Oct, 2008

Hot Rod Reunion results:

Final round

617 Bucky Austin 0.114 5.749 244.03 def. 732 Chris Krabill 0.025 5.942 245.83

Final qualifier

Bucky Austin 5.794/243.70,
Chris Krabill 5.847/242.00
Terry Capp 5.872/248.34
Leah Pruett-LeDuc 5.901/238.85
Stephen Romanazzi 5.947/239.36,
Mark Sanders 6.010/239.55 (was inserted as alternate)

Jack Wright No Time, Now #8; (left before tree was activated)
Mike Halstead Runs 7.415/132.91

Qualifier #1

Bucky Austin 5.805/244.03
Chris Krabill 5.894/245.56
Mike Halstead 6.021/239.93
Leah Pruett-LeDuc 6.064/233.58
James Day 6.082/233.40
Terry Capp 6.220/240.57
Stephen Romanazzi 6.323/234.49
Jack Wright 6.345/218.23

DNQ
Mark Sanders 6.353/234.19
Bob Godfrey 6.411/198.76
James Generalo 6.467/220.26
Jeff Bennett 6.464/224.32
Nate Bugg 6.536/215.36
Dennis La Charite 6.941/179.21
Dan Horan Jr 8.782/104.59
Rian Konno 8.877/108.39
Dale Pulde 9.413/89.42
Lee Paul Jennings Jr 11.975/59.09
Ed Schwartz 12.163/81.51
Mendy Fry 16.431/56.62

August 2008

Edmonton Calgary and Boise

Edmonton and Calgary were match race events

July 30, 2008

The Plueger Funny Car two car team dominates Mission Raceway's National Open event.

Bucky is #1 qualifier but his team mate closes the gap in performance in eliminations and takes out the 'Hitter' in the final round.

Both cars are in the 5.80's all day long.

Final qualifying

1. Bucky Austin 5.863/238.47

2. Mike Grekul 5.889/236.34

3. Lee Paul Jennings 5.941/213.42

4. Kris Krabill 5.985/239.17

5. Terry Capp 5.999/232.61

6. Andy Beauchemin 6.19/234.07

7. Mark Sanders 6.201/225.84

8. Jay Mageau 7.549/130.73

In Round one, Bucky took on Jay Mageau and despite a career best 6.45 by Mageau, Bucky's stellar 5.83 was way to much. In the semi finals Bucky took out a tire smoking Kris Krabill with his fourth 5.80 pass. This time a 5.86.

That one was a little revenge for Bucky's loss to Krabill and the previous NFCA event at Phoenix. The final round saw the "Hitter" and team mate Mike Grekul, who had improved all weekend long to match Bucky's 5.83 in round one. In the final, Austin got away first by .005 but that other Plueger car started to reel in Bucky and at 1000 feet, he had caught him. At the finish line it was a .015 margin of victory and the first win for Grekul. The team gets set for the huge Night Fire Nationals at Boise August 7-10th.

Bucky also had out his very cool AA/Comp dragster that the boys got to compete in Top Comp with. Matt Mahoney drove the wheels off the Dragster qualifying with a great 6.83 and going to the thirst round before a red light ended his weekend. Matt went as quick as 6.77 in the retro dragster.

2008 Nostalgia events

May 9, 2008

This Weekend is Funny Car Fever II at Tucson Arizona

April 17, 2008 (Mark King photos)

Funny Car Fever, Sacramento

The first loss for the Austin/Plueger team in competiton in a year.

The team really lost the race themselves, as they overpowered the starting line at Sacramento in the final to lose for the first time in five events.

Eliminations

Round One

Bucky Austin defeated Mike Adams 6.087 @ 228.60 to 6.808 @ 217.12

Semis

Austin defeated Leah Pruett 5.893 @ 232.96 to 6.326 @ 214.21

Final

Krabill def Austin 6.068 @ 236.15 to tire smeoke for Austin

Final qualifying (Funny Car Fever)

1. Bucky Austin in the "Northwest Hitter" Arrow 5.846 @ 232.75.

2. Terry Capp"Bubble Up" Firebird 6.064 @ 242.63

3. Kris Krabill in the "Pedaler" Arrow 6.138 @233.94.

4. Lee Paul Jennings "Code Red" Challenger 6.165 @ 225.38
5. Leah Pruett-Le Duc "Dickies Girl" Mustang 6.186 @ 230.99
6. Sean Dale "Shakey Situation" Charger 6.281 @ 238.04
7. Mike Savage "Speed Sport" Barracuda 6.326 @ 214.76
8. Mike Adams "Coors" Corvette 6.247 @ 218.23
-----------------------------------------------------------
9. Dennis La Charite "Back In Black" GTO 6.366 @ 212.90
10. Steve Nichols "Mill Road Boys" Camaro 6.500 @ 221.54
11. Mike Grekul "Plueger & Gyger" Mustang 6.824 @ 214.43
12. Bob Godfrey "Burn N Money" Camaro 6.978 # 147.70
13. John Powers "Powers Steel" Camaro 8.575 @ 105.59

The March meet.

