Dan Horan Jr, from Sylmar, California claimed the Nitro Funny Car win at Rocky Mountain Raceways’ Summer Kick-Off Saturday, June 7 with a tough eight-car field. Horan bested Kris Krabill, from Bellevue, Wash., in the final round, running 247.11 mph with an elapsed time of 5.858 after Krabill reportedly broke a throttle cable.Fans were thrilled to see both ends of the track record for Nitro Funny Car when, in the semifinals, Horan blistered down the track with an elapsed time of 5.845, creating the new mark tuned by Ronnie Swearingen.
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In the very next pair, Krabill set a new mile-per-hour track record, running 250.00 mph. Previously, Canadian Tim Boychuk, who is currently racing on the IHRA circuit, held both marks of the track record with a 5.87 at 249 mph, set in August of 2012.
After three rounds, nitro funny car qualifying shaped up with Horan’s ’66 “Patriot” Mustang (above) leading the field with his 5.909 ET at 244.76 miles per hour, he explains driving a funny car to a Salt Lake City fan.
Robert Overholser in Don Nelson’s “California Hustler” Firebird ran a solid 5.935 ET at 237.35 mph landed in the second spot.
Winner of the Firebird Raceway Ignitor Kris Krabill (above) held down the third qualifying position in the Austin & O’Brien “Northwest Hitter” Firebird with his 6.117 ET at 225.56 mph.
Roger Garten’s 6.128 ET at 229.41 mph in his “War Horse” Mustang qualified fourth.
Rookie Danny Gerber stepped up with a 6.26 driving an ex-Dale Pulde Firebird.
Bob Godfrey’s first round 6.277 @ 223.71 remained for the sixth qualifying spot driving his “Burnin’ Money” Barracuda.
Scott Stanger, driving his “Bad Manners” Cuda finished seventh with his 6.437 elapsed time at 212.21 miles per hour.
The “Nitrohaulic” Camaro of Richard Townsend filled out the field with his 6.437 ET at 212.21 mph in eighth.
Just missing the nitro funny car field was Wally Giavia in his “G-Men” Challenger with a 6.517 ET at 196.20 mph.
For a recap, we can usually rely on killer videographer Les Mayhew to edit one of his awesome videos of the nitro funny car action, this one from Rocky Mountain Raceway’s Summer Kick Off!
Other NHRA Heritage Series winners included Bill Wayne, Bullhead, Ariz. (A Fuel); Don Enriquez, Mission Viejo, Calif. (Junior Fuel); Bobby Cottrell, Whittier, Calif. (7.0 Pro); Tom Fowler, Paso Robles, Calif. (A/Gas); Doug Carter, Henderson, Nev. (B/Gas); Wayne Hoover, Alta Loma, Calif. (C/Gas); Ed Carey, La Jolla, Calif. (D/Gas); and Karl Martin, Riverton, Utah (Hot Rod).
In the Nostalgia Eliminator index classes Steve Schoenfeld, Murray, Utah (NE 1), Robert Johnson, Visalia, Calif. (NE 2); Ron Kolb, Fullerton, Calif. (NE 3);
Rocky Mountain Raceway winners included Dan Wayman, from Riverton, Utah, in Performance Place Top Dragster and Todd Young, from Kearns, Utah, in Fastlane Machine Top Sportsman.
The next event for Nitro Funny Cars and Top Fuel in the NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series is the Nightfire Nationals at Firebird Raceway in Boise, Idaho on August 7 – 10.
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Very cool. A couple of those cars are at risk of loosing the “vibe” with wedge shaped sides, flared out flat ahead of rear wheel wells, and rounded off roof sections. In this category that “vibe” is the very essence of its existence.