(Photos by Kim Fuller) • The New Family, organizers of the yearly Nightfire Nationals event, held in Eagle, Idaho have a clear understanding of their audience and fan base, which always brings back kids and families and has contributed to the popularity and success of the event over the years. The fact that this event has been running for over five decades suggests that they’ve been able to consistently deliver a high-quality nitro experience for all. So much is geared toward the fan experience, like the afternoon driver autograph sessions.
After a Friday single qualifying session, the Saturday night qualifier was, and always is, in front of a packed crowd. Sunday began with a brief rain shower and after a quick track drying, the eight-car elimination battles began.
Top Fuel
Tyler Hester grabbed the number qualifying position with his 5.813 elapsed time. Bret Williamson was second running a 5.817 and Jim Murphy carded a 5.848, with series champion Tyler Hilton qualifying fourth at 5.867 in the “Great Expectations” dragster. Shawn Van Horn held onto Top Speed for dragsters in his Titan-backed fueler running 257.73 MPH.
Hester and Hilton met in the semis with Hilton (far lane) prevailing and off to meet nitro veteran Jim Murphy in his WW2 top fueler for the final round. Murphy defeated Bryan Hall in his “Nomad” dragster and Bret Williamson, driving “Forever Young”.
In the final, Murphy left slightly ahead of Hilton, while Hilton would run the quick ET of eliminations with a 5.734 elapsed time at 257.38 MPH to Murphy’s 5.820 ET at 232.23 MPH. Hilton will go into the season ending Nostalgia Nationals with the points lead over Murphy at Famoso Dragstrip October 13-15.
Nitro Funny Car
After James Day (above) set the funny car class on its collective ass with his 5.591 elapsed time at 261.02 MPH in a Friday qualifying pass, the Matthews Motorsports Camaro would go out in the first round of Sunday Eliminations to third generation driver Ryan Horan. Journeyman Horan’s solid 5.711 ET at 255.68 MPH defeated James Day who could only muster an off-pace 6.852 ET.
Geoff Monise qualified second in the beautiful ’70 Firebird “Quarter Pounder” tuned by Keith Clark. Monise went out in the Semi’s running an awesome 5.682 ET at 253.85 MPH charge Bobby Cottrell’s slower 5.716 ET at 255.48, Cottrell’s holeshot provided the victory.
Kamaka Pocock driving the “California Hustler” was running with consistency in eliminations a 5.711, 5.788 after a 5.782 for the number four qualifying position. Owner Don Nelson tuned the Lemons Headers-backed ’71 Camaro for the first time at this event, with a little help from his close friends.
On his way to a sixth consecutive Firebird title, Bobby Cottrell drove the potent “Northwest Hitter” Camaro to a 5.723/252.99 charge defeating the “California Hustler” Camaro after driver Kamaka Pocock carded a -.368 redlight start in the Nightfire’s funny car final.
Bill Windham, driving his “Shakedown” Firebird took a wild ride into the top end weeds, rolling the funny car and destroying the body. He was unable to make the second round of eliminations in the Tater Baker B-field, 4-car race, reportedly had minor bumps and bruises after the incident.
AA/Fuel Altered
In this 6.0 indexed class, eliminations found Johnny West prevailing in his blue “Plan A” ’23 Ford T over second-generation owner/driver Jason Pettit’s ’48 Fiat Topolino. West’s 6.156 at 253.03 defeated Pettit’s 6.424 at 203.74 MPH.
18-year-old and ‘22 Legends of Nitro Rookie of the Year Dylan Winefsky qualified fourth, going out to Mark Whynaught in the first round, on a holeshot.
Rain halted Nitro Funny Car completion in last May’s 52nd Ignitor presented by The Blower Shop at Firebird Raceway. Drew Austin and Jim Maroney faced off in that postponed Funny Car final with Drew Austin taking home the Ignitor Event Wally.
The final ’23 Heritage Series event has Grand Marshall Don “The Snake” Prudhomme at the Wally Parks NHRA Nostalgia Nationals and Reunion at Famoso Dragstrip on October 13-15, 2023.
Take a look our Gallery of Photos by Kim Fuller and see the individuality and ingenuity of today’s NHRA Heritage Series Nitro Racers.
