Fuel Coupes, Jets, NDRL Circuit Also Part of 13th Annual Funny Car Nationals

Mike McIntire Jr. of Chesterland, Ohio, whose “McAttack” 1970 Chevy Camaro set the world record for nostalgia Funny Cars last March at Bakersfield, Calif., leads a world class field of nostalgia drivers into next week’s (Sept. 8-9) 14th annual Funny Car Nationals at US 131 Motorsports Park.

The 32-year-old McIntire, who stopped the quarter mile timers in 5.549 seconds at 253.61 miles per hour to qualify No. 1 in his first appearance at the March Meet, will be joined by three-time former IHRA World Champion Paul Romine of Fishers, Ind. (“Man ‘O War” 1979 Ford Mustang), 2013 DRO World Champ Shawn Bowen of Grand Blanc, Texans John Hale of Addison and Jacob Meyer and the “Blue Max” piloted by Ronny Young.

Hale, who is an occasional qualifier on the NHRA Mello Yello pro circuit, was the No. 2 qualifier at Bakersfield in his “One Bad Texan” 1969 Camaro (5.572 seconds, 249.29 mph).  Young, who is making a rare appearance outside the Southwest, drives the “Blue Max” Mustang, one of the most popular and successful Funny Cars in drag racing history.

While the nostalgia Funny Cars will get the bulk of the attention, the two-day event boasts an impressive undercard that includes exhibition runs by Dom Lagana and the track record-holding “Nitro Ninja” Top Fuel dragster, a “Fuel Coupe Showdown” between John Lawson’s “Runaway” 1970 Camaro and Tom Motry’s world record-holding “Drastic Plastic” 1948 Anglia fuel altered, the throwback cars of the Nostalgia Drag Racing League and a full complement of jets including “The Original Jet Truck.”

When purchased at the gate, adult tickets are $15 Friday and $25 Saturday.  However, tickets purchased in advance at www.us131msp.com are $12 Friday and $19 Saturday.

Children 6-12 are $7 at the gate or $5 in advance.  Children under six are free when accompanied by a ticketed adult and, as always, pit access is included with every ticket and parking is free NDRL qualifying, featuring classic 1923 T-roadsters, ’32 Bantam roadsters, ’57 Chevy coupes, Anglias, Willyses, hemi-Plymouths and GTOs, is scheduled for 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Friday, sandwiched around one nitro funny car session.  A third and final NDRL qualifier is scheduled at 1 p.m. Saturday with racing to follow.

Pro eliminations are set for 6 and 9:30 p.m. on Saturday with 72-year-old Bob Motz slated to close the show both nights with his jet-powered Kenworth truck.

There also will be something special for US 131’s weekly racing contingent: an elimination battle between the Top Eight points racers in the Top ET class for an American Race Cars in Millbury, Ohio, certificate towards the purchase of a new ARC dragster, and the ARC Shootout for Jr. Dragster drivers as well.

New for 2017 the Top Eight points finishers in the Lane Automotive Bracket Series will race of for a certificate in the amount of $8,000 towards the purchase of a new ARC dragster.

The top two point-earners in the Beginner and Advanced classes and the top four in the Master class of Jr. Dragster will compete for a $1,500 gift certificate toward the purchase of a new chassis from ARC and a $500 certificate to the runner-up toward a new power plant from Blossom Racing Engines in Sand Lake.