(Pictures by Kim Fuller & Darr Hawthorne) • Successful a legendary occasion just like the Good Vibrations March Meet is a big accomplishment on the planet of drag racing. Cory Lee’s victory, driving Gary Turner’s “Pedaler” ’79 Dodge Challenger Humorous Automotive, was significantly gratifying, particularly in any case his crew’s laborious work and dedication to the game. He took on double obligation when he additionally drove the “Sheepherder” AA.Gasoline Altered right here at Famoso Dragstrip this weekend. Within the closing, Cory Lee defeated veteran driver Jeff Arend who was driving the Bynum/Lucchetti “Nitro Nick” Firebird (under).
An enormous shout out to all of the members of the workers and crew at Famoso Dragstrip, whereas we chased rain showers, they’d a protected, championship observe prepared for all of the rivals… and obtained all on Sunday completed on Sunday night!
Nevertheless, going into the week previous to working the March Meet, Lee was nonetheless trying to find a supercharger and so they nearly pulled the plug on competing, at this occasion. They didn’t again into something as evidenced by their first spherical victory over a red-lighting Matt Melendez, when Lee launched the “Pedaler” with the throttle cease nonetheless in place, to a ten.297 elapsed time.
Veteran humorous automobile tuner Chuck Worsham was working each a part of the engine alongside multi-time Heritage Sequence Champion Jason Rupert.
Lee went on to defeat Drew Austin and Cameron Ferre, assembly Jeff Arend within the closing spherical. Lee cranked off a stout 5.658 at 260.01 miles per hour for the victory. The Pedaler had already set Prime Velocity for humorous automobiles at 260.36 MPH in Spherical 2. Arend had difficulties, carding a 5.829 ET at 236.92 MPH after windowing a block within the earlier spherical racing multi-time March Meet winner Bobby Cottrell.
This was Cory Lee’s first Nationwide Occasion win having raced on a restricted foundation with Turner since 2019. Lee tuned the Pedaler as effectively, hurting solely a few pistons and a wrist pin throughout eliminations. Proprietor Turner is not any stranger to Heritage-type humorous automobile racing having gained the Goodguys Championship in 2006 with driver Kris Krabill, racing undefeated that yr with crew chief Donnie Sofa.
Congratulations to Cory Lee, Gary Turner and Crew in your well-deserved victory!
Geoff Monise within the “Quarter Pounder” Pontiac was working stable along with his quantity 2 qualifier 5.620 at 259.11 MPH, Bob Devour has come onboard to assist co-owner Keith Clark, who celebrates his fiftieth yr racing humorous automobiles.
Within the Prime Gasoline class it’s Tyler Hester!
Tyler Hester, driving the traditional “Time beyond regulation Particular” Prime Gasoline Dragster, had a day to recollect as he gained his first Bakersfield March Meet by clinching the Prime Gasoline title, beating Shawn Bowen in his “Violator”dragster within the course of. After the win, Hester and his crew have been ecstatic within the darkness on the Famoso Dragstrip prime finish.
Michigan’s Shawn Bowen (above) was runner-up to Tyler Hester in Prime Gasoline.
The victory was a very long time coming for Hester and homeowners Tedford & McGee, who’d been chasing a March Meet title for years. The day began with Hester taking out defending Heritage Sequence Champion Tyler Hilton after which defeating Pete Wittenberg in an in depth race, 5.725 ET at 261.67 MPH to Wittenberg’s 5.728 at 250.78 MPH as the 2 racers have been neck-and-neck to the end line.
Congratulations to Tyler Hester on his spectacular victory and an unforgettable day on the Bakersfield race.
Newcomer Michael Anderson (above) confirmed willpower in his Prime Gasoline Dragster, making his first cross within the 5’s on the wheel of his Donovan-powered dragster.
Pete Kaiser (above) now owns the Prime Fueler he tuned and generally drove underneath Dan Horan, he certified the beautiful new entry into second within the 8-car subject with a 5.735 at 255.82 MPH.
Within the Gasoline Altered closing spherical, Lyle Greenberg’s “Cone Hunter” AA/FA confronted Keith Wilson spectacular “Witch Physician” who he had crushed within the 2022 Bakersfield March Meet. Though Wilson crossed the end line first, nevertheless, his 5.777 time was approach too fast for the 6.00 index, giving New Mexico racer Greenberg the win. Greenberg defeated Johnny West within the first spherical and Ron Capps within the Burkholder Brothers Fiat within the Semis.
Keith Wilson’s “Witch Physician” AA/Gasoline Altered (above).
Wayne Ramay gained the A/Gasoline Class over Kin Bates Sr. in a closing spherical battle, as soon as once more. Ramay gained with a 6.057/217.00 cost.
Jr. Gasoline was gained by Oceansides’s Brad Woodard from the #1 slot over Mathew Baldonado from Camarillo.
Jason Vanderpool gained the 7.0 PRO Class on a single within the Last.
In Nostalgia Eliminator 1 Steve Schoenfeld from Murray, Utah, ran 7.677/153.44 to defeat Backyard Grove’s Kenny Upton along with his 7.895/175.09.
Nostalgia Eliminator 2 Modesto, CA Eddie Lucas in his ’48 Topolino ran 8.624/144.94 defeating Troy Moyle from Carson Metropolis, Nev. who ran 8.659/144.50.
In Nostalgia Eliminator 3 Ed De Staute’s ’62 Corvette from Rosemead, Calif. ran a 11.410/81.49 over a red-lighting Eric Harmon from Gold Run, Calif.
A/Fuel was Bakersfield’s Kenzer Small’s Corvette working a 7.589/181.18 to defeat Tom Fowler from Paso Robles who ran a 7.575/177.04.
In B/Fuel Invoice Anderson from Copperopolis, Calif. in his ’68 Camaro, ran 8.642/148.48 defeating San Jose’s Wealthy Zondervan ’66 Chevelle, 8.716/146.88.
C/Fuel was gained by Stockton’s Michael Corradi in his ’70 Nova SS with a 9.864/123.66 over Loopy Connie Wold from Buena Park in her ’72 Vega 10.416/104.14.
In D/Fuel Doug Fournier from Campbell, Calif in his ’48 Anglia ran 10.596/125.30 to defeat Oregon’s Steve Canton in his ’38 Austin, 10.525, 124.59.
Scorching Rod Eliminator was gained by Redding’s Pleasure Tucker in a ’66 MOPAR 10.780/120.52 downed Dale Hicks from Goodyear, Ariz., ’68 9.397/139.59.
Try the primary of our 2024 March Meet Galleries Beneath!