:::Drag Racing Online::: Nightfire Nationals at Boise - Weekend Coverage

Words and Photos by Brian Losness

1st Round of Funny Car

The first round of funny car was arguably the best round of racing on the Heritage Series this year. The first pair featured Rupert vs Cameron Ferre. Ferre is out first but the Frank Rupert tune up got around Ferre to take the win. “The car was just as smooth as glass”

Next pair Tim Boychuk was against Chris Davis. Boychuk was out on the Spokane based Vega, but Davis was right there to keep the Canadian honest, however it was for not.

The third pair was Boise-Bakersfield Blitz winner Dan Horan up along side newly licensed driver Scott Stanger. Stanger is out by a hundredth, but the Swearingen tune up made up the difference and Horan will move on to the next round.

The next pair was the best race of the first round feature John Hale and Wally Giavia. Giavia was out by 5 hundredths of a second and held that advantage to nearly 800 feet when the Guy Tipton horsepower took over and pulled Hale to the victory.

Robert Overholser was up next against Mark Sanders. Sanders was out first but the California Hustler made up the difference was able to take the win.

Huge upset was the final pair of the first round. Dennis LaCharite was out on Krabill and held him off for the win.

Final Professional Qualifying Session

It appears there might be a new “sheriff” in town as Brett Harris takes the number on spot in top fuel over defending race winner and Heritage Series Champion Adam Sorokin. Moving up to number three is Jim Murphy in his new car that won in its debut in Bowling Green.

1. Brett Harris, Hooper, Utah, 5.80, 247.38.

2. Adam Sorokin, La Crescenta, Calif., 5.83, 224.83.

3. Jim Murphy, Santa Rosa, Calif., 5.84, 237.52.

4. Rick White, San Diego, Calif., 5.85, 248.00.

5. Tony Bartone, Long Island City, New York, 5.93, 218.92.

6. Brendan Murry, San Jose, Calif., 6.36, 230.35.

7. Ron August, Pleasanton, Calif., 6.39, 212.91.

In funny car DRO Champion John Hale from Texas held on to the pole with a nice 5.84 second run. Moving into the number two position in the final session is defending NHRA Heritage Series Champion Jason Rupert. Rupert had been fighting electrical gremlins in the first two sessions. Frank and the boys got them figured out in the final session. Sliding into the third position is Dan Horan in his Ron Swearingen tuned ride. Horan flex his muscles earlier in the day with 5.89 second run in the heat of the day.

1. John Hale, Addison, Texas, 5.84, 241.22

2. Jason Rupert, Yorba Linda, Calif, 5.87, 242.52.

3. Dan Horan, Sylmar, Calif., 5.89, 248.82.

4. Tim Boychuk, Edmonton, Alberta, 5.99, 238.72.

5. Robert Overholser, Clovis, Calif., 6.02, 232.85

6. Kris Krabill, Tacoma, Wash., 6.05, 238.41.

7. Dennis La Charite, Torrance, Calif., 6.17, 230.35.

8. Mark Sanders, Maple Valley, Wash., 6.19, 232.85.

9. Chris Davis, Spokane, Wash., 6.43, 196.16.

10. Scott Stanger, West Point, Utah, 6.53, 219.94.

11. Cameron Ferre, Huntington Beach, Calif., 6.61, 205.80.

12. Wally Giavia, Klamath Falls, Ore., 7.02, 141.02.

In Pro Mod Marc Meadors took what he learned winning the Foxhunt in May and parlayed it into taking the number one position on the final qualifying session. With the cooler tempertures and more grip in the race track Meadors improved to 6.03 second run to take the pole. Dan Myers slid into the number two position . Rod Burbage was relegated to the 3rd position at 6.12.

1. Marc Meadors, Danville, Calif., 6.03, 241.41.

2. Dan Myers, Ramona, Calif., 6.09, 211.51.

3. Rod Burbage, Anderson, Calif., 6.12, 236.53.

4. Mike Gondziola, Saskatoon, Sask., 6.18, 232.79.

5. Tim “TK” Krupa, Valencia, Calif., 6.19, 231.83.

6. John Scialpi, Phelan, Calif., 6.39, 222.44.

7. Jeremy Hanger, Fullerton, Calif., 6.43, 217.44.

8. Craig Cawte, Cranbook, British Columbia, 6.53, 189.03.

Top Fuel Round 1

1. Adam Sorokin 5.92 201.74
2 Tony Bartone 5.93 218.92
3. Brett Harris 5.99 239.29
4. Rick White 6.04 246.03
5. Jim Murphy 6.19 212.76
6. Ron August Jr 6.42 194.42
7 Brendan Murry 7.90 119.64

