NMCA Milan 2010 Same Day Coverage

The track is being prepped for testing to begin at 3pm and 1st Round of Qualifying to take place at 7pm tonight.

We are here at Milan Dragway in Michigan for the 4th Annual JE Pistons NMCA Muscle Car Nationals and the sun is shinning and the sky is cloudless. The fall weather has arrived and cold air is rolling in, we are going to be looking for some serious power to be made this weekend.

LRT Chassi’s Rob White is on the grounds today with his 1967 Camaro built by himself. Rob is based out of Streamwood, Il and is using a self built 632 cubic inch Nitrous Assisted engine to get the job done in NPS. Rob’s car wass driven by Mike Radnis last year and ran a best of 7.48, with Rob behind the wheel this year the team has managed a 7.55. Rob is looking to blast back into the 7.40 range and bring their 1967 Camaro into the winners circle.

Xtreme Street Record Holder Jamie Stanton brought his beatiful 2000 Camaro here this weekend to try and make yet another final round. The team has been in the past 6 finals winning 2 of them this year. The team is using a 525 ci engine built by BES. The Camaro was built by Pentagon Performance and been a best of 7.91.

Pro Street racer Jeff Luts arrived today with his Twin Turbo powered Pontiac. Running a best of 6.22 at 232 the team is looking for an event win here in Milan. I stopped by to see the team working on the tune up for test and tune and will be seeing what the team has for 1st round of qualyfing.

Michigan Based driver Rob Golobo brought his Gilsbach built Camaro to compete in Super Street this weekend. The team looks to go to the top with their Moron built Twin Turbo engine.

Joe Dunne ran a 6.20 at 224 in his second testing attepmt. Look for this team to be at the top of the field later tonight.

Chris Rini backed up Joe Dunne’s incredible 6.20 with a 6.24. This should be a great night session of qualifying with Team Jegs also running in the 6.20 range.

Don Culbertson stood it on the bumper in his first test and tune run, the car seemed to be damageless as it returned for another hit that went much smoother.

A few NPS cars made some hits, Mitch Mika run a stellar 7.43 at over 190 mph, Jim Jarret Made a clean hit, as did Andy Vogt and Danny Shemwell.

Jason Lee driving Chris Singletons Mustang stood the car up down during its first attemp but came back to run a clean 8.26.

With about a tenth on the field Jeremy Gillian leads the pack with a 10.08 in his 1991 Mustang. Coming in right behind him is Mike Winters with a 10.17 and David Hill with a 10.25.

In Street Radial Jay Canella lead the pack in his 1962 Chevy II with an 8.70. Brad Schehr took the number 2 spot win an 8.74 and Scott Carter finished 3rd with an 8.81.

In a very tight field Skip Baskin rose to the top with an 8.51 in Pro Stock. Following closely was Gregg Delaney with an 8.55 and Don Bowles with an 8.57. Ben Mens rounded off the field win an 8.76.

In Xtreme Street New York based Jamie Stanton went straight to the top with a 7.96 at about 176 mph. Following closely wass Jason Lee with an 8.01 and Scott Guiler with an 8.09.

In NPS the Naturally Aspirated machine of Chuck Demory put down the number, the team ran an incredible 7.29 to take the number 1 spot. Following is Jim Jarret with a 7.34 and Jeff Colletta 7.37.

In Super Street it was a much tighter field with Frank Meshaw leading with a 6.75 followed by Rob Golobo’s 6.79 and in third is Jim Robbins with a 6.81. Tony Nesbitt and Bill Lutz are not far off pace either.

Troy Coughlin Leads in Pro Street with a 6.40 at 221 and is also the only pro street car in the 6 second range. Joe Dunne Follows with a 7.01 and rounding up the top 3 is Rick Blaisdell with a 7.87

Pro Street stand out Chris Rini was all ready to go early this morning. The team ran some great numbers in testing yesterday but struggled in the first round of quaifying.

Crew Chief Bryan Metz had his hands full yesterday tuning both Troy Coughlin and Mikey Rees throughout the day. While Troy settled in the number 1 spot, Mikey had some issues and was popping and bangin’ all the way down the track.

Super Street leader Frank Meshaw was up early working on his car for todays qualifying rounds. With the help from Hank Hill, Meshaw has been consistantly running in the mid 6 second range.

Another racer who struggled to get a grip on the track last night was Danny Shemwell, Shemwell hopes to make a clean pass today and join the upper half of what looks to be the quickest NPS field ever.

Micheal Fratena of Indialantic, Florida made quite the lap with an 8.66 going straight to the number 1 spot in Street Radial.

Gregg Delaney barely got by Skip Baskin with a smooth 8.50 in Pro Stock. Don Bowles also made a solid pass with an 8.52.

While Jason Lee ran yet another 8.01, Jamie Stanton of New York laid down a record run with a 7.91 almost crossing the centerline about 60 feet out.

Illinois based Chuck Demory drove his N/A 1968 Mustang to a 7.28 showing yesterdays 7.29 was no fluke. Other NPS noteables were Jim Jarretts 7.34 and Right beside him was Kevin Parent running a 7.36.

