17th Annual Street Car Showdown Recap & Highlights
- Brainerd International Raceway
- 14 hours ago
- 8 min read
Event: BIR Kwik Trip Muscle Car Series 17th Annual Street Car Showdown
Date: May 22-24, 2026
Location: Brainerd International Raceway
Next Race: 40th Annual Show N Go July 3-5 2026
Photo Credit: Eagle Eye Photography
The 2026 Kwik Trip Muscle Car Series officially kicked off this past weekend with the 17th Annual Street Car Showdown at Brainerd International Raceway, and despite weather challenges throughout the first half of the weekend, Sunday came together to deliver an outstanding start to the 3 race series.
Cold temperatures and rain on both Friday and Saturday kept the BIR Drag Crew working continuously trying to stay ahead of the weather, ultimately only attaining one qualifying session/time trial for all competitors on both Friday and Saturday.
Due to the weather-limiting qualifying to only 2 sessions an unprecedented adjustment was made to the Fast Seven Heads Up Classes allowing all competitors to be qualified and placed on the ladder regardless of whether they had posted the minimum elapsed-time requirement to qualify.
Saturday night also featured one of the signature traditions of the Kwik Trip Muscle Car Series as competitors in Redline Fabrication & Performance King Street, Everything Automotive Real Street Unlimited, and Real Street Natural participated in the mandatory cruise around BIR’s 3.1-mile road course. Competitors completed four laps with headlights and taillights illuminated before shutting the cars off for a five-minute heat soak and restart to remain eligible for Sunday eliminations.
In Redline Fabrication & Performance King Street, Jason Geiger claimed both the number one qualifying spot and top speed honors in his 1968 Chevy Camaro with a 7.646-second pass at 193.5 mph.
Everything Automotive Real Street Unlimited saw Jesse Nelson earn the top qualifying position with an 8.114-second run in his 70 Chevelle, while first-time BIR Muscle Car Series competitor Ryan Underthun posted top speed in his 2011 Ford Mustang at 173.25 mph.
In Real Street Natural, Bob Wallin secured both the number one qualifying position and top speed honors in his 1972 Chevy Nova with an 8.566 elapsed time at 154.12 mph.
Outlaw Pro Mod qualifying was led by Pete Harder in a 1968 Chevy Camaro with a 4.331-second eighth-mile pass, while top speed honors went to John Kreviazuk in his 1977 Dodge truck at 172.52 mph.
In Lakeside Cabinets & Woodworking Outlaw, Bubba Romayshyn swept both qualifying categories in his first gen Camaro with a 6.448-second run at 197.45 mph.
The Zack Novak Construction 660 OS class saw Cole Carpenter claim both number one qualifier and top speed honors in his 1989 Ford Mustang with a 4.777 elapsed time at 149.83 mph.
In Norm’s Tire Sales 660 LS, Nick Enberg secured the top qualifying position in his 1964 Chevelle with a 5.323-second pass, while Graham Boyd posted the class top speed at 137.74 mph in his 1991 S10.
When Sunday arrived, so did the weather everyone had been waiting for.
Sunny skies, warm temperatures, and tight track conditions set the stage for a phenomenal day of eliminations featuring close racing, exciting finishes, and personal best performances.
Outlaw Pro Mod featured an all-Canadian final round match-up between 2025 Outlaw ProMod Champion Ray Friesen’s hired driver, Lucas Mliner of Winnipeg, Manitoba, and John Kreviazuk of Selkirk, Manitoba. Kreviazuk held the reaction-time advantage in his 1977 Dodge truck, but Mliner chased him down in the 1969 Chevy Camaro with a winning 4.112-second pass at 182.21 mph.
In Lakeside Cabinets & Woodworking Outlaw, Paul Gibbs defeated Gregory Maaninga of Menahga, Minnesota, with an 8.743-second run at 154 mph.
The Zack Novak Construction 660 OS final saw Logan Loesch score the win over Cole Carpenter after Carpenter went into a power wheelie and was forced to lift. Loesch drove his 1970 Camaro to a 4.645-second pass at 164.39 mph for the victory.
