With a slight starting line advantage going to Mihovetz over Gentile in the final, both cars went down the 1320 at around 2:15 in the morning, but it did not matter to either of these fine drivers. This looks like it is going to be quite a rivalry, as both turbo-powered Fords put on a fantastic show with Gentile setting the quickest time of the weekend, at 6.349, 228.50 mph while Big John Mihovetz was right on the Mustang’s tail at 6.464, 218.34 mph. For everyone that stayed till the end, you got quite a show!
A look at Gentile’s turbocharged engine.
OUTLAW STREET
A great turn out of 10.5 tired Outlaw Street competitors, were on hand at the Strip, with 2007 World champion Ron Weems from Riverside, Calif., taking the pole position at a fine 7.159, 199.86 mph. I’ve got to say this was an awesome Outlaw race as the LVMS speed record was bettered at least four times during eliminations.
Rich Zehring had trouble during qualifying, only coming up with the #5 spot at 7.67, 193.46 mph but these guys got the San Jose-based Nova straightened out in eliminations.
First one to surpass Weems’s record 199.86 was that same Rich Zehring when he laid down a shot of 7.094, 201.37 mph, while Enrique Soto had problems, clicking it early at 8.109, 176.19 mph with his nitrous Camaro. Doug Sikora’s Barstow-based Mustang easily handled Nick Hill with a 7.15, 193.86 mph, Hill shutting off way early.
Lafayette Williams in his late model copper Mustang out of Gil Neverez’s Las Vegas shop advanced to round two when the M & M Mustang of M Luton had problems staging. A 7.756, 148.02 was good enough for the local boy.
Rick Shavely cut an almost perfect light (.001) against Larry Drake and then turned in a nice 7.77, 196.99 for the win in Slim Shady’s outlaw Camaro. When his competition could not make the call, Weems once again put a smile on Andy and Sonny’s (co crew-chiefs) face with another speed record of 202.39 mph with their Outlaw Racing Engines Grand Am. How about a 7.106 to go with that speed.
Weems received the odd lot single in the next round and blasted to another fine pass of 7.451, 200.02 mph. In a battle of the leavers, Williams might be fairly new to his Mustang but you could never tell. How about an (.004 RT) to Shavely’s (.007 RT), but that Slim Shady horsepower took Rick to the next round at 7.275, 196.93 mph over a very game Williams at 7.401, 181.28 mph for his best effort of the weekend.
Zehring then annexed the speed record once again in his Ford vs. Chevy battle with Doug Sikora, posting a 204.51 mph coupled up to a fine ET of 7.022 while Sikora’s Stang cranked out its best of 7.139, 195.87 mph.
This round Zehring got a bye run and left the starting line hard but clicked it early to save the potent nitrous Nova for the final. Weems and the Outlaw Grand Am advanced to the final in his match up against Mr. Quick Rick Shavely, but a 7.072 put away the yellow Camaro at 7.244, 197.10 mph.
This Outlaw final has been an ongoing rival for a couple of years, but not with these huge Top Speeds. At the green light they both left together with 2007 Champ Weems collecting the trophy and the win at a fine 7.045, 210.16 mph while Zehring once again clocked another record pass of 205.10 mph but his 7.219 was only good for runner up. Outstanding racing guys!