It was a tough decision, but the NMRA chose to carry on with the show March 8-10 despite the fatal crash of Pro 5.0 racer Steve Grebeck at the Fun Ford Weekend opener held at Orlando Speed World. Despite the events being less than a week apart and being held in the same state, the NMRA decided it was best not to delay its season opener in Bradenton. As it turned out, the decision seemed to be the right thing to do. Though the Pro 5.0 field was smaller than it would have been, the event gave those close to Steve a chance to begin the healing process with a brief memorial. It was highlighted by a speech by Harry Hruska of Precision Turbo, and a blast of Kid Rock's "Forever"-the song's video features a brief shot of Steve's race car-over the PA before the Pro 5.0 elimina-tions began.
The mood in the pits was respectful rather than somber, and once the racing began, it was back to business. Likewise, the crowds responded to the bright Florida sunshine and joined a horde of racers to pack the newly refreshed Bradenton Motorsports Park for what turned out to be a competitive and safe race. With any luck, the remainder of Ford races this season will be this competitive and safe. For the details, check the caps and snaps..
Real StreetAs impressive as our little class was last season, we didn't expect the boys to come flying out of the gate like they did. Let's be serious, the top seven racers qualified in the 10s, and mid-10-second timeslips were nearly as common as stock camshafts in the class. We expect the top guys will be in the 9s shortly, which is an astounding feat given the limited modifications available to the class. Despite the performances of these cars, it's still an affordable, approachable class, so see what these guys are doing and give it a shot.