EFI Renegade racers voted to take the money and run after the originally scheduled race was rained out. Though Craig Zurman appeared to have the advantage, there were plenty of players ready to do battle. Justin Nelson of J&J Performance in Cape Coral, Florida, drove Michael Saponara's GT to the low 10s all weekend. The GT sees everyday street duty with a 347, a C4, and an ATI ProCharger. To prove the car's streetability, Michael and Justin went out on the Saturday night of the original race weekend looking for some street action. They put 83 miles on the GT in their futile attempts to find a race. We don't imagine there would be too many takers to line up against this beast on the street.
Another of the Windsor-fortified Pure Street cars is owned by James Poaque from Coral Springs, Florida. James qualified in the top spot with a 10.50, but he also had an easy time of it in eliminations after he had to run against Jamie Holten. James then had a bye run into the final against John Sommerfield, but he ran into problems and was forced to shut it down.
This car should look familiar to Mustang fans. It's the Turbo Goddess Christina Eldert's old coupe. Though no longer hers, it still packs twin turbos in the form of an Incon kit. The car's present owner, Scott Hodges, has run in the eights on slicks and the low nines on BFG Drag Radials.
With Windsors allowed in the Pure Street class, Pure Street regulars didn't stand much of a chance. Even so, John Sommerfield had an easy time through eliminations with bye runs in both the first and second rounds. Though he has easily a 10-second car with a carb'd Windsor and a C4, John coasted through the final when he ran a 14.6 at 85 mph to beat the equally clean coupe owned by James Poaque.
Jeremy Martorella brought his '95 GT to Moroso still riding high from winning Fun Ford's Trophy Stock class championship for 2001. This is the view most Trophy Stock racers see in Fun Ford competition, but Jeremy was wielding a knife at a gunfight at Moroso. Yes, his plate says it all.
Although she lasted only one round, Erica Ortiz-Lugo (yes, the bride of Dennis Lugo) came out to play in EFI Renegade with a new combination. Driving her black '91 coupe, Erica ran in the low 10s all weekend, with a 306, a Novi 2000 supercharger, Trick Flow Twisted Wedge heads, a box intake, and a Sundancer Performance AOD. Still exploring her options, Erica will more than likely be running in the NMRA Drag Radial class and Fun Ford's True Street in 2002.
Another Fun Ford regular who tried his hand at the Ford Power Festival was Jamie Holten of Scottsmoor, Florida. Working with a relatively new combination, Jamie's low 11s wouldn't hang with the Windsor-powered Pure Street cars. Jamie plans on doing battle again in the Trophy Stock ranks for 2002.