(Words and Photos by Darr Hawthorne) BANGSHIFT EXCLUSIVE. “The Hawaiian” Roland Leong returns to Nitro Funny Car for the 2014 Season! After a couple of weekend phone calls, BangShift.com is happy to report that Roland Leong is returning to the Crew Chief position with Tim Boychuk and the Troy Lee Design backed nitro funny car. Boychuk’s funny car, along with co-owner Ron Hodgson, won the prestigious 2013 March Meet NHRA Heritage Series opener at Auto Club Famoso Raceway.
Veteran tuner Leong is proud to be retuning to a winning car as he said, “Tim is a good driver who knows his car inside and out. I’ll be working along with my friend Twig Ziegler and longtime crewman Dan Brochu in Boychuk’s Phoenix, Arizona shop to get a new combination finished in time for the March Meet, next month.”
Leong added that the team is planning on a busy schedule for 2014, starting with the March Meet, then the full IHRA Nitro Jam Series, a few match races and the season-ending California Hot Rod Reunion back at Famoso.
(Chad’s Note: Roland, a great supporter of BangShift.com, has been the topic of many conversations during this off season. Reports of his return to Nitro Funny Car tuning, with several teams, have been heard all around the country. We even heard an unsubstantiated report that he was asked to tune for an NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Funny Car team and turned it down because he would have had to move to Indianapolis. The Hawaiian doesn’t do cold apparently! Congratulations to Team Boychuk and the Troy Lee Design crew. That’s a top notch car that Roland clearly knows how to tune to a win, and we wish them luck in 2014. Everyone else in the class beware. The Hawaiian will be bringing the heat.)
great news! Roland needs to be out there making horsepower!
The March Meet terrors!
Good, maybe he will be at the Hot Rod Reunion at Beech Bend raceway in June.
Good to see that it will not be a Toyota also.
What pump they will use?
Probably they’ll use the same pump that won the March meet.
will they
hardy har har gufaw snicker the legal one teehee
Can’t wait, outstanding. !!! Another bitchin story Mr Reynolds,
Flash-Out
“Mr. Reynolds” How impressive! It’s great to see “Mr. Leong” coming back. This guy is what drag racing is all about. Just be careful with the fuel pump though.Hurry up March.
How cool is that. It didn’t seem right seeing Roland on the sidelines at the 2013 CHRR. Great news for sure!
Roland has been my hero and the catalyst of my love for drag racing since his first run down Hawaii Raceway Park. I was also there when he brought the Hawaiian Punch (Johnny West driving) to Hawaii. I was so fortunate to meet him at the pre-race dinner and told everyone at the table every driver Roland Leong hired.
All I need to do get in my canoe to get to some of those races over there on the continent. We lost our track on Oahu (Honolulu) years ago and that itch needs to be scratched.
Best wishes to Roland and the team
old guys rule