Jason Rupert

One of the best and most anticipated matchups of the weekend was the semi-final pairing of John Hale and Jason Rupert. Number one (Rupert) and two (Hale) in the current NHRA Heritage series points standings and both drivers are going for the championship this year. Rupert got a slight advantage off the line by five-thousandths of a second and led the whole way to take the win while setting low ET and top MPH of the event at 5.885 at 255.50 to Hale’s 5.983 at 215.81 with a wild driving job on the top end. Hale would later mention it as “the hairiest lap of my driving career”.

In the other semi-final pairing Krabill was granted a bye into the final round when Martin was unable to make the call due to blackening the crankshaft in round one. Krabill made the most of it and ran a 5.999 at 238.72, but it wouldn’t be enough for lane choice in the final round against Rupert.

In just his second race driving for Bucky Austin, Krabill reached a final round but it wouldn’t be an easy one as he was paired up with the defending NHRA Heritage series champion and current points leader. Krabill was on his game and dropped a .055 reaction time to Rupert’s late .143 and led the whole way to take the event win with a 5.911 at 247.08 to Rupert’s nearly identical, but losing, 5.918 at 241.88.

The newly reformed team from the northwest seems to be blending together quite well. Krabill stated that “driving for Bucky is awesome…nothing short of amazing.”

And for team owner, Bucky Austin, he couldn’t be more proud to have Kris in the seat of his hot rod saying, “that’s one of the ingredients I was missing, a driver. I probably, right now, have the best guy out there.”

Austin continued, “I really feel fortunate he is driving for us, he did his job…I can’t complain at all.”

The funny cars weren’t the only show at Sacramento Raceway. The Pro Slammer Door Car Association was running their three classes at the event.