If you've been waiting to race your modular Mustang head to head against the LS and Hemi hordes, our sister magazine, Hot Rod, and our friends and Promedia Events have something for you. Check out the official words after the jump...

HOT ROD magazine has joined forces with the NMRA and NMCA to promote the best in late-model Detroit muscle at the Nitto Tire NMRA/NMCA All-Star Nationals event at zMAX Dragway, August 6-9, 2009. zMax Dragway, the new four-lane dragstrip owned by Bruton Smith, is THE premier place to get the muscle car wars back in session.

Ever since the discussion of the return of the Camaro, HOT ROD’s been talking about establishing a drag race where Modular-powered Ford Mustangs, LS-powered four-passenger GM cars, and Dodge/Chrysler 5.7/6.1L Hemis would race for bragging rights. The event HOT ROD proposed would prove more than which cars are the fastest but also provide each brand’s rabid enthusiasts a venue to cheer on their heroes, flame their opponents, and build race cars to compete in a series that defines the new generation of performance muscle cars. All that talk is now a reality, with the return of the HOT ROD Drags with assistance from presenting sponsor, Flowmaster Mufflers.

The HOT ROD Drags will be made up of two classes of production style street-legal cars competing either in an index or heads-up class. The vehicles must be four-passenger cars and include ’98 and later V8 Modular powered Mustangs, late-model Dodge Chrysler vehicles with 5.7 to 6.1L Hemi engines, and late-model V-8 LS –powered GM vehicles. No retrofit drivetrain of modern V-8’s into retrochassis are permitted. The basic rules ensure the competitors are not full-on race cars. Complete rules are available at www.nmradigital.com/hotrod.

The HOT ROD Late-Model Index class will be the BIG one. On Saturday, all Fords run together as Team Ford, the GMs as Team GM, and the Chryslers as Team Mopar. NMRA/NMCA will keep track of who the leaders are in each category. $1,000 and a special award will be given to each group for the fastest street car; HOT ROD’s Fastest Ford Award, HOT ROD’s Fastest GM award, and HOT ROD’s Fastest Mopar Award. These awards will be presented on the Sunday of the event. On Sunday, all competitors are mixed up so Ford can take on Chevy and Mopar.

The HOT ROD Heads-Up class will showcase the best in late-model Ford, GM, and Mopar as they race each other heads-up. Racers who want to run in the heads-up class must sign up for it at the beginning of the event. They will make their qualifying passes on Saturday, and NMRA/NMCA will select the fastest two Fords, two GMs, and two Chryslers, plus two wild cards based on qualifying passes. Any racers who did not qualify for the Heads-Up Class will automatically be entered into the HOT ROD Drags Late-Model Index class and continue to participate. NMRA/NMCA has devised a ladder system that will have opposing brands run against each other in the first round.

For rules and purses for the Hot Rod Drags please log on to www.nmradigital.com/hotrod or www.nmcadigital.com/hotrod.