Mr. Explosive crashes at March Meet

Veteran AA/FC driver Mark Sanders had a nasty crash in his "Mr. Explosive" Nova during a test run Thursday afternoon at the March Meet. Sanders and his son and tuner, Jake, were working out the bugs on a new engine combination for the 2012 season and earlier had run a sub-six-second test lap.

As you can see from this sequence the Nova impacted the Famoso guard wall with the throttle partially open and the chute out. The injector blades closed upon impact with the wall, then re-opened when the car bounced off, stuck open by the collapsing body.

The report from a family member was that Mark suffered heavy bruising on his right side and was kept overnight at the hospital for observation but was released Friday morning. Thanks to the safety systems on the NHRA-legal car the only other injury he suffered was a wounded wallet.

This Nova funny car was scheduled to be replaced by a new Brad Hadman-built chassis and lighter carbon fiber Mustang body later this year. Sanders’ team is one of those booked into the IHRA Texas and Arizona races this spring.   (Jon LeMoine photos) [3/2/2012]

So-Cal racers can go to Barona

Although Auto Club Dragway at Fontana, Calif., is now closed, racing will go on this weekend at the eighth-mile Barona track. The Renegade Gambler Series event #2 and Test & Tune Gambler Grudge racing will be held Saturday, March 3, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Gates open at 8 a.m.

The Barona Renegade Bracket Gambler Series is a points series consisting of eight races during the 2012 racing season. Participation in this series qualifies racers for the King of the Track race at the end of the year.

Two classes will be run, Electronics and Non-Electronics. Entry fee is $20 with $20 buy-backs first OR second round.

Racing fuel and methanol will be available at the track. Visit www.baronadrags.com for the schedule and more info. [3/2/2012]