The 2010 Ames Performance Tri-Power Pontiac Nationals

In addition to the regular race programs, spectators were treated to some very exciting exhibition passes. Arnie "The Farmer" Beswick in the Tameless Tiger II '64 Pro Mod GTO paired against Bag-Boy Eric Larson in the Grocery Getter '63 Tempest wagon. Also Dave Anderson ran the Beat the Tiger program in Jim Wangers' '66 GeeTO Tiger.

The Nostalgia Super Stock Association also presented a program of '60s-era factory race cars at Norwalk. The exciting thing about that is it wasn't just Pontiacs. There were Mopars, Fords, and Chevys taking to the track, just like it was in the old days. Racers such as Rick Johnson, Joe Zajac, Larry Kaufman, and others did a great job of carrying the Pontiac torch in those matchups.

There were several performances of note that weekend at Summit Motorsports Raceway Park. Lou Greco, of Edinburg, Pennsylvania, ran his '70 Judge hard all weekend, taking Friday night's Spotts Performance Box class, Sunday's AllPontiac.com Super Pro class, and then going to the finals in the Chief of the Pontiacs, where he redlighted—all in all, a stellar performance.

Todd Filson, of Fairborn, Ohio, and his rear-engined dragster waded through round after round to take the AllPontiac.com Super Pro win on Saturday against Kalvi Puru's '69 GTO. Then on Sunday, he came back to win the KRE Quick 16, beating Jim Scott and his '68 Firebird with a 7.602 at 169.53 mph. Well done!

As previously reported, Rodney Butler and Travis Quillen really set the Pontiac world on its ear, showing up with their sinister-looking, matte-black '63 LeMans and making Pontiac racing history, taking the number one qualifier spot for the Butler Performance Frantic Four, and then running a mind-bending 6.421 at 222.11. The team then backed it up with an even better 6.278 at 228.11 mph.

For the last two years, a non-traditional Pontiac took the Chief of the Pontiacs crown. Last year, it was Steven Douglas with his nearly stock four-cylinder '84 Fiero. This year, it was Chris Yates and his '00 GTP sedan. Running a high-powered, front-wheel-drive race car is a considerable challenge for a bracket racer. With the limited traction capabilities of front wheel drive, racers need to keep the nose down and limit weight transfer. Add in the fact that stock supercharged GTPs suffer from a heat-soak problem, which slows the cars as more laps are made, and racing one is no walk in the park.

Chris solved both of those problems with slicks, strategic chassis mods, and the addition of an air-to-liquid intercooler to his blown V-6, which lowers charge temperatures and makes cool-downs between rounds a lot easier.

In the final round on Sunday evening, it was just Chris and Lou Greco, who actually took two class wins. When Greco bulbed, Yates went on for the win and the championship. To be the last man standing in a 444-car field is quite an accomplishment, and to do it in a front-driver is even more impressive.

For more highlights of the 2010 race, check out our photos, captions, and winners' list, and then start planning to attend this year's event. The Ames Performance Tri-Power Pontiac Nationals will celebrate its 20th anniversary on August 5-7, 2011, at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio. For more info and event updates, log on to www.pontiacnationals.com. See you there!