DRAG RACING FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE

Jan 30, 07 | 12:44 am

Todd Tutterow's 2002 Mustang is reflected in the side of his race hauler at Bradenton Motorsports Park. Tutterow primarily uses the car in Big Dog events at Piedmont Dragway near his Lewisville, NC, home, but said he plans to slip 10.5 tires under it to enter the ADRL's new Extreme 10.5 series this year. (Ian Tocher photo)

OUTLAW PRO STREET FINAL RESULTS

Jan 29, 07 | 6:14 pm

After running the table at the U.S. Street Nationals by qualifying number one, setting low E.T. and top speed, then advancing to win the Outlaw Pro Street final, Marietta, GA's Eddie Ware (right) just wanted to make sure "the good side" of his Hemi-powered '67 Camaro got into the winner's circle photos. Ware was granted the win when final-round opponent Todd Tutterow's two-step in the transmission malfunctioned, forcing him to leave before the tree was activated. With Tutterow disqualified, Ware took it easy for an anticlimactic win after a long, long day at the track. (Ian Tocher photo)

PURPLE PEOPLE PLEASER

Jan 29, 07 | 6:03 pm

One of the most popular cars with fans and racers alike at Bradenton had to be Mark Kyger's immaculate '66 Chevy II Outlaw 10.5 entry. Though built to show car standards, Kyger's ride is strictly a racing machine, with a twin-turbocharged 540 c.i. BBC riding up front in an all-tube chassis. Kyger recognizes the car wouldn't currently fit within most sanctioned 10-wide rules, so a plan to "front-half" it with stock front frame rails is in the works. (Ian Tocher photo)

OUTLAW 10.5 FINAL RESULTS

Jan 29, 07 | 5:07 pm

The two-car team of Maryland's Gil Mobley (center, green shirt) advanced to meet in the Outlaw 10.5 final at Bradenton, but the team owner decided against making the run based on driver Richard Sexton (third from left) getting out of shape in his '69 Camaro at the top end of his semi-final win over Rodney Bitgood. "There's a lot of dew on the track now and there's just no sense in risking my drivers and the cars given the situation," Mobley stated. Sexton, who qualified runner-up behind teammate Chuck Ulsch (second from left), had been a picture of consistency in eliminations, going 6.82, 6. 84, and 6.83 before slowing to a 7.25 in the semis. "We didn't touch his car all day," Ulsch said. "The car didn't change at all; the track did." Ulsch, meanwhile, struggled somewhat with his '02 Camaro on raceday after setting an unreal 6.760 pace in qualifying. After opening with a decent 6.87 in eliminations, he slowed to 7.32 before regaining form with a 6.83 in a quarter-final solo pass when Canada's Ray Sanchez suffered a broken valve. Ulsch was the beneficiary of another racer's misfortune in the semis, as the intercooler in Jeff Shawver's turbocharged Camaro had split wide open. It was an especially fortuitous break for Ulsch as his car wouldn't fire on the line before his crew diagnosed a starter problem and got him going just long enough to stage, break the beams, and advance to the (non)final round. No matter, the team was in high spirits after setting a new quarter-mile nitrous record for the class and putting both cars in position to win it all. (Ian Tocher photo)

HARROWING CRASH HERALDS LONG DAY AT THE RACES

Jan 29, 07 | 4:44 pm

In just the second pair down the track after a more than two-hour delay past the scheduled 10 a.m. start due to wet weather early Sunday, Brian Prins of Berlin, NJ, crashed hard in his 2003 Chevy Cavalier. Prins started from the right lane, but almost immediately darted left and eventually found the left guardwall with both ends of his car about halfway down the track. After fortunately emerging from the wreck unscathed, a livid Prins claimed the track was inadequately prepped and contributed directly to his accident, which led to a lengthy delay for clean-up and additional track attention. The Bradenton Motorsports track crew definitely got a workout during the U.S. Street Nats, as they dealt with several more oildowns and other maintenance needs throughout the day. Completing just the first round for the five classes on hand took more than five(!) hours, which coupled with unseasonably cool temperatures significantly thinned the crowd. By the time the event finally wrapped up about 10 p.m., less than a hundred people were in the stands and everyone, racers and track workers included, were more than ready to go home. (Ian Tocher photo)

AUTOMATIC OUTLAW FINAL RESULTS

Jan 29, 07 | 4:32 pm

Darrell Beller from North Ft. Myers, FL, had a free pass to the Automatic Outlaw win when Ray Chavez was unable to answer the call to stage. Regardless, Beller didn't take it easy, running just two-hundredths off his best time of the day. (Ian Tocher photo)

NEW CAREER FOR GLIDDEN?

