Dave Richards, driver of the BlueBird Turf / Versatran Funny Car, has deep roots at New England Dragway. With a team on the cusp of a breakthrough, Richards is poised to deliver a standout performance at this weekend’s NHRA New England Nationals.
“Epping is a special place for me. Our Dad raced there a lot back in the day, 70s/80s and it’s where I had my pro debut in 2013,” Richards said. “I had never raced any other class or had ever lined up next to someone in competition, other than my BMX bike when I was a kid, and the guy I lined up with was kind of a big deal – John Force. I’ll never forget at driver intros he came up to me and said, ‘I’m not going to play any games with you, kid. Let’s go race and be safe.’”
Richards’ 2013 pro debut at Epping marked the start of his nitro Funny Car career. Since then, he has competed consistently at New England Dragway, reaching the quarterfinals in 2023 and posting competitive runs against top drivers like Matt Hagan and Ron Capps. Last year, Richards qualified 14th and had a first-round exit at New England Dragway.
“We are really excited to put a strong performance together there,” Richards said. “We’re putting the pieces together, and it’s going click here real soon.”
Richards and the BlueBird Turf team are currently sitting 12th in the Funny Car points standings after a semifinal finish at the Las Vegas Four-Wide Nationals and a quarterfinal finish at the Charlotte Four-Wide event.
Competition at the NHRA New England Nationals at New England Dragway begins with qualifying Friday at 5:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., followed by Saturday sessions at 12:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. Eliminations start Sunday at 11:00 a.m. Television coverage will be on FOX Sports 1 (FS1), with qualifying shows Friday at 6:30 p.m. ET and Saturday at 7:00 p.m. ET. Eliminations will air on FOX Broadcasting Network (FOX) Sunday at 6:00 p.m. ET.
This story was originally published on May 29, 2025. 
