Tim Boychuk (near lane) claimed the Nitro Funny Car win over 2014 champion Jason Rupert. (John Bisci photo)

IHRA at State Capitol Raceway

Boychuk, Bealko, Kile, Moller win Mardi Gras Nationals

Words by Jeff Burk and John Bisci
Photos by John Bisci and Chris Simmons

The IHRA Mardi Gras Nationals at Louisiana’s historic State Capitol Raceway replaced the race originally scheduled for San Antonio, Texas. It was to be a two-day affair, but, unfortunately, the weather didn’t cooperate resulting in Friday’s complete schedule being canceled. In order for the fans and racers to get what they paid for, IHRA President Scott Gardner made the call to qualify the pro cars and run the complete race on Saturday, March 14.

At the end of a very long day of great racing that exhausted racers, fans and officials, Tim Boychuk from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, driving the latest iteration of tuner Roland Leong’s iconic “Hawaiian” was the winner in Funny Car. Kevin Bealko, Bridgeport, WV, won the hotly contested Mountain Motor Pro Stock class and Tracy Kile Asheville, NC, was the winner in the Nitro Harley class.

NITRO FUNNY CAR

Boychuk and his Hall of Fame tuner Leong ended a year of frustration and made a statement that the team have solved their issues. They won the IHRA Mardi Gras Nationals in a very convincing fashion over a stout six-car field. (This was the first short field in the FC class since IHRA added it to their program in the 2014 season.)

AMSOIL Nitro Funny Car presented by Aeromotive – Racers elected not to conduct a second round of qualifying.
1. Paul Romine (Fishers, Indiana) 5.734/244.23 mph
2. Jason Rupert (Yorba Linda, California) 5.822/250.62
3. Mark Sanders (Maple Valley, Washington) 5.985/225.22
4. Steve Nichols (Newark, Delaware) 6.189/236.59
5. Ronny Young (Wylie, Texas) 6.332/209.20
6. Tim Boychuk (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) 9.611/86.67