Bradenton's Nanney Wins U.S. Street Nationals

MANATEE COUNTY — On Sunday, Bradenton native Pat Nanney won the U.S. Street Nationals 6.50 Index class at Bradenton Motorsports Park. Driving his self-built Mopar Dodge Dakota truck, Nanney eliminated 31 other competitors who traveled to the dragstrip from all over the USA.

More than 300 racers competed in 10 divisions over four days at the famed ¼ mile dragstrip on SR 64 in east Bradenton. Nanney, 68, can now add a drag racing championship to his 44-year racing career.

"This has been a long time coming," said Nanney after the win. "Shifting gears to drag racing after 32 years running stock cars takes reprogramming your skills. I’ve gotten close to winning this one before, but this time was my time to keep the championship trophy in my hometown."

Nicknamed "Dr. Dodge," Nanney started racing stock cars at DeSoto Speedway in 1980 and ran at Florida tracks for over 35 years before converting his skills to drag racing in 2013. He has always built his own race cars and engines, and Mopar products have been a constant in his racing career.

Nanney started racing Dusters in the Street Stock Division in 1980 and won the championship in that class in 1984. When the oval became a NASCAR Winston Racing Series track in 1986, he was the first NASCAR WRS Late Model Championship/Driver of the Year to win the titles driving a Dodge.