Unlike the Top Fuel class, more than enough teams showed to fill the Funny Car field. In fact, nineteen nitro coupes were teched to attempt to qualify for the 16-car field. 

After two days and three rounds of qualifying the field was led by former TA/FC standout Mark Hentges wheeling the Bucky Austin-tuned “Bucky Automotive” ‘78 Plymouth Arrow. Hentges’s 5.80 qualifying pass was a tenth quicker than the number two position held down by Kris Krabill in Gary Turner’s “Pedaler” Arrow that is tuned by Cory Lee.

(Brian Losness photo)

On the bump was Jack “The Sheriff” Harris’s Firebird. Harris and the “Nitro Thunder” team fought fuel pump and fuel delivery problems all weekend just bumping into the show with a final qualifying effort of 6.194/228.94.

Round one of AA/FC eliminations delivered no surprises as all of the top half of the qualifiers advanced to round two. Hentges remained the favorite to win making a very strong and consistent 5.816/242.71 pass.  The next closest car was the “Back in Black” GTO of Dennis La Charite with a 5.91-second run.

In round two the heavy hitters started to show their might as all four winners Paul Romine, Hentges, Tim Boychuk (tuned by Roland Leong) and Leah Pruett-LeDuc all recorded runs in the fives.

(Brian Losness photo)