Factory Stock is getting very popular, the Agent is happy to see. The NMCA began their season March 7-10 at Bradenton Motorsports Park in Florida and showing up to shakedown in Holley EFI Factory Super Cars were 23 drivers in their Mustang Cobra Jets, COPO Camaros, and Challenger Drag Paks. Drew Skillman drove to a 7.70 in his Mustang Cobra Jet to lead qualifying, and incredibly 12 other drivers also posted 7s behind him.

Adding to the excitement in qualifying, Chuck Watson Sr., Leonard Libersher, Scott Libersher and Carl Tasca Sr. also laid down 7s to join Geoff Turk in the Holley EFI 7-Second Club. Later in the weekend, Bill Skillman (shown) secured the win with a 7.82 in his Mustang Cobra Jet over Mark Pawuk, who was 8.01 in his Challenger.

The Factory Stock Showdown will be on the bill at the NHRA Gatornationals this week where 32 are pre-entered. (BME photo courtesy NMCA)   [03/12/19]

After the NMCA West Series left the west coast and the PSCA departed, racers Steve Cox and Dan Marciano decided to do something for the area’s bracket racers. They put together a six-race series at Auto Club Fontana Dragway for 2018 and called it the So Cal .5 Pro Lite Series. It proved popular with 23 racers at the very first event and went on to gain entrants throughout the season.

The 2019 season started Feb. 23 and 24 with Brandon Clark getting the Saturday Pro win and Jack Swanson the Sportsman Tree win. On Sunday it was Brian Clark (far lane) getting the Pro win over Steve Cox. Pedro Valadez got the Sunday Sportsman win.  (Laurie Crouse photo)

For the 2019 season there will be eight events with a second class added, a .5 Sportsman Tree light class. The series will run heads-up at Fontana.

The first two events of the NHRA season brought rain and cold temperatures to Pomona and Phoenix, making both races a challenge for the competitors. Along with the other racers, Scott Palmer and his Top Fuel team are excited about Gainesville, mainly because it's going to be warmer than the unseasonably cold weather the tour has experienced so far.

"Our car has run great both races but the temperatures didn't do us any favors," Palmer said. "We are still learning how to race on cold tracks. We can run a qualifying number on them but it's a whole different story when it's 50 degrees on race day and you are running a 10,000-plus horsepower Top Fuel car. The teams with the most experience definitely have the advantage. We just don't have the experience yet.

"Gainesville is going to be more realistic conditions for us and that will put us back where we are a little more comfortable. I'm expecting big things. I know the crew is motivated."  (Ron Lewis photo)   [03/12/19]

Kevin Stith presented the Bonus check to Classic Funny Car class winner Dan Hix with his son Donovan looking on from the escape hatch of the “Meanstreak” Camaro. Low qualifier Shawn Van Horne won another $250 bonus for his #1 qualifying effort, running 6.236/226.39 mph.  (Darr Hawthorne photo)

For the second year, Kevin Stith at Legends of Nitro showed his support for the Classic Funny Car class at the Good Vibrations March Meet with the Legends of Nitro Low Qualifier and Winner bonuses.

"Track operator Blake Bowser and I both have a true passion for the real ’70s looking AA/FC’s, burnin’ what else but NITRO,” said Stith.

In the final, Hix defeated veteran nitro racer Rodney Flournoy who was driving the “Crazy Horse” Mustang.    [03/12/19]

The heat and sound control experts at Thermo-Tec have developed Express Sleeves to help performance engines keep their cool, even under the most demanding conditions. Easy-to-use Express Sleeves feature a combination high-temperature insulation material and highly reflective Mylar foil construction designed to provide maximum protection from the damaging effects of radiant heat. Simply pull the material apart, wrap the wire, hose or cable, and re-close the sleeving with the simple hook-and-loop system. Express Sleeves reflect more than 90 percent of radiant heat up to 2,000 degrees and are fireproof, fire-resistant and just plain good-looking. Made in the USA, they are available in 1/2-to-1-inch and 1-to-1-1/2-inch diameters in 3-, 12- and 50-foot lengths. Custom widths and lengths are also available.   [03/12/19]