two runs and the shootout.
It is very easy to get involved in the Pure Stock drags, you just need a car that meets the rules, and an understanding of which way to drive down the track. New racers will find a relaxed environment and a welcome committee of veterans willing to help. Walk around the pits and it’s a car show environment (except with a lot more burnt rubber stuck to the quarter-panels).
Hot small-blocks were out in force, and here Ty Taccone’s 1970 Z28 (top left) was putting in the work against Larry Weymouth’s 1971 Hornet SC in qualifying. Both cars are well in the 12s with Larry posting a best or 12.964/110.25, while Ty set a personal best of 12.665/108.63. Joe Pinsoeault heats the hides in qualifying. This little AMX was the quickest AMC on the property, posting a best of 12.764 at 108.47 in the shootouts. Powered by a 390/325 4-speed with 3.73 gears, Joe took home the win against Kent Gardner’s 1971 Buick GS.
The format remains simple: Run your car as much as you want on Friday, and your best time becomes your qualifying number for the race on Saturday. Brand, engine size, and transmission type do not matter. Opponents are random, just the racer with the next closest time to yours. You get three runs on Saturday, heads up to see who is quickest on that day.
Rick Mahoney (top left) has always brought serious iron to the Pure Stocks, and this 1971 Hemi Super Bee is no exception. Yes, this is a real Hemi car, and is the most heavily optioned one known to exist. Tipping the scales at 4,225 pound, the Super Bee still runs 11.924 at 119.03. Earning a rematch from last year, revenge was sweet as Rick defeated the Scott Tiemann-driven Pontiac T-37 in two runs.
By the end of the weekend, scores are settled, an entire year’s worth of bench racing starts anew, and bragging rights are secured.
Owen Simpson (left) pilots the quickest small-block in event history, a 1970 Yenko Nova Deuce (LT-1/four-speed) with tire yanking launches. He qualified at 11.821 at 116.23, earning a match up against Bob Karakashian’s 1970 Hemicuda. After trading win lights in the first two races, it was the Hemi that took round three. Alana Beltrame is giving up 52 cubes in the 1969 Camaro SS (13.141 at 105.84) , but she is also holding a 270 pound weight advantage over Amanda Webb’s 1970 Camaro SS (13.072 at 108.89). Each driver is a believer in heating the tires on high, and they put on an ever better show on the track. After Amanda struck first, Alana took the final two runs and the match.
Full Results
You can find the full shootout results for the 2025 race, and every other race on the Pure Stock Website.
Rusty Smalls is known for putting on a smoke show in his 1969 Hurst Olds during the event. I guess it helps to be a dealer of all things bias-ply. With 455 cubes and 500 pound-feet of torque under the right foot, the 6.5-inch-wide tires never stood a chance. Rusty turned a best of 13.669 @ 100.41 once the tires stopped spinning.
