New winners, new records at MIR

Words by Larry Crum
Photos courtesy IHRA

The eighth of the 10 events on the 2010 IHRA Nitro Jam was held Aug. 28-29 at Maryland International Raceway in Budds Creek, MD.

SATURDAY, AUG. 28

Just seven months ago following a bad fire at the season opening Palm Beach Nitro Jam in Florida Bob and Cathie Floch, owners of the “Bullet Bob” Prostalgia Nitro Funny car, were on the verge of walking away from the sport after nearly four decades in the business.

With a destroyed car and seemingly no hope of repair by the season’s second race in Baton Rouge, the Floch family found themselves carefully weighing their options as to what to do next. Then came a miracle. Dozens of racers from across the country came to their aid, lending parts, cash and support to help get the “Bullet Bob” machine back on the track.

Exactly seven months after that fiery accident and the ensuing outpouring of support, “Bullet Bob” is back in victory lane.

On a thrilling night of racing that saw a world record come crashing down and new winners across the board, driver Richard Hartman stepped in and drove the “Bullet Bob” Trans Am to its first win of the season, joining Bill Evans who reset both ends of the world record in Pro Fuel and Del Cox who returned to victory lane in Top Fuel at the Maryland Nitro Jam Saturday, Aug. 28, in Budds Creek.

“Richard helped give us a win tonight we will never forget,” Floch said. “To think just a few months ago we didn’t even know if we could get back out here and now being in victory lane is just incredible. Add in the fact that tomorrow is Cathie’s birthday and this is a weekend we will cherish forever.”