(Mark King photos)

Bucky and Pluger absolutely dominated the field at Bakersfield for the March Meet.

Bucky was the only driver to run in the 5's all weekend on every lap. Only one other 5 second time slip was turned in.

5.80's were the norm and he with Steve Pluger turning the wrenches dominated and annhialated the field. Can this team be stopped in 2008. the others are going to have to turn up the wick

Eliminations

Nostalgia Funny Car:
Round 1:
Stephen Romanazzi, Visalia CA, '77 Firebird, Right lane, (0.149) 6.186 237.09 def.
Lee Paul Jennings Jr, Pomona CA, '72 Challenger, (0.135) 11.807 76.96

Mike Savage, Tucson AZ, '70 Barracuda, Right lane, (0.126) 6.043 236.28 def.
Jeff Utterback, Santa Monica CA, '73 Vega, (0.161) 8.913 89.33

Bucky Austin, Fife WA, '77 Arrow, Left lane, (0.162) 5.908 243.24 def.
Bob Godfrey, Moreno Valley CA, '69 Camaro, (0.142) 6.218 233.52

Dennis La Charite, Rolling Hills Estates CA, '69 GTO, Left lane, (0.106) 6.567 164.26 def.
Mendy Fry, Aliso Viejo CA, '72 Charger, (0.150) 12.564 61.91

Round 2:
S Romanazzi, Right lane, (0.124) 6.049 232.97 def. M Savage, (0.195) 6.039 233.82

B Austin, Left lane, (0.175) 5.892 241.87 def. D La Charite, (0.144) 6.129 210.08

Round 3:
B Austin, Left lane, (0.157) 5.836 243.63 def. S Romanazzi, (0.142) 6.576 199.24

Low ET: Bucky Austin 5.833 seconds
Top Speed: Bucky Austin 243.63 MPH

Final qualifying

1 617 Bucky Austin, Fife WA, '77 Arrow 5.833 242.91 243.50
2 720 Lee Paul Jennings Jr, Pomona CA, '72 Challenger 5.967 240.44 240.44
3 735 Jeff Utterback, Santa Monica CA, '73 Vega 6.008 234.55 234.55
4 520 Dennis La Charite, Rolling Hills Estates CA, ' 6.022 232.01 232.01
5 781 Mendy Fry, Aliso Viejo CA, '72 Charger 6.053 210.03 210.03
6 7737 Mike Savage, Tucson AZ, '70 Barracuda 6.127 235.66 238.15
7 797 Stephen Romanazzi, Visalia CA, '77 Firebird 6.147 231.71 231.71
8 748 Bob Godfrey, Moreno Valley CA, '69 Camaro 6.151 236.34 236.34

------------ Not Qualified ------------

9 707 Jim Holtz, Acton CA, '79 Satellite 6.151 232.97 232.97
10 627 Terry Capp, Edmonton AB, '77 Firebird 6.168 229.76 229.76
11 736 Dan Horan Jr, Sylmar CA, '66 Mustang 6.172 231.60 231.60
12 722 Sean Dale, Glendale AZ, '69 Charger 6.208 234.43 238.28
13 642 Michael Grekul, Edmonton AB, '69 Mustang 6.242 192.80 192.80
14 732 Chris Krabill, Orange CA, '78 Arrow 6.263 219.13 219.13
15 544 Randy Baker, Waukee IA, '70 Maverick 6.273 218.18 218.18
16 7773 Leah Pruett, Redlands CA, '69 Mustang 6.340 198.50 198.50
17 168 Steve Nichols, Newark DE, '70 Camaro 6.342 192.88 205.76
18 756 Nate Bugg, Orange CA, '71 Barracuda 6.343 228.65 228.65
19 326 Joe Haas, Bloomington IN, '73 Barracuda 6.440 211.81 215.72
20 719 Jeff Diehl, Salinas CA, '66 Jeepster 6.488 199.77 199.77
21 7140 Jack Wright, Oakhurst CA, '70 Challenger 6.567 215.87 215.87
22 600 Andy Beauchemin, Sherwood Park AB, '71 Mustang 7.592 157.15 157.15
23 7431 Vince Generalo, Las Vegas NV, '72 Satelitte 8.007 123.06 123.06
24 771 Ed Schwartz, Santa Fe Springs CA, '69 Corvette 8.400 116.51 116.51
25 758 Rian Konno, Rosemead CA, '71 Mustang 8.893 101.58 101.58
26 700 Terry Cox, Clarksburg CA, '74 Vega 9.697 153.50 153.50
27 708 Mike Adams, Prescott AZ, '77 Firebird 10.670 67.55 67.55

2007 events below

Nostalgia Coverage

Oct 30, 2007

(Mark King photos)

What a year for the first season in Nostalgia Funny Car racing. A bunch of wins and a dominating performance at the Hot Rod Reunion.