Jan 29, 07 | 4:23 pm

Billy Glidden (right) was on hand at Bradenton just to take in a little U.S. Street Nationals action before acting as a chassis specialist for Mickey-Thompson during a scheduled tire test on Monday at the southwest-Florida strip. Sensing an opportunity, the guys at Yourwaynetwork.com tapped Glidden to conduct a few interviews for them, including Edelbrock's Steve Johnson (shown) and Outlaw 10.5 racer Spiro Pappas. (Ian Tocher photo)

HEAVY STREET FINAL RESULTS

Jan 29, 07 | 3:51 pm

Not only did Ohio's Bill Lutz win the U.S. Street Nationals event title with his twin-turboed '67 Camaro, but he reset both ends of the Heavy Street records with a 6.993 E.T. in round two--the first ever six-second pass in the class--and a top speed of 203.06 mph in the final round. Lutz credited Alan Dudley for the impressive gain in performance as he was running Dudley's new MFI (methanol fuel injection) system on his Big Chief 522 for the first time after switching from a single carburetor in the brief off-season. The incrementals for the Scott Brascett-built car at Bradenton were: 60' - 1.217; 330' - 3.088; 660' - 4.60/164; 1320' - 6.993/200.62. "When it carried the wheels past the eighth mile, that's when I knew it was really on a pass," the Ohio-based driver said. "When you figure in the weight (3,555 pounds across the Bradenton scales), that's what really makes it impressive." Lutz was fortunate to even be driving on raceday at Bradenton after suffering a high blood pressure scare that actually required a brief visit to a local hospital on Sunday morning. The only reason he was able to enter eliminations was the clean-up for Brian Prins' accident in the opening round of Automatic Outlaw took enough time for Lutz to make it back to the track before his class was called to the staging lanes. "I hate that that had to happen and I wouldn't wish that on anyone, but his misfortune was definitely my fortune today," Lutz said. (Ian Tocher photos)

WHAT A DEBUT!

Jan 29, 07 | 3:38 pm

In the first real drag racing event of his life, Jacksonville, FL's Kevin Fiscus (second from left) took his '02 Mustang all the way to the final round of Bradenton's Radial Tire class. Fiscus said he's had the fast street car bug for years, but decided last year to take the plunge into sanctioned, heads-up, doorslammer racing. He earned an NHRA competition license just six weeks prior to the U.S. Street Nats and made his first official pass on Friday at the Bradenton strip. That's gonna' be a tough act to follow! (Ian Tocher photo)

RADIAL TIRE FINAL RESULTS

Jan 29, 07 | 3:22 pm

Scoring a career-first major event title at Bradenton was Radial Tire winner Will Stevenson with his supercharged, carburetor-equipped '84 Camaro. The weekend wasn't without drama for the Gainesville, FL-based racer, though, despite qualifying number-one and lasting through five tough rounds to beat Kevin Fiscus in the final. Stevenson sat out both of Saturday's qualifying sessions after breaking the blower belt on his 509 c.i. Chevy in Friday's lone attempt. Without sufficient spares, he ordered more belts and had them delivered to the track, where he had to replace the blower drive belt after it broke at the top end of each pass. "At least it was breaking at the right time," Steveson said, though he admitted to being baffled by what was causing the problem. (Ian Tocher)

TUTTEROW'S TRANSMISSION TROUBLE

Jan 28, 07 | 3:22 am

Todd Tutterow arrived at Bradenton with a new Rossler Turbo 400 transmission backing up the blown 406 in his '02 Mustang, but had to go back to a Lenco when the original tranny's stator support broke. According to U.S. Street Nats rules, the transmission change meant Tutterow had to requalify in Outlaw Pro Street, but after running 6.43 in the final session he remained in 6th place for raceday. (Ian Tocher photo)

OUTLAW PRO STREET - FINAL QUALIFYING RESULTS

Jan 28, 07 | 3:10 am

Top to bottom: Eddie Ware, Rob Mansfield, Gary Walker, Bob Glenn, John Gullett (Ian Tocher photos)

A LONG WAY FROM HOME

Jan 28, 07 | 2:44 am

Back in October, team owner Gary Thomas loaded his '69 Camaro and 1990 Chevy Beretta into a shipping container and had them sent by cargo ship to Florida from his St. Croix home in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Delano "De Animal" Harris drives the Camaro and nearly lost his door in the secound round of qualifying, while Halvor Hanson Jr. (both also of St. Croix) steered the Beretta to a 7th-place starting spot in Automatic Outlaw. Thomas, a waste management company owner ("Your trash is my cash.") bought a new trailer and tow rig while stateside and his whole racing operation will be heading back on the four-day ocean voyage next week. (Ian Tocher photo)

