They were all stars!

Words by Greg Acosta
Photos courtesy NMRA and NMCA

The 4th Annual Nitto Tire NMRA/NMCA All-Star Nationals took place the weekend of April 12-15 at Atlanta Dragway in Commerce, GA. The first combined NMRA and NMCA event of the season, the All-Star Nationals provided some great racing for fans of every make, as well as the Blue Oval-faithful. Three of the series’ classes were combined due to rules similarities, providing for a little Ford-vs-Brand-X competition before the Super Bowl of Street Legal Drag Racing. 

Pro Outlaw 10.5 was combined with the NMCA’s Mickey Thompson Super Street for this race and sitting at the top of the ladder at the end of qualifying was Mike Murillo with a blistering 6.496 at over 232 mph. Murillo worked his way through the field to meet Eric LaFerriere in the final, when Murillo was victorious, 6.70 to 6.73.

Super Street Outlaw was a tough class this weekend with two drivers out due to breakage before eliminations started. Sitting in the catbird seat going into eliminations was John “The Fireball” Urist with a 7.099-second blast tripping the beams at over 204 miles per hour. Urist met Kenjo jelley in the final round, where a .004 redlight start by Kelley handed Urist the win.

Blow-By Racing Renegade was led into eliminations by four-time champion Brian Mitchell. Mitchell entered eliminations qualified a quarter-second ahead of the number-two qualifier with an 8.34 at over 162 mph. In the final round, Mitchell cut a killer .006 light, while Alton Clements never moved, allowing Mitchell the easy win.