Mike Griffith: Funny Cars may rule the roost at this year's March Meet
| Wednesday, Feb 17 2010 11:17 PM
Last Updated Wednesday, Feb 17 2010 11:26 PM
Changes are brewing in the world of nostalgia drag racing and that will be evident during the 2010 March Meet at Auto Club Famoso Raceway. The premier nostalgia drag race in country will be held March 5-7 and as usual nitromethane will lure thousands of spectators to the track as sure as blooms in nearby orchards lure honey bees.
For much of the March Meet's storied history, Top Fuel dragsters have ruled the roost and that has been the case during the nostalgia era as well, which began with a handful of front-engined dragsters in 1994.
There will still be a strong front-engined dragster presence at this year's edition of the March Meet as there should be enough cars to fill a 16-car field.
But the real stars this year may well be the Funny Cars where the elimination field will be 32 cars strong. That's right -- 32 cars.
The first nostalgia Funny Car race at the March Meet was held just a few years ago with around eight cars in the pits. A whopping 32 Funny Cars were in the pits for the California Hot Rod Reunion at Famoso last October, which promoted talk of a 32-car elimination field for the March Meet. It will be the first 32-car Funny Car field since the 1980 U.S. Nationals.
Interestingly, the nostalgia Funny Car class is based on the type of cars that were competing in 1980 -- 1979 and earlier body styles that actually somewhat resembled productions cars of that era -- Challengers, Camaros, Arrows, Monzas, Corvettes, Mustangs and others.
"Funny cars have been huge for the sport; they strike a memory chord," said track vice-president Blake Bowser. "We had 32 cars in October and and it was a shame to see (16) go home with nothing to show for it. Having a 32-car field shows respect on our behalf."
Appropriately, 14-time Funny Car champ John Force, who won the season-opening NHRA Winternationals on Sunday, will serve as grand marshal for the March Meet.
Certainly, the popularity of the early-day Funny Cars have been a big boost for nostalgia racing and Bowser is betting a new generation of nostalgia cars -- rear-engined Top Fuel dragsters -- will keep things fresh for years to come.
Bowser said the rules are still being finalized but the cars will be based on the mid-1970s style rear-engined dragsters and three prototypes have been built and will be making runs at the March Meet.
"I don't see the front-motored class going away but we are losing cars and I want to protect the show," Bowser said. "I've received a lot of calls from people who are interested in building rear-motor cars. I'm hoping by the reunion (October) or the March Meet next year we can offer a full class."
Notes
Bakersfield Speedway kicks off its racing season on March 6 with four divisions. Modifieds, Hobby Stocks, American Stocks and Mini Stocks will take to the third-mile clay oval in the season-opening event. An open practice will be held Feb. 27 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
