Mission Raceway NHRA Canadian National Open
This year's event is ramping up the excitement meter with not just 16, or only 24, but a full-on, rampaging herd of blown alky and nitro floppers that we hope to see total out at 32 FUNNY CARS. While the exact total or breakdown by class is still to be determined, we do have the "official" list of attendees from the Rocky Mountain Nostalgia Funny Car group. It's going to be at least 10 cars, and possibly 11 if a new member finalizes his competition license in time (presumably this weekend or at the Thursday test 'n tune at Mission Raceway).
That car count for just one of the three groups competing at Mission bodes well for the event's fortunes. We're waiting to hear, and expect the news later today, about the number of racers coming up from Washington and Oregon as part of the Northwest BB/Funny Car Association, and if they come close to matching the Alberta-based Rocky Mountain group, we'll have a very good chance of reaching or even exceeding the fabled 32-car funny cars for the first time ever north of the 49th parallel.
All that's missing at this point - at least in my mind - is the legendary, the one and only, the incomparable, Bill Doner doing the radio and TV ads to promote the race.
Here's the lineup for the three groups of Funny Cars competing this weekend:
AA/FC Nitro Nostalgia Funny Cars
Tim "The Iceman" NemethMark "Mr. Explosive" Sanders
Mark Hengtes "Austin & O'Brien"
Todd Lesenko "Jolly Rogers"
Mike Grekul "Pleuger & Gyger"
Jay "The Prospector" Mageau
Tim Boychuk "Troy Lee Designs"
Darin Bay "Twig Zeigler"
Nathan Sitko "Sitko Family Racing"
Mike Savage "Candies & Hughes
BB/FC Rocky Mountain Nostalgia Funny Car Association
Joey StecklerCal "The Bad Goat" Tebb
Ed Plaizier
Cory Kincaid
Ron Sekura
Corey Sekura
Arvid Fonstad
Dave "The Reaper" Brant
"Wild" Al Weich
Norm "The Rookie" Kolwich
BB/FC Northwest BB/Funny Car Association
Ron "Tikiman" HuegliGreg "Zeus" Howland
Randy "King Kuda" Parker
Kim "Hell on Wheels" Parker
Russ "High Bucks IV" Parker
Don "Hartbreaker" Harter
Shane "Hartbreaker II" Harter
Royce "Mr. Excitement" Taylor
Todd "Photo Op" Swinford
Brent "Damn Yankee" Murray