May 3rd, 2009 – West Palm Beach, Florida – The National Sport Compact Racing Association (NSCRA) opened up their first race towards the championship points chase at Palm Beach International Raceway on May 3rd, 2009. Over 100 race cars were in attendance competing in eight classes of pure sport compact drag racing action. The vendor row was packed with sponsors’ booths including Race Engineering, Torque Solution, SPEC Clutch, Mike Turbo Inc., South Florida Turbo, Phantom Grip, Racing Engine Valves, Euro Export Inc., and WWR Turbo & Injection. Alongside vendor row was over 100 show cars competing in over 20 different classes with some of the nicest cars South Florida has to offer.
In the South Florida Turbo Street class, Chris Green made his debut in his 2002 Audi S4. For those that have never heard of Chris Green, he used to campaign one of the fastest Volkswagen Jettas around. After sitting out a couple of years, Chris Green decided to take the powerplant from his race-proven Jetta and put it into an Audi chassis and chose the NSCRA’s season opener to make his statement in the South Florida Turbo Street class. Green’s drag racing experience and expertise paid off as he piloted his Audi over Gregory Morris in round one, Pete Soto in round two, and Silvio Leal in the final round. The South Florida Turbo Street Class had 10 racers in its debut with cars ranging from Nissan 240 SXs to Lexus GS’, EVOs and even a brand new 2009 GT-R. Congratulations to Chris Green on his win and a successful debut to his new race car. We look forward to seeing him at the rest of the NSCRA’s events throughout 2009.
In the Street Compact NA class, Mark Podkowik took his 1994 K-powered Honda Civic through the rounds running consistently in the mid-to-low 11s all day long. In the first round he ousted Nicole Barroso, had a single in the semi-finals and faced Heriberto Marin in the finals. Heriberto knew he had a lot on his hands racing Podkowik, who was the number one qualifier, despite having an 11-sceond car himself. Marin tried his best to catch a great light at the tree, but ended up fouling, handing Podkowik the win with a 11.516 @ 121 mph. Congratulations to Podkowik and his Hybrid Racing Civic EG.
Phantom Grip’s Street Outlaw 4-Cylinder class brought out all the heavy hitters with more than 16 racers gunning for a spot in heads-up racing competition. Hector Santana in his 1983 Starlet proved to be too much for all the Honda-powered vehicles out there. Jeremy Alderman made his way to the finals in his 1993 Honda to face Hector Santana for one of the closest races the NSCRA has yet to see. Hector Santana caught a better light with a .125 vs. Alderman’s .168 and got to the finish line with a 10.122 @ 134.15 mph to Alderman’s 10.290 @ 138.67 mph. The competition in the Phantom Grip Street Outlaw 4-Cylinder class was by far the closest class of cars we have ever seen on the track and was excited to see a qualifying class with over 16 vehicles. We are very excited to see everyone dial-in their cars for the July 5th, 2009 event.
Street Outlaw 6-Cylinder brought out nine cars to the competition with Darin Dichiara in his Titan Motorsports Supra taking the number one qualifying position with an 8.625 @ 166.68. Chris Gore was the other MKIV Supra, representing South Florida Turbo in right hand drive fashion. On their way to the finals, Gore took out Charles Walker in his 2JZ-powered S2000, Larry Ramnath in the beautiful orange Silvia S15 and had a bye-run into the finals. Dichiara also had his hands full, piloting his 6-speed Supra past Frank Muniz and Vijay Ramkissoon. The semi-final round would prove to be Dichiara’s last of the day however, as his Supra’s differential had more than it could handle. Gore took a final pass on his own finishing the day with a 9.337 @ 155.72 mph and a win. Hopefully we’ll have another chance to see the two MKIV Supras battle it out against one another in true fashion – automatic vs. 6-speed.
The Naturally Aspirated Sport Compact class brought back out many local favorites. Despite only having a four car field, one exciting show was put on. Jesus Padilla Jr. was piloting his father’s famous ’85 Mazda RX-7, taking the win against Luis Martinez with a 9.780 @ 136.66 mph. In the other match up, Armando Melendez, who was also piloting a Kilo Racing vehicle took the win with a 13.678 @ 63.99 against a broken Fabian Yearwood. The finals pitted the two Kilo Racing cars together, and Jesus Padilla Jr. would get caught sleeping at the lights pulling a .436 reaction time to Armando’s .097. Padilla Jr.’s RX-7 just couldn’t drive around Melendez on the top end with Melendez taking the win with a 10.211 @ 129.28 mph to Padilla Jr.’s 9.898 @ 135.71. We want to thank all the competitors that came out to represent the Naturally Aspirated Sport Compact class and putting on a show for the packed crowd in the stands.
