I just got back home to the Florida heat, but after spending the weekend in Charlotte, NC for the NMRA/NMCA zMAX Dragway race, it was like I never left. In a word, it was HOT!!! However, so was the racing, but you'll have to wait to get our take on the whole event. I'll give you a teaser after the jump...

It's always good seeing people I haven't seen in a while, and there were many faces at zMAX Dragway that fit into this category. I saw Slim Shady Jesse Houseman and his boy Brian McKinley. Hey Brian, remember, no one knows who you are when you're wearing a helmet. Thanks for the A/C, the burger and the cold drinks.

During Saturday's qualfying I received a text from Real Street Performance's Jay Meagher. At that point I knew he was at the event. Thanks for the hat that would fit my little boy, but it's cool to have one nonetheless...and congrats on that other thing.

KOTS competitor Allen Hurley showed up with his 2006 GT, but is still working out the mechanical bugs in the car. All was not lost, though. Allen had two cars with him, and he won True Street with his 1988 Fox coupe with an 8.959 average. Allen, if you need a driver the for the 2006 GT, while you're too busy driving the coupe, let me know.

I ran into another KOTS veteran in Donald Salem at dinner Sunday night. He went from the KOTS to the NMRA's Drag Radial class, but he hasn't raced the car in 2009. He now has his own performance shop in Mooresville, NC called Boosted Performance. As you can read, he specializes in boost. Donald, that double-stack wing better remain up in the shop rafters.

I was able to see Jerry Pitt, who first hired me back in the Dobbs Publishing days, and former boss and 5.0&SF editor Rob Kinnan, who is now editor of Hot Rod magazine. Good to see you again guys.

I knew the race was a big deal when I ran into Ford Racing's Jesse "Rockstar" Kershaw in Hot Rod magazine's VIP suite. Jesse was doing his best to keep up with the aforementioned Jerry Pitts' editorial ideas. Good to see you, Jesse, let me know when the new intake is scheduled to hit the streets.

Though I am always happy to see my NMRA friends, it was great to see Jason Hoots, Mrs Hootie, and all the family. Jason is one of the original 5.0 Mustang and Super Fords Real Street racers, and the boy's been through a lot. Even when he was racing Real Street running deep into the 10s, he told me wanted to go fast, but on a radial. Through the NMCA's Street Radial class, we think Hootie just might've found his class...for now. Using his same red LX hatch - with a fixed cowl panel, nonetheless - Jason runs a 363ci with a Vortech T-Trim, Trick Flow Twisted Wedge heads from his Real Street days, and a blow-though carburetor. In his first race out, Jason showed he hasn't lost his touch; winning the class at zMAX Dragway. That was cool.  

We'd be remiss to not mention seeing Uncle Robin Lawrence. We don't get to see him very much since he fell, hit his head, and started racing Chevrolets, but he's still a good guy. I really wished Robin and Justin Burcham could line 'em up at the event, but even if that was possible, Robin's new-car teething issues would've kept that from happening.

Former EFI Renegade racer, and probably one of the more original, and taller Mustang racers, Dan Jaynes was also at zMAX taking in the event. Being a North Carolina guy, he didn't have to travel far to catch up with friends.

Good to see you guys. Don't be a stranger.