Winners Crowned At Spring Nostalgia Nationals

May 7th - Denton, Texas

The second event of the MalloryPrint.com SHRA nostalgia drag racing series was held at North Star Dragway in Denton, Texas on Saturday, May 7th. This event was presented by Stroud Safety. With the pit area at maximum capacity and over 100 cars participating in SHRA class action, the stage was set for a spectacular day of old school drag racing. All six series classes were contested but before racing got underway, the SHRA community joined together on the starting line after the drivers meeting to pay tribute to our fallen friend and fellow racer, Bee Godwin.

Rick Taylor's "Nitro Monkey" and Thomas Hixson's "One Wild Ride" fired up their NE 2 front engine dragsters and laid down long smoky burnouts as SHRA racers gathered on the starting line joined by Sharon and Lisa Godwin, Bee's wife and daughter. The cars crept slowly into the beams in an emotional moment and at the flash of the amber lights, the cars idled down the track side by side with a mixture of cheers and tears from the huge crowd on the starting line. We will never forget our friend Bee Godwin, he was a crucial part of the development of the series and friend to so many in the drag racing community, he will be racing with us forever in our hearts.

SHRA racing was hot and heavy under spring time sunny skies and air temperatures in the mid-80s. The final rounds from Little River Dragway for Nostalgia Eliminator 1 and Old School No Electronics were run in the second time trial, with Chris Graves taking the crown in NE 1 over Richard Brady and Jim Baughan adding to his points totals in No Electronics defeating Randy Stevens. The track was hooking hard and two time trials were completed for all classes in rapid fashion as it was now time to play for keeps and get eliminations underway at North Star Dragway.

Nostalgia Eliminator 1

In AlkyDigger Nostalgia Eliminator 1 (4.65 index) action, Carl Johnson's 4.66 at 156 mph took the top qualifying spot and Neil & Parks bonus money in Richard DeLaMatyr's blown altered. Brian Briggs wheeled his injected slingshot dragster to the number two spot with a 4.725 at 145 mph and Chris Graves rounded out the top three with a 4.726 at 149 mph.

(Carl Johnson)

As the rounds dwindled down to the semi-finals, top qualifier Johnson was up to take on Steve Dunkin's blown front engine dragster. Dunkin had been running very strong but had his hands full in this pass as his transmission exploded sending flames shooting out from under the car. Dunkin was able to get the car stopped safely and climb out uninjured in this wild ride. Dunkin's 4.99 lost to Johnson's 4.72 at 143 mph as Johnson was final round bound, set to take on number two qualifier Briggs who had a bye run into the finals with a 4.74 at 143 mph. Briggs was hoping to claim his second Spring Nationals NE 1 victory after winning the event in 2014, while Johnson was hunting down his first win in NE 1.

(Brian Briggs)

In the final round of NE 1, both drivers were on their game at the starting line with Briggs blasting off with a .015 reaction time to Johnson's close .025. At half-track Briggs was hanging a wheel on Johnson and at the stripe Briggs took the win light with a 4.71 at 144 mph to Johnson's very close 4.75 at 150 mph. Congratulations to Briggs and company who will take their win all the way back home to Lake Charles, Louisiana. Just seven points separate the top four in the NE 1 points chase as things are heating up heading into summer.

(NE 1 Winner - Brian Briggs)

Nostalgia Eliminator 1 Results:

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Nostalgia Eliminator 2

The AlkyDigger Nostalgia Eliminator 2 (5.00 index) class provided some great racing and Thomas Hixson claimed the top qualifying position with a 5.0074 at 137 mph, followed closely by Jason Scott who's 5.0078 at 135 secured the number two spot. 2015 NE 2 Champion Bruce Dodson rounded out the top three with a 5.04 at 131 mph as the pairings were set and eliminations got underway.

(Bruce Dodson)

Hixson bowed out in round two with a -.002 red light but Scott and Dodson both found themselves going rounds and in the semi-finals joined by Ron Muncy. Muncy and Scott fired up first in their altereds and Scott jumped the tree with a -.010 red light as Muncy moved into the finals with a 5.06 at 135 mph. Dodson soloed to a 5.01 at 134 mph in a bye run to the finals to take on Muncy. In an unbelievably close race, Dodson took the slightest advantage off the line with a .046 to .049 reaction time. The cars were charging hard side by side down the eighth mile and at the stripe, Dodson's 5.01 at 134 mph won the race over Muncy's 5.02 at 136 mph. Congratulations to Bruce Dodson on his first win of the season as he now trails Jason Scott by just nine points in the current NE 2 points standings.

(NE 2 Winner - Bruce Dodson)

Nostalgia Eliminator 2 Results:

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Nostalgia Eliminator 3

AlkyDigger Nostalgia Eliminator 3 (5.50 index) racing was equally tight and 2013 class champ Doug Morrison claimed the top qualifying spot with a 5.51 at 122 mph. Points leader Josh Moseley slid into the second position with a 5.52 at 121 and Bob Scoggins, making his NE 3 debut, qualified third with a 5.55 at 121 mph. Morrison and Moseley earned first and second round wins to advance to the semi-final where they were joined by Dustin Bradford. Bradford paired up with Morrison to kick off the semi-finals and used a hole shot (.005 reaction time) and 5.57 at 108 mph to take out Morrison's quicker 5.53 at 123 mph. Moseley had a bye run into the final and posted a nice 5.51 at 121 to move into the finals against Bradford.