Norm’s Tire Sales 660 LS saw Dallas Nestvold in his 08 Corvette drive around Wayne Bellinger in his 91 Mustang for the win with a 4.936-second pass at 147.2 mph.
The closest race of the weekend came in the Redline Fabrication & Performance King Street final between Steve Carson and Jason Geiger. Geiger was late on the tree and Carson took the stripe by .003 seconds, but was disqualified for exceeded the limits of his chassis certification, awarding the victory to Geiger and his 7.346-second, 197.39 mph pass.
Everything Automotive Real Street Unlimited featured Pete Trombley in his 76 C-10 taking the win over Jesse Nelson with a 8.149 at 166.95 mph run.
The Real Street Natural final matched the class’s number one and number two qualifiers, with Bob Wallin in his 72 Nova driving around David Beck in his 71 Skylark for the win.
In SE1, Kerry Hemenway picked up the victory over Ryan Funk after Funk broke out running under his 10.97 dial-in.
SE2 winner Taylor Tesar in her 71 Mach 1 used a reaction-time advantage to force Mark Turner in his 69 442 into a breakout run to see her win light come on.
SE3 saw Bob Peterson in his 03 GMC Truck the win after Lisa Stellar in her 76 Moza had an .019 light but broke out running under her dial in.
Defending 2024 & 2025 Manual Transmission champion Jeremy Reitmeier in his 66 Chevelle secured another win after opponent Chris Mormon in his 89 Mustang turned on the red light.
Jay Lurkus in a 23 F150 captured the Acme Tools Truck Eliminator title over Dennis Diller in his 19 Ram.
Rob Weyker in his Ford Coupe claimed the ICE 9.50 class victory over Ben Buell in his 69 Boss Mustang with a 9.544 pass on the 9.50 index.
Bruce Morley’s perfect .000 reaction time, and 10.029 run in his 69 Dart gave him the win in 10.00 Ice, over Brian Peterson in his 70 Monte Carlo.
In the 10.50 Ice final Chad Hoffman in his 74 Dart used his .008 light secure the 10.50 Ice win when Dylan Dancer in his 14 Mustang ran 10.487 breaking out.
John Plachy racing a 97 Dakota won the 11.0 Index class with a near perfect .004 reaction time, to defeat Jerry Eischens in his 74 Nova.
Stefan Halverson in a 73 Gremlin captured the 11.50 title over Troy Novak in his 78 F250.
Mary Sue Thamert drove to the 12.0 Index win after Don Giske encountered starting line issues.
Corey Arndt racing a 76 Camaro used a reaction time advantage to take the win in 12.50 Index over Shawn Holmquist in his 97 Corvette.
Todd Larson in his Corvette won 13.00 Ice when John Peterson in a 15 SS Sedan turned on the red giving Larson the automatic win.
13.50 Ice saw Chad Swanson racing a 98 Corvette defeat Noah Swanson in a 14 Challenger with the better reaction time and running closer to the 13.50 index.
Dan Hyttsten in his 87 Grand National ran a 14.055 and used his reaction time advantage to lock out Anna Tesar in her 67 Mustang. For the 14.00 Ice win.
Once all individual ICE (Index Class Eliminator) champions were crowned, the winners advanced into the popular “ICE CUBE” runoff to determine the overall Index Class Eliminator champion. The final round featured 10.00 competitor Bruce Morley against 11.00 winner John Plachy, with Plachy securing the "CUBE" title after Morley broke out running under his 10.0 index.
#KwikTrip #lakesideCabinetsWoodworking #RedlinePerformanceFabrication #EverythingAutomotive #ZackNovakConstruction #NormsTireSales #AcmeTools
The Street Car Showdown proved to be a tremendous way to launch the 2026 Kwik Trip Muscle Car Series season. Between weather challenges early in the weekend, and exciting racing on Sunday, the event showcased everything that continues to make the Muscle Car Series special.
The 2026 Kwik Trip Muscle Car Series now turns its attention to the next stop on the schedule — the 40th Annual Show & Go over Fourth of July weekend — before wrapping up the season Labor Day weekend at the 38th Annual Muscle Car Shootout.