CAREER-BEST EFFORT FOR SANCHEZ

Jan 28, 07 | 2:24 am

Canadian Ray Sanchez ran a career-best 7.182 to qualify 9th in Outlaw 10.5 at the U.S Street Nationals. Sanchez said he's confident there's even more in the car, but it's hampered somewhat by running at more than 200 pounds over the 2,900-pound class minimum, largely due to carrying a full interior, including stock Camaro doors with working power windows. Dan Parker of Parker Chassis will be putting the ProCharger-equipped ride on a diet soon and Sanchez hopes to run in the sixes with it in NMCA Super Street action later this year. (Ian Tocher photo)

OVERNIGHT SUCCESS

Jan 28, 07 | 2:02 am

Elliott Thompson's Friday qualifying attempt held up for 4th place on the Outlaw 10.5 list at Bradenton, but both copper head gaskets got pushed out on the run. A quick call to Jeg's had a new pair of multi-layered steel (MLS) gaskets delivered to the track by noon on Saturday and after an all-afternoon rebuild led by crew chief Darrell "Fresh D" Makins (top), the 372 SBC refired on the first attempt shortly after 7 p.m. Thompson's brother, Eric (left), and Gary Naughton of Vanishing Point Race Cars then got busy resealing every joint in the powerplant's elaborate twin-turbo system. A third brother, Evan, mentioned they also had to replace the driver's side turbo after it went sour in a Thursday night test pass. The Philadelphia-based team borrowed a new one from Outlaw Pro Street racer John Gullett, "no questions asked," Evan Thompson said. "It was very generous and we're very appreciative." (Ian Tocher photos)

OUTLAW 10.5 - FINAL QUALIFYING RESULTS

Jan 28, 07 | 1:52 am

Top to bottom: Chuck Ulsch, Spiro Pappas, Walter Drakeford, Richard Sexton, Brad Brand (Ian Tocher photos)

RADIAL TIRE - FINAL QUALIFYING RESULTS

Jan 28, 07 | 1:07 am

Top to bottom: Kenny Markswich, Samuel Phillips, Wayne Smith, Matt Mungall, Kevin Fiscus (Ian Tocher photos)

HEAVY STREET - FINAL QUALIFYING ORDER

Jan 28, 07 | 12:18 am

Top to bottom: Dale Collins Jr., Ronnie Souza, Ray Claery, Dr. Rick Fox, Reggie Champman and Sam Bernardi (Ian Tocher photos)

AUTOMATIC OUTLAW - FINAL QUALIFYING ORDER

Jan 27, 07 | 11:43 pm

Top to bottom: Russ Crump, Thomas Agler, Aaron Bridwell, Pat Quesenberry, Gerry Sweeney (Ian Tocher photos)

NHRA IMPORTS ENTER OUTLAW PRO STREET

Jan 26, 07 | 11:01 pm

Nero Deliwala's two-car Titan Motorsports team experienced a mixed first round of qualifying with defending NHRA Sport Compact Pro RWD champ Brad Personett slotting into 9th place in Outlaw Pro Street, while Gary White had problems and finished 19 th for the day. Both Personett's 2006 Scion TC and White's '05 Toyota Celica carry 183 c.i. Toyota 2JZ engines with single 91 mm turbos providing boost. (Ian Tocher photo)

OUTLAW PRO STREET TOP-10 AFTER FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND

Jan 26, 07 | 10:55 pm

Despite still showing the results of a brush with the wall at the season-ending ADRL race at Kennedale, TX, last fall, Eddie Ware's '67 Camaro was the class of the Outlaw Pro Street field at Bradenton. Ware agreed it was "a great pass," but suggested there's "still more in it for tomorrow." (Ian Tocher photo)

1. Eddie Ware (shown) 6.142/235.35
2. Vinny Budano 6.348/224.88
3. Todd Tutterow 6.387/213.67
4. Annette Summer 6.446/232.19
5. Randall Haynes 6.588/202.61
6. Brian Williams 6.663/210.23
7. Vinny Demieri 6.664/215.36
8. Robert Davis 6.721/212.01
9. Brad Personett 6.740/216.24
10. Frank Censosimo 6.748/206.13

CLOSE CALL FOR BUDANO

Jan 26, 07 | 10:50 pm

Vinny Budano slotted in behind Eddie Ware at the top of the Outlaw Pro Street qualifying list, but an oil line on his Schafiroff 738 burst just as he crossed the finish line. “Thank God for engine diapers,” the reigning NMCA Pro Street champion said. (Ian Tocher photo)