While most NPS cars had great runs, Skip Baskin had quite the Nitrous Explosion right at the hit letting out a large fireball.

A large fireball for Mikey Rees occured at nearly 40 feet out. The car slowly coasted down the race track to a stop.

Bill Lutz had a late night last night due to finding 7 push rods in the oil pan after round 1 of qualifying. Bill and engine builder replaced the parts and made a 1/8 mile hit today. Look for Lutz to roll the whole 1/4 mile in round 3.

Jim Robbins went low for the round in Super Street with a 6.81 and 207, In a delayed semi final from ZMAX Tony Nesbitt took out Frank Meshaw with a 6.93 to go to the number 4 spot as well.

Chris Rini went straight to the number 1 spot and setting the new et record on the way! Rini rolled throught the traps at a 6.16. Jeff Lutz also reset the mph record at 234 on a 6.34 pass.

Bob Vorderer made a hard move to the right hand wall but saved it and coasted through the traps.

Troy Coughlin missed the 3rd session due to an engine failure in round 2 of qualifying but will be back strong in sunday’s eliminations.

With the help of Quain Stott Rick Blaisdell pedeled himself a career best of 6.62 at 195. In round 3 we saw Chris Rini back up his 6.16 with a 6.17 at 233 mph! Also in the running for the new mph record with Jeff Lutz who did not back his 234 mph run up.

In Super Street Frank Mewshaw ran yet another 6.7x run with a 6.76 at 218 to hold onto the number 1 spot. In th ZMAX final Bill Lutz Treed Tony Nesbitt winning with a 7.16 to Tony’s 6.90.

In NPS Chuck Demory Continued to lead the field with his 7.28 effort, Jim Jarrett laid down another incredible 7.3x pass and Rob White ran yet another 7.48 for a career best.

Don Culbertson has been having backfire problems all weekend and round 3 was no different. On a better note, New York Based Bill Trovato ran a solid 7.98 placing him into the number 2 spot.

In Mean Street Wheels were hung in the air and the field seemed to remain the same as round 2. Final Order coming soon.

After some horrific tire shake about 330 feet out Bob Vorderer’s team is changing some ratio’s in the team Camaro.

Rob Golobo had a great pass during the friday night qualifier but struggled all day today to make it down the track. The team had the laptop and the car idleing to get the tuneup right for Sunday’s elimination rounds.

Ed Mc Guinn out of New York was working on some front end components of his Extreme Street Firebird. With Ed choosing an interesting approach to solve the problem i had to take a closer look!

Don Culbertson managed to damage the head on his last qualifying attempt, with no other damage in sight the team plans to fix the problem and return for Sunday’s Eliminations.

Troy Coughlin had his car put back together from yesterdays misfortune and is ready for today’s elimination rounds. However Bryan Metz and Mikey Rees car was not fixable for today’s rounds.

Number 1 Qualifier in NPS Chuck Demory unloads his 1968 Mustang and looks to repeat the numbers he has been laying down all weekend long.

Frank Mewshaw had to replace an intake gasket after yesterdays 6.75 charge to take the number 1 spot in Super Street. Frank is in the running for a Super Street championship and recieves a BYE first round.

Joe Dunne went low for the round in Pro Street with a 6.20 taking the win over Bob Vorderer. Along with Joe Dunn, Noel Felton got a bye run as Troy Coughlin was leaking Fluids on the starting line, Noel had a loud pop right past the 1/8 but we hope to see him up again.

Joe Dunne went low for the round in Pro Street with a 6.22 to take the win over Bob Vorderer. Also in pro street was a huge upset when Troy Coughlin’s car was leaking fluid handing the win to Noel Felton who had a huge bang right past the 1/8.

Also in Prp Street, Rick Blaisdell put up a great effort with a clean 6.73 at 216 against Jeff Lutz who flew down the quarter with a 6.3x pass at 229 mph. In other pro street rounds we saw Chris Rini get out of it on a bye run and Scott Johnson spit out a large chunk of metal giving the win to Jackie Stone

Davud Laurer has been running very consistant this wekend but has not found the 6 second zone. Running 7.00 in qualifying and 7.14 in eliminations to take out Larry Prykucki. Rob Golobo and Tony Nesbitt advanced with byes but both failed to make a full pass. Bil Lutz ran a 6.99 to take out Jim Robbins who had traction issues on the starting line.

Many NPS cars had great runs this session adn among them was Kevin Parent who ran a mid 30 pass. Chuck Demory also advanced as did Jim Jarrett, Danny Shamwell, Jeff Colletta broke the beams on a bye.

Don Culbertson gave it a good run but would fall short of Bill Trovato who charged to a 7.95. Jamie Stanton bogged at the hit but quickly got back into to run an 8.16 on his bye.

Skip Baskin took the win over Gregg Delaney with what could be the closest race of the event. With near identical reaction times Skip ran through with an 8.56 to Gregg’s 8.57. In the other match-up Don Bowles took out Ben Mens.

