Turning Up The Heat In AtcoImport drag racers turned up the summer heat at Atco, N.J. August 24, as spectators were treated to fast racing action. This event was a turning point for some competitors pining for the IDRC year-end points championship. Close competition, smoky burnouts, and cheering fans-it doesn't get much better than this.
Import Drag.com All-Motor class presented by Import Tuner Magazine
The Honda Civics came to play in the All-Motor Class, hoping to take home a win. However, with IDRC points leader Erick Aguilar missing in action, the door was open for other competitors flying the Honda colors to step up. But it would be a struggle for anyone owning a Honda as Number One qualifier and VW Bug driver, Daniel Rodriguez, was making quick work of the Honda field. Even in the semis, Rodriguez was able to come back from a poor start against the '92 Civic of Charles Lore and cross the finish line first.
Volkswagen Corrado driver, Nate Romero, was also putting Honda drivers to shame, beating the '92 Civic of Terry Chung in the quarter finals and taking home an easy win in the semis when Jeremy Allen, driving the Inline Pro Civic, red lighted. This pitted the "old school" Bug of Daniel Rodriguez against the "new school" Corrado of Nate Romero in the All-Motor money race. This was a historic showdown; the first all VW All Motor final on the East Coast for the IDRC.
When the tree lit green, both competitors left, with a slight lead going to Romero. It was anybody's guess who would cross the finish first, but fortunately for Romero, Daniel Rodriguez was running slightly off his qualifying pace, letting Romero win by a fender. Watercooled, 1; aircooled, 0.
BFG tires Street Class presented by Sport Compact Car Magazine.It's looking like the once RX-7 and Diamond Star dominated Street Class is getting shaken up this year with high-horsepower Supra teams like that of Paul Efantis. And while his Number One qualifying run of 9.142 at 157mph should have been enough to take him to the winners circle, Paul was eliminated in the first round when a faulty nitrous system caused the car to bog. It was also anti-climactic in the first round as rivals Ari Yallon and John Shepherd found themselves matched against each other, but what has been close racing in the past was not to be, as Shepherd had engine problems.
It was clear RX-7s would rule the day as the Peter Farrell-sponsored '93 RX-7 of Ray Wilson was the guy to beat. Running mid to high 9s in the first two rounds, Wilson was able to beat N.J. local, Jeff Hill, in the quarterfinals and crush the Supra of James Farrer in the semis.
Ari Yallon advanced into the finals, making it a FD vs. FD run for the cash. It could have been anybody's race with both RX-7s clocking similar e.t.s throughout the comeptition passes. However, Wilson couldn't keep his RX-7 running at full steam in the final round against Yallon. Not only did this give Yallon the IDRC event win, Yallon earned enough points to move into first place in the national points race by 55 points.
ImportDrag.com Turbo High Tech & Performance Magazine Quick ClassIt is looking like the dominating force of Sav Leone and his IMPOPerformance Civic is getting a challenge from the Inline Pro team and new driver Matthew Keller. Leone has been leading the IDRC points race all the way but Keller was fast enough in qualifying to take the Number One spot and make people take notice.
Ex-inline Pro driver Jennifer Williams was trying out a new Acura Integra that was literally thrown together in only two weeks. Rightly deemed "Project Midnight," Jennifer managed to capture the third spot in qualifying, despite running with a stock B16A. She made it into the semis against Sav Leone. However, horsepower is usually king and Leone made it into the finals, beating Williams by more than half a second.