Scott Stanger

The other feel good story was local racer Scott Stanger. Stanger’s “Bad Manners” Cuda is simply beautiful. Stanger and his crew have been working hard to get the car’s performance to match the cars aesthetics. 

With help from top fuel racer Scott Mason and longtime crewmember Mike Heare, the team has been able to sneak up on the aspect. In addition, at their home track Stanger did not disappoint. The team got into the number-seven slot. In addition, the car produces great header flames from starting line to finish line and that makes the crowd goes wild.

“I love to watch these cars run at night with the big header flames,” Stanger said, “and now I don’t get to see them because I’m in the car.” 

The team has been to four events, has qualified for three of them, and shows a great deal of promise for the future.

Roger Garten

As for the rest of the flopper group, in qualifying the class of the field was undoubtedly the Ronny Swearengen-tuned Patriot Mustang owned and driven by Dan Horan. Horan was in the 5.90’s from the inception of qualifying.  After Q1, Horan had two tenths of a second on the field with many teams underestimating the track and conditions.

When qualifying ended it was Horan first, second was Robert Overholser in Don Nelson’s “California Hustler.” Third was “Hollywood” Kris Krabill in Uncle Bucky Austin’s Northwest Hitter Trans Am. Rounding out the top half of the field was Garten in the “War Horse” Mustang.