NMCA World Finals
Indy Cylinder Head
Nostalgia Super Stock
October 10, 2010
(at Gateway International Raceway)
Eliminator Final
7700 Wilson, D.; NSS/C 11.00; (.065) 1.553; 6.946; 9.126; 11.005@118.07 win
7464 Midile Jr.; C/FX 9.75; (.007) 1.372; 6.292; 8.212; 9.859@134.90
Semifinals
7464 Midile Jr. single
7602 Schultz, Dallas - broke red
7700 Wilson, D. (.065) 1.553; 6.992; 9.181; 11.055@119.51 win
7557 Kossuth, R. (.027) 1.500; 6.567; 8.637; 10.602@107.80
Wilson’s weightlifting keys NMCA NSS win
By Bob Wilkiewicz
©2010 Nostalgia Super Stock National Association MADISON, Ill. - All day, Donnie Wilson had made a lot of good decisions while working through a tough field. “These guys are wearing me out today,” he said. “I’m having to do a little bit of everything.”
Then early Sunday evening he made one more good choice to defeat Joe Midile Jr. 11.005 to 9.859 and win Indy Cylinder Head Nostalgia Super Stock Eliminator at the National Muscle Car Association World Finals at Gateway International Raceway on October 10.
Several track cleanups in the late afternoon had delayed the final until cloud cover and cooler air and track temperatures loosened the grip and called for adjustments under the fading light, dark enough to be called night racing.
After edging Rosie Kossuth in the semifinal, Wilson said he felt the track might be going away. “I put in 25 pounds and ran dead on,” said Wilson, a former NMCA event winner and season series champion, who took a .0463 margin-of-victory in the final.
Wilson and his 1965 NSS/C (11.00 index) Dodge sure needed the right tuneup to overcome a .065 to .007 reaction time deficit.
“I thought about putting some weight in,” said Midile Jr., who slowed to 8.212 at 1000 feet in his 1964 C/FX (9.75 index) Dodge compared to an 8.13 in the semifinal. “When I put it in second gear it shook a little. That’s what cost it right there.”
Notes scribbled on the back of a racer’s green event credential
The long term NSS story of the event was Doug Duell winning his second consecutive season series championship with NMCA. “It’s good to keep that No. 1,” said Duell, referring to the car number on his 1964 Plymouth.
Despite going out in the second round, Duell had enough of a lead to prevail over runnerup Barry Camp (1966 Chevrolet), who was defeated by Jeff Frees (1964 Plymouth) in round one, and claim the title.
This was the fourth consecutive year Duell has either won or been a runnerup in a NSS season series. For Camp, it was his highest season finish since he started competing in NMCA NSS four years ago.
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In NSS it is common practice after each round for the drivers to seek out each other, review the race and then offer congratulations and condolences as called for.
Duell, who races in both NSS and NHRA Stock Eliminator, talked about the contrasting styles between the two.
“Both are good,” he said. “There is more of a relaxed feeling in this (NSS), the relationships are what we have with friends. In Stock, it’s not quite as close, there’s a little more of a distance to it but we get along well. I enjoy both of them.”
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Long-time NSS racer with a 1964 Dodge and St. Louis area resident Rosie Kossuth got past Richard Morris and his 1965 Chevelle in round one, defeated Dave Schultz (1963 Plymouth) in round two and received the second bye of the 27-car field in round three to advance to the semifinals.
While waiting in the staging lanes for yet another cleanup, her husband Clay Kossuth (2010 Midwest NSS Series Champion, 1963 Dodge) was asked how he was dealing with the delays. “I’ve got everything loaded up except Rosie,” he said with a laugh. “Sure would be nice if she could win it.”
However, after taking an early advantage on a .027 to .065 holeshot, she unexpectedly slowed to 10.602 on her NSS/B 10.50 index and lost to Wilson.
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In the final event of his rookie NSS season, Dallas Schultz made it to the other semifinal with his 1965 Dodge but had suffered engine damage in round three and was unable to make the call.
“He said the valves were OK, it must be something below that,” said Midile Jr., who went 9.761@137.82 on the single.
Schultz finished ninth in the season standings.
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Still looking for his first event victory, earlier Midile Jr. had posted top NSS speed of the event at 138.58 mph.
“I’ve had a number of high finishes but haven’t broken through yet,” he said. “We’re going to keep working on it.”
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During both the semifinal and final Wilson posted identical clockings of .065 for reaction and 1.553 for 60 feet.
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Mike Moss (1966 Chevrolet) and Dave Schultz each posted perfect three digit qualifying runs on their respective indexes, NSS/A (10.00) and NSS/C (11.00).
However, Moss took the No. 1 qualifying spot because he recorded the number two runs earlier during the same session. Schultz had to settle for the No. 2 position and then finished fourth in the season standings.
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According to a Madison County, Illinois board member who was at the track during the event, the current owners are in arrears on one bond payment of $8 million, which has already received at least one deferment, and also on the current year property taxes of approximately $6 million. The board member also said closure of the track could be expected shortly.
©2010 by The Nostalgia Super Stock National Association
