NMCA |
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PHOTOS : NMCA DIGITAL |
As expected , the cars were flying and the competition was fierce for the NMCA Muscle Car Nationals presented by E3 Spark Plugs from the first race of the season in March through the last race of the season , the 16th Annual SDPC Raceshop NMCA World Street Finals at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indiana in September . That ’ s where , in addition to trips to the Aerospace Components Winner ’ s Circle , championships in the series ’ very competitive classes were on the line , and among those laying it down to lead the pack was VP Racing Fuels Xtreme Pro Mod driver Steve Summers .
Summers qualified in the third position with a 3.88 , won the event with a 3.80 and captured the class championship in his Bickel-built Camaro with just 95 points more than Jason Hamstra . The Illinois-based driver also earned a runner-up finish at the event in Georgia and holds the current VP Racing Fuels Xtreme Pro Mod top speed record with a 216.06 mph .
In Mickey Thompson Radial Wars , Josh Klugger of Fiscus / Klugger Racing qualified in the third position with a 3.99 in his Mustang , and picked up to a 3.97 to runner-up and earn the class championship with just 65 points more than Marty Stinnett . The Florida-based driver also
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earned a runner-up finish at the event in Georgia , a win at the event in Ohio and holds the current Mickey Thompson Radial Wars top speed record with a 199.91 mph .
“ We started out this season with one goal , and it was to win our first NMCA championship ,” Klugger says “ We struggled really bad for the first half of the season and weren ’ t really able to do what we wanted . In Norwalk , we made some chassis changes and the car came around instantly . We did not abort one elimination or qualifying pass from Norwalk through Indy . Once we clinched the championship in the semifinals , all the weight and stress was lifted immediately .”
Charlie Cooper cruised his Mustang to a 4.45 to qualify in the fifth position in VP Racing Fuels Street Outlaw , and laid down another 4.45 to runner-up and catch the class championship with just 200 points more than Manny Buginga . The New Jersey-based driver also earned a win at the event in Florida .
In ARP Nitrous Pro Street , Don Baskin drove his Camaro to a 7.43 to qualify in the fifth position , and despite losing in the first round of eliminations , he claimed the class championship with just 65 points more than Jeff Rudolf . The Tennessee-based driver also earned a win at the event in Kentucky and holds the current ARP Nitrous Pro Street elapsed time and top speed
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JOSH KLUGGER
CHARLIE COOPER
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NHRA TOP SPORTSMAN JEFFREY BARKER |
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January / February 2018 |
DragIllustrated . com | Drag Illustrated | 93 |