In Mean Street David Hill hung the wheels in the air but could not drive around Jeremy Gillian’s 10.05. Don Baskin went low of the round with a 10.04 to take the win over Mike Winters. Also Alan Von Ahnen took the win over Chicago based Doug Johnson.

A very confusing lose for Heath Shemwell as the tree went down and he had neither the stage or Pre Stage bulb lite. We are waiting to see if there will be a re-run between him and Wisconsin based Jay Canella. Also in the class was Mike Frantena who also seemed to have tree issues on his bye and let off early.

In Pro Street Jackie Slone and Chris Rini lined up for a match, Rini’s car went into massive tire shake about 400 feet out and drove right threw it to a record breaking 233 mph lap, slone managed a 6.6x pass but could not pass by Rini. Jeff Lutz went red handing the win to Noel Fenton who happened to win this race last year. Joe Dunne shook on a bye run and aborted the pass.

In Super Street Frank Mewshaw absoluted smoked the tires about 330 feet out, trying to drive through the tires were up in the air coming down hard numerous of times, in the other lane Tony Nesbitt would stumble on the line but cruise down with a 7.40 for the win. Bill Lutz had a bye to the David Lauers parts failure and will have yet another bye to the final.

Jason Lee had an easy win over Dan Kroll as Dan Rolled through the beams. Jason ran the car to about the 1/8 mile and shut down, however Jamie Stanton ran a solid 8.04 to take the win over Scott Guiler. Bill Trovato had a bye run and chose to just break the beams.

Kevin Parent and Danny Shemwell had a great match-up with Shemwell running a 7.44 to Parents 7.41. In the next pair was Jeff Colletta and Jim Jarrett, Jarrett with the faster pass of 7.40 but Colletta drilled him on the tree and ran a 7.42 for the victory.

Chris Rini ran another stellar 6.18 to take the win over a timeless Joe Dunne. While the win light came on for Joe Dunne and it was a very close race, Joe Dunne stated at the big end he believed Rini was out in front of him and displayed a very sportsmanlike attitude. After that Noel Felton had a bye and chose to just break the beams for the win.

After taking the points lead from Frank Mewshaw, Tony Nesbitt lost to Rob Golobo in the semi finals and shaking the tires about 40 feet out, Rob proceded to charge down to a 6.92 to have lane choice over Bill Lutz 6.93 in his bye run.

In Street Radial Mike Fratena ran an 8.64 over Brad Scher to advance to the final, Scher did all he could on the tree but it would not hold up. Jay Canella Recieved a bye and managed an average 8.76.

In Mean Street Don Baskin went red handing the win the Jeremy Gillian who still ran a 10.03 out the back door. Alan Von Ahnen had a bye into the final by chose to go for lane choice running a 10.09 but not out running Jeremy Gillian for lane choice.

Jamie Stanton had an amazing hole shot win over Jason Lee in Semi Finals in Extreme Street. Jamie went through the traps with an 8.14. Bill Trovato had a bye run and blasted down the quarter with a 7.94 at 172 mph to get lane choice in the final against Jamie Stanton.

In a great semi final match up between Chuck Demory and Kevin Parent, it would be Kevin Parent who goes red and Chuck Demory cutting down the tree with a .003 and running it down to a 7.37. Jeff Colletta recieved a competition bye and used it for a little tuning just running the car the 1/8 mile mark giving Demory lane choice in the final.

In Mean Street we saw an incredible match-up as Jeremy Gillian and Alan Von Ahnen pulled to the line. It was neck and neck til the finish line were Gillian treed Von Ahnen both running 10.02.

At the end on the day in Street Radial it would be Wisconsin based Jay Canella and the southern boy Mike Fratena. Both running very consistant this weekend it was sure to be a great round, but it was Mike Fratena all the way down as he blasted to an 8.64 leaving Jay Canella behind.

In Pro Stock it would be Skip Baskin taking the easy winlight as Ben Mens turned on the Red Bulb!

Another great match-up would be Jamie Stanton the Current class record holder and Bill Travato, but this match-up was quickly over as Jamie Stanton lite up the Red Bulb. Bill Travato had no problem running through the quarter mile at an amazing 7.91.

Nostalgia Pr Street brought us two of the biggest players in the class, with Chuck Demory and Jeff Colletta lining up it was sure to be a drag race. Demory had been on a roll all weekend and this pass was no different as the team blasted off another 7.29 lap as Jeff Colletta shut it down early.

The much anticipated Super Street final arrived as Bill Lutz and Rob Golobo lined up their twin turbocharged 10.5 rides. Rob Golobo went a solid 7.04 but Bill Lutz win Light came displaying no time, but was still declared the win!

With last years winner Noel Felton in the right lane and this years record holder in the left it was sure to be a showdown, Noel Felton got a little excited on the tree and lite up that ever so deadly red bulb, Chris Rini however went on to blast off a 6.15 to reset the national record claiming bothe the mph at 233 and e.t. at 6.15 this weekend.