The National Mustang Racers Association put an exclamation point on the '06 season with a season-ending bash at Beech Bend Raceway last October. While racers scrambled on the quarter-mile in attempts to nail down season championships-or at least climb up the standings-local Mustang and Ford owners from all over the east participated in the Laurel Mountain All-Ford Auto Show, sponsored by Mustang Monthly and our sister title, Mustang & Fords.
As usual, the car show highlighted a number of wild late-models, but we also spotted fantastic vintage Mustangs, such as Tony Lyles' modular-powered '65 convertible and Dustin Faust's '66 fastback, which won the Mustang Monthly Editor's Choice award. Our thanks go to Show Director Ed Svoboda for making the selection in our absence.
With the burnout smoke settled and the awards presented, the NMRA closed out its '06 season at Bowling Green. The '07 season has already begun, and Mustang Monthly is back as a car show sponsor. We'll see you at the races.
One of the great things about NMRA events is that you can slip away from the car show to check out the action on the dragstrip. It's not all late-model, as you can see from this wheels-up launch by Brian Meine in his '66 fastback. This car is powered by a 418ci Windsor. | 
Bob Hanlon has been a mainstay in late-model Mustang drag racing for many years. At Bowling Green, he nailed down Second Place in the Hot Street season standings. | 
Tom Lyles from Westmoreland, Tennessee, is the owner and builder of this clean '65 convertible. Powered by a 4.6L modular engine, the car won a Top 20 award on Saturday. |
Car Show Results
Saturday
Best Classic Mustang
1st: Mark and Rhonda Delk -'69 Boss 302
2nd: Christina McCarthy - '6411/42 Mustang
Best Modern Mustang
1st: Tim Powderly - '94 Mustang Cobra
2nd: Mike Cooper - '01 GT
Best Daily Driver
1st: Terry Latham - '06 Mustang GT
2nd: Nick Thurman - '04 Explorer (tie)
2nd: Jim Crouch - '03 Mach 1 (tie)
Jack Roush got his start in drag racing, so it was great to see a modern Roush Mustang competing in the NMRA's Modular Muscle class. Don Bowle's yellow '06 Roush Mustang ran a 9.66 at 140 mph.
Popular Vote
Best Body and Paint
1st: Mark and Rhonda Delk - '69 Boss 302
2nd: Mike Cooper - '01 Mustang
Best Engine
1st: James Grifford - '01 Cobra
2nd: Charles Blair - '64 Galaxie 427
Best Stance
1st: Rick Carlisle - '69 Mustang
2nd: Jason Ford - '94 F-150
People's Choice
1st: Tim Blanton - '67 Mustang
2nd: Ben Halker - '05 Mustang GT