NMRA Atco 2008 Saturday Coverage

[Mark Keiser]

We are back here at Sunny Atco, New Jersey for two rounds of qualifying. The weather looks great and the bracket cars are in the lanes. First round should be starting around 10:20 am Eastern Time. Took a little walk through the pits when we pulled in the gate and found Chris and Brian Tuten finally made it after spending 7 plus hours waiting to get 3 new tires. That was not the only problem they had on the way here, but they did make it and are ready to run. Conrad Scarry and A.J. Powell appear to have their cars back together and ready to run for first round.

[Mark Keiser]

Just heard there is no live timing for today. I will try to get the round sheets up after each round. This will have as long as there are no problems.

[Mark Keiser]

Pro Outlaw





Super Street Outlaw





EFI Renegade





Hot Street





Drag Radial





Real Street





Pure Street





Factory Stock

[Mark Keiser]

The biggest movers during second round qualifying were in the Drag Radial class and Pro Outlaw class. Joey Bridge stepped up to take number one with an 8.02 which is good for the record if he can back it up. John Kolivas was right behind him with an 8.14 and Matt Bell gaining ground with an 8.33. Here is a shot of Joey after the 8.02 pass.






In Pro Outlaw we had Dan Millen lined up with Conrad Scarry. Dan needed to back up his 6.84 record from Friday. Scarry ran a 6.80 against Millen, but Dan would not give up the record with a 6.78.



The theme of the day in the pits was converter changes and engine changes. After changing the engine in Jim Breese Real Street car at Joliet, the crew was changing the engine in Tim Matherly’s car here at Atco. When I made it buy they were putting it back together.





Larry Hourcle was another racer that hurt a motor. They have the parts to get it back together.



Team Sutton had just finished up a converter change before I could make it to the pits. I was told the converter was pretty hot when it came out.



John Kolivas was looking for a way to catch Joey so they also changed a converter along with Mike Dez was also changing a converter hoping to get on the qualifying sheet in the third round.



A.J. Powell lost a blower belt on his 7.55 pass at the 1000 foot mark.

[Mark Keiser]

Final qualifying is finished up for the heads up classes. I will post the sheets as soon as I get them along with photos and pit notes.
The big news from the round is Tommy Godfrey ran an 11.20 @ 120 in Factory Stock. That should be the new record since his previous pass will back it up. Bob Cook beats Alton Clements in the Renegade Shootout. Matherly run a 9.59 to take out McCormick in the Real Street Shootout.

[Mark Keiser]

The rumor is that Super Street Outlaw racer Jarret Halfacre has been DQed from the event and is packing up his stuff and will be leaving tonight.

Round sheets will be posted after dinner.

[Mark Keiser]

Pro Outlaw





Super Street Outlaw





EFI Renegade





Hot Street





Drag Radial





Real Street





Pure Street





Factory Stock

[Mark Keiser]

Kolivas did not make the last round in Drag Radial due to an electrical issue. They found their problem after qualifying and will be ready for eliminations on Sunday.



Mike Washington showed up in his Real Street car with a broke transmission. Mike was in the same situation after the last round of qualifying. It looks like they have enough parts to get it back together.



Teddy Weaver looks to be having some issues with the steering on his car. He was unable to make a full in the third round of qualifying.



Richard Lelsz burnt the motor up on his last qualifying pass in Super Street Outlaw. He will not make the first round of eliminations. Word is that Richard was the one that put up the protest money on Halfacre.

[Mark Keiser]

Tommy Godfrey running low for the weekend and setting the Factory Stock record with an 11.20 @ 120





Dan Millen sets the Pro Outlaw record with 6.78 @ 211 and he does it next to Conrad Scarry who ran a 6.80 @ 217.





All of the top Real Street cars have been flying this weekend. Between Matherly, Hemminger and McCormick the slowest pass has been a 9.64. The old record was a 9.62 set by Matherly. All three of the racers have been in the 50’s this weekend with McCormick’s 9.57 being the fastest.







Bob Cook wins the EFI Renegade Shootout over Alton Clements.



Joey Bridge runs back to back 8.02’s and is the number one qualifier. As of Wednesday Joey was not going to make it. The cards fell just right for them and were able to make it after. You can see Kolivas behind Joey’s car. He was out there to help if he could.





Dan Rawls does one hell of a driving job. Dan’s car drifted towards the wall to the left and when he corrected it to keep it off the wall it shot into the right lane. It looked like he corrected again and hit the throttle just enough to keep it off of the right wall.



Jarrett Halfacre is protested and disqualified from the event. The rumor is that he had a nitrous kit hidden in his car. A protest by a fellow competitor is what caused tech to look at things closely. I guess someone did not think Halfacre’s incrementals added up correctly.