EVENT RESULTS EVENT NOTEBOOK			EVENT GALLERY

SUNDAY HIGHLIGHTS

Ron Capps recorded the quickest run in the history of modern day Nostalgia Funny Car racing with a 5.67, 247 pass in the first round against Brian Thiel. Unfortunately his day ended in the next round opposite of Josh Crawford.

The Bakersfield March Meet played out in front of a capacity crowd on Sunday.

Leah Pruett-Le Duc is one of eight Funny Car racers still in the running for the race championship. Action was halted on late Sunday with cold track temperatures.

Multi-time Top Fuel champion Paul Romine will meet Leah Pruett - Le Duc in the quarter-finals of the dealyed competition.

Drag racing legend Art Chrisman was on hand Sunday to show off his classic ride from back in the day.

Nostalgia Top Fuel has been eliminated down to four cars.

John Force was recognized in pre-race activities as the event's Grand Marshal.

Bakersfield successfully combines past and present for a great show, year after year.

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SATURDAY HIGHLIGHTS

Saturday's March Meet got in a round of qualifying despite dire weatcher predictions earlier in the week. Competition was halted later in the afternoon after cool track temperatures made racing treacherous.

Second-generation fuel racer Adam Sorokin landed in the 11th spot after two sessions.

When you're the Funny Car low qualifier Ron Capps, you get to hang out with the cool people like the Condit Brothers. [Below] The same could be said for Grand Marshal status as John Force shoots the breeze with one of the Condit Brothers and Steve Pleuger.

Rafael Quiroga earns his keep as a driver in getting a handle on his B/Gas Camaro.

Gabe Wood's neat Nostalgia II altered en route to an 8.62 elapsed time and the No. 5 qualifying position headed into Sunday eliminations.

Nothing says tough like a t-shirt with Ed McCulloch clocking "Flash" Gordon Mineo. Tough as nails Ron Capps serves as the model.

With the sun setting in the background, Chris Beanes boils the tires in his A/Gasser.

Ed Dougan slows in the beautiful Fighting Irish after a qualifying run on Saturday. He enters Sunday eliminations as the 20th quickest.

Denver Schutz ended qualifying as the eighth quickest in Nostalgia Top Fuel.

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FRIDAY HIGHLIGHTS -

Ronald Martinez stuffed his 1934 Willys Sedan Delivery into the guardwall during Friday's A/Gas qualifying. He was uninjured.

For 23-times a season, Ron Capps climbs behind the wheel of a modern era Funny Car. When time permits, he joins the Nostalgia Funny Car car events in Bakersfield. After Friday's qualifying, he was the No. 1 qualifier with a 5.787.

The Terry Cox team works on Friday night to prepare their dragster for Saturday qualifying.

Leah Pruett-LeDuc ended Friday's qualifying as No. 11 provisionally.

Brendan Murray waas fourth quickest in Top Fuel.

Two-time NHRA Funny Car champion Cruz Pedregon is racing this weekend in his Joe Pisano tribute car.

Don Hudson burns out behind the wheel of the Twig Zeigler tribute car. He nearly crashed the car after crossing the center-line and coming close to Todd Lesenko.

Steve Castelli's A/Gas Willys is a Bakersfield tradition.

Josh Crawford brings the legendary Blue Max into Saturday unqualified.

The great thing about Bakersfield is that you can bring your Super Pro 1933 Willys and it becomes a B/Gasser.

The legends are out in force this weekend. Former Petersen's Drag Racing editor Dave Wallace takes time to pose with longtime nitro tuner Jim Brissette. On the right is the legendary Art Chrisman, the very first Bakersville Fuel and Gas Champion.

The Rain for Rent tribute car warms up between prior to Friday's action.

Nothing starts the day quite like a stroll through the Bakersville swap meet.

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THURSDAY NOTEBOOK: ROCKIN’ ROLLING, HORAN STYLE

Dan Horan Racing and the Joe Walla Band have joined forces for the 2010 NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series.

Dan Horan Jr. debuted a brand new look to his Mustang and has coupled the makeover with a talented crew led by Ronnie Swearingen and clutch specialist Bob Otto.

The Joe Walla Band is scheduled to play at Chuys in Bakersfield on Thursday Night and on the starting line of AAA Famoso Raceway Saturday night. 

Of special note, Walla will also debut a brand new Stars and Stripes guitar that XOXAudioTools.com hand built for Sunday’s pre-race rendition of the National Anthem.

CAPPS TO RACE - Ron Capps, who is usually behind the wheel of nitro Funny Car in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, will compete for the second time in this weekend's 52nd running of the March Meet at the Auto Club Famoso Raceway in Bakersfield, Calif. This three-day event, held March 5-7, kicks off the 2010 Nostalgia racing season.

