PRESENTED BY
JERRY MORGANO, STEPH MALLAIS, GRANTLEY SCHLOSS, TOMMY YOUMANS, BILLY LACKEY, AND JOEL GREATHOUSE RACE TO VICTORY AT U. S. STREET NATIONALS
By NATE VAN WAGNEN
Photographs by LUKE NIEUWHOF and CHRIS SIMMONS PHOTOGRAPHY
As both a DI Winter Series race and the season opener for the FuelTech Radial Outlaws Racing Series, the U. S. Street Nationals featured a jam-packed class lineup combining slick-tire and drag radial categories. In the Winter Series classes, Jerry Morgano( Pro 10.5) and Steph Mallais( Strange Engineering Lil Gangstas Championship Series presented by Melling Performance) joined Stevie“ Fast” Jackson and Cole Pesz as winners. In the FuelTech Radial Outlaws Racing Series classes, Grantley Schloss( Pro 275), Tommy Youmans( Limited Drag Radial), Billy Lackey( X275), and Joel Greathouse( Ultra Street) were victorious. Ronald Procopio( 4.60 Bikes), Brian Shook( 6.50 Index), Jason Renninger( 7.50 Index) won in the index classes, and Cailyn Fargo won in Jr. Dragster.
PRO 10.5 � For the first time since 2019, longtime Outlaw 10.5 proponent Jerry Morgano parked his twin-turbocharged“ Copperhead”’ 02 Mustang Cobra in the winner’ s circle. He qualified No. 2 in the Pro 10.5 field, and due to the random chip draw format, ended up facing No. 1 qualifier Carson Baker in the first round. Morgano beat Baker on a holeshot and drew the bye run in the next round, sending him to the semis to face Tim Partin. He got another holeshot win over Partin to meet Nick Agostino and his turbocharged“ Cannoli Express”’ 69 Camaro in the final round. The pair of small-block-powered machines spooled up and Morgano was out of the gate first yet again. This time, he paired the holeshot with a 3.905 at 195.65 to beat Agostino’ s 3.934 at 200.00 for the $ 10,000 win.
“ It’ s a huge deal. I love Outlaw 10.5, obviously,” Morgano said.“ I’ ve been running in the class for 25-30 years now. The guys I race with – Nick Agostino, Tim Essick, Ron Green – just the OGs of the class, they’ re all great friends of mine. We have such a blast when we race together. Drag Illustrated inviting us here a couple of years ago was a huge honor, and just being able to continue that this season, bringing us into the three Winter Series races, is awesome. I hope to
� JERRY MORGANO
� STEPH MALLAIS
92 | Drag Illustrated | DragIllustrated. com Issue 199