Joe Lepone versus Lonnie Patrick.

Words by Scott Sparrow
Photos by James Drew and Paul Schmitz

After a weekend of perfect weather and car counts just north of 400, the third annual JE Pistons NMCA West Coast Shootout on May 17-19 came to a close. With Pomona’s 6 p.m. curfew looming, the diehard group of NMCA racer’s and the hardworking race staff pushed onward and managed to squeeze in the last round of eliminations just in the nick of time, to bring to a close the second race of the NMCA West Flowmaster Drag Racing Series season.

Mike Bowman started the weekend off strong in the Garret Turbo Pro Street class by laying down a 5.97 pass in Friday’s test-and-tune, but it was “Scoopless” Joe Lepone who ended up on top of qualifying and back in the NHRA Unleashed presented by Aerospace Components winner’s circle on Sunday.

Mike Bowman

In the first round of eliminations, Bowman faced off against Gary Ross, taking the win despite the car moving around on the big end of the track.