NDRL SERIES ENHANCES 20TH ANNUAL FUNNY CAR NATIONALS

NDRL SERIES ENHANCES 20TH ANNUAL FUNNY CAR NATIONALS
Funny Cars, Pro Mods, Jets and Muscle from Drag Racing’s Golden Age at US 131

MARTIN, Mich. – The Nostalgia Drag Racing League returns this weekend to US 131 Motorsports Park where drivers like “Rocketman” Robbie Freels, Jaxon Messamore and Litchfield’s John Renfroe will race for points and prize money during the 20th annual Honor Credit Union Funny Car Nationals.

One of the track’s two signature events, the Funny Car Nationals features six nitro Funny Cars, eight nostalgia Top Alcohol Funny Cars, the Pro Modifieds and Funny Cars of the Midwest Drag Racing Series and four jets including the Florida-based Larsen Motorsports jet dragsters and the “Homewrecker” jet truck of Jerry McCart.

Nevertheless, for many, the race wouldn’t be the same without the NDRL, a series in which the cars are the real stars; immaculately maintained cars from every decade of drag racing’s golden age.

There’s Nick Hamilton’s 1927 Ford T-roadster, Sam Patrick’s Michigan-based “Burning Money” 1937 Chevy roadster, Jeff Massaro’s “Peace Maker” 1941 Willys, Jim Hayes’ striking, show-quality black 1958 Corvette, Kenny Robinson’s 1967 Ford Fairlane and, of course, Bob Eaker’s unique 1967 Chevy II wagon, to name just a few.

Champions will be crowned in five categories after fields are set in two qualifying sessions on Friday and a last chance session on Saturday.

Messamore, who has won the Funny Car Nationals the last three years in the NDRL’s Pro Comp class, will try to extend that streak when he sends his ’38 Chevy after the 7.5 title this week. Freels, a multiple-time series champion, is the current point leader and favorite in the 7.0 class and Renfroe was last year’s winner in Modified Production.

Of course, those attracted by competition in the NDRL and the MDRS will stay to savor a pro show unlike any other on the schedule featuring Vandalia’s Mark McElwee and the nitro-burning “Buzz’s Bomber” 1979 Pontiac Firebird; Greg Jacobsmeyer and the St. Louis-based All-Star Dodge 1970 Dodge Challenger; Joe Haas and the “Nimrod” 1957 Chevy; “Joliet John” Lawson and the “Runaway” Pontiac Firebird, Levi Keenen and the “Illinois Thunder” Plymouth Arrow and, finally, second generation star Dave Hirata of Lowell, Ind., newest driver of Tom Motry’s “Drastic Plastic” Ford Mustang.

On the alcohol side, Belleville’s Steve Timoszyk will send the “Detroit Tiger” 1978 Chevy Monza against a field that includes Jon Wall of Cape Cod, Mass., (“Cape Codder” 1977 Plymouth Arrow), Chris Massarella of Lake Hiawatha, N.J. (“Total Insanity” 1978 Monza), Joe Pirrone of Philadelphia (“Super Camaro” 1970 Chevy), Robin Stambaugh of Fredericksburg, Va. (“Generation X” 1977 Chevy Vega), Mason’s Rex Jordan (“T-Rex” 1969 Camaro), Dana Kleinhoffer of Minooka, Ill. (“Tremor” 1979 Pontiac Trans Am) and Monty Stotz of Edgerton, Ohio (“Urban Legend” 1958 Chevy Corvette).

An all-female jet dragster showdown will send Michigan native Elaine Larsen, the 53-year-old two-time former IHRA jet car World Champion, against her protégé, teammate and defending Funny Car Nationals champion Josette Roach.

Friday pro qualifying sessions are set for 6 and 8 p.m.; Saturday’s pro shows are scheduled for 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.

