UNFC Funny Car Invitational Finals at Pacific Raceways

07 July 2018 Kent, WA –  It was a packed line up on the schedule today with the rain-out qualifying scrubbing the first round, with at least three rows of haulers toting those funny cars somewhat harking back to the 64 funny car days of the past.

Northwest legends Bill Doner and Bucky Austin lead the way and their past connections with the funny car shows in mind they put together a program that those who witnessed those days and the “nitro” junkies of today totally enjoyed.

In between the funny cars the Swift Tool Series class racers enjoying a great sunny day of racing picking up points towards the E.T. Finals to be held Labor Day weekend in Boise. Round after round they went until the little bugger “Murphy” showed up and as we all know his monkey wrench has many sizes.

Working against the curfew, the scramble was on to get as many rounds in for the Swift racers and the UNFC finals completed.

When the time clock ran out these classes finished, Dawsin Ridge in Jr. Storm, Dustin Ridge in Jr. Thunder, Jordan “JoJo” Dooley in Jr. Lightning, Trenton smith in Jr. Street and the big winner and unbeaten this season in UNFC Bobby Cottrell left second but finished first over Jason Rupert.

The unfinished Swift racers will finish their race the next day.

Over 500 images, including great shots from the top end are now available – click here to go to the photo album.

UNFC Funny Car Invitational, Car Club & Jr Dragsters #8 at Pacific Raceways

06 July 2018 Kent, WA – Making plans are always subject to change. Having a plan “B” or further depending on what may or may not happen. All things were set to go for Friday racing at Pacific Raceways for the 2nd Annual UNFC Funny Car Invitational with twice as many trying to qualify for the 8-car field. Along with all the car club and Jr’s set for their scheduled series race.

A dozen runs into the car club time trials mother nature as she is poured rain onto the parade sending all for cover. The heavy downpour left huge puddles and a completely soaked track, and with a curfew looming, a new plan was in the works.

Scrubbing the funny car qualifying purely for safety, and the car club shortened their race to 1/8th mile as apposed to the normal quarter racing for them and the Jr’s could safely be run after the great work by the drag crew prepping the track.

Top of the class goes to Ken O’Keefe in Car Club, Selena Lenihan in Jr. Lightning, Dustin Ridge in Jr. thunder, Abigail Cole in Jr. Storm and Trenton Smith in Jr. Street.

Images are now available – click here to go to the photo album.

Swift Tools ET Series #9, United Nitro Funny Cars Part of Busy Day at Pacific Raceways

08 July 2017 Kent, WA – The Saturday marked for the 8th of July arrived, and along with the normal Super Saturdays line up the United Nitro Funny Car group came ready to play. Shooting for the top eight spots in these old school race cars made for a great show.

When counting the qualifying rounds these cars made a bunch of passes giving all those watching quite a show. Those around for the old 64 funny car days remember what these race dates are all about.

These ground pounders always get the people running to their seats to take in the action. Fitted with current safety equipment is really the only difference from their past days on the track. Legendary promoter Bill Doner who brought the 64 funny car events to then Seattle International Raceway now does it again to the original named Pacific Raceways.

With the aid of local racer Bucky Austin they put together a summertime event that has not been to the track in many years. The aroma and sounds of nitro at a non-national event gets you a tad bit closer to the action, besides its “old school” racing from the hay day of these funny cars. I have no clue as to another event next year but me and the thousands that came out for the event sure hope so as it is a great fit to the “Super Saturday” dates that are on Pacific’s schedule thru out the season.

LIST OF WINNERS

Funny Car – Bobby Cottrell
Top Comp – Kevin Heffington
Super Gas – Lloyd Flatum
Stock – James Boyce
Sportsman – Paul Young
Motorcycle – John Plaster
High School – Jeff Jackson Jr.

Lots of great images are now available – Old School Nitro Funny Cars too. Got to check out this week’s images! – Click here to go to the photo album.

Car Club, Cars of the 253, and United Nitro Funny Cars!

07 July 2017 Kent, WA – Starting off a big weekend of racing at Pacific Raceways was the Friday night “instant” green for The Cars of the 253 and Car Club with their pack of members sporting their daily drivers and pure race cars.

Running their series on Fridays thru the season the car club members gather pretty much together in the upper “bowl” area of the track. This club of racers has also grown over the years as word spreads of the fun with family and friends and the “common” bonds they share. Not easy to be a repeat winner with the diversity in the club’s race cars. This fact really gives no one an edge and it can be anyone’s night to win.

Coming out on top this night Craig Smith and his ’95 Camaro edged out Bill Cadle and his ’64 Polara.

Also building is the “new” class called “The Cars Of The 253”. Running on selected dates, The Cars of the 253 also use the “instant” green start for racing. Only running to the 1/8th mile the reaction to the green can and will catch you off guard. With “no” amber lights counting down to green to set you up you have to be ready once both are staged. Brain to finger or thumb on a button or foot on the brake pedal “will” really test your reaction to the green. Those that cut some pretty good lights under the “normal” tree are finding a bit bigger number on their time slip. Adding to the fact once you get that slip you get “no” info on who you raced. Call someone out, pair up and hit the tree with first to the stripe the winner. This is pure “heads up” racing at its best taken from the streets to the “safety” of the dragstrip.

Top of the list tonight is Lloyd Flatum and his ’01 S-10. Next race for this group is Aug. 11th.

Rounding out the evening was the United Nitro Funny Cars (UNFC) setting up for their race on Saturday; the teams got their first qualifying hit. There is nothing like “nitro” sounds reverberating around the track. The class is the combination of Bill Doner and Bucky Austin bringing the United Nitro Funny Car event to the track. Not quite the “64” funny car event from Doner’s past here at the track but a big event none the less.

Also not the nitro funny cars you see at the national event held each summer at Pacific Raceways these are “old school” race cars like they raced back in the day. Yes they “do” have current safety equipment on the cars and a little help from the lessons learned from the technology developed since these cars ran in their heyday.

Top of the field going into Saturday is Mark Sanders throwing down a 5.677 et at 224.81 mph.

Lots of great images are now available, including some from up high – click here to check them all out. Again thank you very much for your support and purchases!