HOT TIMES IN ST. LOUIS

Words and photos by Rod Short

The NMCA Super Series began the second half of their 2002 season in high fashion at the newly renovated U.S. 131 Dragway at Martin, Michigan. An appreciative crowd saw the best in heads-up, wheel standing street legal type racing as racers from throughout the United States gathered to compete in 15 different NMCA eliminators.

Headlining the card in Comp Cams / TCI Pro Street was former national champion Pat Musi (above photo) in his well known 1968 Camaro with 707 cubic inches of nitrous big block power. Musi, who set the national ET record for the class earlier this year, was the low qualifier and ultimate winner over championship contender Tony Gentile. The no holds barred Accel / DFI Pro Outlaw Street class saw defending series champ Marc Dantoni defeat former IHRA Top Sportsman racer Carl Rossler in the finals.

Marc Dantoni set a new speed record for the class at Cecil County with a 214.79 mph blast from this crazy looking '68 Camaro. The car is quick as well, with a time slip in the 6.50 range at Atlanta.

Doug Smith qualified number one in Ramcharger's Super Street with a 7.64/186.84 in his '95 Olds Achieva, but came up short in the finals against number three qualifier Randy Lambert who notched his first career win. DTS Super Modified, which features back-halved machines, saw former Pro 5.0 star Anthony DiSomma continue his mastery of the class with his second win in three consecutive final-round appearances. Rick Moroso was the winner in Hot Street with his 2000 Corvette over James Phipps.

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Limited Street, which is one of the oldest and most popular NMCA classes, was a playground for Rob Wells after he qualified first and then won the event over Guy Richardson. Phil Hines was the winner in EZ Street over Bob Curran. Real Street saw Bruce Lagory extend his unbeaten streak with his consecutive event win while Dave Rudisell broke through for his first win of the year in Traction Advantage. In street legal racing, Clarence Harding was the winner in EFI eliminator while Jim Johnson was the winner in Street Eliminator.

In the Nostalgia classes, Dale Pittman continued his journey towards what he hopes is a national championship with a win over Bruce Poulos in Nitrous Express Nostalgia Pro Street. Pittman closed to within just six points of series leader Darrell Thomas with that win.

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