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Longmont, CO's Jim Nordhougen is another Nitro Coupe regular fighting handling problems this year. He said he installed a Coan converter in front of a three-speed new-generation Lenco transmission for the first four races and encountered severe tire shake on almost every pass. So he removed the converter and tried several different combinations in Atlanta, but said, "we're still having problems, so we think it's in the car." This season also marks the first time Nordhougen is running an Alan Johnson 481X engine with a Kobelco Superman blower, as well as a dry sump oiling system, so he admits there may have been too many changes made in the off-season. Regardless, the 1941 Coupe was headed to Alan Pittman's shop in South Carolina for a quick going over before the next Super Chevy event June 6-8, at Milan, MI.

With its wheels up, Mike Swinarski's red '57 got the jump on Mel Eaves in the first round, but soon took the Hamburg, NY-based driver on a wild ride. Swinarski pedaled several times after losing traction, but eventually crossed the centerline and took out the 660-foot marker. "We adjusted the four-link Saturday night and it just went the wrong way," he said. Despite the loss, Swinarski appeared more disappointed at still not getting a good baseline to tune from for the car he debuted at Super Chevy's season-ending race at Las Vegas last year.

John Reynolds, a medical supply company owner from Loveland, CO, left well with a 1.03- second 60-foot time in round one against Irving, then ran 2.58 to the 330-foot mark. However, Irving pulled away about half-track while Reynolds hit some slippery spots and shut off early. After the race, Reynolds admitted to being a little miffed that Irving made him wait 4.5 seconds while staged since he runs a wet sump system and his oil pressure was dropping. Irving countered that Reynolds staged very quickly, and besides, he went in well within the allotted seven-second window.

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