Turbo Sport Compact featured some 8 and 9-second cars with Juan Rodriguez in his ’81 Toyota taking the final win light against Hector Garcia’s ’82 Mazda in another extremely close race. Rodriguez had run consistent low 9-second passes all day while Garcia was not only the number one qualifier, but had dispatched Hugo Pantaleon with a blistering 8.774 @ 134.86 mph pass in round one. The finals would have an upset win however as Rodriguez pulled off the victory with a 9.368 @ 146.86 mph vs. Hector Garcia’s 9.527 @ 124.33 mph. Congratulations to Juan Rodriguez and his team from Lantana, Florida!
Last but not least the Modified Sport Compact class was packed with some of the world’s fastest sport compacts. Jason Greenawalt in the Mazworx S15 threw down one of its fastest passes yet in the second round of qualifying despite was letting off after a mishap in the engine bay. Nevertheless the crowd was going crazy over Greenawalt’s 7.374 @ 163.55 mph run. Unfortunately for Greenawalt and the Mazworx team, that second qualifying pass would be its last of the day. Ken Scheepers took highest mph honors with a 189.04 mph run in his Mazda RX-8 but had issues as well going into eliminations. Eliminations competition brought the field to a six car field after Scheepers and Greenawalt were done for the day. Luis Ferrer Jr. piloted his ’07 Scion tC to the winners circle with several high 7-second passes. Ferrer Jr. also did double duty at the event, racing in his ’81 Corolla in the Turbo Sport Compact Class. Congratulations to a true supporter of sport compact drag racing on his win in the Modified Sport Compact class.
The NSCRA would like to thank all the racers, sponsors, supporters and spectators for helping make the May 3rd, 2009 event a huge success. The stands were packed and the family-friendly atmosphere made it an enjoyable event for enthusiasts of all ages and interests. We look forward to seeing everyone back at Palm Beach International Raceway on July 5th, 2009. The NSCRA would like to thank all of its sponsors and media affiliates for supporting the NSCRA: Phantom Grip, South Florida Turbo, Torque Solution, SPEC Clutch, Usual Line-Up, Mike Turbo Inc., Race Engineering Inc., Racing Engine Valves (REV), Euro Export Inc., WWR Turbo & Injection, www.tunerzine.com, www.speedmotiv.com, www.dragmotiv.com, www.bizspeed.net, www.grs-motorsports.com, www.racingscenemag.com and www.prsportcompact.com.
South Florida Turbo True Street Number 1 Qualifier: Silvio Leal ’95 Nissan – 10.256 @ 137.04 mph Class Winner: Chris Green ’02 Audi – 9.840 @ 146.24 mph Runner-Up: Silvio Leal ’95 Nissan – 10.215 @ 135.56 mph
Street Compact Naturally Aspirated Number 1 Qualifier: Mark Podkowik ’94 Honda Civic – 11.051 @ 124.56 mph Class Winner: Mark Podkowik ’94 Honda Civic – 11.516 @ 121.50 mph Runner-Up: Heriberto Marin ’95 Honda Civic – 11.822 @ 102.64 mph
Phantom Grip Street Outlaw 4-Cylinder Number 1 Qualifier: Anthony Massburg ’05 Evolution – 9.371 @ 153.13 mph Class Winner: Hector Santana ’82 Starlet – 10.122 @ 134.15 mph Runner-Up: Jeremy Alderman ’93 Honda – 10.290 @ 138.67 mph
Street Outlaw 6-Cylinder Number 1 Qualifier: Darin Dichiara ’94 Toyota Supra – 8.625 @ 166.68 mph Class Winner: Chris Gore ’96 Toyota Supra – 9.337 @ 155.72 mph Runner-Up: Darin Dichiara broke
Naturally Aspirated Sport Compact Number 1 Qualifier: Armando Melendez ’72 Nissan – 10.224 @ 129.33 Class Winner: Armando Melendez ’72 Nissan – 10.211 @ 129.28 mph Runner-Up: Jesus Padilla Jr. ’85 Mazda – 9.898 @ 135.71 mph
Turbo Sport Compact Number 1 Qualifier: Hector Garcia ’82 Mazda – 9.527 @ 124.33 mph Class Winner: Juan Rodriguez ’81 Toyota – 9.368 @ 146.86 mph Runner-Up: Hector Garcia ’82 Mazda – 9.527 @ 124.33 mph
Modified Sport Compact Number 1 Qualifier: Jason Greenawalt ’00 Silvia S15 – 7.374 @ 163.55 mph Runner-Up: Ferdinard Rivera ’80 Corolla – 8.400 @ 158.20 mph
Gallery
