NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

The list of achievements that Bobby Cottrell has yet to cross off his list since taking the wheel of Bucky Austin’s Bardahl ’69 Camaro has become increasingly short for the reigning and multiple-time NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series champion, and he was able to seize another opportunity by hoisting an NHRA Wally at Thunder Valley Dragway in Bristol during his first such attempt.

Legends Funny Cars presented by Modern Warriors brought a field of nostalgic nitro coupes that are largely based on the West Coast to Bristol as the first leg of a two-week swing that also includes the Wally Parks NHRA Nostalgia Nationals at Beech Bend Raceway in Bowling Green, Ky., this coming weekend. In fact, the closest travel distance for a competitor belonged to series newcomer Chuck Loftin, whose Nitro Psycho ’77 Trans Am is based in Seguin, Texas. Seven cars competed with one expected team — Rick Akers’ Mac Attack entry piloted by Pomona winner Cory McClenathan — unable to complete the cross-country haul. 

Qualifying concluded with Kamaka Pocock stepping up to a 4.75 at 238 mph in Don Nelson’s Lemon’s Headers Trans Am to take the top spot and earn a single in the first round on Saturday. He followed that up with a 4.78, but his race ended on Sunday when a 4.85 was not enough to match Cottrell’s best run of the event (4.78) which was accompanied by a holeshot. Cottrell had earned the semifinal matchup with a 4.81 against a red-lighting Tim Boychuk in the opening round.

A David vs. Goliath battle was in store with Cottrell set to face an eager VanGundy & Clark team which, with the exception of representing Team USA in Top Alcohol Funny car during trips to Japan in 1993 and 1994, had rarely traveled away from the West Coast in nearly a half-century of racing. Driver Geoff Monise made his way through eliminations from the No. 2 position with 4.82 and 4.87 times against Loftin and Billy Morris. The team whose performance had improved dramatically over the past two seasons continued to turn quick times without the parts attrition that had limited previous efforts.

It was over quickly in the final with Cottrell dialing in a 4.81 at 238 mph while Monise’s slight starting line advantage dissipated with early tire spin. Though not far removed from a fifth career March Meet win, this was a particularly emotional win for Cottrell and the Austin & O’Brien team in their first outing since the unexpected loss of team matriarch Julie Austin. 

The nine-race Legends Nitro Funny Cars series continues at the fifth event in Bowling Green this weekend (more info here). For more information about Legends Nitro Funny Cars, go to their website.