Capps will drive a Plymouth Arrow Nostalgia Funny Car owned by Steve Plueger and will make numerous appearances for NAPA AUTO PARTS supported by local businessman Tim Delcid, owner of several NAPA stores in the area.

"This event has more meaning than a lot of races that I race in right now," said Capps, a 30-time NHRA national-event winner, who will compete in a unique 32-car field this weekend. "It goes without saying that to be able to win the historic March Meet would rank right up there with any victories I've had in my career.

"I pretty much grew up going to this race. Back in the late '50s, when 'Big Daddy' Don Garlits was terrorizing the East Coast with his Top Fuel dragster, the West Coast guys challenged him to come out and pit himself against the best in the West Coast.

"And the March Meet is where it happened. So, when I went there as a kid, I watched every big-name drag racer - Don Schumacher, Don Prudhomme, Connie Kalitta, Don Garlits, Ed 'Ace' McCulloch, Shirley Muldowney, and other important racers of the time - run this race. It was big-time.

"I don't remember ever missing a race. And the crowds this weekend will rival any national event that we race at right now. It's an unbelievable event to attend, and an even bigger one to race at. To be able to say that you've won the March Meet would be beyond unbelievable.

"Tim Delcid has been very involved with the track and, for this year's event, he's asked me to speak at the California Trucking Association's Annual Lamb Fry Dinner on Thursday, in front of over 200 people, including state-wide politicians, California Highway Patrol, among others in the trucking industry. This March Meet brings in between 4 and 5 million dollars for the local economy."

Capps will be joined by fellow NHRA racers at this event. "Gary Densham and Cruz Pedregon are racing there as well, and John Force is the Grand Marshal," he added. "This is probably the first time in history since the heyday of Funny Car racing back in the '70s that they're going to have a legitimate 32-car field for nitro Funny Cars. That's unprecedented in this day and age."

Other events in which Capps will participate this weekend include NAPA autograph sessions, an appearance at the new Quarter-Mile Courtyard (a VIP section in the grandstands) and a raffle of two VIP tickets for the Las Vegas NHRA event in April. All proceeds from these special events will go to local charities.

ARMED AND READY TO DO BATTLE - Kris Krabill is running on adrenaline as he prepares for this weekend’s March Meet and the daunting task of facing a 32-car qualified field for Nostalgia Funny Cars. Gary Turner (team owner) and crew chief, Cory Lee, have been hard at work making subtle changes to the power combination, in hopes of continuing their momentum from last season.

Krabill ended 2009 by winning the prestigious NHRA California Hot Rod Reunion. After qualifying second with a strong 5.872-second run, Krabill guided the “Pedaler” to wins over Cruz Pedregon, Tim Boychuk, and Josh Crawford.

“We went to Auto Club Famoso Raceway last weekend to put some test laps on the car,” Krabill said. “Our first was a planned half-track shutoff and it felt great to be back in the seat. On the second run, it had the wheels up for 250 feet so I short-shifted and we ran 6.03. When Cory looked at the data, the incremental numbers showed it would have run a mid-5.80 if it weren’t so aggressive. We were pleased to get those runs in, as that puts us in good shape for this weekend.” The forecast doesn’t look good but this team is ready to race.

MAKE MINE A DOUBLE - More nitromethane through the pipes is always a good thing. Just ask the Champion Speed Shop, who will field not one,

Dennis Barraza

The latest Champion Speed Shop creation features a Rodeck Hemi engine between the Neil and Parks frame rails. The Guy Ruchonnet body panels carry paint applied by Art Himsl.

"This thing is really beautiful", said Sorokin of the new hemi-powered car.

The psychedelic-era Himsl paintwork was still curing on the panels when the team traveled to Sacramento Raceway for testing last week.

NEW MARKETING PARTNER - Bennett & Fitzgerald Motorsports team has added associate backing from Equalizer Systems, lifting and leveling specialists. Equalizer Systems joins a line of other proud Pure Heaven Nitro Funny Car / Fuel Altered marketing partners including Kirker Automotive Finishes, Reid Rockers, and Jerry Jardine's Header Palace.

THE GENERATIONS - 

Jeff Bennett will be driving the Pure Heaven IV Nitro Funny Car at the 52nd annual March Meet at Famoso Raceway in Bakersfield, California. Chris Bennett will be piloting Mike McCain's Bomb Squad at the same event setting the stage for a possible father-son matchup. - Kevin Cooley Photo

KEEPING A CHEETAH’S PACE - February was a busy month for the Cheetah IV Nostalgia Top Fuel dragster team.

