The NMCA wanted to add more excitement to their points chase, so they made a change similar to what the NHRA and NASCAR have already done. After the Super Bowl race in Joliet, they tightened up all the classes points, with basically one round win difference between the competitors. In most classes you have a good idea about who will win, but anything can happen at the finals in Memphis, with new cars showing up and records being set. I know it will be an exciting and great event to attend. Here is a breakdown of where we’re at in the Heads Up classes.

Mean Street

Don Baskin pretty much has this class wrapped up heading to the finals. Baskin has almost a five round lead over second place racer Alan Von Ahnen. Since the class has not had more than nine cars all year, it is not likely that anyone will be catching the Baskin ride. He is working on a perfect season, and a win in Memphis will complete it, wining six of six races.

Street Radial

Brad Schehr was leading the points after Joliet, with John Macaluso only twenty-five points behind. Brad has since missed the Milan race and fell back, with Scott Carter, Tim Hendricks, Jessi Coulter and Heath Shermwell running closely behind. Jay Canella has made the biggest move, jumping to the second spot from fifth after Joliet. Canella would need to gain more then four rounds to catch John at the finals.

Pro Stock

Skip Baskin is looking like the favorite to take the Pro Stock championship, with Mike DeMayo trailing three rounds of racing. DeMayo will have a shot if Baskin goes out in the first or second round and DeMayo can win the event. Andy Schmidt is the big mover in the class, going from the ninth spot up to third, thanks to a win at Milan. Ben Mens and Don Bowls are in a close battle for the fifth spot, trailing Greg Delaney by a couple of rounds.

Xtreme Street

Chris Singleton had an up and down season prior the start of the Race to the Ring. He went out in the first round, then won, then went out again in the first round, while struggling with issues at Joliet. However, since then he has figured it out, taking two wins and setting the record. It will be difficult for second place Bill Trovato to catch him. Bob Kurgan, Steve Cagle and Jamie Stanton are all locked in a very close battle to round out the top five in the class.

Nostalgia Pro Street

Jo Bucaro came out of the gate swinging at the season opener, taking a number one qualifying spot, winning the race, and setting the ET record. Bucaro didn’t slow down for the second race either, when he was the number one qualifier and ultimately won the race. That set him up with the lead going into the Race to the Ring.

Kevin Parent missed the first couple of races, but really came out swinging at the Super Bowl race. Parent laid down some of the fastest passes made by an NPS car, and won the race with the largest field of the year. He jumped up to second from fifth, but will have a hard time getting by Bucaro for the Ring. Parent will have to watch out for Danny Shemwell, Barbra Nesbit and Jim Widner, because they are all within striking distance of the second spot.

Super Street

In a big surprise, Super Street has only had three cars make both of the Race to the Ring races. Jim Blair comes into the finals with the lead, and Tony Nesbit is not too far behind. Nesbit will have to go three rounds further than Jim to have a shot. Frank Mewshaw is in third and will have to watch out for Bill Lutz. Lutz has shown that he can win races, but has suffered mechanical failure and been forced to miss a couple of races. Mike Yedgarian is currently between those two in fourth, but after suffering an accident, it is believed that he will not make it back out again this year. Spiro Pappas is in the tenth and final spot for a jacket, but should be passed. There are seven cars all within two or three rounds in the eighth spot on down, so it will be a battle to make it into the top ten.

Pro Street

Pro Street has been one of the best attended classes all season. Troy Coughlin has a sizable lead going into the finals, thanks to two big wins at Joliet and Charlotte. Vinny Budano had been holding down the second spot, until he missed the last race and was passed by Chris Rini. Noel Felton made a big jump with his first win at the Milan race, and Rini, Budano and Felton are in a close battle for the number two spot. It does not look like any of them will be able to catch Troy Coughlin. Budano will have to make a big move to get second back, since he will not earn the bonus points for making all of the races. It is surprising that last years’ champ, Mark Micke, has only attended two races and sits in the thirteenth spot. There is no word about whether or not he will make the finals.