Final Round Results Lucas Oil NHRA Canadian National Open

[Editor]

Final Round Results Lucas Oil NHRA Canadian National Open

VP Racing Fuels Nitro Nostalgia Funny Car

W - Terry Capp, St. Albert AB, '78 Firebird .114/5.853/249.03*
RU - Mike Savage, Tuscon AZ, '790 Barracuda .132/6.107/237.34
* Top Speed/Low ET

After a Saturday night session that ended prematurely due to an oil down, the seven drivers representing the Nostalgia Funny Car Association came out here today and simply shook the ground with the greatest single day of performance in the short history of this category.

With two spots remaining in the very exclusive eight member Five Second Club it was all but a given that one or both spots would be filled here today, but nobody guessed the shocking outcome.

Round one began with veteran Terry Capp from Edmonton lining up beside Lee Jennings who clocked a 6.565/189.87. The Capp/Jenner/Hodgson/ Leong/Papernick...and more 'Bubble Up'' 1978 Trans Am claimed spot number seven with a stellar 5.922/231.89.

Next up was the race that all the locals had been waiting to see; Bucky Austin vs Arizona's Mike Savage in the Speed Sport '70 Cuda. After a 6.00 last evening in conditions not as good as today everybody held their breath for Hitter to become number eight.

In an instant it was done, the Fife WA driver flying to the quickest run in history - a stunning 5.916/239.17! But we had seen more. The other scoreboard flashed up another awesome number, as Savage had made this the first side-by side-five ever with a 5.98 at a booming 243.17!! Reaction times a .178 for Austin, a quicker .102 for Savage.

Then everybody began asking each other who made it into the eight spot?

It didn't take long to decide as since Savage's numbers came up on the computer first, he would get it. To say Bucky was dejected was an understatement. After the race he spoke not of the run but of "letting down my crew". A classy comment from a classy guy.

Savage said he can't wait to come back and was not only thrilled with his performance here, but fell in love with MRP.

Round two saw Savage go 6.035/242.45 as Steve Romanazzi made his best lap here and was retired with a 'mere' 6.13/231.12. Capp singled to a 9.42/82.50.

The final was a great drag race. The sun low in the sky, Capp layin down yet another giant burnout before firing the shot heard round the nitro nostalgia world lighting up the boards with an unbelievable 5.853/249.03! Unofficial word was that this would make his round one 5.922 the new NFCA record.

Capp was quoted saying "We're a proud Canadian Team" in an interview we'll have complete on video here later this week.

The other car on hand was Top Fuel Motorcycle pilot Andy Beauchemin licensing in Tim Stevenson's "Tachman" Mustang from Alberta. They ran great with some six second 200 mph passes.

Photo And Story Courtesy Of Larry Pfister And Horsepower Heaven