It doesn’t get much calmer for the Sacramento-based group this weekend.

“This is the biggest race of the season and we’re amped up,” driver Terry Cox said. “All the waiting and preparing in the offseason will pay off once we line those cars up on the strip.”

However, the team was hard at work long before that, beginning with the Winternationals in Pomona, Calif., in the middle of February.

STIMULUS PACKAGE –Kern County has its own economic stimulus package: the annual March Meet. Now in its 52nd year, the March Meet (Mar.

Rob Gibson

Even with the economic downturn, last year’s highly successful event brought in close to $5 million to Bakersfield and surrounding areas, down from $6.5 million in 2008. However, with the economy starting to turn around, the dollar amount may rise again, according to Bowser.

“Advance ticket sales have been great,” said Bowser. Everyone knows we’re still climbing out of a recession, but people still want to take their families to an affordable, exciting, fun event, which is exactly what the March Meet is. As far as race car entries, we’re going to be full and motorhomes are already lined up to get in, so things are looking great.”

As race teams and out-of-town spectators descend upon Bakersfield for the speed festival, anxious hoteliers, restaurateurs and local shops are among those who will get ready to count the money coming into the county.

Bowser said the March Meet is Bakersfield’s biggest event, drawing more than 30,000 spectators. He expects even more with 14-time Funny Car champion John Force attending as Grand Marshal. “John is the most popular drag racer in history and has millions of fans, many here in Kern County.

“Plus, we have racers and fans coming to Bakersfield from Europe, Australia, Japan, Canada and all over the U.S., and they spend a lot of money in this county. Even last year, when the recession was at its worst, local merchants still benefited from the March Meet. This year they are more positive and, as always, are putting out the welcome mat. As we all know, $5 million in tourism will give us a shot in the arm. Auto parts stores, hotels, grocers, restaurants and gas stations will feel a direct impact, but the influx of money will continue to spread throughout the county.”

Additionally, Bowser said the March Meet is also the season opener for the NHRA’s Hot Rod Heritage Series, making it a “must-attend” event for nostalgia drag race fans. “Hotels are booked throughout the county. There’s a big buzz about it all over and everyone’s anticipating great things.”

DAY "TIME" AT BAKERSFIELD - Diverse nitro-pilot James Day is very grateful to drive any race car.

For the Mission Viejo, Calif. based driver the good will of a few good friends will permit Day to compete in the Jensen, Civille and Rogers “Foothill Flyer” Nostalgia Top Fuel Dragster this weekend at the 52nd running of the March Meet contested at Auto Club Fomoso Raceway in Bakersfield, Calif.

The opportunity to drive the Foothill Flyer at this year’s annual NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series late-winter pilgrimage to ‘The Patch’ came about very quickly. As many things in today’s economy there was one obstacle; money. “Pete Jensen and Mike Civillie had planned to co-tune the “Nitro Diction” Top Fuel Car and had the “Flyer” race-ready,” noted Day. “We just needed to come up with some money to fund the car. Since the money tree in my back yard is not blooming this year we were counting on some type of miracle to occur.”

The money to operate the Chris Nance tuned Foothill Flyer was raised by several good friends of Day who wanted to ensure his professional racing goal continued.

“I posted a comment on my Facebook page stating I was looking for sponsors to drive the Foothill Flyer at the March Meet and low-and-behold people started sending checks,” said Day. “I was shocked at first when Lee and Mert Littlefield of Littlefield Superchargers offered some assistance, but then Rex Rexroat, Derek Flynn of Gold Coast RV’s, Tim Sieger at Ultimate Design, John Halsted of Western Hoist, John Lombardo Jr at Jackson Auto Supply, Jim Maher at Good Vibrations, Dave and Linda Smith of DLS Motorsports, Larry and Roy Miersch, John Keigley, and Dale Pulde followed their lead. With the support of companies like DJ Safety, Black Fly’s Sunglasses and Backward Circle Bikes, we’ll be ready to whoop up on all those guys this weekend.”

Day has been busy so far this racing season. Beginning at the season opening NHRA Winternationals he drove Steve Plueger’s “L.A. HOOKER” Nitro Nostalgia Funny Car. He was scheduled to drive the same car at the NHRA Arizona Nationals; however weather and track preparation delays bumped the flopper from running. “I can’t thank Steve Plueger enough for giving me the nitro fix I needed to begin the season,” Day concluded. “It was an honor to drive that car, but this weekend some guy named Ron Capps is driving the car. I wish him the best of luck because that is one bad flopper. I’m sure he can handle it,” Day said with a smile.

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