Same Day Coverage: 20th Annual NMRA Spring Break Shootout, 2014

SELECT COVERAGE BY DAY:

It’s the kickoff to the 2014 racing season, and one of the oldest Ford only races in the world, the NMRA Spring Break Shootout in Bradenton, Florida.  Familiar faces are returning, and newcomers will be here to challenge the old guard as well. Pure Street makes a return after a one year hiatus, with some revised rules, and a host of familiar faces. Coyote Modified will make it’s debut, and 8-second ETs are predicted from these high powered machines, running street oriented superchargers, turbos, and nitrous systems.

It promises to be an exciting, and fast-paced weekend, with records on the line, and everyone looking for the momentum of a win to set the tone for their 2014 season. Keep checking here all weekend long as we bring you regular updates with all the racing action from Bradenton.

Sean Ashe and Team ATF are working with a brand-new engine for this season. Tuner Jason Gatlin says that last year they were experiencing issues with the piston rings, where they would lose tension very quickly. The team is working with new ruings for this year and Gatlin has been very pleased with the performance of the car so far - we'll see how well it runs this weekend.

Sean Ashe and Team ATF are working with a brand-new engine for this season. Tuner Jason Gatlin says that last year they were experiencing issues with the piston rings, where they would lose tension very quickly. The team is working with new rings for this year and Gatlin has been very pleased with the performance of the car so far – we’ll see how well it runs this weekend. 

 

Terry "Beefcake" Reeves is sporting a new wrap on his Coyote Modified car this weekend to go along with his Vortech sponsorship for the brand-new class. Beef has a Vortech Ti supercharger on the car - they just finished it last week and have not been able to do any testing yet.

Terry “Beefcake” Reeves is sporting a new wrap on his Coyote Modified car this weekend to go along with his Vortech sponsorship for the brand-new class. Beef has a Vortech Ti supercharger on the car – they just finished it last week and have not been able to do any testing yet. 

 

The "Rhody Coyote" of Rhode Island's Keith Calitri is brand-new for this season. Calitri enlisted Mike Dezotell and the Dez Racing team to assist in the program. Calitri is a three-time champ of a local stick-shift class in his area and is hoping to run at the front of the pack.

The “Rhody Coyote” of Rhode Island’s Keith Calitri is brand-new for this season. Calitri enlisted Mike Dezotell and the Dez Racing team to assist in the program. Calitri is a three-time champ of a local stick-shift class in his area and is hoping to run at the front of the pack. 

 

Here testing this weekend? None other than the Glidden Machine. Billy and Shannon are taking advantage of the prepped track to put some laps on their Pro Mod Mustang - and put on a show for the diehard Ford fans at the same time.

Here testing this weekend? None other than the Glidden Machine. Billy and Shannon are taking advantage of the prepped track to put some laps on their Pro Mod Mustang – and put on a show for the diehard Ford fans at the same time. 

 

Another new Coyote Modified entry is in the hands of longtime Real Street racer Craig Baldwin. The Illinois competitor teamed up with Tim Matherly of MV Performance and spent the winter assembling parts and pieces. The car was just started for the first time a few days ago, so your guess is as good as Craig's regarding the car's performance. A ProCharger is on board for extra motivation.

Another new Coyote Modified entry is in the hands of longtime Real Street racer Craig Baldwin. The Illinois competitor teamed up with Tim Matherly of MV Performance and spent the winter assembling parts and pieces. The car was just started for the first time a few days ago, so your guess is as good as Craig’s regarding the car’s performance. A ProCharger is on board for extra motivation. 

 

It's nice to see Jim Breese back on the property with his stick-shifted Renegade car. Breese struggled last year with a ton of broken parts, going out in the first round at every event he attended, and is looking for a major improvement in this year's program.

It’s nice to see Jim Breese back on the property with his stick-shifted Renegade car. Breese struggled last year with a ton of broken parts, going out in the first round at every event he attended, and is looking for a major improvement in this year’s program.

 

Bad Bart Tobener is on the property with his machine, set up to compete in Renegade this season. Tobener switched to a ProCharger F-1C-10.5 supercharger and has been very pleased with its performance so far. "We made one hit on the dyno and made substantially more power, so we loaded it in the trailer and here we are," he says.

Bad Bart Tobener is on the property with his machine, set up to compete in Renegade this season. Tobener switched to a ProCharger F-1C-10.5 supercharger and has been very pleased with its performance so far. “We made one hit on the dyno and made substantially more power, so we loaded it in the trailer and here we are,” he says.  

