NMRA/NMCA Super Bowl of Street-Legal Drag Racing

We couldn’t say no to an invite to see the NMRA and NMCA battle it out at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, IL. Although we only made it to the qualifying event on Friday, it was not a disappointment! In classes ranging from true street to pro-mod drivers from both organizations competed for the Nitto Tires Trophy. We were bummed we couldn’t stay the weekend, but we will definitely be attending the 2019 NMRA/NMCA Super Bowl.

Walking the event

We took a few minutes to walk the pits before heading down to the line to shoot pictures of the racers in qualifying. The sheer diversity of the racecars was stunning! It was like Friday night at your local dragstrip only on steroids. Being an NMRA event there were plenty of Mustangs in attendance in nearly every race-trim you could imagine. We were also drooling over the insane F-150 Lightning’s we walked past, and there is even a class just for the truck racers.

The manufacturer’s midway was full of the leading manufacturers in drag racing as well as some retailers on hand to make sure everyone had the things they needed in a pinch. Nitto, Mickey Thompson, and Ford had some of the biggest booths showing off their latest offerings. Ford even had a 2019 Bullitt Mustang in their booth!

Walking the line

If you have ever been on the starting line at a drag race you understand how invigorating it is. To feel the thousands of horsepower shake you from the inside out has no comparison. More than a few times this author had his hair blown back by side-exit exhaust at 60ft out. But to be there as a Cobra-Jet or COPO flies past, it’s front tires in their air is an experience you can’t pass up! The NMRA/NMCA Super Bowl is an event we will not pass up in the future!

But enough chitter chatter, you came here for the pictures. There are 136 images of action in here, be sure to click through them all!