Thank you to all of the racers, crews, sponsors, spectators, supporters, and BIR team members who helped make the 17th Annual Street Car Showdown a success. We appreciate everyone who came out to race, spectate, and support the event. We look forward to seeing everyone back at BIR soon.
The BIR Kwik Trip Muscle Car Series is fueled by the racers, families, businesses, and partners that continue to invest in grassroots drag racing across the Midwest. BIR proudly thanks the 2026 class sponsors helping support competition and racer opportunity throughout the season.
Kwik Trip – Muscle Car Series Title Sponsor
Kwik Trip has become a staple across the Midwest by providing clean stores, quality fuel, fresh food, and outstanding customer service at locations drivers can count on every day. From their well-known bakery and hot food offerings to convenient grab-and-go options and dependable service, Kwik Trip continues to be a favorite stop for racers, travelers, and families across the region.
Lakeside Cabinets & Woodworking – Outlaw
Lakeside Cabinets & Woodworking is a premier provider of custom cabinetry and woodworking solutions, specializing in high-quality craftsmanship for kitchens, bathrooms, and custom home projects. With a reputation for excellence and attention to detail, Lakeside transforms spaces with beautifully designed and functional cabinetry. Lakeside Cabinets & Woodworking
Zack Novak Construction Inc – OS 660
Zack Novak Construction Inc. is a trusted name in the construction industry, specializing in residential and commercial building projects, renovations, and custom construction solutions. With a strong commitment to quality craftsmanship and customer satisfaction, Zack Novak Construction has built a reputation for excellence in the region. Zack Novak Construction Inc
Norm’s Tire Sales – LS 660
Norm’s Tire Sales has been a trusted name in the industry, providing high-quality tires, wheels, and automotive services to keep racers and everyday drivers on the road with confidence. Whether you're looking for performance tires or expert service, Norm’s Tire Sales has you covered! Norm's Tire Sales
Everything Automotive – Real Street Unlimited
Everything Automotive is a full-service automotive shop dedicated to keeping vehicles running at peak performance. Specializing in repairs, maintenance, performance upgrades, and custom modifications, they provide expert service for racers and everyday drivers alike. Whether you need routine maintenance or high-performance enhancements, Everything Automotive has you covered! Everything Automotive
Redline Performance & Fabrication – King Street
Redline Performance & Fabrication is a business dedicated to high-performance automotive builds, custom fabrication, welding, and dyno tuning. With a passion for speed and innovation, Redline provides top-tier services for racers and performance enthusiasts looking to push their vehicles to the next level.
Acme Tools – Truck Eliminator
Acme Tools has been a trusted name in the tool industry for over 75 years, offering a vast selection of power tools, hand tools, equipment, and accessories from the most trusted brands. Whether you're a professional contractor, DIY enthusiast, or motorsports competitor, Acme Tools provides the high-quality tools and expert service needed to get the job done right. Acme Tools
A huge THANK YOU to all of our sponsors for their continued support of BIR and the Kwik Trip Muscle Car Series. Be sure to support those who support racing!
The Kwik Trip Muscle Car Series at Brainerd International Raceway brings together some of the Midwest’s fastest street cars, drag-and-drive style competitors. With heads-up classes, index racing and dial in bracket classes for three action-packed holiday weekends each summer. Combining competitive drag racing with the unique street cruise tradition, the series delivers a true street car experience while showcasing high-horsepower racing, close competition, and some of the region’s most diverse performance vehicles.
From seasoned racers chasing championships to first-time competitors making passes down the quarter-mile, the Muscle Car Series continues to be one of the premier grassroots performance racing programs in the Midwest, bringing together racers, crews, families, and fans throughout the summer racing season.
Brainerd International Raceway (BIR), located in Brainerd, Minnesota, is one of the Midwest’s premier multi-discipline motorsports facilities. Home to the NHRA Nationals, BIR hosts drag racing, road racing, drifting, autocross, performance driving experiences, and grassroots motorsports events throughout the season.
The facility features a championship drag strip, multiple road course configurations, dedicated drift infrastructure, and destination camping that has made BIR a motorsports tradition for generations of racers and fans.
For schedules, tickets, racer information, and event details: https://www.birmn.com