 

Scott Barker is happy to be back in the NMRA - the longtime Pure Street racer competed in NMCA Mean Street for a few seasons but is glad to be back where he got his start. The Four-Valve Modular combination will benefit this weekend from a new clutch Barker has in the trailer.

Scott Barker is happy to be back in the NMRA – the longtime Pure Street racer competed in NMCA Mean Street for a few seasons but is glad to be back where he got his start. The Four-Valve Modular combination will benefit this weekend from a new clutch Barker has in the trailer.

 

HiPo Joe Charles made the decision to completely revamp his ride in the offseason - new paint, new trim, new wiring and more. About the only thing that stayed the same is the Coyote Stock engine. "Honey Badger 2.0" is poised to run at the top of the field this season - if Charles can drive it there over the rest of the large field in the class.

HiPo Joe Charles made the decision to completely revamp his ride in the offseason – new paint, new trim, new wiring and more. About the only thing that stayed the same is the Coyote Stock engine. “Honey Badger 2.0” is poised to run at the top of the field this season – if Charles can drive it there over the rest of the large field in the class.

MIke Alwardt's badass DMC Racing-built machine bounced hard a few times off the launch - the track surface was definitely there during Street Outlaw qualifying.

MIke Alwardt’s badass DMC Racing-built machine bounced hard a few times off the launch – the track surface was definitely there during Street Outlaw qualifying. Alwardt still mustered an 8.07 hit, and if we know tuner Eric LaFerriere at all, this team will be ready to go for tomorrow.

 

Also going up hard was the Triangle Speed Shop car of Dan Pachar. He slowed up to a 10.14, last of the round, but our reports say there is no damage to the car.

Also going up hard was the Triangle Speed Shop car of Dan Pachar. He slowed up to a 10.14, last of the round, but our reports say there is no damage to the car.

 

An uncharacteristic 7.56 for Sean Ashe puts him in the fifth spot of nine cars, but we'll go out on a limb and say he'll improve on that immensely by the end of the day tomorrow.

An uncharacteristic 7.56 for Sean Ashe and Team ATF puts him in the fifth spot of nine cars, but we’ll go out on a limb and say he’ll improve on that immensely by the end of the day tomorrow.

Lots of secrets were given away in the staging lanes prior to round one of Coyote Stock qualifying. (Left) Drew Lyons and Darin Hendricks were deep in conversation, as were Joe Marini and Jacob Lamb (Middle) decided a staring contest might be best, while Mike Washington (Right) was just stylin' and profilin' for the camera.

How about a 7.042 at over 200 MPH straight off the trailer for the eight-time champ? John Urist showed up in Bradenton ready to rock this year and leads the class entering tomorrow's final two sessions. Andy Manson also landed in the 0's, turning in a 7.08 at 196MPH from his Vortech-powered machine.

How about a 7.042 at over 200 MPH straight off the trailer for the eight-time champ? John Urist showed up in Bradenton ready to rock this year and leads the class entering tomorrow’s final two sessions. Andy Manson also landed in the 0’s, turning in a 7.08 at 196MPH from his Vortech-powered machine. 2013 Champ Phil Hines sits in third with a 7.11.

 

Bart Tobener was right on the money with his comments earlier, as he landed in the top spot in Renegade with an 8.34 at 168 MPH - but Brian Mitchell appears to be hot on his heels. Mitchell tripped the clocks with a stout 8.41 at only 145 MPH, showing that there's quite a bit left inside the Wizard of Renegade.

Bart Tobener was right on the money with his comments earlier, as he landed in the top spot in Renegade with an 8.34 at 168 MPH – but Brian Mitchell appears to be hot on his heels. Mitchell tripped the clocks with a stout 8.41 at only 145 MPH, showing that there’s quite a bit left inside the Wizard of Renegade.

 

This is without a doubt the coolest car in Coyote Stock. Owned by Mike Bowen of Powerhouse Automotive in Girard, PA, the car was built over the winter and this was the first time he had even driven it other than to put it in the trailer. Unfortunately for him, the driveshaft didn't seem to like the sticky track and he found himself being towed off the track. This was the fourth broken driveshaft of the day by our count.

