May 2011 Heads Up Madness

May 2011 Heads Up Madness Coverage Sponsored by:

7.50 Index

Wilson had a very close race with Greg Maples in round one with both drivers cutting identical .037 lights and breaking out with 7.47's, Maples quicker by .001 and going home early. After that Billy Hamilton, Shawn McNaughton and James Stover fell to Wilson's big 66 Chevy.

Matt Cummings got by Joe Duncan in round one with a nice .017 light, Duncan was off his game with a .164 and broke out trying to catch up. Next round was William Duncan's turn, his .100 light was no help to him and he lost with a 7.503 to Cummings' 7.536. He treed Chris Adams in round three in a double break out match and had a single in the semi final.

7.50 Index Winner - Robert Wilson gets his first win in class over Matt Cummings. A .071 light and 7.518 @ 87 MPHtakes the win as Cummings breaks out with a 7.494 @ 90 MPH.

RMP Automotive 6.50 Pure Street

Eighteen cars for the may race here at Sunshine in the Pure Street 6.50 class with Wesley lee the number one qualifier. He took out Chris Adams in round one despite his slower reaction running a 5.520 going to the next round with a bye, and another in round three. In the semi he met with Corky Markwart and put up a fine .007 light, then running a 6.489 to Markwart's 6.461.

David Lacey brought his 72 Vega out beating Tom Strickland in first round, a .038 light for Lacey to Strickland's .153 made it easy on the top end. Another poor (.272) light for his round two opponent Russell Smith. Round three he faced off with Norman Crade's 93 Mustang taking the win with a .015 light and 6.537 @ 99 MPH and getting a single in the semi.

6.50 RMP Automotive Pure Street Winner - Wesley Lee over David Lacey. Lee was out first with a .023 light and managed to stay out front through the lights winning with a 6.564 @ 101 to Lacey's 6.57 @ 101.

5.50 Index

Bill Lee Jr. was facing a long streak without a win going into the race this weekend. He faced off with Calvin Hornes Jr. in round onegetting the round win with a .036 light and 5.62 @ 177 to Hornes' .047 5.66 @ 124. Next was Dwaine Ressler's 74 big block Chevy powered Vega. Ressler's -.001 ended the race early sending Lee to the semi's to pair up with Mike Harrison' 72 Corvette. A .030 tree by Lee gave him the advantage and he kept it despite Harrison's on index 5.509.

Sam Berardi has an old school 53 Studeebaker and he matched with Lee Roberson in round one. This is Roberson's first time in the 5.50 class. Berardi cut a .088 tree to Roberson's sleepy .118 and went to round two to face former event winner Neil Watkins El Camino. Watkins was out first but ran too fast, breaking out with a 5.483 @ 123 sending Berardi to a bye in the semis.

5.50 Index Winner - Bill Lee Jr. First time double up win for the Bill Lee Race Cars Team. Bill Jr. wins over Sam Berardi.

X275

Again a nice turnout in X275 this month with twelve cars making qualifying hits. Brian Goss and Mark Mahowski did not make the call for eliminations. Walt Drakeford took out Dave Steffy in round one with a nice 5.09 setting low ET early. Troy Pirez took it after a 5.05 round win over Robert Riddell. Corey Berry had a single over Goss and bettered his qualifying time with a 5.14 @ 137.

Round two had Drakeford with a 5.12 over Berry's 10.14 after spinning the tires early. Pirez reset low ET with a 5.03 @ 143 against Troy Fredrickson. Clint Lonon ran a 5.32 @ 134 over Brian Keep.

Pirez met with Lonon in the semis and put up the first four second run here at Sunshine's X275 class with a 4.99 @ 144 MPH blast while Lonon kicked the tires early. Drakeford had a single and rana clean 5.08 @ 141.

Pirez did struggle during Friday nights test session taking out the input shaft in the trans then losing high gear, making for two trans swaps and a long night. Well worth it after taking the track record and making the finals.

X275 Winner - Walt Drakeford takes three in a row for 2011 taking out Troy Pirez this month in an exciting final round. Drakeford got out first with a .045 and Pirez shook the tires, pedaled it and the front came up and he rode it past half track but was headed for the center line and was forced to lift. Drakeford won with a 5.06 @ 141.

Limited Street

The new Limited Street class has struggled with car count so far and just three cars again for this month. Chrid Tedeschi, Scott Husted and Archie Marasco.

Husted and Marasco met in the first round with Husted running a 5.11 @ 145 to Archies 5.22 @ 144. Tedeschi had a single and put down a nice 4.78 @ 163.

Limited Street Winner - Chris Tedeschi gets his first win in class for car owner Fast Eddie Johnson with a new track best 4.689 over Scott Husted's 4.82 @ 159.

Outlaw 632

Eddie Whitlow took out Jeff Ensslin in round one, 4.87 @ 148 to a game 4.95 @ 142 for Ensslin driving a 37 Chevy coupe. Richie Cleckner was also in the 4.80's and got the round win over Pat Adams' Camaro, 4.878 @ 149 to 5.13 @ 139. John Lastinger put up a 5.13 to get the win over Rob Briscoe who spun early on the run.

Round two paired Whitlow and Lastinger with Whitlow ripping off a 4.70 @ 153 for the win. Cleckner kicked the tires and drove down easy after that.

Outlaw 632 Winner - Eddie Whitlow over Richie Cleckner. .062 light for Whitlow had him with a .100 advantge early. A clean 4.759 @ 152 for Whitlow got the win over Cleckner's quicker 4.759 @ 150.

Pro Mod

Adams led qualifying with a 4.25 with Chris Mendola right behind with a .28 @ 176. The two cars have been in all three finals this year with Corky Markwart driving Adams' Mustang previously. This month Markwart was driving the new car of Steve Cannizio. Fast Frank was also back here but struggled all night.

Mendola had low ET in round one win over Robert Sellers' 97 Firebird. 4.202 @ 178 to a 10.68. Jimmy Marino managed a 4.41 @ 168 over Alan Gaulden. Fran Cersosimo took out Jimmy Stoupas on a holeshot winning with a 4.52 to Stoupas' 4.36. Adams ran a 4.21 over patrick Patterson's 68 Camaro.

Cersosimo did a burnout and was pushed back giving Mendola a single and low ET again with a 4.204 @ 179. Adams got lucky this round as Marino was dead late with a 1.071 reaction. Adams let out on the top end and slowed to a 4.78 @ 105 to Marino's game effort 4.205 @ 172.

Pro Mod Winner - Chris Mendola gets his first win tonight as well over Jon Adams. Mendola stepped it up a little in the final with a new best 4.19 @ 177 to get his first Pro Mod win over Adams' 4.21 @ 171 MPH blast.

Open Outlaw

Six cars made it for Open Outlaw this month with car count a little light due to broken cars and a poor economy. Word is the Open Outlaw folks are courting a class title sponsor and we wish them the best and our support in the endeavor.

Ron Logan had the quickest car on the lot this month taking the top qualified spot with a 4.02 @ 179. he would meet Steve Bush in round one with both cars off pace Logan got the round.

Newcomer Mike Laws got a single over Matt Wirth, who was also unable to make the call. Stanley Albritton took out Eric Floyd, 4.32 @ 164 to 4.68 @ 147.

Attrition was heavy in eliminations this month and Mike Laws ran a 4.24 on another single.

Open Outlaw Winner - Mike Laws gets his first Open Outlaw win in his first race here at Sunshine.