NMRA/NMCA All Star Nationals at Atlanta

Battling the cold for record runs

Results and photos courtesy NMRA

Aaron Bates, Renegade class winner.

The 2016 NMRA Keystone Automotive Drag Racing Series invaded Commerce, Georgia, over the weekend of April 8-10 for the 8th Annual Borla Exhaust NMRA/NMCA All Star Nationals presented by Miller Welders. Held at Atlanta Dragway, which had recently been resurfaced, presented a variety of challenges for racers as unseasonably cold temperatures and tricky headwinds forced many to have to rethink their strategies and tune ups. Holding strong in the face of adversity, the NMRA contenders hit hard with multiple record-shattering runs and some seriously exciting drag racing action.

The always-exciting VP Racing Fuels/Wiseco Street Outlaw class was a joint effort between NMRA and NMCA, and was hotly contested all weekend. Ultimately, it was number-one qualifier Jarod Wenrick who came out on top in the final round with his win against Ronnie Diaz. Wenrick pushed his '66 Nova to the limit and crossed the finish in 4.819-seconds at 151.56 mph to take the win for the NMCA crew.

The final round of Edelbrock Renegade was occupied by Aaron Bates (shown) and Terry "Beefcake" Reeves, the class winner and runner-up, respectively, as Bates' 7.925 at 178.97 mph pass bested Reeves' effort.

JPC Racing's Jeff Polivka battled JLP Racing's Johnny "Lightning" Wiker all weekend, but wound up coming out ahead in the last round of ProCharger Coyote Modified eliminations. His hard work and persistence paid off, and his '13 Boss 302's 8.078 at 169.61 mph mph pass secured the victory over Lightning and his '13 Super Cobra Jet.