Funny Car Round 1

1. John Hale 5.89 236.22
2. Dan Horan 5.90 246.84
3. Jason Rupert 6.03 229.59
4. Robert Overholser 6.05 234.98
5 Tim Boychuk 6.06 229.18
6. Kris Krabill 6.28 197.71
7. Dennis LaCharite 6.40 224.38
8.(Lic) Scott Stanger 6.85 192.84
9. Wally Giavia 7.05 122.21
10. Chris Davis 7.57 129.73
11. Marc Sanders 7.64 125.08
12. Cameron Ferre 8.70 94.21

Ryan Cook

Ryan Cook swept top honors and a cool $5,000 payday. In a double throwdown final, both Cook and Tucson’s Jon Bradford ran dead-perfect on their dial-in, as the eastern Idaho sharp shooter Cook ran 7.95 on a 7.95 and Bradford finished at 7.07 on a 7.07 dial in an all dragster final.

In Pro, former Allstar David Chun Jr. collected top honors at 8.62-137.69 when the Chevy II of Paul Nicolosi redlit with a -.012. Both Duston Wurtz and Craig Jensen also reached the Pepsi Winnters Circle, along with Christopher Northup and Melissa Jarboe in Consolation action.

Racing resumes on Friday with more Bracketeer action in addition to theopening round of Professional qualifying at 7 pm. Gates open at 8 am, followed by time trials at 8:30 am and first round of sportsman eliminations at 12:30 pm.

Bracketeer
Ryan Cook, Idaho Falls, .011, 7.95 (7.95 dial) 164.53 def. Jon Bradford, Tucson, Ariz., .049, 7.07 (7.07 dial) 190.51.
Semi-Chris Jaggers, Middleton; Ed Cutler, Meridian.
Quarter-Dustin Hentges, Olympia, WA; Mark Campbell, Olympia, WA; Troy Pecht, Caldwell.
Eighth-Jim Climer, Kimberly; Darryn O’Connor, Fort St. John, Alberta; Garrett Quinlan, Nampa; Jamie Toews, Dawson Creek, British Columbia; Garnet Rose, St. Albert, Alberta; Ken Nelson, Hayden, ID, John Shaffer, Boise.

Mark Kidd

Pro
David Chun Jr., Vancouver, Wash., .062, 8.62 (8.51 dial) 137.69 def. Paul Nicolosi, Nampa, -.012 foul, 10.91 (10.81 dial) 113.00.
Semi-Phil Garrison, Flagstaff, Ariz.
Quarter- Jeffrey Langan, Boise; Mark Kidd, Twin Falls.
Eighth-Troy Pecht, Caldwell, Ida.; Rayce Kidd, Twin Falls; Phil Sielaff, Pine, Ida.; Jim Dillon, Nampa.

Heavy
Duston Wurtz, Meridian, .033, 11.94 (11.87 dial) 100.52 def. Luke Jacobson, Nampa, .065, 12.85 (12.80 dial) 104.31.
Semi-Levi Burlile, Nampa.
Quarter-Brent Borchers, Meridian; Melanie Higgins, Boise.

Sled/Bike
Craig Jensen, Chubbuck, Ida., .083, 9.67 (9.65 dial) 125.43 def. Liz Micheletty, Kuna, .033, 10.21 (10.06 dial) 131.04.
Semi-Gerard Stanberry, Boise; Scott Grondahl, Nampa.
Quarter-J.R. Cox, Weiser; Zak Pedraza, Boise; Michael Watts, Boise.

Bracketeer Qualifying

Bracketeer Consolation
Christopher Northup, Boise, Ida., .020, 8.68 (8.64 dial) 147.46 def. Brian Birky, Missoula, Mont., .050, 10.93 (10.90 dial) 134.26.
Semi-Tom Clark, Spokane, WA; Stan Leerkamp, Olympia, WA.
Quarter-Mike Nicholson, Vancouver, Wash.; Barbara Winston, Orangevale, Calif.; Dale Green, Covington, Wash.; David Ficucell, Las Vegas, Nev.

Pro Consolation
Melissa Jarboe, New Plymouth, Ida., .020, 9.47 (9.46 dial) 134.85 def. Stan Deming, Nampa, .072, 10.66 (10.61 dial) 114.05.
Semi-Dennis Jorgenson, Nampa; Michael McCallum, Grand Junction, CO.
Quarter-Ken Frickey, Nampa, Ida.; Matt Kielman, Vancouver, Wash.; Larry Pittenger, Williams, Ariz.; Alan Adams, Sheridan, Ark.