Winners Crowned In NMRA/NMCA All-Star Nationals’ Rockingham Debut

The Scoggin Dickey Parts Center NMRA/NMCA All-Star Nationals presented by MAHLE Motorsport moved to its new home April 21-24, 2022, as the Rockingham Dragway in North Carolina hosted the sister street car drag racing organizations for three days of action-packed competition. The event at The Rock replaced the NMCA and NMRA’s annual stop at Atlanta Dragway, which closed last year.

On the Red Line Oil NMCA Muscle Car Nationals side, VP Racing Lubricants Xtreme Pro Mod racers rocketed to 3.60s and 3.70s in their commanding cars in qualifying, and among them was Derek Ward, who set the pace with a 3.67 in his Camaro. Ward hung tough all weekend, and earned a trip to the NMCA Winner’s Circle and an alluring Victor Award with a 3.70 run against Tom Blincoe, who was quicker on the tree, but shook the tires to a 5.65 in his Corvette.

Mickey Thompson X275, featuring cars with small tires and turbo, superchargers, and nitrous combinations, was in action at this event, and Justin Palmer pushed to a 4.30 in his small-block Ford and ProCharger-powered Mustang to lead qualifying. He remained strong through the weekend and wound up in the final round of eliminations to face Ron Rhodes and his nitrous-gulping, leafspring-equipped Camaro. They were close on the tree, and Palmer earned the win in the exceptionally tight race with a 4.352 to Rhodes’ 4.356. Fans can catch this category again at the remaining combined NMCA/NMRA events in St. Louis and Martin, Michigan.

Chuck Watson II wheeled to a wicked 7.72 in his Mustang Cobra Jet to set the pace in qualifying in Holley EFI Factory Super Cars, and he worked hard to get to the final round of eliminations. There, he lined up alongside Tripp Carter and his Mustang Cobra Jet. Watson, from the Detroit area, drove to the win with a 7.71 after Carter went red.

Chuck Watson II

David Fallon Jr. flew to a 4.31 to set the pace in his Camaro in ARP Nitrous Pro Street, and the racer out of Michigan outlasted outstanding…