Drag Racing Online - Race Coverage: NMCA at Beech Bend pg.1 Vol. III No. 7 July 2001

RIEGER DOUBLES UP AT BEECH BEND NMCA

(June 24) Defending NMCA World champ Bob Rieger's 2001 NMCA season championship hopes were given a huge boost at Beech Bend Raceway Park, Bowling Green, KY. when the California driver "ran the table," combining a Saturday rain-delayed (Memphis) final round victory over arch-rival Tony Christian, then took a Sunday final round win over Christian's teammate Cody McManama in a classic battle of '57 Chevys.

Rieger, whose performance this season had been filled with frustration resulting in exactly zero wins, came roaring to life Saturday with a holeshot aided 6.75 to 6.75 win over Tony Christian in the delayed Memphis final and to add insult to injury set the new NMCA/Turbonetics Outlaw Pro Street speed record at 213.30 mph in the process.

Rieger and his Jerry Bickel-built '57 weren't through winning and going fast yet. On Sunday the rejuvenated California based team had their way with the Outlaw Street field again, running as quick and fast as 6.67 seconds at a booming 216.38 mph with the turbocharged, 440 cubic inch, rat motor-equipped shoebox.

"Needless to say we were very pleased with this weekend's result," stated Rieger. "We have struggled mightily these past few months, but the crew didn't give up and now we think we found the right clutch and chassis setup for this new engine combination."

In Super Street, Florida's Matt Scranton also doubled-up with a Saturday final round win over Randy Lambert and then continued on Sunday with a final round defeat of Mark Enwia in a Ford-GM contest. Like Rieger, Scranton also captured the Turbonetics Top Speed award both days. Other winners included perennial EZ street winner Gary Rohe (photo), and Dan Paolini in Real Street.

"We had a heck of an event at Bowling Green," said Event Director Pete Duhart. "The NMCA enjoyed its biggest race car count of the year by a wide margin, and the spectators came out in droves both Saturday and Sunday. The fans were treated to great side-by-side racing, and they also witnessed two complete final rounds in one location. The show/shine portion of the series attracted almost 300 cars, and the event's weather provided Chamber of Commerce conditions throughout the weekend. We were very pleased with the entire event."

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