HAYNES HAPPY WITH NEW RIDE

Jan 26, 07 | 10:47 pm

Making its first full pass down the quarter mile, Brian Shaw’s ‘41 Willys carried driver Randall Haynes to 5th place in the opening round of Pro Street qualifying at Bradenton. Chassis builder Pat Garrett also was on hand to help sort out the new car, which carries a Gene Fulton-built 738 with four stages of nitrous on tap. It’s scheduled for paint at Banshee Studios next week. Haynes, an NMCA Pro Street regular from Chester, VA, already has an IHRA license, but is completing the requirements for an NHRA advanced E.T. license at the U.S. Street Nationals. (Ian Tocher photo)

OUTLAW 10.5 TOP-10 AFTER FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND (32 entries)

Jan 26, 07 | 10:42 pm

Chuck Ulsch uses a flexible scope to check out the nitrous nozzles in his Fulton-built monster motor. Ulsch steered team owner Gil Mobley's 2002 Camaro to the quickest and fastest pass ever by a nitrous-fed 10-wide entry in round one of Outlaw 10.5 qualifying at the U.S. Street Nats. (Ian Tocher photo)

1. Chuck Ulsch (shown) 6.760/207.08
2. Richard Sexton 6.892/200.89
3. Elliot Thompson 6.936/203.20
4. Jim Blair 7.048/199.86
5. Brad Brand 7.113/197.36
6. Mike Yedgarian 7.128/199.55
7. Matt Salminen 7.255/191.81
8. Carlos Zaldivar 7.260/190.67
9. Tom Ferrick 7.286/193.50
10. Conrad Scarry 7.309/195.39

183 CUBIC INCHES!

Jan 26, 07 | 10:38 pm

Paul Efantis is the 2004 and defending NHRA Sport Compact Modified champ, but managed only a 14th-place effort with his 2003 Toyota Solara in the first round of Outlaw 10.5 qualifying at Bradenton. This is the first time out with twin 70 mm Garrett turbos by Precision Turbo on his 183 c.i. inline-six Toyota 2JZ powerplant, but the Ijamsville, MD-based racer is confident he’ll improve in Saturday’s two scheduled qualifying sessions. The engine is backed up by a G-Force 5-speed transmission fitted with an East-West clutch. (Ian Tocher photo)

TOP-10 AFTER ROUND ONE QUALIFYING

Jan 26, 07 | 9:24 pm

David Hance (left), who has cars entered in both Automatic Outlaw and Outlaw 10.5 classes, has turbo guru Steve Petty (right) helping out in his pit at Bradenton while doorslammer legend Tony Christian (in hat) looks on. (Ian Tocher photo)

RADIAL TIRE (40 entries)
1. Will Stevenson 7.801/180.57
2. Troy Pirez 7.831/179.21
3. Tim Murray 7.954/175.91
4. Chris Rembish 7.961/176.74
5. David Hanlon 8.047/176.22
6. Kevin Fiscus 8.085/187.38
7. Samuel Phillips 8.109/171.65
8. Greg Trotta 8.160/169.81
9. Steve Drummond 8.215/177.65
10. Matt Mungall 8.234/169.49

HEAVY STREET (11 entries)
1. John Schroeder 7.541/184.61
2. Bill Lutz 7.581/179.78
3. Robert Remek 7.795/178.67
4. Dale Collins Jr. 8.237/183.56
5. Pat Adams 8.674/156.71
6. Wade Gullett 8.754/160.02
7. Rick Fox 9.125/147.32
8. Rodney Campbell 10.267/100.52
9. Ray Cleary 10.692/80.78
10. Lewis Jones 13.646/62.21

AUTOMATIC OUTLAW (20 entries)
1. Russ Crump 6.611/208.86
2. Darrell Beller 6.761/206.23
3. Doug Watson 6.804/200.26
4. Glenn Adams 6.870/207.56
5. Jeff Lutz 7.020/193.75
6. Jeff Ensslin 7.274/191.12
7. Brian Prins 7.279/189.79
8. Thomas Agler 7.301/186.45
9. Halvor Hanson Jr. 7.349/199.15
10. David Hance (shown) 7.468/181.05

U.S. STREET NATIONALS PROMISES EXCITING HEADS-UP ACTION

Jan 24, 07 | 3:51 pm

The U.S. Street Nationals, the first big doorslammer event of the year is set to go off this weekend, Jan. 26-28, at Bradenton Motorsports Park in southwest Florida, where racers from across the country will compete in Pro Street, Outlaw 10.5, Heavy Street, Drag Radial, and Outlaw Automatic classes.

Bradenton Motorsports Park is located on Hwy. 64 about 10 miles east of I-75 and gates open at 8 a.m. each day. Spectator admission is $20 on Friday, with $25 charged at the gate on both Saturday and Sunday. Children under 12 years old are admitted free.

DRO will be there with same-day updates and photos beginning Friday evening.