Final Eliminations Set for 44th Annual NAPA Auto Parts Ignitor

Words and Photos by Darr Hawthorne

Reigning Boise Bakersfield Blitz champ Dan Horan, driving his “Patriot” 1966 Mustang from Sylmar, Calif., posted the top performance in Funny Car qualifying at the 44th Annual NAPA Ignitor at Firebird.

Horan recorded a 6.016 elapsed time at 245.49 miles per hour in the first of two Saturday qualifiers on a gradually warming track. Defending “Ignitor” nitro funny car champion Kris Krabill, driving the Austin & O’Brien “Northwest Hitter” ‘78 Firebird from Washington, followed Horan.  Krabill claimed second running a 6.048 ET at 238.22 mph in the final round of qualifying.

Krabill, is followed closely by Richard Townsend from Oakdale, California in his “Nitrohaulic” ’69 Camaro at 6.168 ET at 228.25 mph.

Townsend is in his first full year of nitro funny car racing and, even though dropping a valve in each of Saturday’s sessions.

Veteran Roger Garten, driving the Tocco & Garten “War Horse” improved to fourth in final qualifying with a run of 6.194 ET at 231.42 mph.

Garten will race fifth qualifier Robert Overholser, who shredded a clutch disc on his final qualifying run but improved with a 6.242 ET at 235.66 mph pass.  Second year funny car driver Overholser pilots Don Nelson’s “California Hustler” ’77 Firebird.

Wally Giavia’s tuner Pete Jensen (left) was looking through the pits for some push rods to fit a new motor installed on Sunday morning after siting out the final qualifier.  With the rain delays today, it looks like they’ll make the call to the lanes, the first alternate Scott Stanger is ready, if needed.

The “Nitro Time” Plymouth Arrow of Mark Hentges is in the number seven position after his 6.494 ET at 219.99 mph, he’ll race Kris Krabill in round one of eliminations.

Devery Howard (left and sideways) who has had his share of challenges getting down the Firebird track.  He pedaled Twig Zeigler’s Plymouth Satellite to save a run with a 6.834 ET 203.80 mph in the final round.  This is driver Howard’s first weekend driving this car for Twig, he’ll race against Dan Horan Jr. in the first round of eliminations.

The best Brad Thompson could run in qualifying was a 7.138 ET, a tough break for “Jailbreak” funny car team, number nine qualifier.

Utah’s Scott Stanger in his “Bad Manners” ’73 Barracuda missed the cut with a 7.331 ET, tenth during qualifying.

Chris Davis in his “Nitro Vega” ended up the eleventh qualifier for the 8-car field.

3:00 PM Sunday
Yes, it has been raining off and on all day, but it’s now dry on the track.  Super/Stock, Super Categories and Top Dragster are running in eliminations and Nitro Funny Car is being called to the Firebird Staging Lanes for the first round of eliminations.

3:22 PM Sunday

Another rain delay during Super/Gas eliminations.