Chevy Performance Stock Has Spectacular Debut In Bradenton

With the success of the NMRA’s Coyote Stock class, where racers are required to utilize a sealed crate engine, the NMCA came up with the Chevrolet Performance Stock class, which follows much the same premise for GM racers. The NMCA’s season opener in Bradenton was the first race for the new class, and five racers showed up to do battle. To contrast that with Coyote Stock, the class had five racers the whole first year, but now has close to 16 cars each event, with more being built.

Heath Shemwell finished runner-up at Bradenton’s NMCA opener.

Chevrolet Performance Stock races have to run the DR525 crate engine with required wiring harness and ECM. And also just like Coyote Stock, the ECM has a factory tune in it, and custom tuning is prohibited. The DR525 is a 376-inch LS3 engine rated at 525 horsepower. Any 1955-present chassis is legal, although at Bradenton it was all later-model Camaros in attendance.

Bradenton’s winner, Kevin Lumsden, campaigns a ’99 Camaro that started out as a street car. Lumsden converted the car specifically for the class. It currently has the DR525 engine with a TH200 transmission and an ATI Performance Products 8-inch converter, along with a 12-bolt rear with 4.11 gears.

Ronnie Hackleton qualified in the top spot at Bradenton with a 10.44, which was a few tenths quicker than others in the class. Howeve, it was Lumsden who won the race.

“I’ve been racing since I was 16,” Lumsden says, “but have gotten a lot more involved as of the last few years with NMCA. The class interested me because I’ve always liked the heads-up racing and this class seemed to be somewhat more of a build that fit my budget compared to the other categories.”

Bradenton Runner-up Heath Shemwell also runs a Camaro, but it’s a ’94 Z28 six-speed car. Shemwell has owned the car since 2008. “It’s a real deal race car,” Shemwell says. The car is a former Extreme Street and Street Radial car, and is certified to 7.50. “I’m racing this because it’s affordable,” Shemwell says.

Shemwell tells us the engine is $7,500, and the wiring harness and ECM is around $1,500. “Of course, you need headers, exhaust, and a transmission, too,” he adds. Shemwell used his existing ‘Glide transmission with a freshened up PTC converter. When we talked to him for this story he was in the middle of swapping in a TH200 transmission with an ATI Performance Products converter.

Keith Vaughn and his ’96 Camaro, from Nashville, Tennessee.

With the ‘Glide at Bradenton, Shemwell’s best pass was a 10.89, but with the 3-speed, he says, “If it doesn’t go 10.70s I’ll be a little disappointed.”

The next event for the freshman class is at Atlanta Dragway April 9th-12th. We’ll see if Lumsden will continue his winning ways or if someone else lays claim to the winner’s circle at Atlanta.