European Nitro Funny Car Challenge

With the Pro Mods struggling, it was inevitable that the opening round of the Euro Nitro Funny Car Challenge (four meetings split 3:1 between Santa Pod and Hockenheim and running over the full quarter). Three cars made qualifying shots, with Jason Phelps ending up with the low ET (a 6.9s being the best and indicative of just how far off the climatic conditions were for running nitro cars), low qualifier and event win from the black Shockwave FGR Mustang over his team mate Gordon Smith in the more colourful wagon. John Spuffard and the Showtime team made up the qualifying trio but decided to save parts and skipped eliminations as no matter what they tried got them beyond a wheel turn without breaking traction. Kevin Kent was hoping to complete his licensing in the West Ten Mustang, but it really wasn’t the weekend to look for a representative full pull.