Name: Bruce Hemminger

Age: 30

Occupation: Ford Dealership Sales Manager

Hobbies: Billiards

Biggest rival: Whoever is in the next lane

Car: 1986 Mustang Coupe

Class: NMRA Real Street

Major accomplishments: FFW 1st nitrous assisted Street Outlaw car in the 8's, 1999 FFW Street Outlaw Norwalk, OH Champion, 2001 NMRA Real Street Byron, IL runner-up, 2002 NMRA Real Street Reynolds, GA runner-up, 2002 NMRA Real Street Bowling Green champion, 2002 NMRA Real Street points runner-up and current record holder of 10.22

Best ET: 8.61

Best MPH: 162
 

My knowledge of racing is not just on the street or the track. In 1992 I started working at the local speed shop. Working at White's Pit Stop out of Lansing, IL taught me other areas of racing also. I worked there  for many years part and full time. I learned many things such as the huge industry of drag racing. Learning about all the different manufacturers, and the parts for mustangs grew and grew over the years. All the new and up to date parts were at my use. Like any other racer I wanted to go faster.

 

In 1995 I purchased my 1986 Mustang coupe that I race today. It was originally a 4 cylinder. Here is the funny part. I added Weld draglites (skinnies and all), roll cage, 8.8 rear end w/spool, Auto Meter gauges, racing buckets and 5 way harnesses before I removed the 4 cylinder engine. Some of the looks I got on the ways to work with this exhaust leaking, no muffler,  noisy 4 cylinder were hilarious. Eventually I added a stock blocked 306 w/ ported Dart heads, TRW domed pistons,c-4 trans, 8" converter., Victor Jr. intake, 4.56 gear, spool, and a good solid roller cam. I was running 11.20's. shifting at 7200 was fun. Then I added a little nitrous. Without changing the gear or converter. It was 8300 through the traps. 10.24 . I must have been crazy. Because I made 2 passes like that. I still to this day don't know how that engine lived through the 8300 rpm. After changing gears and converters I went 9.60's with the help of creative nitrous tuning.  I still wanted more.
 

 

In 1998 I purchased a 342ci engine from Brian Clifford and Matt Jabaay of C & J Racing. The engine consisted of race ported TFS street heat heads, ported Victor Jr. intake w/ pro shot fogger, T & D rocker shafts, Lunati custom roller cam, 12.5:1 pistons, A-4 block, Billet crank, Oliver billet rods, etc. I soon found myself racing in Fun Ford Weekend Street Outlaw. In 1999 my first race was in Norwalk, OH. I qualified #6 running in the 9.40's and worked my way to the finals. Where I had won the race. My first FFW Street Outlaw race and I had won. Talk about luck. Especially when the top guys were in the 8's. There was a heated race for the nitrous cars to see who was going to be the first in the 8's. With lots of dedication. In testing I got down to 9.08.  My next race was in Cordova, IL. On Friday before qualifying. One of the other nitrous cars went 9.01. I knew I was going to have to step it up quick. If I was to earn the title of being the first nitrous car in the 8's. In the third round of qualifying, I dropped the hammer. The score board read 8.96 @ 151. I had done it.

 

Still not running at the top of the class. I wanted to run faster and at the top. I was introduced to "the man himself" Billy Glidden. I employed Billy to build me a competitive 2000 NMRA Super Street Outlaw engine with what I had to work with. He did his work and more horsepower was at my will. In my first test session with the new engine and with much less nitrous. I was running in the 8.80's. I figured I had 8.20 potential. Unfortunately with numerous  problems with the chassis and encounters with the wall. I only got to the 8.60's. This was the hardest and most expensive year of racing I have ever had. After crashing at the WFC. I was going to hang it up in Super Street Outlaw for a while.

 

In mid 2000 I had purchased a 1992 Mustang LX 5.0L 5spd from the dealership I work for. It had a lot of modifications to it. Such as cobra intake, 24lb injectors, complete Mac exhaust, MSD 6AL, F-cam, and 3.73 gear. I had lots of fun with this car. I was at the dragstrip every weekend and was running 12.40's. Of course I added a little nitrous! I got it to run 11.00's with a healthy shot. Then I noticed. All I had to do was add a cage, Steel bellhousing, stock cam, and a set of heads. I would be right in with the guys in the new NMRA Real Street class. At my first event in Byron, IL. I qualified # 2 with a 10.80. I ended up in the finals and fell short. The only other event I made was the final race at Bowling Green, KY. There I qualified #2 again and redlighted in the semis. My point totals earned me a top ten finish. I have found a home.
 

 

What to do for the next year? Hey how about converting the Outlaw car for Real Street? How about having Billy build me another engine? All of these ideas came to happen along with a new paint job from Dale George of Swill Racing. And success I received. My first race for the 2002 NMRA racing season was at Bradenton, FL. Without so much as a 60ft pass on the new car and my back up engine. All I could put together was a first round loss of a 10.60. At Reynolds, GA I managed to runner-up. In Columbus I added the Glidden engine and 10.30's were at my will. I lost in the 3rd round due to a broken driveshaft. In Maple Grove, Penn I urn up the nitrous. Out came 10.22 @ 131. A technical infraction took me out in the semifinals. In Atco, NJ I qualified #1 with a 10.20 @ 131. What do you know. Murphy showed up again and I could not get it in 4th gear in the second round. Being 3rd in points I had a slim chance to win the championship. The final race in Bowling Green, KY I qualified #2 and worked my way to the finals. It was me and fellow nitrous race Steve Torkelson. We left the line. He got me on the tree, but I got him to the 60ft. I kept the lead all the way down winning the race.

 

My season was a great success. Finishing # 2 in points and holding the class record of 10.22 @ 132 is a great honor. I would like to thank all of my sponsors. White's Pit Stop in Lansing, Il, TRZ Race Cars in Frankfort, IL, Kyle Voss of Voss Performance Inductions, Bogart Racing Wheels, and most of all Billy Glidden for the encouraging words and great engine he has built for me.