(Josh Moseley)

(Dustin Bradford)

Moseley was looking to go back to back after his win in April at Temple, while Bradford was searching for his first career SHRA win after a handful of runner up finishes in NE 3. At the line, Bradford took a huge starting line advantage and his 5.58 at 105 mph held off Moseley's 5.53 at 121 after Moseley got caught sleeping at the starting line. Congratulations to Dustin Bradford on his first SHRA NE 3 event win as Bradford now sits just thirteen points out of the points lead behind Moseley.

(NE 3 Winner - Dustin Bradford)

Nostalgia Eliminator 3 Results:

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Old School No Electronics

Over 40 cars came to play in Old School No Electronics and by the quarterfinals just five remained. Jason Marshall's 1975 Chevy Vega took the bye run into the semi-finals as Jim Baughan's 1937 Chevy Coupe rolled out next alongside Danny Kent's 1979 Chevy Luv. Baughan took the starting line advantage and clicked off a 6.07 on a 6.06 to take the win over Kent's 7.56 on a 7.53 dial. Michael Rhea's 1967 El Camino was out next alongside Timothy Lyons' 1965 Chevy Biscayne. Lyons jumped the tree with a -.072 red light as Rhea moved into the semi-finals with a 5.89 on a 5.92 dial.

(Jason Marshall)

(Jim Baughan)

Rhea and Marshall were up first in the semi-finals of No Electronics as Rhea went -.047 red and Marshall was final round bound with a 6.03 on a 5.99 dial. Marshall would face Baughan who benefitted from the bye run with a 6.08 on a 6.04 dial. Marshall was looking for his first win while Baughan was hunting back to back wins after taking the crown in Temple. In the final, Marshall's -.026 red light told the tale as Baughan streaked to victory with a deadly 6.05 on a 6.05 to score his second straight win and expand his points lead heading into the next event on May 28th at Ardmore Dragway.

(Old School No Electronics Winner - Jim Baughan)

Old School No Electronics Results:

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Old School Electronics

Old School Electronics found twenty four cars in action including NHRA Top Fuel racer Spencer Massey in his 1971 Chevy Nova. Massey advanced to the quarterfinals to take on none other than Jim Baughan who was in the late rounds of both old school bracket classes. Baughan went dead dial with a 6.07 on a 6.07 to take out Massey's 7.70 on a 7.73 dial. Bobby Stevens 1969 Chevy Nova met Bobby Taylor's 1974 Chevy Nova as the quarterfinals continued. Stevens was 5.99 on a 5.98 dial to take the win over Taylor's break out 5.81 on a 5.85. In the final pair, Alex Garca's 1977 Chevy Monza lined up to take on Ricky Marshall, who was driving the same Vega his son Jason was runner up with in No Electronics. Garca posted a 6.78 on a 6.77 dial to take out Marshall who went -.163 red.

(Bobby Stevens)

(Alex Garca)

Semi-finals brought Garca and Baughan to the line first and Garca took the win with a 6.77 on a 6.75 dial to Baughan's break out 6.05 on a 6.07 dial. Stevens benefitted from the bye run and was final round bound ready to dance with Garca for the trophy. In the final of Old School Electronics, Garca ripped off a .002 reaction time and 6.80 on a 6.73 to take the win over Stevens' 6.03 on a 5.98 dial. This marked Garca's first SHRA event win after several trips to the late rounds last season. Garca now holds the points lead by eleven points over Stevens.

(Old School Electronics Winner - Alex Garca)

Old School Electronics Results:

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Nostalgia Super Stock

Nostalgia Super Stock action was led by top qualifier Ronnie Smith in his 1964 Plymouth Savoy and Smith found himself in the semi-finals set to take on James Durham. Smith's 6.75 on a 6.73 dial was enough to take the win over Durham's 7.14 on a 7.05 dial. David Ardoin's 1968 Plymouth Barracuda rolled out next alongside 2015 Champion Vic Corlett's 1967 Dodge Dart. Ardoin was .0005 on the tree and 6.75 on a 6.73 to knock out Corlett who went -.068 red to end his day as Ardoin and Smith were final round bound.

(David Ardoin)

(Ronnie Smith)

In the Nostalgia Super Stock final, Ardoin and Smith were both looking for their first wins of the season. Ardoin jumped the tree with a -.068 red light as Ronnie Smith posted a 6.75 on a 6.73 to take the win for the racer from Athens, Texas. Just six points separate the top three in the NSS points chase with Tony Smith on top, Ronnie Smith in second and David Ardoin in third.

(Nostalgia Super Stock Winner - Ronnie Smith)

Nostalgia Super Stock Results:

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It was an action backed day of old school drag racing for the SHRA series and this marked the second highest car count in history behind the season opener just a few weeks prior. The SHRA would like to thank all the racers, crew members and families who support the series as it continues to grow and hold strong as the largest nostalgia drag racing series in the southwest. The next event will take all six SHRA classes to Ardmore Dragway for the 7th Annual White Walls & Drags on Saturday, May 28th in Ardmore, Oklahoma.

The SHRA would like to thank Mallory Print.com, AlkyDigger, Dooley & Sons Hot Rod Shop, Lone Star Forklift, Mears Mazda Volvo, Passtime GPS, Meyer Enterprises, Don Hardy Race Cars, Stroud Safety, Equipment Sales and Service of Texas, Neil & Parks Racing Enterprises, Bubba's Tow, Lenamond Auto Supply, Gary's Muffler, Bad Behavior Racing, Hagerty Vintage Motorsports Insurance, Competition Sales of Dallas, Harry's Hot Rod, Competition Products and Howards Cams for their support in the 2016 racing season.

Click Here to see photos from Denton