(Text by Darr Hawthorne) Chris Nance will tune Gary Turner Racing’s Pedaler Nostalgia Nitro Funny Car for the upcoming 2014 NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing series, driven by second-generation drag racer James Day, the team announced Tuesday.

Tuner Chris Nance and driver James Day raced together in the DLS Motorsports NHRA Nitro Funny Car during the 2007-08 season.  “I’m stoked to be teamed up again with Chris,” Day said, “We have a great history together outside of driver and tuner, and we have always stayed friends. Chris is unbelievably smart and has tuned a lot of fast funny cars.”

Nance was equally excited to become part of Gary Turner Racing.

“It’s a great opportunity for me to team up with Gary Turner Racing.” Nance said. “We have almost the whole DLS team back working on this car, so we have all worked together. It will be more like working alongside family.”

“We have a brand new Victory race car chassis and a new body for this season,” Day said, “I can’t wait to get on the race track.”

The team plans to test the new car, sporting a lightweight ’79 Dodge Challenger body, before the opening event of the Heritage Series season at the March Meet at Auto Club Famoso Raceway in Bakersfield, Calif., on March 6-9.  Santini painted the new body for the “Pedaler”, who also painted the now retired Plymouth Arrow body campaigned in previous seasons.

“I cannot thank GT (owner Gary Turner) enough for bringing me back to GT Racing for 2014. He is a great team owner, and he gives us all the tools we need to go out and run hard,” concluded Day.

Photo courtesy of Gary Turner Racing