Weekend gallery is here.

The Reunion wrapped up with Bucky and Steve turning in the only 5 second laps of the weekend and a dominating win over Terry Capp in the Bubble up Flopper.

Final round

617 Bucky Austin 0.160 5.915 242.98 def. 627 Terry Capp 0.150 6.106 237.65

Here's the final pair of funnies. Austin has low ET so far and hopes to at least repeat...and he does! Godfrey put up a fight but Austin and Plueger were just to much for him. That puts Austin into the final against Terry Capp.

The win was huge as this is one of the biggest events in the series, and the biggest event for the team, as they did not compete at the March Meet, since the car was not ready.

The 5.915 is the new et record for the NFCA.

Round one:

Terry Capp 0.193 6.114 238.79 def. Ron Capps 0.130 6.272 228.07

Capps has the performance fall off big time in the Charger but Capp goes to the final round qualifying lead. Right now it's Capp and Utterback.

520 Dennis La Charite 0.067 6.147 237.09 def. 7737 Mike Savage 0.229 7.856 120.93

3:19 p.m. Savage was really late in the Speed Sport Barracuda and then it got worse. He was off the pedal but as the car coasted it erupted in fire and the Safari had to chase him down. The fire was out and he was ok but he was a runner-up to La Charite.

735 Jeff Utterback 0.168 6.124 228.25 def. 722 Sean Dale 0.155 7.567 134.36

Utterback just motored away from Dale right from the hit. There must have been problems for Dale it sounded like the blower banged after half track. Since two transfer to the final, based on ET, Utterback is the early leader.

Bucky Austin 0.178 5.957 220.53 def. Bob Godfrey 0.194 6.338 193.09

Here's the final pair of funnies. Austin has low ET so far and hopes to at least repeat...and he does! Godfrey put up a fight but Austin and Plueger were just to much for him. That puts Austin into the final against Terry Capp.

Austin #1 5.952, 5.957 and low et for the weekend a 5.915

The three quickest ets for the weekend and the only car to go in the 5's.

Final qualifying

1 617 Bucky Austin, Fife WA, '77 Arrow 5.952 237.78 237.78
2 627 Terry Capp, Edmondton AB, '77 Firebird 6.031 239.93 239.93
3 722 Sean Dale, Glendale AZ, '69 Charger 6.072 241.28 241.28
4 7737 Mike Savage, Tucson AZ, '70 Barracuda 6.127 229.94 229.94
5 520 Dennis La Charite, Rolling Hills Estates CA, ' 6.128 234.98 234.98
6 735 Jeff Utterback, Santa Monica CA, '73 Vega 6.133 227.33 227.33
7 769 Ron Capps, Carlsbad CA, '72 Charger 6.145 232.85 232.85
8 748 Bob Godfrey, Moreno Valley CA, '69 Camaro 6.147 229.06 229.06

------------ Not Qualified ------------

9 720 Lee Paul Jennings Jr, Pomona CA, '70 Challanger 6.160 220.85 220.85
10 732 Chris Krabill, Orange CA, '78 Arrow 6.185 234.74 234.74
11 707 Jim Holtz, Acton CA, '72 Satellite 6.203 235.72 235.72
12 736 Dan Horan Jr, Sylmar CA, '66 Mustang 6.347 195.22 195.22
13 756 Nate Bugg, Orange CA, '71 Barracuda 7.517 112.54 112.54
14 726 Randy Walls, El Cajon CA, '69 Nova 10.611 73.98 73.98
15 7140 Jack Wright, Oakhurst CA, '70 Challanger 10.876 62.27 62.27
16 758 Rian Konno, Rosemead CA, '70 Mustang DQ

August 11, 2007

This is the one to watch next weekend at Seattle, hold onto your hats, cause Nitro from yesteryear is back with a vengeance!!!!!

The "BALL", Bucky's NitroBall is on tap for Pacific Raceway. Click on the banner for all the action.

August 5, 2007

Bucky wins at Spokane at the NITRO EXTRAVAGANZA. He defeats Terry Capp in the final round.

