John Urist Clinches the NMRA 2008 National Championship
In the last race of the 2008 NMRA Drag Racing season in Bowling Green, John Urist driving his Steeda sponsored pony proved that he has the winning combination with Steeda as he claimed yet another victory, a new class record, and another season championship in the wild NMRA Super Street Outlaw class.
In the quarter final round, John spanked the competition by breaking into the 7.30 barrier with a 7.361 @ 191.48. Proving that his ride is not just a one shot wonder, in the finals as the green light came alive, John blasted out of hole with a .039 reaction time and raced to a 7.521 @ 185 mph in the finals - clinching the hotly contested 2008 NMRA Super Street Outlaw Championship.
Congratulations John on setting a new class record and for winning your 3rd consecutive and 4th overall National Championship this season!
Chris Parsi 2008 True Street Track Champion
Chris Parsi shows he has what it takes, by earning the 2008 True Street Track Championship for Gainesville Raceway with a come from behind victory. Piloting what is his daily driver - a Steeda equipped V6 pony, Chris was able to show tremendous consistency that his Steeda can deliver by posting a final ET within .001 seconds of his dialed in time of 15.491 in the final round. Proof that even a V6 powered Steeda can deliver excitement and class victories!
At the recently concluded NHRA Division II Finals in Atlanta, Chris was killing the tree with blistering .001 and .002 reaction times. Winning his first round, he broke out on the second round by a mere 0.02 - resulting in a disappointing second place finish. The Steeda faithful can rest assured that while Chris may have lost this race, he still is the Gainesville Champion and will be ready to defend that honor next season.
Congratulations Chris !
Robin Burnett: NASA American Iron National Champion
At the NASA's National Championship Series at the fabulous Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, The Burnett Racing Team's Steeda Mustangs once again showed the competition that Steeda is the force to beat in the NASA American Iron class.
Both Friday and Saturday qualifying races were rain soaked from what was left of Hurricane Ike, but Steeda had its own hurricane in central Ohio, young 17-year-old driver Rusty Ferguson. Rusty took both poles in the rainy conditions by showing both his skill and the prowess of his Burnett Racing Steeda Mustang.
Conditions for Sundays big race were beautiful with cool temperatures and sunny blue skies - perfect for the Steeda Q-Series of Mustangs to show what they are made of. After the green flag was dropped, in short order, Robin Burnett in his red Steeda #21 captured the lead and Chris DeSalvo in his pony fought through the field to take a position immediately behind Robin. The race would continue around the and when it was over, the Steeda Mustangs finished in the top two podium positions with Robin Burnett in first and Chris DeSalvo finishing a close second. With this victory, Robin won his 3rd consecutive Nationals podium and his first National Championship in American Iron.
Congratulations to Robin Burnett and the entire Burnett Racing Team !
James Ray, Taylor Ray, and Jim Edwards: The Race for NASA Southeast Champions
The cards are stacked for a potential 1-2-3 finish for Steeda Mustangs in the NASA Southeast race series. All season long James Ray, his son Taylor, and Jim Edwards have been carrying the Steeda banner to various tracks in pursuit of a 1-2-3 Regional series championship. Recently at NASCAR's historic Rockingham Speedway (aka: "THE ROCK") with a road course that featured stints on both the high banked oval as well as the infield road course, the track was exceptionally challenging but proved to be no match for the Steeda prepared cars that were there to defend the Steeda honor.
And defend they did. With one more event for the season in the NASA Southeast competition, (Road Atlanta, December 6-7) James has already clinched the Championship this season. With his two recent wins at the ROCK, James' 2007 Steeda Q-400+ proved to be too much for the competition in the highly competitive TTS Class Championship. His is the only Mustang in a class of 18 cars which include a variety of Corvette Z06's, Panoz Racers, BMWs, and fully stripped-out turbocharged Rice Rockets!
Not to be overshadowed, Taylor Ray and Jim Edwards found themselves in the envious position of being in a very tight challenge of making it possible for a 1-2-3 Steeda podium for the season. Taylor, in his 2001 Steeda GT is all but a TTC podium finish for the season, but which position? We'll have to wait until Road Atlanta to find out.
Jim Edwards in his '03 Steeda Cobra is making-up ground in a hurry in TTA.
Jim got a late start on the season, but with a good finish at Road Atlanta, could see a podium finish for the 2008 season as well.
To quote James Ray: "We are having a ball driving Steeda Mustangs and leaving the competition behind us!".
Congratulations to James Ray, Taylor Ray, and Jim Edwards !