At the gate, adult tickets are $20 Friday and $35 Saturday although $5 discounts are available when purchased in advance on-line or with a coupon available at participating Honor Credit Union locations. Furthermore, while tickets for children 6-12 are $10 per day at the gate, they’re free with an Honor Credit Union coupon. Kids under six are free both days when accompanied by a ticketed adult and, as always, parking in the main lots is free.
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NOSTALGIA DRAG RACING LEAGUE
Current Point Standings

PRO 7.0 – 1. Robbie Freels, Island, Ky., dragster, 54; 2. James Hayes, Troy, Ohio, altered, 47; 3. Larry Greer, Bowling Green, Ky., 29; 4. Gordon Horn, Rockport, Ind., 1963 Corvette, 25; 5. Billy Smith, Pickerington, Ohio, dragster, 22.
PRO 7.5 – 1. Tie, Brian Fruend, Columbus Grove, Ohio, and Jim Hayes, Troy, Ohio, 1958 Chevy Corvette, 45 each; 3. Tie, Jaxon Messamore, Hanson, Ky., 1938 Chevy, and Derek McCuistion, Covington, Ohio, dragster, 27 each; 5. Pat Malloy, Buchanan, Va., 15.
PRO COMP – 1. Joe Foster, Leslie, Mo., 1923 altered, 42; 2. Nick Hamilton, Dresden, Ohio, 1927 Ford T roadster, 39; 3. Trevor Messamore, Hanson, Ky., 37; 4. Gary Williams, Mattoon, Ill., 32; 5. Tie, Shane Bowman, Albany, Ind., and Robert Eaker, Camby, Ind., 1967 Chevy II wagon, 22 each.
PRO GAS – 1. Jason Satterly, Lawrenceburg, Ky., 62; 2. Tie, Jared Fulcher, Paducah, Ky., Sam Patrick, Sand Point, 1937 Chevy roadster, and Jeff Massaro, Glencoe, Ala., 1941 Willys, 42 each; 5. Kenny Robinson, Greentown, Ind., 1967 Ford Fairlane, 36.
MODIFIED PRODUCTION – 1. Tug Brock, Williamsburg, Ohio, 1978 Chevy Malibu, 44; 2. Gary Rollo, Baytown, Texas, 1979 Chevy Monza, 37; 3. Danny Kellams, West Baden Springs, Ind., 1967 Chevy II, 26; 4. Kyle Renfroe, Homer, 1962 Chevy Corvette, 23; 5. John Renfroe, Litchfield, 1967 Chevy Nova, 21.

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MIDWEST DRAG RACING SERIES
Current Point Standings

PRO MODIFIED – 1. Mark Micke, Jefferson City, Mo., 1969 Chevy Camaro, 290; 2. Ron Muenks, Springfield, Mo., 1969 Chevy Camaro, 281; 3. Keith Haney, Broken Arrow, Okla., 2020 Chevy Camaro, 273; 4. Aaron Wells, Oklahoma City, Okla., 1967 Shelby Ford Mustang, 216; 5. Brian Lewis, Waggoner, Okla., 1941 Willys, 197.
TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR – 1. Steve Macklyn, Bountiful, Utah, 2013 Ford Mustang, 266; 2. Lance Van Hauen, Reinbeck, Iowa, 2022 Chevy Camaro, 198; 3. Mark Billington, Dallas, Texas, 2020 Chevy Camaro, 172; 4. Annie Whiteley, Grand Junction, Colo., 2023 Chevy Camaro, 157; 5. Jim Whiteley, Grand Junction, Colo., 2022 Chevy Camaro, 139.
TOP SPORTSMAN – 1. Rod Moore, Rushville, Mo., 381; 2. Mark Griffin, Round Mountain, Texas, 1968 Chevy Camaro, 240; 3. Michael Chitty, Ames, Iowa, 2004 Chevy Cavalier, 268; 4. Macy Higgins, Mulberry, Ark., 2023 Chevy Camaro, 203; 5. Tina Pierce, Oklahoma City, Okla., 2008 Chevy Colorado truck, 169.
TOP DRAGSTER – 1. Jeremy Maples, Broken Arrow, Okla., 310; 2. Jordan Eperjesi, Lake Dallas, Texas, 305; 3. Wade Pennington, Ada, Okla., 194; 4. Mark Moore, Hutchinson, Kan., 183; 5. Cody Moore, Bixby, Okla., 158.

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