Saturday Night Nitro at Bakersfield

Horan wins second consecutive event

Words by Darr Hawthorne
Photos by Paul Schmitz, Darr Hawthorne and Robert Gibson

When Blake Bowser envisioned that his family run dragstrip would become the center of nostalgia nitro racing, he was right on target.  Auto Club Famoso Raceway, in the middle of miles and miles of agricultural fields north of Bakersfield, California, must be the undisputed Mecca for all West Coast nitro junkies, and the first Saturday Night Nitro event of this year was proof!

From his opening pass in testing, Dan Horan Jr. set the pace in his Ronnie Swearingen-tuned “Patriot” ’66 Mustang running a stout 5.81, but the bracket-like repeatability of the red, white and blue funny car would get him into the Famoso winners circle for the second time in a row.

The special single-night nitro show, starting the third season, has caught on with spectators, parents and especially kids from all over Southern California. A few of the crusty veterans there were recalling the nights they spent at tracks like Irwindale, Orange County and Lions dragstrips.  The event has also brought out cars like the late Ed Lenarth’s “Holy Toledo” Jeep with Dean Oberg driving.  (Paul Schmitz photo)

The Chicago-style format attracted sixteen AA/Funny cars and the track’s alliance with Boise’s Firebird Raceway, making a Boise-Bakersfield Blitz to encourage attendance for those cars has made for more incentive to compete, outside of the NHRA Heritage Series this season.  (Darr Hawthorne photo)