ALL-AMERICAN NATIONALS
ALL-AMERICAN NATIONALS
In Vortech Superchargers Street Outlaw, Daniel Pharris of Sikeston, Missouri, was the No. 1 qualifier as he went 4.317 at 172.36 mph in his turbocharged’ 95 Mustang. A bye put him through to the finals where he met with the nitrous-assisted 738 ci powerhouse belonging to Nick Bacalis of Harrison, Ohio. When the lights dropped, Bacalis absolutely drilled Pharris on the tree and refused to give up the lead. Bacalis and his blue’ 96 Mustang were on a mission, and when they crossed the stripe ahead of Pharris, Bacalis took the first Street Outlaw nitrous win since 2014 and got his well-deserved first victory since he suffered a major wreck back in 2005.
Mark Pawuk of Akron, Ohio, powered to the lead in Holley EFI Factory Super Car when he went 8.057 at 171.58 mph during qualifying in his’ 15 Dodge Challenger. Pawuk powered on and reached the finals where he was paired with Leonard Libersher of Wilmington, Florida, for a Dodge vs Chevy duel. Unfortunately for Libersher, a 0.001-second foul start turned on the red light for his’ 15 COPO Camaro and let Pawuk cruise to victory on his 8.152 at 169.23 mph jaunt through the traps.
No one was laughing in ARP Nitrous Pro Street when Terry, Mississippi-based Tricia Musi set the pace in the“ Popeye”’ 00 Pontiac Firebird on a 4.435 at 161.87 mph trip. It was an easy win for Jordan Ensslin in the finals, though, as the man from Lakeland, Florida, ran his‘ 02 Pontiac Trans Am down the 1320 unopposed due to Jennifer Brooke Rice’ s tough luck when a mechanical issue took the young lady from Springfield, Tennessee, out of the running.
Over in Fuel Systems Technology NA 10.5, David Theisen was the quickest all-motor qualifier. The Highland, Michigan, resident covered the quarter mile in 7.882 seconds at 176.58 mph in his’ 69 Firebird. Theisen was on point all through eliminations and defeated competitor after competitor, including Leonard Long in the finals when he ran 7.933 at 174.91 mph over Long’ s
MARK PAWUK REACHED 171.58 MPH DURING QUALIFYING IN HIS’ 15 DODGE CHALLENGER
NICK BACALIS’ NITROUS-ASSISTED 738 CI POWERHOUSE
7.985 at 172.76 mph response.
As usual, Jesse Coulter lead the way during Edelbrock Xtreme Street qualifying as the 2017 season champion and his turbocharged’ 91 Camaro produced a 4.716 at 148.92 mph time slip. Coulter continued to kick butt through eliminations and earned his spot in the finals where he ran against Tim Knieriem of Shepardsville, Kentucky, who had qualified second with his’ 95 Mustang. The green light lit and Knieriem was the first off the line, but Coulter was able to drive around him to take the win with a 4.749 at 149.46 mph payday.
The ever-growing Coan Engineering Stock / Super Stock Combo category featured muscle from all three makes, but only one would be deemed King of the Hill. Wisconsin-based Jeffrey Frees took on New Yorker Charlie Walc in the final round, and Frees chopped down the tree to his advantage. His holeshot, combined with his 10.015 at 124.64 mph pass on his 9.97 dial-in helped him find success against Walc.
Hosting an abundance of beautiful classic muscle cars, ATI Performance Products Nostalgia Super Stock qualifying was tight but ultimately Ostrander, Ohio-based Mike DeChicco came out on top thanks to a near-perfect 9.501-second pass from his’ 65 Dodge Coronet on his 9.50 index. The No. 14 qualifier, Kevin Gass of Ledbetter, Kentucky, had enough in the tank to stay in it until the finals. It was a double breakout situation for Gass and opponent Doug Poskevich, but Gass’ s’ 66 Chevelle turned on the win light in its lane.
Running this close to his 12.000 index with a 12.003-second hit during Detroit True Trac Nostalgia Muscle Car qualifying, Tim Boggs of Fayetteville, Ohio, held the lead with his’ 67 Chevy II going into eliminations. However, the final was occupied by last season’ s champion, Andy Warren, and Chad Brewer. Warren, who calls Elizabethtown, Kentucky, his home and runs a’ 71 Caprice, ran closer to his index than Brewer of Canton, Georgia, in his’ 73 Nova and secured the win as a result.
Sixty-one car and driver combinations came to do battle in MagnaFuel Open Comp, but it was Larry Geddes of Barnesville, Ohio, who led the way going into eliminations after he cut down the tree with a perfect 0.000-second reaction time in his’ 90 Mustang. The resulting six eliminations rounds were tougher than ever, but Kurt Anderson of Eau Claire, Wisconsin and Greg Bagnell of Spring Hill, Florida, were the lone survivors. Bagnell broke out with his’ 85 Mustang but Anderson and his iconic’ 69 Camaro ran 9.784 at 135.16 mph on his 9.78 dial-in to secure
108 | Drag Illustrated | DragIllustrated. com Issue 137