Judson Massingill's '99 Camaro
Judson Massingill is no stranger to the world of sportsman drag racing. Over the years he's been an iconic fixture at most NMCA events. Massingill and his better half, Linda, own and teach at their hard-core vocational school in Houston, the School of Automotive Machinists. A unique aspect of the school is that they offer real-world, hands-on experience by bringing their students (as many as 36 on this particular outing) to the track, with everyone crewing on the school's cars. We just heard that the motor is out and they're planning big changes for next year, including a bit more compression, a different cam grind, and a new Liberty five-speed.
Name: Judson Massingill
Hometown: Houston, TX
Class: LSX All Motor
Best e.t.: 8.75 at 154.75 mph
Best 60-foot: 1.28
Motor: 427ci C5R
Intake: Beck Mechanical sheetmetal
Heads: C5R
Power-adder: None
Exhaust: Custom 2 1/8-inch to 2 1/4-inch with 4-inch collectors
Transmission: Jerico four-speed
Suspension front: Factory style, BMR tubular K-member, A-arms, and Santhuff struts
Suspension rear: Factory F-body style, BMR torque arm and swaybar, AFCO double-adjustable shocks, QA1 springs
Weight: 3,350 pounds with driver
Wheels and tires: Bogart Racing Wheels, 26x4.5-15 M/T ET Front, 28x10.5 M/T ET Drag slicks rear
Rearend: 9-inch, 5.14:1 gears
Power: 954 hp (flywheel)
Linda Massingill's '98 Camaro
Linda Massingill is the other half when it comes to the School of Automotive Machinists. Not one to simply stand on the line as a spectator, Linda pilots this cherry fourth-gen Camaro. Her powerplant of choice is a 500ci LS2 newly constructed with the help of ERL Performance and their trick deck plate, intake manifold spacers, and pressed sleeves (see Apr. '09 for complete build). This big-inch monster made well over 900 hp on the sauce, and they're dialing it in on the motor, running consistently in the bottom 10s. For this outing, Linda entered the True Street class, which requires every vehicle to be registered and insured and to complete a 30-mile cruise that's followed by three back-to-back passes. Unfortunately, one student miscalculated the amount of fuel needed by half a gallon, and the Camaro ran out of fuel on pass and was put out of contention this year. It was a lesson learned, and we can be sure it won't happen again. When asked about their motor program, Linda credited Comp Cams, Royal Purple for their synthetic 10W30 oil, Clevite bearings, MSD, ERL, and HP Tuners. What's in the works for next year? She's swapping over to a set of slicks and aiming for the 9s naturally aspirated!
Name: Linda Massingill
Hometown: Houston, TX
Class: True Street
Best e.t.: 10.20s
Best 60-foot: 1.55
Motor: 500ci LS2
Intake: LS7
Heads: Ported LS7
Power-adder: None
Exhaust: Custom 1 7/8-inch to 2-inch with 3 1/2-inch collectors
Transmission: TCI Turbo 400
Suspension front: Factory style, BMR tubular K-member, A-arms, and Santhuff struts
Suspension rear: Factory F-body style, BMR torque arm, AFCO double-adjustable shocks, QA1 springs
Weight: 3,720 pounds with driver
Wheels and tires: Center Line Warrior wheels, 26x4.5-15 M/T ET Front, 28x10.5 M/T ET Street rear
Rearend: 9-inch, 3.55:1 gears
Power: 717 hp on motor, 923 hp with nitrous
Danny Niceley's '00 Corvette
Danny Niceley is an adrenalin junkie by trade. For 10 years he was an avid Pro Stock drag boat competitor, until a serious crash grounded him for a bit. After a seven-year absence from any motorsports, he got into the Vette shown here. He's been going full-throttle ever since. Niceley can't get enough of the tarmac, but he really appreciates the camaraderie of his friends at the track.
Name: Danny Niceley
Hometown: Knoxville, TN
Class: C/LSX 10.00 Index class
Best e.t.: 9.73 at 144.83 mph
Best 60-foot: 1.32
Motor: 427ci LS7
Intake: GM LS7
Heads: ET Performance LS7
Power-adder: None
Exhaust: American Racing 1 7/8-inch with 3-inch collectors to an X-pipe
Transmission: Original 4L60 built to RPM Transmission's Level 5 specs, Yank 4,000-stall converter
Suspension: Stock, QA1 shocks
Weight: 3,250 pounds with driver
Wheels and tires: Bogart Racing Wheels, 26x4.5-15 Hoosier front, 28x10-15 Hoosier rear
Rearend: IRS, RPM Stage 5 rearend, Quaife posi, 3.73:1 gears
Power: 550-600 rwhp (estimated)