NMRA Spring Break Shootout at Bradenton

Words and photos by Greg Acosta

The 18th Annual Nitto Tire NMRA Spring Break Shootout Presented by Steeda officially kicks off the 2012 NMRA Keystone Ford Nationals season. Old faces along with new ones made the trek down to sunny Bradenton Motorsports Park in Bradenton, Florida.   There were some impressive elapsed times run on Sunday, when the headwind switched directions and the temperature and humidity dropped, racers turned the wicks up and put on an awesome show.

In Pro Outlaw 10.5 turnout was light thanks to cars not being ready or hurt in pre-season testing, with only four cars taking the beams in competition. At the end of Saturday, Tim Essick sat at the top of the ladder with a 6.88 at 201 miles per hour. Archie Marasco was able to sneak by an ailing Mike Murillo to advance to the final round and meet Tim Essick. Essick cracked off an outstanding 6.663 at 208 miles per hour to take the win over Marasco’s aborted run.

Super Street Outlaw, six drivers were all vying for a spot in the winner’s circle. After an intense three rounds of qualifying, Chris Tuten came out on top with a 7.16 at 200 miles per hour to lead the field. However Tuten fell in the first round to Andrew DeMarco, who advanced all the way to the final round where he met John Urist. DeMarco left first but Urist was able to drive around him for the win, 7.16 to 7.39.

In Renegade, there were a couple of new faces as Tim Matherly and Jim Breese moved up from Real Street. However, it was Alton Clements who held the rest of the field at bay with an 8.48 at 158 miles per hour in qualifying for the top spot going into Sunday. As the ladder worked out, Breese advanced into his first final round in Renegade, where he ran into Chad Allmandinger. Breese had a stout advantage off the starting line, but slowed down track, while Allmandinger put up a stout 8.44 at 162 mph to take his first Renegade win.