After a breakout season in the NMRA’s Super Stang class in 2012, where he finished the year on top as the class Champion, Chad Wendel has continued putting solid performances on the board so far in 2013. Despite a second-round breakout loss at the Florida event, the Moser Engineering-sponsored racer has continued to hone his skills. He didn’t fare terribly well in Atlanta at the second event, going out in the first round at the hands of Marvin Knack on another breakout, but he had a great showing at the most recent event this past weekend at Maryland International Raceway in Mechanicsville, Maryland. 

In order to make it to the final round there, he was the lucky recipient of a single pass in the randomly-paired class in the first round, which allowed him to take a shot at the tree. He became the top qualifier with a stout .015 reaction time after the first round, then proceeded to saw his way through the competition on Sunday, where he finally fell in the final round at the hands of longtime class competitor Pete Espeut in a hard-fought battle. Other opponents to fall by the wayside on the day were the notoriously-hard-to-beat Joe Cram, where Wendel ran an 11.998 on a .97 dial-in, and David Leichty, who took the loss in a double-breakout race.

Super Stang is one of the more difficult classes of competition in the NMRA with more than 20 cars regularly appearing, and rules that allow you to dial your own ET on Sunday prior to eliminations. That dial must stay the same throughout the day, providing an extra layer of challenge to the racers. Wendel has proven to be one of the more proficient at this challenge, but it’s still anyone’s game come race day. His choice of mount is a naturally-aspirated 2007 Mustang GT that features a full suspension from BMR and a number of other touches to achieve the ET’s. Wendel has been racing for over 25 years and started out with a Fox Body Mustang like so many of us before switching to the current ride.

The JEGS Cajun NHRA SPORTSnationals at No Problem Raceway, March 22-24 will be the inaugural South Central Division Moser Sportsman Shootout. 

The Moser Sportsman Shootout is unique in that racers from the seven entirely different class structures will be racing each other. Eliminations will be in a dial-in/breakout handicap racing format on the eighth-mile. The Christmas tree will be a full countdown mode with the Cross Talk feature not in use.

To sign up for the shootout go to: http://www.moserengineering.com/moser/nhra-sportsman-registration/

For rules: http://www.moserengineering.com/moser/nhra-sportsman-program-rules/

A $15,000 cash purse is up for grabs with $5,000 to the winner, $2,000 to the runner-up, $1,000 to each of the semi-finalists, $700 to the quarter-finalists and $400 to each of the remaining event qualifiers.

To be eligible for full posted purse qualifier must run the NHRA Moser Engineering Sportsman program decal and Moser Engineering axles and display the Moser Engineering product decal during the Sportsman Shootout Event. Qualifiers not utilizing Moser Engineering axles and displaying the Moser Engineering Sportsman Shootout program decal and Moser Engineering product decal for the duration of the Moser Sportsman Shootout event will receive 50% of the posted awards. Drivers are not required to have Moser Engineering axles to qualify or participate in the program.

Product use and proper decal display from tech inspection to completion of the Shootout by the competitor is required for full payout. The NHRA Certification Team will be responsible for product and decal verification at the Moser Sportsman Shootout.

Moser Engineering Sportsman Shootout “Wild Card” registration deadline, Aug. 19

All racers in Super Stock, Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas, Super Street, Top Dragster and Top Sportsman that have participated at a minimum of three (3) North Central Division NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series events this season will be eligible for a drawing to fill the two “Wild Card” positions for the inaugural NHRA Moser Engineering Sportsman Shootout provided that they have registered online at http://www.moserengineering.com/ by August 19, 2012.

 The two “Wild Card” positions will fill out the 16-car field that will also include the top two point qualifiers from each of the seven sportsman categories following the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series North Central Division Finals at Beech Bend Raceway Park, August 24-26.  The “Wild Card” drawing will take place at the Beech Bend event.

 A $15,000 cash purse is posted for the Moser Shootout with $5,000 to the winner, $2,000 to the runner-up, $1,000 to each semi-finalist, $700 to quarter-finalists and $400 to all remaining qualifiers.  To be eligible for full posted purse the qualifier must utilize Moser Engineering axles and properly display the Moser Engineering product decal during the Sportsman Shootout event.  Qualifiers not utilizing Moser Engineering axles and Moser Engineering product decal for the duration of the Moser Sportsman Shootout event will receive 50% of the posted awards.

 All Shootout participants must properly display the Moser Engineering Sportsman Shootout decal during the Sportsman Shootout event.  Product use and proper decal display will be verified from tech inspection to completion of the Shootout by the NHRA Certification Team.

 2012 MOSER ENGINEERING SPORTSMAN SHOOTOUT POLICIES & PROCEDURES

 MOSER SPORTSMAN SHOOTOUT POINT STANDINGS

565 engine, powerglide, moser M9 housing, 4.56 pro gears, aluminum center, moser 40 spline gun drilled axles and spool. Car weighs 2940 with driver.

Planning on ordering Moser Axles after the fab shop braces the rear end

434 ci small block 12 bolt moser rear 4.11 gears 4 link.TH 400 turbo.