“STREET AND STRIP! ’71 & ’72 PLYMOUTH ROADRUNNERS BATTLE IT OUT! BYRON DRAGWAY!

Imagine a crisp fall day at the drag strip, the atmosphere buzzing with excitement. The trees are ablaze with vibrant colors, perfectly matching the hues of two cars ready to race. The crowd leans in, eyes fixed on the starting line. There they stand—two second-generation Plymouth Roadrunners, ready for an epic showdown. Steve McDonald and Jim Leach, lifelong friends from New Lennox, Illinois, stand side by side, their mopars gleaming in the sunlight. Steve’s ’71 Roadrunner, once a humble 383 4-speed, now roars with a 498ci/440 engine. It’s a beast that he both races in brackets and cruises down the street. Jim, on the other hand, pilots a ’72 Roadrunner, its heart pounding with a 440 Magnum. He calls it his “fun street car.” As the Christmas tree lights up, engines scream, tires grip the asphalt, and these two rare birds hurtle down the quarter mile. The ground shakes, and the crowd erupts. Which one will cross the finish line first? It’s a showdown for the ages—a symphony of horsepower, friendship, and adrenaline. So, dear gearheads, pick your flavor: Steve’s fire-breathing ’71 or Jim’s grinning ’72? Either way, it’s a treat for the eyes, a moment frozen in time—a drag race that echoes through the annals of automotive history. #dragrace #racing #race