Oxford,
PA H&J Motorsports Warehouse and
Nickerson Performance combined together to sponsor the “Super Sunday
Shootout” which included other local racing organizations to put together
one spectacular day of racing at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading
Pennsylvania! Coming off the rainout at Beaver Springs created a bit of
apprehension going in knowing twice as much work lay ahead to get it all
done. The return to Maple Grove Raceway was just what the doctor ordered.
Pleasant weather and equally pleasant staff made racing at “The Grove” an
exciting mid-season spectacular.
The N/A Shootout racers kept
the fans on the edge of their seats as the 49-car field of Purnell Body
Shop’s AMI came to the line. With a majority of the racers campaigning in
the 9.50 and 10.0 index, it was hard to tell this was not a heads up
racing class. AMI would crown a new top qualifier with Jeff Reynolds
setting the bar with a 10.000 in his ’70 LeMans followed by Marc McCloud’s
9.504, and a 9.507 by Frank Peacock. To round out the top four would be
Jeff Hughes in his ’80 Mustang with 10.008. That’s some
tight racing
folks! It would be the number 16 qualifier Steve Romeo that would conquer
the giant field with his gorgeous Yenko shrouded Chevelle as he fought his
way round by round to finally take out Mark Plucinski in the final by a
.002 margin. Super close racing all day is what makes and keep this class
so exciting.
RAM Racing’s Drag Radial class fell a little
short when 5 cars arrived to the lanes for the start of
qualifying with unfortunately, 4 would be left to survive for
eliminations. Ron Rhodes would enter eliminations in number one spot
followed by Jeff Kinsler with only .004 separating the two, Rhodes 9.206
to Kinslers 9.210. Eliminations would start with the Chevelle of Tony
Manizza making his way past Joe Boywitt’s Pinto with a 10.14 over Joe’s
10.83, leaving a pair of bye runs for Jeff Kinsler and Ron Rhodes. Both
would make impressive 9.20 passes that woke up the crowd as Drag Radial
would move on to the next round where Ron Rhodes would get by Manizza
leaving Kinsler and Rhodes to battle it out in the finals. Rhodes’ Camaro
would come out on top as he takes the stripe with a 9.201 to Kinsler’s
Firebird’s 9.258.
G-Force 10.5 always packs the lanes with top
names from all over the heads up world. Maple Grove would be no different,
and the qualifying would prove that these guys meant business. Class
sponsor Leonard Long would finally get by Charlie Booze for the top
qualifying position, a Mustang vs. Mustang battle every event. Long’s
8.735 was followed by Booze’s 8.757 along with John Langer, Bob Hanlon and
Larry Rhodes’ finishing in the 8.80s after 3 rounds of qualifying.
Intense eliminations would take out Jay
Schonberger’s beautiful T-Type as the battle of the small block would come
out with Larry Rhode’s as victor. The return of Henry Jackson driving Rick
Meredith’s ’67 Chevelle would show potential running a strong 8.80 as they
put Brian Morrison on the trailer first round. Andrews would chase John
Langer, a 9.25 to Langer’s 8.98. The Mopar of Adam Smith would also fall
victim to Bangin’ Bob Hanlon. Ann Erb and Andre McCamey would not make the
call first round to allow Booze and Long to advance. Final round pairing
would end up being Leonard Long versus Charlie Booze in another familiar
pairing of this 12-car field. Booze would get the win on a holeshot and
further his points lead with a final 8.77 to a losing 8.73 of Long.
Liberty’s Gears PRO N/A, being the baddest of
the bad, would see 6 of the fastest all motor cars in the area as the
Martino powered former Jim Yates Pro Stock of Jack Gaydosh would top the
qualifying field with an impressive 7.135 as followers Lonnie Johnson
7.227 and Randy Harshman’s 7.595 would make up the top half of the field.
First round of eliminations would take the smallest motor in the field out
as a 7.66 from Tom Miller’s S10 truck would get squeezed out by a 7.63
from Randy Harshman’s Corvette. The brutal force of Richard Scioscia’s
overweight ‘Cuda would be thwarted by Lonnie Johnson’s former Mopar Pro
Stocker 7.842 to LJ’s super fast 7.344. The final pairing for first round
would allow Jack Gaydosh to ease it on down the road when Brian Conrey
would fail to make first round with a broken Chevy Barretta. Second round
Johnson would give up his chances of advancing when he red lights to
Harshman, and Gaydosh getting a competition bye to the finals would make
up the final pairing of the day but unfortunately Harshman’s ‘Vette would
not start as they rolled in and gave way to an easy day for Jack Gaydosh
to take home with winnings in PRO N/A.
We would also like to congratulate the
winners of Ralph’s Towing “Best Light of the Day Award” which went to
George Walleigh for the index side and Jack Gaydosh for the Heads-Up part
of the program. Congrats also go out to Henry Jackson, the winner of the
Rocket Brand Race Fuels wheelstand of the event! A giant thanks to the
N/A Shootout staff and all of the sponsors that made this event one of the
best all season.
Wheels Up Racing, INC.
Announces Sponsorship For NA Shootout
ELKTON, MARYLAND JUNE 18, 2008
–
Wheels Up Racing, Inc., distributor exclusively of Rockett Brand Racing
Fuels, proudly joins the NA Shootout Race Series for the remainder of the
2008 racing season.
