One of the much-discussed changes to this year’s March Meet will be the inclusion of a new spec rear engine Top Fuel Dragster class and Brad Thompson debuted his 250-inch Donovan-powered entry over the weekend at Famoso for exhibition runs. Making only a 400-foot launch, Thompson carded a .962 60-foot time in what will be painted as a tribute to Warren, Coburn & Miller, the “Ridge Route Terrors” Top Fueler, so many Southern Californians remember was campaigned with local sponsorship from agricultural supplier Rain For Rent.

A victim of persistent lousy weather was Troy Green, who will drive “McCain’s Bomb Squad” as soon as his crossover license from Top Fuel is complete. Hampered by the ice in his Oklahoma hometown and then intermittent rain at Famoso last weekend, Green will step aside and work on tuning the car with veteran nitro driver Chris Bennett in the seat for the March Meet. The opportunity will also pose a possible Father–vs-son match up, as Jeff Bennett will pilot the family’s “Pure Heaven IV” Camaro funny car also at the event. Chris Bennett drove “McCain’s Bomb Squad” during Las Vegas testing to a 6.120 ET at 240.29 mph filling in for Green.

The 1975 NHRA Division 7 Champions, Mike Tocco and driver Roger “Rapid” Garten, were part of the Southern California funny car wars of the ’70s and have recreated their “War Horse” Mustang sitting on an original Steve Plueger chassis with a Mike Kuhl supercharged Keith Black engine. The beautiful Kenny Youngblood paint job is a very faithful reproduction of the original.