Page 44 - Nitro Madness Magazine Fall 2017
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CM – Well, it’s easy to see how the rules we have in place now young guns into drag racing to
this combination of parts along and I’m happy with that. As far as perpetuate it.
with Guy Tipton’s tuning prowess possible changes, there has been
has you capable of possibly setting talk about possibly going to a newer CM – Any thoughts on the
a record every time you come to style magneto. controversy of shortening Top Fuel
the line! Any changes coming up and Funny Car racing from the
for the car in this latter part of the CM – How do you like the current traditional quarter-mile down to one
season? nostalgia racing and how would you thousand feet?
improve it?
JH – No, but a while back I had JH – With both of those classes
JH – We need television coverage! now regularly going over 330 miles-
my trailer wrapped with my “Best It could certainly allow us all to
of Texas” barbeque sauce brand to get better sponsor programs. per-hour at a thousand feet, there
promote it and we might wrap the Very importantly, any additional are a few tracks that are not long
car with a customer or store chain if promotion of nostalgia racing we enough to safely stop at those or
that comes along. even higher speeds if they raced a
can get would also bring more fans full quarter-mile. Besides, what are
CM – John, tell us about some into the stands. the fans missing out on?
of your rivalries or close friends CM – On some social media sites,
among your Nostalgia Funny Car often there are gloom and doom CM – Speaking of tracks, what
competitors. postings with comments about the are your most favorite ones?
JH – Jason Rupert and I are good current state of NHRA drag racing JH – Famoso, Cordova, the Texas
friends and it’s always some great in the pro classes. What is your Motorplex and Firebird at Boise,
racing anytime we’re matched up. take on this? Idaho. Sonoma and Indy rank up
Kris Krabill is right up there as JH – I don’t see car counts there as well.
well, and always my fellow Texan growing and it concerns me that CM – How about the least favorite
and friend Ronnie Young in the in a few years we may be down to of the ones where you’ve raced?
“Blue Max.” twelve car fields. That will very JH – That would have to be
CM – Any thoughts on the rules likely happen unless something Sacramento. The bumps there
for the Nostalgia Funny Car class? is done to make racing more almost caused me to crash!
Likes, dislikes or changes you’d like affordable. The rising costs to build
to see made? and run these fuel cars and the less CM – Let’s turn back now to your
than full fields are not good for the racing operation and why don’t you
JH – I feel the cars are safe with sport. We absolutely have to bring tell us who the crew members are
and their duties.
JH – Karen Miller is my
manager…and my everything!
I’m really lucky to have someone
that likes racing. She really loves
nostalgia funny car racing…not
so much on the ‘big show’ though.
Guy Tipton, of course, is my crew
chief; Steve Bolick, marketing;
Scott Givens, car chief; Vince
Urieta, motor; Ben Burns, bottom
end; Jeff Parker, clutch and Justin
Wilson, utility.
Continued on page 47
44 Nitro Madness Magazine Fall 2017
