2011 NMRA/NMCA West Coast Shootout

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The inaugural JE Pistons NMRA/NMCA West Coast Shootout, presented by Lucas Oil, was held at Auto Club Dragway in Fontana, California, July 8-10, 2011. This event is part of the NMCA Flowmaster Muscle Car Nationals. The main focus for Team Super Chevy was to check out the Racers Against Street Racing True Street Challenge class, presented by Tremec. Since there are very few dragstrips in California, street racing has become more prevalent and this event was designed to take racing off the streets and put it on the track where it belongs.

The True Street class is designed for genuine street cars that are licensed, insured, and capable of making a 10-20-mile escorted cruise. After the cruise each racer will run three back-to-back passes for an overall average elapsed time. Awards are given to the overall fastest competitor, runner-up, and the closest averages to 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 seconds. Included in this True Street class was a special Media vs. Manufacturers class that pitted all editors (who had a car ready) against the makers of the products we write about.

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Not limited to just drag racing, the event offered an autocross track hosted by Hotchkis, a SpeedStop challenge sponsored by Baer Brakes, and a car show area. With classes for Modern Muscle, Street Machine, Muscle Machine, Truck, Street Rod, and Turn & Burn, there was a great array of cars and trucks running the cones and locking up the tires on the autocross and SpeedStop courses. Winners took home Hotchkis sway bar sets, Nitto tires, Centerforce clutches, and discounts on TCI, NMCA, and K&N products. All the events ran like clockwork, and everyone we spoke to got their fill of racing. For a complete listing of the results, check out the NMCA website.

Drag Results

RASR True Street

Overall Winner: Mike Nordahl, '64 Chevy Nova, 10.258 average

Runner-up: Brian Rock, '65 Pontiac GTO, 10.523 average

11-Second Winner: Jacorie Gray, '71 Chevy Vega, 11.813 average

12-Second Winner: Nita Clein, '72 Plymouth Duster, 12.004 average

13-Second Winner: Norm Knox, '11 Ford Mustang, 13.154 average

14-Second Winner: Jason Lafrenz, '93 Ford Mustang, 14.07 average

15-Second Winner: Gregory Anderson, '07 Ford Mustang, 15.229 average

Media vs. Manufacturers True Street

Overall Winner: Steve Rupp, '68 Chevy Camaro, 11.589 average

Runner-up: John McGann, '66 Chevy Chevelle, 11.789 average

12-Second Winner: Will Baty, '10 Chevy Camaro, 12.160 average

13-Second Winner: Evan Smith, '12 Ford Mustang, 13.087 average

14-Second Winner: Kevin McIntosh, '07 Dodge Magnum, 14.124 average

15-Second Winner: Dave Wallace, '03 Mercury Marauder, 15.998 average

After the cruise, the participants lined up to run three passes in a row. Here is 19-year-old Joanna Lopez doing a John Force–inspired burnout in her dad’s old Super Gas ’71 Camaro. Even though this is an old racecar, Joanna added a full sound system with huge subs.
After the cruise, the participants lined up to run three passes in a row. Here is 19-year-
Street Muscle runner-up was Randy Wilson and his 540 big-block–powered ’72 Nova.
Winner of the Mickey Thompson Extreme Drag Radial class was Terry Barkley in his gorgeous ’70 Nova.
Winner of the Mickey Thompson Extreme Drag Radial class was Terry Barkley in his gorgeous

The car show only had a few Chevys, but even in a sea of Blue Ovals and Mopars this gasser ’55 stood out.
The car show only had a few Chevys, but even in a sea of Blue Ovals and Mopars this gasser
The True Street Challenge started with a 20-mile cruise around the banked turns of the speedway.
The True Street Challenge started with a 20-mile cruise around the banked turns of the spe
Mike Nordahl took the runner-up spot in the Nitto Tire West Coast Shootout class with a 10.19 e.t
Mike Nordahl took the runner-up spot in the Nitto Tire West Coast Shootout class with a 10

Robert Byrd was tearing up the course without hitting cones all day. Usually he shares driving this car with his wife Trish, but she is now the proud owner of a 2011 convertible so they each have a fifth-gen of their own.
Robert Byrd was tearing up the course without hitting cones all day. Usually he shares dri
Gerald Synegal’s ’83 Elco has a 383 small-block fitted with a Vortech S-Trim supercharger. He not only competed on the autocross, he also took a few trips down the SpeedStop course.
Gerald Synegal’s ’83 Elco has a 383 small-block fitted with a Vortech S-Trim supercharger.
You never know what you might see at one of these events. This ’70 Chevelle is powered by a diesel engine that billowed black smoke all the way down the track. Dan Geis had no issue lining up to this smoker in his 10-second ’64 Nova.
You never know what you might see at one of these events. This ’70 Chevelle is powered by

Kyle Newman from Newman Car Creations was on hand in his ’55 that features Corvette suspension. He was able to click off a 36.24, which was good for Second Place in the Muscle Machine class.
Kyle Newman from Newman Car Creations was on hand in his ’55 that features Corvette suspen
Jon Rasmussen was nipping on Kyle’s heels with a time of 36.35 in his flat-black Nova.
Todd Akes even came out with his all-aluminum 427 big-block–powered ’69 Camaro. His big-block combined with Todd’s heavy foot had the car pitching sideways on some of the tighter corners, which was awesome to watch.
Todd Akes even came out with his all-aluminum 427 big-block–powered ’69 Camaro. His big-bl