Ron Maroney drove the “Shark Attack” Corvette in this ‘70s-style black and white photo.
Funny Cars at Firebird
Words by James Drew and Kay Burk
Photos by James Drew
10/29/2008
It was the 1970’s all over again at a Charlie Allen racetrack. Not since Orange County International Raceway has there been a 32-funny car race with this many nitro and alky burning machines. The fiberglass forest filled the pits again at Firebird Raceway near Phoenix and the fans came out for the Aero Jet Nitro Funny Car Finals, promoted by the NFCA, held on Saturday, Oct. 25
The AA Funny Cars were run Chicago style, with all cars making two runs and then the quickest two returning to face each other in the final round.
When the night was over, just after midnight, Kris Krabill was the champ over NHRA Funny Car regular Del Worsham in the family's “Blue Max” Mustang. Worsham was not able to keep his car from smoking the tires at about the 330-foot mark. Krabill drove the Gary Turner-owned and Cory Lee-tuned Plymouth Arrow “Pedaler” straight down the strip to a 6.035 at 236.46 mph.
The Pedaler's night was not an easy win as Turner and crew had to rebuild their transmission before the final round. Over in the Worsham pit area the NHRA Big Show team had their full crew thrashing on their salute to Raymond Beadle's famed “Blue Max.”
Veteran Dale Pulde launches the “War Eagle” Pontiac Firebird.