NMRA at Norwalk

Words by Greg Acosta
Photos courtesy NMRA

The 10th Annual McLeod Racing NMRA Ford Nationals marked the fourth stop on the NMRA’s 15th anniversary tour, and the first visit to the Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio The event was jam-packed with the usual NMRA program, along with the Muscle Mustangs and Fast Fords All-Female Shootout presented by Royal Purple, the Granatelli Motor Sports 2011-2014 5.0-Liter Shootout, and the McLeod Racing Killer Clutch Shootout. Couple that with the fact that there were 110 cars in Tremec True Street and you can get an idea of how action-packed this event was.

In AFCO Street Outlaw action, the top qualifying spot was owned by Phil Hines who ran 7.30s like a bracket car, with only the thousandth digit change all through qualifying. Jason Lee worked his way through the tough field in his first outing with his new Vortech XB105 supercharger to meet Hines in the final round. In a close race, Lee got a holeshot, but his 7.40 wasn’t able to stop Hines’ 7.35-second charge to the win.

Brian Mitchell

Edelbrock Renegade saw a new face at the top of the 12-car field – that of Adam Arndt. Arndt carded an 8.36 with a borrowed motor and backup trans, which put him almost ahead of the nearest competitor. The field was pared down to just defending-champ Brian Mitchell and nitrous racer Scott Grove. Grove was hurt eased down track while Mitchell clicked it off early and coasted to the win.