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“Rain, rain go away
You’re scaring all the racers away
Since you decided not to stay
The racing will be great today”
Oxford,
PA The
weather and the performances on Saturday May 10th were both
equally unpredictable, as the N/A Shootout got under way for its second
outing at Maryland International Raceway sponsored by Autofab Racecars.
With plenty of downtime in the morning from the rain, racers got a chance
to check out all of the cool suspension and chassis products Autofab had
on display at their tent as well as roam the grounds and admire all
 of the
improvements done to the facility there in Budds Creek, Md. Many stayed
indoors to watch the action on their computers as Your Way Network’s Jimmy
Biggs and Ray Jermyn aired live from the track, while others stopped by
the N/A Shootout tent for race info or to purchase T-Shirts with a third
of their proceeds going to the American Cancer Society.
Getting
started late in the day AMI would host 32 cars of killer action in a
battle for top qualifier as Mike Armetta’s Mustang would steal the honors
in the second round of qualifying from Dan Walleigh’s Ford wagon. AMI
would continue the excitement with “dead-on” Cliff Sebring making his way
thru the pack running  countless
12.00’s to finally sit in the winners circle after taking out Fred
Heidel’s little red deuce in the final of the Purnell Body Shop’s All
Motor Index class. On a side note…”Mr. Consistant” would also go on to win
the title in the 422 Allstars event the same evening. Way to double up
there Cliff!!
RAM
Racing’s Drag Radial class put spectators on the edge of their seat as
records dropped all day. Starting out the day in qualifying with Ron
Rhodes  setting
the record with a 9.056, following round after round breaking that
record. Unstoppable, at least that’s what everyone thought until the
Rhodes’ prepared Pontiac of Jeff Kinsler would slay the red dragon in the
final round on a holeshot, 9.049 to Ron’s 9.039 record making one of the
series’ best finals ever!!
The
G-Force 10.5 racers would not allow the Drag Radial guys to outshine them
as Charlie Booze would lean on the little red freight train to pull off
the number one qualifier award with an 8.606. The welcome wagon was out
bringing in new racers to the class as Steve Willingham’s beautiful ’67
Mustang and Craig Austin’s Heavyweight Chevelle would join the ranks o n
this day. 11 cars on the grounds with only 10 cars competing made for some
exciting side by side action as Ann Erb would dip her AMX into the 8.80’s,
a first for her. Records couldn’t help but fall in the killer air of MIR
as the final round win of Charlie Booze against a wounded Larry Rhodes
would net Booze the record of an 8.544 at over 162 mph.
With the
crowd all wound up from the other classes it was time for the Big Daddy’s
of the series PRO N/A sponsored by Liberty’s gears to come out and play.
Number one qualifying position would go to newcomer Lonnie Johnson and his
NHRA B/AA entry. The former Pro Stock Neon would lay down the law with an
impressive 7.263 at 189 mph unfortunately not to
 be backed up later
but would still take the record with a 7.430. He may of taken a hold of
the record but the win would go to Tom Miller’s wild Pro Stock s-10 pick
up truck with a final round bye.
The N/A
Shootout staff would like to thank all that ventured out in the less than
perfect weather for a great day of racing. MIR for their great hospitality
and facility, and all of the generous sponsors who helped us to put on
this event including the day’s event sponsor Autofab Race Cars.
See full
event photo gallery
here
Purchase TRS photos
here
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