Three days of racing, and show action makes the shopHemi.com Late Model Hemi Shootout a great event. Jack Reynolds of Virginia Beach, (08 Challenger) launches to a 10.37 at 128.25, while Anthony Viera from Avenue, Maryland, and his 06 Charger runner up's in Round One with a 16.11 at 60.86.
If we learned only one thing while attending the ShopHemi.com shootout this year, it would be that it is really hot in Maryland in June. We learned that while attending the 2012 event held at Budds Creek, Maryland, on June 8 - 10. Ok, maybe we did also learn that there are some really quick and really cool looking late model Hemi rides in the Northeast, and that lesson helped us forget about the heat. This was the third year for the event, and although it was a little warm, the turnout was great.
The 11th Annual NMCA Flowmaster Muscle Car Nationals, the third event of the season, was again held at the Maryland International Raceway. Last year was the first time the NMCA had been to MIR, and a great event in 2011 made this return trip a must. This event played host to the 4th Annual shopHEMI.com Late-Model Hemi Shootout. And like in years past, it was an outstanding event. If you wanted to see racing action, the event had five classes for late-model Hemi guys to choose from, and covered everything from 9-second door slammers, to your daily grocery getter. If you're into the show scene, you had just as much to check out.
The event kicked off with a pre-event party held at the host hotel, where participants were greeted with door prizes and free refreshments. All-in-all, the shopHemi.com shootout, might have been warm, but nowhere near as hot as the cars and racing. Will we see you there next year? We better.
Maybe you get a kick out of...
Maybe you get a kick out of taking your car to a show, or checking out the other cars at the show. Either way, the event has enough to look at to keep you busy.
If racing is more your speed,...
If racing is more your speed, then you better be there by at least Friday afternoon, as that's when it all starts, and it doesn't end until Sunday afternoon.
The finals of the Diablosport...
The finals of the Diablosport Hemi Rumble class saw Billy Copeland of Monterey, Tennessee (far lane), win over Matthew glad of Stuart, Virginia.
In the Hemituner Unlimited...
In the Hemituner Unlimited class, the Jeep of Brian Brunt of Wixom, Michigan, (shown here qualifying against John Lewis' Challenger of Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania), Came out on top with a 9.54 at 143.
In the Petty's Garage Stroker...
In the Petty's Garage Stroker Class, AJ Berge of Massapequa, New York (far lane) bested Wendy Robertson from Lorain, Ohio with a 10.59 at 127 to her 11.23 at 120.
The BFNY Performance Super...
The BFNY Performance Super Stock Elimination was won by Bill Mcfadden of Scotch Plains, New Jersey. His Magnum (near lane) covered Kent Irwin's Birmingham, Alabama based 2007 Charger by running an 11.39 at 117 to a slower 11.47 at 119.
In a show field full of gorgeous...
In a show field full of gorgeous cars, how do pick one? I'm glad we didn't have to, as the NMCA guys did a great job of judging.
Jeeps are heavy, there's no...
Jeeps are heavy, there's no doubt about it, but, if you remove a couple hundred pounds of unnecessary interior and heavy wheels, (and have some engine work), you can get yours to run mid-9-second ets also.
There were more Jeeps there...
There were more Jeeps there this year than in years past, and Joe Szabo brought his 2007 edition from Calgary, Alberta, running a solid 11.87 at 114.93
It might not look like it,...
It might not look like it, but Brent Hughes' Virginia Beach, based 2008 Super Bee ran a 9.71 at 145.86. Not bad for a street car.
In the I-can-get-my-groceries-faster-than-you-can...
In the I-can-get-my-groceries-faster-than-you-can category, Ed Fox from Front Royal, Virginia, charged his 2007 Charger with a 392 to an 11.27 at 126.39
Not only did Kook's Headers...
Not only did Kook's Headers have a stand on the Midway, but "Papa" Kook made several passes in his 300. We're not sure how much power his ride makes, but it sounded tough, and was a handful for him to launch.
When you attend the event, make sure you arrive in time to attend the pre-event party that goes on at the host hotel. With free refreshments and door prizes, there's no reason to miss it.