NOTE: Refresh this page each time you visit to ensure you see the latest updates
The latest update as of February 29, 2020
Good Vibrations March Meet
Time is drawing very near for the traditonal nostalgia season opener, with the first (of eight) events on the NHRA Heritage Series calendar starting next Thursday, March 5 at AutoClub Famoso Raceway. By my reckoning, it's the 62nd annual Good Vibrations March Meet and it promises to uphold the long tradition of large fields, large spectator attendance, large performances, and some great times for everyone involved. Rumours in cyberspace are predicting at least 25 AA/Funny Cars, more than a dozen AA/Fuel Dragsters, a similar number of AA/Fuel Altereds, a handful of A/Fuel Dragsters and when it's all added up, more than 60 fuel-burning entries in total.
We've got ace lensman "Big" Bob Snyder attending the race on our behalf and he'll start providing photos and details as soon as the gates open at Famoso. We'll be updating this page with our coverage of the race throughout next weekend and well into the following week. As always, it's going to be a work in progress and you'll have to be sure to refresh this page whenver you visit. And remember: all race photos are small versions so click on them to see the larger image.
NHRA Lucas Oil Regional Series begins
Starting yesterday, the first of 25 races on the NHRA Lucas Oil Regional Series schedule kicked off at Belle Rose, LA's "No Problem Raceway". It's the first chance for the Top Alcohol Dragsters and Funny Cars to begin accumulating regional points towards the NHRA National/World championship. It's followed by the "Baby Gators" regional in Gainesville, FL next weekend that is the prelude to the 60th annual AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals.
There's seven Top Alcohol Dragsters in attendance at Belle Rose, including the 2019 NHRA World Champion, Megan Meyer, perennial contenders Duane Shields (#5 in 2019) and Jackie Fricke (#8 in 2019). Also in the field is Megan's sister Rachel Meyer in the second Randy Meyer Racing entry. So far it hasn't been a good weekend for the Meyer sisters, with two of three qualifying sessions in the books, as Megan is "oh for two" with an 11-second pass followed by a 17-second coaster. Rachel skipped the first session but could only put down a 6.74 at 204.54 in the second.
Jackie Fricke on the other hand, blasted out a 5.283 - 273.32 opener, to lead Dean Dubbin and Spencer Massey, who clocked side-by-side 5.55's, with both drivers shutting off early. The only other note-worthy pass so far this weekend was laid down by Robin Samsel in the second round, ringing up a 5.47 at 259 to take the second spot on the ladder going into the final qualifier this afternoon.
On the Funny Car side, three of the Top Ten runners from last season are in the field, with Anne Marie Whiteley (#5 in 2019) leading the way in the first qualifier with a 5.575 at nearly 270 mph (269.80), followed closely by the 2020 Winternationals winner Aryan Rochon at 5.61 and Bryan Brown with a 5.63 for the #3 position. Last year's #3 in the national standings, Shane Westefield trailed badly with an 11-second pass, and last season's #7 nationally, Kris Hool, posted a 7.575.
The second round saw Whiteley improve to a 5.499 - 270.63 to hang on to the top spot, as Bob McCosh trailed only slightly with a very strong 5.511 - 266.98 (career best) for #2 and Brown improved slightly to a 5.60 (from a 5.63) to stay in the #4 spot. With the final qualifier scheduled within the hour, we'll see if the eliminations ladders change much. Stay tuned!
6:00 PM UPDATE
There wasn't a major shuffling of the deck in the final qualifying sessions, as Jackie Fricke held onto the top spot with his first round 5.28, but Dean Dubbin stepped up to a near career best, carding a 5.356 - 268.80 to vault into the second spot on the ladder. There was absolutely nothing good to write about the injected nitro cars as Megan Meyer and Jackie Fricke failed to get down the track, and Rachel Meyer pedalled her way to a 6.903 at - are you ready for this? - 265.27 mph to remain in the #6 position. With just seven cars in the field, Fricke will have the first round bye.
On the Funny (Car) side of the pits, Shane Westerfield was still in a world of hurt, as his previous "best" of 11.64 wasn't bettered by a 12.77 to leave him at the bottom of the field. The only improvement was recorded by a steadily improving Bryan Brown as he went from a first session 5.63 to a 5.60, and in the final session, a 5.573 - 256.22 that only trailed Whiteley and McCosh going into eliminations.