For the 2011 season the decided to go for it as best they could and the first stop was the famous March Meet in Bakersfield.  After taking a runner up finish at the March Meet in Bakersfield, the team then made the trip to Eagle, Idaho for the Napa Auto Parts Ignitor. The long trip made worthwhile when the team took their first ever Nostalgia funny car win.  There were a great deal of high fives and tears as it was a very emotional win, along with setting a track record for speed.

Next the team went to Las Vegas and survived one of the only know land based hurricanes known to man. The wind and sandy conditions made it difficult to get ahold of the normally very tight race track. The team experienced a very rare first round loss.

The team then made the trip back to Boise, and this is were they encountered some frustrations. “Our hot weather tune up just wasn’t working for us and we needed to figure out some gearing issues to expand our tuning capacities, however it did not work out for us.” The team had high hopes but Jason was lucky to have the car come back in one piece as it made a hard move towards the guard wall against Twig Zigler’s car in the first round and wound up being another first round loss.

 Then it was off to run the special invitation event at the Phoenix national event. “I won my first ever ‘big’ Wally at Phoenix,  that was a very cool deal.”
 
The team made a quick turnaround and then headed for Bakersfield and the final event the California Hot Rod Reunion. The team made one qualifying attempt and got into the show in the number three position, and was able to parlay that into a first round win over Steve Nichols, the in the second round against his stable mate Steven Densham, Rupert had one of those “out of body experiences”  Rupert explained it this way. “ I knew my right foot was moving down wards, but I couldn’t stop it, and my brain and foot had an argument, and the foot won.”  A -.077 redlight brought the Rupert’s day to an end. However their strong start to the beginning of the season and strong performace at the CHRR, gave the team enough points to hold off Paul Romine, and “team” mate Steven Densham for the title.

“This is the biggest thing that has ever happen to either me or my dad, and it was very cool to be able to share it with him. He doesn’t get around as well as he did years ago, but that is ok, cause his mind is very very sharp,” said Rupert.

But if you think that Jason and the crew are resting on their performances from last year, you would be sorely mistaken.  “ We have spent a great deal of time this winter planning and getting ready to test some new things. ( I asked him what it was, but Jason mumbled something about telling me then having Brad kill me or some such thing , so I let it go for now.) 

There are some very intelligent people in Rupert Motorsports bunch with a great deal of experience in all aspects of drag racing. It would not be surprising to see the red Camaro with some out-of- the box thinking and technology on it when the car rolled out of the Densham Motorsports hauler at Phoenix for their second run at a big show Wally at the Arizona Nationals in February. Then it is off to the March Meet.

Rupert’s would like to thank all the fans who stopped by and said hello throughout the year. They would also like to thank those partners who help them out through the year. Lucas Oil, Craig’s Pit Stop, Densham Motorsports, B&J Transmissions, DJ Safety, Taylor Motorsports, Haussey Gasket, Brad Anderson Enterprises, Williams Manifold, Probell, PAC valve springs, Velasco Crankshafts, Power Pro Exhaust,and of course Littlefield Blowers.

This is truly a family operation, a family who loves drag racing, who has made a mark on the sport has persevered through trying times and now is seeing the rewards of the good times. It can honestly be said that these are very good people and it is great to see good things happen to them.