Street-car performance took center stage at the 2026 ModNationals at South Georgia Motorsports Park, with 40 stick-shift cars in attendance and plenty of drag racing competition in TREMEC True Street. From impressive elapsed-time averages to razor-thin winning margins, the True Street racers delivered a battle in every performance category.
The ModNationals brings together Ford performance enthusiasts for a weekend of drag racing, with classes showcasing everything from street-driven cars and trucks to dedicated race cars. While the name reflects its connection to Ford Modular engines, the event welcomes a broader range of Ford-powered vehicles, including pushrod, Coyote and EcoBoost combinations, with eligibility determined by each class’s rules.
True Street celebrates cars that combine real street manners with quarter-mile performance. From stock daily drivers to heavily modified machines, these vehicles must remain street legal and prove their roadworthiness on a street cruise before competing on the dragstrip. The class welcomes anyone who meets the basic entry requirements, even first-time drag racers. Classes typically range from 8 seconds to 15 seconds, with an overall title awarded to the competitor with the lowest average elapsed time (ET).
Competitors make three consecutive quarter-mile passes to establish an average. There are no breakouts, but competitors must complete all three runs. Red-lighting or crossing the centerline disqualifies a run, just as in other drag racing classes. Vehicles and drivers must also meet the applicable safety requirements for their performance level.
True Street is a great way for novice racers to gain competition experience and for anyone to have fun at the track.
Here is how TREMEC True Street unfolded at the 2026 ModNationals.
Before True Street competitors can hit the track, they must complete a 30-mile cruise to prove their cars are roadworthy. Entries leave the track as a group and follow a predetermined route. Any car that cannot complete the cruise is disqualified. Upon returning, the cars enter the staging lanes for a timed 30-minute cooldown before making three consecutive quarter-mile passes, hot-lap style. Competitors must complete all three passes to establish an average ET and remain eligible. In addition to the overall title for the quickest average ET, awards were presented in the 8-second through 15-second classes.Overall True Street Winner J.D. Atkins: J.D. took home the overall title in his 2003 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra “Terminator”. J.D. replaced the factory supercharger with a turbocharger, and his victory at the 2026 ModNationals ended a long winless streak and earned him a $1,300 check. He recorded passes of 8.238, 8.223 and 9.132 seconds. Despite trouble on the final pass, his 8.531-second average ET secured the overall win.8-Second Winner Kyle Cox: Hot on the heels of J.D. Atkins was Kyle in his TREMEC-equipped Ford Mustang Shelby GT500. With its TREMEC TR-9070 dual-clutch transmission and millisecond shifts, Kyle recorded passes of 8.745, 8.690 and 8.717 seconds for a 8.717-second average ET. When J.D. had trouble off the line on his third pass, Kyle had a shot at the overall title. Although J.D. was nearly a second off his earlier pace, his final pass was still quick enough to secure the winning average. Kyle finished as the overall runner-up and 8-second class winner.9-Second Winner Salvador “Sal” Roca: Representing the Fox-body contingent was Sal in his 1993 Ford Mustang. Sal runs a turbocharged 302-cubic-inch pushrod engine with a Boss block and an AEM electronic fuel injection and engine management system. The car was built with help from Lujan Motorsports, and Sal races with the Lujan team. Passes of 9.159, 8.951 and 8.980 seconds produced a 9.030-second average, keeping him in the 9-second class by a razor-thin margin and earning him the class title.10-Second Winner Geoffe Maze: Geoffe drove his 2021 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, equipped with a TREMEC TR-9070 dual-clutch transmission, to the 10-second class title with a 10.084-second average ET. He recorded quarter-mile passes of 10.375, 10.174 and 9.702 seconds. His GT500 is nearly stock, with modifications limited to long-tube headers, an ECU tune and drag radials. Geoffe drives the car regularly, including on date nights with his wife!11-Second Winner John Muldowney: John pulled off an impressive win in his S197 Ford Mustang. Passes of 11.003, 11.027 and 10.971 seconds produced a 11.000-second average ET, edging the runner-up’s 11.001-second average by just one thousandth of a second!12-Second Winner Ray Williams Sr.: Affectionately known as “Grandpa” by racers at South Georgia Motorsports Park, Ray reached the winner’s circle in his 2012 Ford Mustang with an HP Tuners tune. Passes of 11.770, 12.091 and 12.195 seconds produced a 12.019-second average ET and earned him the 12-second class title.13-Second Winner Ken Barrett: The third time was the charm for Ken at the 2026 ModNationals. He piloted his 2022 Ford Mustang GT to the 13-second class win with passes of 13.161, 12.677 and 13.264 seconds. His 13.041-second average ET edged the runner-up’s 13.052-second average.14-Second Winner Tyler Thornberg: Tyler bought his Ford Mustang in 2025 after it had spent 15 years in storage following a career as an IHRA Pure Stock car driven by Barry Shepherd. Since putting the car back together, Tyler has raced it three times and won twice. Passes of 12.620, 14.703 and 14.809 seconds produced a 14.044-second average ET, earning him the 14-second class trophy and winner’s check.15-Second Winner Josh Flynt: Josh brought the heaviest vehicle in the TREMEC True Street field to the 2026 ModNationals: a Ford F-250. The big truck powered down the quarter-mile in 15.181, 16.309 and 16.333 seconds for a class-winning 15.941-second average ET.
