Nostalgia Nationals Friday Evening Update

Good evening from Kentucky! Bowling Green and Beech Bend Raceway to be exact. With clear sunny skies and very little oil, the sportsman racers had a ball out here today with some classes getting as many as four runs down the dragstrip! We had over a thousand cars in the show & shine and the vendor midway was buzzin’ too! It was indeed a beautiful day here at the 3rd Nostalgia Nationals.

The nitro cars got in their opening runs this afternoon in both Top Fuel and Funny Car. It was mostly a get acquainted session today. Two of the five Funny Cars entered were shut off behind the starting line (Troy Ray and Troy Martin). Martin’s car developed a large fuel leak and Ray’s ’69 Charger was making its maiden voyage today while having what appeared to be transmission issues. The other side by side pair was Shawn Bowen in the “Violator” ’77 Firebird against Danny Miller’s “Rear Gears” ’70 Maverick. The Maverick, driven by “Rapid Randy” Baker, lost traction, veering into Bowen’s lane coming very close to a collision. Thankfully both cars coasted to the finish line unscathed. The other Funny Car to run today was Justin Grant’s Stardust ‘Cuda. Justin was licensing a new driver and made a smooth and steady half track run. Tomorrow, Mike Lewis of Don Schumacher Racing will take over the driving chores of the Stardust.

In Top Fuel, defending event champion Howard Haight stormed to the head of the class with a 6.637 @ 179.16 while Odie Coker checked in second with a 6.753 @ 201.76 – the session’s only other 6 second run. Lincoln Hassel, running his first Goodguys event in years, put a charge into the crowd running an “in the marbles” 7.040 @ 185.08 in Bob Bradley’s small block Chevy powered entry. Tom Steed, driving the “Mr Boston” top fueler from Massachusetts could not find reverse on the burnout and idled down track. David Pace and the Back Yard Guys are indeed onsite but they lost oil pressure during a warm up and will wait until tomorrow to make their run.

All fuel cars will step it way up tomorrow to be sure. The second and final nitro qualifying run is at high noon with first round eliminations at 3:30pm (all times tentative).

Ballwin, Missouri’s Butch Hill, driving his purple flamed ’53 Studebaker grabbed the pole in B/GAS with an 8.560 @ 162.53, while last month’s Blue Suede Cruise winner Don Slout qualified on top with a 7.040 @ 189.68 in Pro Comp I presented by Freedom Racing Engines. The only female in the Pro Comp II field led the way showing the fella’s how it’s done! Michelle Lewis, driving her original ’69 Woody Gilmore dragster ran a near perfect 7.506 @ 169.49 on the 7.500 class index! Well done Michelle!

We’ll be back tomorrow with more action from the 3rd Nostalgia Nationals presented by Snap-On! Below are today’s qualifying sheets.

For the qualifying sheets listed below, simply click to enlarge.