It's been nearly three years since Ray Fuchs raced his way to the winners' circle in a Muscle Car Series event but his 2016 season is off to a great start as he knocked off the defending champion last weekend in the finals of the Pro Outlaw Class during the eighth annual Street Car Showdown.
Rick Schmidt has been tough to beat the last two seasons, repeating as Pro Outlaw champ both years, which were his first two seasons racing at Brainerd International Raceway. But he fouled at the starting line in the finals, handing Fuchs the win.
Fuchs had the fastest car in the seven-car field, earning the No. 1 qualifier position and posting the fastest speed (218.48 mph) and the best time (6.488 seconds). The 218.48 mph was his personal best and he narrowly missed breaking his best time (6.43 seconds).
More than 210 racers competed in the first leg of the three-race Muscle Car Series. While drag racers were slugging it out on the drag strip, BIR's 2.5-mile Competition Road Course hosted the Sports Car Club of America's Harvey West Memorial Day Classic. Nearly 100 cars competed in various classes.
On the drag strip, Warren Peterson proved that his Outlaw championship last year was no fluke. Peterson and his 1933 Plymouth knocked off Dean Erickson in the finals with a run of 7.708 seconds at 181.57 mph. Erickson ran 7.894 seconds at 172.83 mph.
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Chris Orr had the fastest car in the King Street Class, a 1967 Firebird that ripped off the top speed of the weekend at 183.67 mph and the best time: 7.622 seconds. He appeared to be on his way to a finals win when he lined up against Dick Fulton, but he fouled at the starting line, giving Fulton a free pass to the winners' circle. Fulton and his '69 Firebird ran an impressive 8.004 seconds at 172.81 mph.
Orr's brother, Dennis, posted the top speed (177.25 mph) and the best time (8.250 seconds) in the Real Street Unlimited Class but ran into the No. 1 qualifier, Jesse Nelson, in the finals. The result was one of the closest races of the weekend, with Orr eeking out a win by running 8.511 seconds at 176.49 mph in his '70 Camaro. Nelson and his '70 Chevelle ran 8.527 seconds at 173.27 mph.
Last year, Robert Wilczek finished the season in second place in the Real Street Natural Class, but now he's in first place after disposing of the field and beating No. 1 qualifier Darrell Godbout in the finals with a run of 9.169 seconds at 146.94 mph. Godbout, who posted the best time of the weekend (8.970 seconds) and the top speed (155.38 mph), ran 9.526 seconds at 148,80 mph.
In True Street, Zach Novak beat Jason Nelson in the finals with a time of 8.786 seconds at 146.43 mph. Nelson ran 8.811 seconds at 158.59 mph.
Brian Carpenter was the guy to beat in the 660 Outlaw Street Class. He was the No. 1 qualifier with the best time of 4.645 seconds and the top speed at 167.66 mph (the 660 class only races one-eighth mile.) Carpenter took a trip to the winners' circle when he beat Josh Brunz in the finals with a run of 4.709 seconds and 162.88 mph. Brunz ran 5.433 seconds and 137.22 mph.
Final Results:
Pro Outlaw: Ray Fuchs of Bowman, N.D. def. Rick Schmidt of Dickenson, N.D.
Outlaw: Warren Peterson of Duluth def. Dean Erickson of East Bethel
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King Street: Dick Fulton of Crystal def. Chris Orr of Superior, Wis.
Real Street Unlimited: Dennis Orr of Superior, Wis. def. Jesse Nelson of Mountain Iron
Real Street Natural: Robert Wiczek of Little Falls def. Darrell Godbout of Carlton
True Street: Zach Novak of Sauk Rapids def. Jason Nelson of Champlain
660 Outlaw Street: Brian Carpenter of Forest Lake def. Josh Brunz of Kasota
Strip Eliminator 1: Dan Boyce of Minnetonka def. Ryan Stellmach of Willow River
Strip Eliminator 2: Lonnie Ellenson of Park Rapids def. Wendy Lane of Brainerd
Strip Eliminator 3s: Scott Davich of Pequot Lakes def. Brian Anderson of Medina
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Truck Eliminator: Taylor Tesar of Medina def. Matt Muellner of Proctor
Manual Transmission: Keith Sand of Cambridge def. Kevin Lendt of Nicollet
Index Class: Kevin Hemenway of Park Rapids def. Will Matsch
9.50 Index: Austin Siemens of Milaca def. Kevin Sand of Cambridge
10.00 Index: Will Matsch def. Brian Peterson of Park Rapids
10.50 Index: Mike Hammerstrom of Bemidji def. Lawrence Curtis of Bethel
11.00 Index: Chad Sodren of Bethel def. Dan Boyce
11.50 Index: Zach Stengel of Blaine def. Karl Echardt of Pequot Lakes
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12.00 Index: Gary Olson of Sartell def. Nathan Olson of Sartell
12.50 Index: Kevin Hemenway of Park Rapids def. Jake Stanley of Zimmerman
13.00 Index: Jesse Backstrom of Grand Marais def. Logan Miceli of Big Lake
14.00 Index: Jessica Purdham of Albertville def. Todd Anderson of Brainerd
