The NMCA’s Nitrous Pro Street class is designed for both back-half, and tube-chassis cars, utilizing a single-stage, nitrous fogger system. Naturally aspirated big-block combinations are allowed, and even given a weight break, but it’s a tough class, with cars that routinely run in the low 7-second range. The exciting aspect of Nitrous Pro Street is that there are several makes and models represented in the class. Brand loyalists in the stands can banter back and forth about their Mustangs, Mopars, and Chevrolet racers.

One racer hoping for a solid 2016, is Jeff Rudolf. As a matter of fact, he can only improve his year-end standing by one spot in 2016, but that would earn him a championship in only his second year racing in Nitrous Pro Street.

Jeff and the crew hope to test at Bradenton Motorsports Park within the next few weeks in preparation for the NMCA opener. He hopes all the changes made during the off-season have a positive impact on his racing program.

Jeff’s 1969 Nova runs a 521 cubic-inch combination inside a Dart block, with GRP rods, Diamond pistons, and Dart Big Chief cylinder heads. Last year, he used a single carburetor with a NOS fogger setup. The car’s previous owner Kevin Parent built the engine that Jeff ran in 2015, but Dave Howard is freshening it up, in preparation for the 2016 season. Speaking of 2016, Dave Howard talked Jeff into installing a dual-carburetor setup, using Bob Book Dominator-style carburetors.

Jeff is also switching things up from a transmission standpoint as well. He’s not changing the transmission itself, the RPM Transmissions-built Turbo 400 will again be doing duty in 2016, but the converter is getting changed in an effort to garner better 60-foot times from the car. For this year, he’s adding a Bradco converter in place of what he ran in 2015.

Inside the fabricated 9-inch-style housing are Moser Engineering 4.88 gears, axles, and a spool. He’s switching up his tire choice out back as well, and also adding Penske shocks. He’s changing to a Mickey Thompson 10.5W for 2016, so he can take advantage of the  50-pound weight break for using these tires.

Jeff started racing NMCA Open Comp, and did so until the start of the 2015 season, when he stepped into Nitrous Pro Street. We’d say his rookie season in the class was a good one, since he finished second in points. “I had a lot of help from Kevin Parent and Dave Howard,” Jeff says. He also receives sponsorship help from MAC Tools.

At one time, the class was known as Nostalgia Pro Street, and rules necessitated the use of a four-link rear suspension, which is what Jeff’s Nova has. That rule carried over to Nitrous Pro Street when the class name was changed for the 2015 NMCA season.

As it sits right now, the car is being rewired, and is receiving an MSD Power Grid System and new Racepak 300V data-logger.

In 2015, Jeff’s Nova was typically running in the 7.38 to 7.42 second range. With class champion Joe Bucaro running in the 7.20s, Jeff knew these changes were a must. “With these changes, I think we’ll be there,” Jeff says, “we’re pretty confident of that.” You can see Jeff’s 2016 season get started at the NMCA season-opener, March 10th through the 13th at Bradenton Motorsports Park.