Combining Drag-and-Drive Format and Class Eliminations, Heads Up Hustle Event Wraps Up in Michigan - Moore, Trettel and Johnston Among Class Winners
Combining the basics of a drag-and-drive event with a final day of eliminations to crown class winners, the Heads Up Hustle returned to Michigan for its second year.
Starting at Milan Dragway in Milan, Michigan on Friday, July 26th, the event then routes to Mid Michigan Motorplex on Saturday, July 27th to complete their qualifying runs and set an average for the final day. The third day returns the event to Milan Dragway, where eliminations are held and class winners are crowned.
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The Unlimited class is held on the quarter-mile standard, and rules are only limited to the general rules on runs, time slip submission and making the routes without support vehicles and otherwise generally accepted drag-and-drive rules. Jon Moore put together an 8.66 average, and took the win in the class.
Small Tire switches the format to an eighth-mile, requires a steel body vehicle (except for Corvette models), and a maximum 28-inch-tall x 10.5-inch-width slick or 275 radial.
The turbocharged ’67 Pontiac Firebird of Jim Trettel led the class with a 5.032 average, followed by Scott Klepinger’s ’86 Chevrolet Camaro with a 5.263 average and TJ Linebaugh’s station wagon in third with 5.44 average. Eliminations put Trettel in the final round opposite Klepinger, and Trettel would emerge the champion.
Linebaugh didn’t leave Milan empty handed, as he would capture the Hidden Motorsports No Half Sends Street Car Shootout later Sunday afternoon.
Stick Shift is a quarter-mile class for vehicles with a H-pattern transmission, requiring a foot operated clutch to leave the starting line.
Sara Johnston qualified in the top spot with a 12.692 average, and survived eliminations to the final round, where Johnston secured the win in her 2011 Chevrolet Camaro over Justin Mollenkopf.
The Naturally Aspirated Big Block and Small Block classes bring out competitors that want to participate in a drag-and-drive without power adders.
The N/A Big Block class would have Chris Lewis claiming the title, wheeling his ‘68 Dodge Dart to an 11.32 average and the class win.
On the N/A Small Block side, Richard Alatorre and his ‘92 Corvette upset the top qualifier, Luke Van Allen, in the final round for the win.
The Daily Driver class adds in several elements to the rules, including a full factory interior, and functional heat and air conditioning if factory equipped. Chris Reiter would be the lone vehicle in the 10-second range, and improved on his 10.51 average in the final round with a 10.25 pass to seal the class victory over Aaron Darnell.
The Street Tire class requires driven tires be a 200 treadwear tire or higher, and the final pitted Jeremy Furchak opposite Jennifer Legg, where Furchak would get the win in his 1985 Chevrolet Camaro.
The Full Size Truck class had a pair of trucks in the 10-second category, with Lee Brooks averaging 10.06 to edge out the 10.29 average of Shane Maley. But on elimination day, it would be Maley getting the upper hand, pulling off the upset on Brooks for the class victory.
The Motorcycle class had Greg Furchak completing the two track racing and street ride, and staging up on Sunday to collect the class win.
Three index classes were held during Heads Up Hustle: a 10-Second Index, 11.50-Second Index and 13-Second Index. The 10-Second Index title was secured by Joshua Burt who clocked a pair of 10.0-second performance for a 10.03 average and the class win.
Trevor Adams wheeled his classic Mustang to a pair of 11.7-second performances for an 11.772 average, then finished the job with the Sunday eliminations win in the 11.50-Second Index over Mitchell Christian.
The largest field of the event came in the 13-Second Index class, and the top qualifier would be Sharon Bogardus with a 13.089 average. Bogardus managed to navigate through eliminations to face number two qualifier John Hall in the final, and Bogardus claimed the victory.
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Sick the Magazine, Hard Target Images and Heads Up Hustle.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com