August 4, 2007

Bucky tunes Shawn Cowie to the # 4 spot at Sonoma

1 7438 A/FD Morgan Lucas, Brownsburg IN, Hadman-BAE 5.295 272.06 273.83
2 74 B/AD Jim Whiteley, Grand Junction CO, Neilson 5.323 268.54 268.54
3 4 A/FD Duane Shields, Boulder City NV, Hadman-B 5.348 272.28 272.28
4 681 B/AD Shawn Cowie, Richmond BC, Santos-BAE 5.367 266.37 266.95
5 7402 A/FD Randy Eakins, Carson City NV, CNE-TFX 5.369 260.41 260.41
6 77 B/AD Cody Perkins, Bluffdale UT, Hadman-BAE 5.387 264.03 264.03
7 777 A/FD Mark Niver, Scottsdale AZ, Niver-BAE 5.431 255.97 266.95
8 71 B/AD Chris Demke, Sunland CA, Uyehara-BAE 5.444 259.16 259.16

Shawn defeated Randy Eakins in round # , and makes a strong lap in the semi finals but falls to a ungodly 5.22 by Morgan Lucas. The injected cars are still way out in front.

July 24, 2007

The Nitro Funny Car deal is a blast.

(Murdoch and Jeffery photos)

"Hopefully after my late leave at MRP two weeks ago, the team keeps me around"....Bucky was quoted as saying after round one at MRP.

In one of the best Nostalgia Funny Car races since they were raced back in the 70's, Mission hosted a NFCA event at their National Open. A total of seven cars were at the event with six of them competing in eliminations. Bucky and the Steve Plueger owned Arrow flopper were the # 2 qualifier with a 6.07 et. They made a quicker lap in the final session of qualifying, a 6.00 but since only one pair made it down due to curfew issues, that run did not count .

In elimiantions, Bucky faced off with one of the cars trying to fill one of the two remaining spots in the 5 second club, Mike Savage. Steve Romanazzi, Terry Capp and the "Hitter" himself were the other cars. Capp's ran in front of Bucky and he set the mark with a 5.922. One spot was left, and we wanted it.

Bucky's car left real hard, but was .07 back of Savage at the starting line. Austin was gaining ground big time and looked to be on a killer pass. Unfortunately he ran out of race track as he needed about another 75 feet. Savage got to the finish line first with a 5.98. Austin was much quicker, as his scoreboard read a 5.91 but since the other car got to the finish line first, the Arizona driver got the final spot in the first "8" all "5" second club. A bummer, but the team was real happy with the way the car ran. They will be at Spokane in a couple weeks and then "Bucky's Muffler, Brakes and Radiators" hosts a huge nostalgia race at Pacific Raceway August 17-19, 2007

That is one race you don't want to miss.

Bucky's protoge', Shawn Cowie has had a few great results this year including the fastest run in history by a BAD. A 273.05 lap at Mission at the Lucas Oil event highlighted a final round finish. He did lose that final, but came back a few weeks later and beat his Mission opponent, Tom Bayer at Woodburn. The win puts Shawn in third place in the standings in Division six.

Then last week at Seattle, Shawn went to the semi finals at his first National event. He lost a close 6.40-6.44 matchup against Mike Austin. Next up for the TAD team is the Acton Montana divisional event in four weeks

April 30, 2007

Bucky's NW National Open at Pacific Raceway

A weekend photo gallery is here.

What a great debut for Bucky and the Plueger/Austin Nostalgia Nitro Funny Car. The car was the quickest of the Floppers, and the "Hitter" turned in a 1100 foot 6.13 showing huge potential for the Plymouth Arrow. Went 198 to half track. Bucky then displayed the new AA/Comp dragter, which will be on the track at the Augst Nostalgia event here at Pacific.

Here are a few highlights. Make sure you click on the link above for a weekend gallery

In the staging lanes

Awesome looking hemi powerplant

The first burnout

Good hard launch

What a cool looking comp altered

Bucky tuned Shawn Cowie to a huge 5.32 at 270 mph. The rookie will be a serious player at Mission in four weeks

March 1, 2007

A different look for 2007 for the NW Hitter as he is going literally back to his roots. As you can see on the new top banner, Bucky has a new car ready to be debuted in a few weeks.

Actually it is a partnership with legendary Drag Racer builder Steve Plueger. The car is a 79 Plymouth Arrow and will compete on the Nostalgia circuit. He sold the TAFC he ran last season, but don't worry he does have a new one (Top Alcohol Funny Car) on order, and it will be ready by late Summer. In the mean time he will race a number of nostalgia events throughout the West Coast and will also bring an injected front engined ride ( one under construction) for the boys to drive (Matt and Tyler). Stay tuned over the next few weeks, as we update more info including the National Open which BUCKY'S will again sponsor and a huge Nostalgia event in August also at Pacific Raceway he will be backing.