This is without a doubt the coolest car in Coyote Stock. Owned by Mike Bowen of Powerhouse Automotive in Girard, PA, the car was built over the winter and this was the first time he had even driven it other than to put it in the trailer. Unfortunately for him, the driveshaft didn’t seem to like the sticky track and he found himself being towed off the track. This was the fourth broken driveshaft of the day by our count.

 

Teddy Weaver's fresh Roush powerplant put him right at the top of the newly-resurrected ACT Pure Street class with a stout 9.72 at 138 MPH. Roush's Ron Sharp worked his magic in the engine over the wintertime and the car responded - Teddy's got a three-tenth lead over the next closest competitor, Jimmy Wilson.

Teddy Weaver’s fresh Roush powerplant put him right at the top of the newly-resurrected ACT Pure Street class with a stout 9.72 at 138 MPH. Roush’s Ron Sharp worked his magic on the engine over the wintertime and the car responded – Teddy’s got a three-tenth lead over the next closest competitor, Jimmy Wilson.

 

Jay Dold scored the top qualifier spot in Factory Stock, as the only competitor to sneak into the 10's today. His Diablosport/MV Performance-sponsored machine runs a Modular engine and was good for a 10.94 at 122MPH.

Jay Dold scored the top qualifier spot in Factory Stock, as the only competitor to sneak into the 10’s today. His Diablosport/MV Performance-sponsored machine runs a Modular engine and was good for a 10.94 at 122MPH.

 

Shifty Shane Stymiest picked up right where he left off at the end of the 2013 season. The Coyote Stock champion is on top of the ladder with a 10.43, over a tenth quicker than #2 qualifier Drew Lyons, who ran a personal-best 10.56 today.

Shifty Shane Stymiest picked up right where he left off at the end of the 2013 season. The Coyote Stock champion is on top of the ladder with a 10.43, over a tenth quicker than #2 qualifier Drew Lyons, who ran a personal-best 10.56 today.

 

The Dwayne James-owned, Frank Varela-driven Coyote Modified entry of the Hellion Racing team was built in just four days last week - yet Varela sits atop the CM qualifying sheet with an 8.99 at 152 MPH. He's got more than half-a-second over the next closest competitor, Richard Lelsz, heading into Saturday. Other than Varela, each of the CM competitors struggled with their combinations during Friday's session.

The Dwayne James-owned, Frank Varela-driven Coyote Modified entry of the Hellion Racing team was built in just four days last week – yet Varela sits atop the CM qualifying sheet with an 8.99 at 152 MPH. He’s got more than half-a-second over the next closest competitor, Richard Lelsz, heading into Saturday. The car uses a 67mm turbocharger boosting an MMR Pro Mod Coyote engine. Other than Varela, each of the CM competitors struggled with their combinations during Friday’s session.

ren

 

cm

 

cs

fs

 

ps

SO

About the author

Jason Reiss

Jason draws on over 15 years of experience in the automotive publishing industry, and collaborates with many of the industry's movers and shakers to create compelling technical articles and high-quality race coverage.
Read My Articles

Blue Oval Muscle in your inbox.

Build your own custom newsletter with the content you love from FordMuscle, directly to your inbox, absolutely FREE!

Free WordPress Themes
FordMuscle NEWSLETTER - SIGN UP FREE!

We will safeguard your e-mail and only send content you request.

Ford Muscle - The Ultimate Ford Mustang Magazine

FordMuscle

We'll send you the most interesting FordMuscle articles, news, car features, and videos every week.

Ford Muscle - The Ultimate Ford Mustang Magazine

FordMuscle NEWSLETTER - SIGN UP FREE!

We will safeguard your e-mail and only send content you request.

Ford Muscle - The Ultimate Ford Mustang Magazine

Ford Muscle

Thank you for your subscription.

Subscribe to more FREE Online Magazines!

We think you might like...


Muscle Car & Hot Rods
Muscle Car & Hot Rods
Drag Racing
Drag Racing

Ford Muscle - The Ultimate Ford Mustang Magazine

Thank you for your subscription.

Subscribe to more FREE Online Magazines!

We think you might like...

  • Muscle Car & Hot Rods Muscle Car & Hot Rods
  • Drag Racing Drag Racing

Ford Muscle - The Ultimate Ford Mustang Magazine

Ford Muscle

Thank you for your subscription.

Thank you for your subscription.

Ford Muscle - The Ultimate Ford Mustang Magazine

Thank you for your subscription.

Thank you for your subscription.

Loading