Outlaw series shows off its muscle at Street Car Showdown;
Imgrund repeats as Index Class Champion

(May 23, 2010) - There's nobody more deserving of the title "Index Class Champion" than David Imgrund, and not just because he won that honor Sunday at Brainerd International Raceway during the 2nd Annual Street Car Showdown. Imgrund has now been crowned champion three of the last four races and was the runner up in the only race he didn't win. 

On Sunday, Imgrund beat Christine Abramson in the finals.She cut her worst light of the weekend and had to run it out the backdoor to even have a chance.

It was a fitting end to the first of three Outlaw Street Car Series races, which feature drag racing heavyweights slugging it out for series points, prize money, hardware and bragging rights. The Outlaw series showcases the "fast five" classes: Pro Outlaw, Outlaw, King Street, Real Street Unlimited and Real Street Natural. It also includes the Index Class Championship, where the winners of the eight Index Classes are paired up in a three-round run-off to see who's the best of the best. And for three of the last four Outlaw races, dating back to last year's version of the Street Car Showdown, it's been Imgrund and his 1967 Chevelle.  

In the fast five classes, the Pro Outlaw Class saw Luke Volk break 200 mph in his 1967 Nova. His qualifying run of 203.95 mph was the fastest run of the weekend, and his time of 6.916 seconds made him the top qualifier. But that doesn't guarantee you a trip to the winner's circle. In the semifinals, Volk fouled at the starting line and his car broke. That opened the door for Craig Braun, who drove his 1963 Corvette to a finals win over Garry Loeffelholz and his 2004 Mustang. Braun's winning time was 7.142 at 183.44 mph to Loeffelholz's 7.625 seconds and 176.70 mph.

In the Outlaw Class, Mike Bauerly defended his title from last year's event, knocking off Eric Wourms in the finals. As the top qualifier, Bauerly and his 2005 Corvette inched past Wourms at the finish line, posting a 7.225-second run at 189.90 mph. Wourms finished at 7.251 seconds and 189.52 mph.

Steve Clarke backed up his "first in the 7's" King Street pass from last year with another sub-8-second pass in qualifying. His time was 7.975 seconds and 172.59 mph in his 1968 Chevelle making him the #1 Qualifier. But Clarke never made it past the second round of eliminations, when he fouled at the starting line. That opened the door for Brian Mahnke, who had the second best qualifying time. He drove his 1972 Camaro to a first-place finish over Michael Sterling with a time of 8.063 seconds and 174.82 mph.

In Real Street Unlimited, Ian McNiven drove his 1988 Mustang to a finals win over Dough Boettcher. McNiven's winning time was 9.401 seconds at 145.72 mph. Boettcher and his '66 Chevelle finished with a 9.424-second run and 144.89 mph.

Troy Lowry, driving a '90 Mustang, won the Real Street Natural Class, defeating Todd Malik and his '68 Camaro. Lowry's winning time was 8.963 seconds and 154.07 mph.

The second race in the Outlaw Street Car Series is July 2-4 during the NAPA Auto Parts Show & Go. That will be a Dual Event Weekend with the Sports Car Club of America's Jack Pine Sprints on the Competition Road Course. Two events for a single ticket!