Drag Racing Online - Race Coverage: NMCA at Joliet pg.1 Vol. III No. 8 August 2001

RIEGER EXTENDS MAPLE GROVE WINNING STREAK

By Pete Duhart

Mohnton, PA. (Aug.27) - Bob Rieger continued his amazing winning streak at Maple Grove Raceway at the Hot Rod Magazine Power Festival presented by Chevrolet. Rieger, who has never lost in NMCA competition at Maple Grove, defeated archrival Tony Christian in a race that was decided by .006 seconds at the finish line. His turbocharged '57 Chevy made its best run of the weekend in the final, running 6.68 seconds @ 213.20 mph to turn back Christian's right-there 6.70 @ 210.93.

Surprise #1 qualifier Brian Weaver was upset in the second round by Texas teenager Cody Mac with Weaver's 6.75 losing to Mac's 6.80 based on Mac's quicker reaction time.

Although Rieger trails Christian by 44 points going into the season-ending event at Atlanta Dragway in Commerce, GA. (Sept. 22-23) he still feels he has an outside chance to capture the 2001 NMCA Championship with a good performance and some racing luck.

"If Tony goes out early and we can capitalize with a record-setting performance and a victory we can still pull this rabbit out of the hat," stated the California pro.

The Turbonetics Top Speed Award was captured by New York's Marc Dantoni at 214.69 mph in a second round victory over Dantoni's engine supplier and good friend Pat Musi.

In MSD Super Street it was all Matt Scranton, who has an undefeated steak of his own going this year. Scranton has not lost a final round in 2001, and that trend continued with a final round 7.68 to take the measure of fellow Florida racer Randy Leavy in a battle of Ford Mustangs. Scranton also took the Turbonetics prize with a 189.84 blast in round 2.

Hot Street points leader Tony Bischoff did nothing to hurt his chances for the 2001 Championship with a final round single when opponent Tim Davis was disqualified during his semi-final run. Ironically, Davis was also scheduled to single during the semi-finals but was unable to stage his car under power, giving Bischoff a free ride in the final.

Phil Hines took the Edelbrock EZ Street nod over perennial NMCA challenger Tony Orts by combining good driving with consistent performance from his '86 Mustang. Hines trails 2000 EZ Street champion Gary Rohe by a scant 23 points heading into Atlanta.

In Edelbrock Real Street Dan Paolini's '94 Camaro again visited victory lane but was piloted this week by "super sub" Andy Mears, of Circleville, Ohio. While Paolini was in Japan on a business trip, Mears made the most of his opportunity by wading through the 17-car field en route to the final round, defeating Lawrenceburg, Indiana's Bruce Lagory.

Edelbrock Real Street Quik8 was captured by Wilmington, Delaware's Bruce Maichle while Edelbrock EZ Street Quik 8 found Bob Curran of Bartlett, Illinois going to the winners' circle.

The hotly contested Factory Street war went to Harrison, Ohio's Doug Smith, driving his '69 Chevelle. Smith took the final win light over Millers Creek, NC driver Randy Miller.

2000 NMCA Nostalgia Super Stock Champion Brian Merrick got his groove back at Maple Grove, steering his Ford Thunderbolt to the victory over Ava Thompson in a double-breakout contest. A total of 18 NSS competitors answered the opening round bell.

In the Electromotive EFI classes Deltona, Florida's Rick Doern captured the EFI 11 win in a Ford-Chevy battle over St. James, New York's Todd Merkel. EFI 12 was claimed by Dale Harwood in his '67 Dodge Dart, besting Brian Massingill's 98 Chevy Camaro. The EFI 13 class award went to Justen West in a battle of Carolina bragging rights. Dunn, NC driver West reigned supreme over Loris, SC pilot Raymond Turner in the final round. Ray Reno took the EFI 14 trophy in a holesot victory over T.D. Thompson.

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