Corky Bumpus

The classic speed-fest that is ATI Performance Products Nostalgia Super Stock hit the track hard with 21 racers all vying for the money rounds. Defending champion Dave Schultz of Katy, Texas, set the pace in qualifying with a 9.750 on his 9.75 index, but it would be Corky Bumpus and his '67 'Cuda facing off against Mike DeChicco in his '65 Dodge Coronet. Bumpus had the better reaction time (0.013 to 0.097), and ran an 11.007 on his 11.00 dial, defeating DeChicco who broke out with a 9.69 break-out of his 9.75 dial in.

There were a number of really nice muscle cars running in Detroit Truetrac Nostalgia Muscle Car, including the Nova of defending champion, Gerry Vizzo. Andy Warren's manly '71 Chevy Caprice posted a 10.506 on a 10.50 index for number-one qualifying status, and Warren would go four rounds to take the win over Jerry Mathis who red lit.

MagnaFuel Open Comp is always a tough place to race, with the class full of competitors who have finely honed their on-track skills. Hanson, Kentucky's Donald Carver had posted not one, but two 0.000 reaction times on Saturday, and he managed to go two rounds before fuel problems ended his day. After five rounds of eliminations, it was Shawn Calabrese at the wheel of an '01 Firehawk who was victorious over a red-lighting Norman Crane and his '93 Mustang.

Gear Vendors True Street is always the largest class of the event, and this year we saw 43 racers tech in. Only 33 were able to make all three passes count, and Clarence Walker of Tampa, Fla., took the 14-second average. Chris Hansen of Brandon, Fla., took the 13-second win, and Grant Martin turned his turbo Buick into a 12-second winner. James Barlow of Port St. Lucie, Fla., was leaving the line hard in his '67 Cougar and took the 11-second win for his efforts, while William Howard's 67 Dodge was slightly better and nabbed the 10-second average. Mike French of Ocala, Fla., took the runner up spot behind the wheel of his nice '67 Camaro with a stout 9.65 average, but it was Tim Hafke of Brooksville, Fla., putting in the work with his '93 Mustang that averaged 8.76 seconds for the overall win.

This race featured two bracket classes, and Super Pro (B1) found Elizabeth Keene of Bradenton, Fla., taking the win over another local, Tim Butler of Sarasota. It was tight at the light (.012 to .015 respectively), but Butler broke out (6.11 on a 6.12 dial in) whereas Keene posted a 5.08 against a 5.06 dial in. In Sportsman (B2), Shane Carr nailed a .004 light en route to a 6.446 on a 6.44 dial in, which was too much for James Stover who was .041 on the tree, and 6.64 on a 6.65 dial in.