Watervliet, Mich. (June 20,2018) – Although initially plagued by a dose of morning showers that swept through west Michigan’s US 131 Motorsports Park on Saturday, June 16, the No Prep Triple Crown Presented by Lane Automotive was a resounding success for racers and spectators alike.  The second annual drag racing event featured three distinct classes; True Street, Small Tire and Big Tire, with the winning driver in each class taking home a cool, $10,000.  

 The race was run in a heads-up, 1/8-mile format using an “instant green” Christmas Tree.  Only win lights were displayed on the scoreboards during the event and no elapsed times (N/T) were shown.  As the event is titled, the track is swept and dragged only, and no traction compound is used in preparation for racing, thereby pushing each crew’s tuning ability and their respective driver’s skills to the limits. 

 With time constraints a concern to all due to the passing showers, each of the roughly 40 racers in attendance were allowed a single timed run prior to eliminations.  Once eliminations began shortly thereafter and daytime temperatures soared well into the 90-degree range, the action was hot and heavy, and although a couple of cars were subject to mechanical failure, all in attendance were entertained throughout the day with excitingly close racing action.

 

True Street, which required street-worthy vehicles complete with valid driver’s license, registration and insurance, featured Cal Hayward of Dowling, Michigan. in his 1991 Ford Mustang besting Adam Hodson’s, New Haven, Indiana based 1973 Chevy Camaro.  

 

Limited to a 29″ x 10.5″ tire (no “W”), Small Tire saw Anthony “Tony V” Mangiaracina of Rockford, Illinois use his 2000 Chevy Camaro to beat Wyoming, Michigan’s Greg Seher in his 1979 Chevy Camaro.  

 

The virtually unlimited headlining class, Big Tire, which encompassed of wide variety of factory VIN-clad Doorslammers, witnessed Ryan Hendrickson in his 1984 Ford Mustang SVO of Kouts, Indiana beating John Costelein’s Hastings, Michigan based 1968 Chevy II.  

 

A “second chance” race, entitled the Edelbrock Challenge, pitted racers that didn’t make it out of the first round. from all three classes, a shot at the $1500 top prize. Mark “Junior” Southwell of Pinkney, Michigan in his 1993 Ford Mustang took the win over Tom Deater of Wayland, Mich. in his 1966 Chevy Chevelle.

 

Along with $10,000 top prize for each class, payback extended back to the quarter final participants. Over $50,000 in cash and contingencies was awarded to the racers. The vendor row was well represented as over a dozen manufacturers were on hand displaying their offerings as well as technical advice to racers as well as spectators alike.

 

This was the second year for the event and from the popularity of the event, look for even better things in 2019. For more information, photographs and video from this year’s event please visit the No-Prep Triple Crown Facebook page.

 

Lane Automotive thanks its partners for making this event possible, including:

AFR, Allstar Performance, ARP, Brodix, Comp Cams, CVR High Performance, Eagle Specialty Products, Edelbrock, FK Bearings, Fragola, Go Fast Productions, King Racing, Mahle, Mahle Motorsport, Mickey Thompson Tires, Moroso, NGK Spark Plugs, Nitrous Express, PAC Springs, Pro-Filer, QA1, Quickcar, SCAT, SCE Gaskets, Total Seal, US Gear, Weld Racing, XS Power, Yukon Gear and US 131 Motorsports Park.