Drag Illustrated Issue 129, January / February 2018 | Page 99

2017 NMRA CHAMPIONS
ANDY WARREN
with the number 1, and he began by qualifying
in the fifth position with a 7.44 in his Mustang in
Edelbrock Renegade. He went on to runner-up
with a 7.54 and to capture the championship
with 405 points more than Frank Varela. The
South Carolina-based driver, who was also the
class champion in 2009, won at the events in
Pennsylvania, Ohio and Illinois.
“After Florida, we had to totally rebuild the
engine,” Clements remembers. “It looked like a
hand grenade went off in the oil pan. But after
that, it was smooth sailing. It’s an awesome ac-
complishment and well-deserved for our team.
We are just so excited to be sitting in the number
one seat again, even though we have such a big
target on our back now.”
ProCharger Coyote Modified madness saw Tom-
my Annunziata lead qualifying with a 7.69 in his
Tommy Annunziata/Jim LaRocca hot rod, a 2014
Cobra Jet, and in addition to going on to win with
a 7.73, he locked up the class championship with
just 45 points more than John Kauderer. The New
Jersey-based driver was runner-up at the event in
Georgia, won the event in Illinois and holds the
current ProCharger Coyote Modified elapsed time
and top speed records with a 7.69 and 187 mph.
In Richmond Gear Factory Stock, Matt Amrine
led qualifying with a 10.60 in his Mustang, and
advanced all the way to the final round, where he
won with a 10.62 and wrapped up his fourth class
championship with 270 points more than Dan
Ryntz. The Ohio-based driver was runner-up at
NHRA NOSTALGIA JUNIOR FUEL DON ENRIQUEZ
Ja n u a r y / F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 8
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