Wheels
Up Racing, Inc. sponsorship includes end of year prizes
which are as follows: each class champion will
receive a free 55 gallon drum of Rockett Brand of their choice, for the
final four races - starting at Maple Grove Raceway – any racer using
Rockett Brand Race Fuel and wins the event receives a $50 cash prize,
runner-up receives a $25 cash prize. Wheels Up Racing, Inc. will also be
giving away $50 cash prize for Best Wheelstand of each of the last four
events.
Rockett Brand Race Fuel is available
from Wheels Up Racing, Inc. and also available from Randy Harshman at each
of the last four events.
For additional information on
Rockett Brand Fuel pricing and the Wheels Up Sponsorship for the NA
Shootout, contact Jim Helsel at 443-207-2961, Randy Harshman at
301-465-9345. Fuel spec sheets are available at
ABOUT WHEELS UP RACING, INC.
– Wheels Up Racing, Inc. sells Rockett Brand
Racing Fuels and Wheels Up Racing Methanol exclusively. Wheels Up is a
company by racers for racers!
North vs. South Skirmish at
MIR
“Rain, rain go away
You’re scaring all the racers away
Since you decided not to stay
The racing will be great today”
Oxford,
PA The
weather and the performances on Saturday May 10th were both
equally unpredictable, as the N/A Shootout got under way for its second
outing at Maryland International Raceway sponsored by Autofab Racecars.
With plenty of downtime in the morning from the rain, racers got a chance
to check out all of the cool suspension and chassis products Autofab had
on display at their tent as well as roam the grounds and admire all
of the
improvements done to the facility there in Budds Creek, Md. Many stayed
indoors to watch the action on their computers as Your Way Network’s Jimmy
Biggs and Ray Jermyn aired live from the track, while others stopped by
the N/A Shootout tent for race info or to purchase T-Shirts with a third
of their proceeds going to the American Cancer Society.
Getting
started late in the day AMI would host 32 cars of killer action in a
battle for top qualifier as Mike Armetta’s Mustang would steal the honors
in the second round of qualifying from Dan Walleigh’s Ford wagon. AMI
would continue the excitement with “dead-on” Cliff Sebring making his way
thru the pack running
countless
12.00’s to finally sit in the winners circle after taking out Fred
Heidel’s little red deuce in the final of the Purnell Body Shop’s All
Motor Index class. On a side note…”Mr. Consistant” would also go on to win
the title in the 422 Allstars event the same evening. Way to double up
there Cliff!!
RAM
Racing’s Drag Radial class put spectators on the edge of their seat as
records dropped all day. Starting out the day in qualifying with Ron
Rhodes setting
the record with a 9.056, following round after round breaking that
record. Unstoppable, at least that’s what everyone thought until the
Rhodes’ prepared Pontiac of Jeff Kinsler would slay the red dragon in the
final round on a holeshot, 9.049 to Ron’s 9.039 record making one of the
series’ best finals ever!!
The
G-Force 10.5 racers would not allow the Drag Radial guys to outshine them
as Charlie Booze would lean on the little red freight train to pull off
the number one qualifier award with an 8.606. The welcome wagon was out
bringing in new racers to the class as Steve Willingham’s beautiful ’67
Mustang and Craig Austin’s Heavyweight Chevelle would join the ranks on
this day. 11 cars on the grounds with only 10 cars competing made for some
exciting side by side action as Ann Erb would dip her AMX into the 8.80’s,
a first for her. Records couldn’t help but fall in the killer air of MIR
as the final round win of Charlie Booze against a wounded Larry Rhodes
would net Booze the record of an 8.544 at over 162 mph.
With the
crowd all wound up from the other classes it was time for the Big Daddy’s
of the series PRO N/A sponsored by Liberty’s gears to come out and play.
Number one qualifying position would go to newcomer Lonnie Johnson and his
NHRA B/AA entry. The former Pro Stock Neon would lay down the law with an
impressive 7.263 at 189 mph unfortunately not to
be backed up later
but would still take the record with a 7.430. He may of taken a hold of
the record but the win would go to Tom Miller’s wild Pro Stock s-10 pick
up truck with a final round bye.
The N/A
Shootout staff would like to thank all that ventured out in the less than
perfect weather for a great day of racing. MIR for their great hospitality
and facility, and all of the generous sponsors who helped us to put on
this event including the day’s event sponsor Autofab Race Cars.
See full
event photo gallery
here
Purchase TRS photos
here
2008
Sponsorship Opportunities
Oxford, PA
2008 is right around the corner and the first race will be here before we
know it. We're
looking for new sponsors from across the racing world. We offer
excellent on track exposure in the mid Atlantic states to any business
with our 7 race series. We garner world class international coverage
of the series through
RPM Street Shootout Magazine,
Fastest Street Car Magazine
and the
hottest internet video coverage available through
Your Way Network!
Call or email Rich today!
610-932-0367 Email:
Rich Maitre
Naturally: nat·u·ral·ly
Pronunciation: 'na-ch&r-&-lE, 'nach-r&-, 'na-ch&r-
Function: adverb
: without artificial aid
Aspirated: as·pi·rat-ed
Pronunciation: 'as-p&-"rAt-d
Function: transitive verb
: to draw by suction <: a drawing of something in, out, up, or
through by or as if by suction:>