The Leanders brothers campaign the Haas Automation alcohol funny car in NHRA competition and do a damned fine job at it. In fact, their car is one of the hardest running pieces on the whole tour which is made all the more impressive since they come from Stockholm to race the sucker! The brothers are innovators as well, having developed their own clutch. Leanders clutches can be found in a bunch of different cars now, proving that the concept and design changes they made were good ones.
This video follows the team literally from Sweden right to the US Nationals, through qualifying, and to the first round of competition where the weekend came to a stunning halt when an electrical issue would not allow the car to fire at the starting line. I was announcing that first round and it was a crushing thing to see. They had run well during qualifying and the first round at Indy is pressure city so when they had to roll that car around the corner, it was tough to watch. This video captures that moment and the aftermath in the pits. People forget how much emotional investment racers and crew people have into these cars. The scene in the pits after that situation says more than words ever could.
I love alcohol funny cars and this video touches on many of the points why. There’s a pure love of the sport in those pits, lots of blood, sweat, and tears, and sleepless nights from mostly volunteer crews, etc. It is all the good BangShifty stuff we love about the drags. This video does a great job capturing the whole scene!
PRESS PLAY BELOW TO SEE HOW ULF LEANDERS WENT FROM THE HIGHT OF SUCCESS TO THE DEPTHS OF DESPAIR AT THE 2014 US NATIONALS – AMAZING VIDEO HERE –
