Randy Meyer Racing is set to make NHRA history with the competition debut of its innovative A/Fuel Funny Car at the upcoming Baby Gators and NHRA Gatornationals held at Gainesville Raceway. The injected nitro Funny Car, a cutting-edge project developed by Randy Meyer, will be piloted by Julie Nataas, who has played a key role in the car’s development and testing.
Nataas, a NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster champion with Randy Meyer Racing, has been testing the A/Fuel Funny Car over the past few years and is eager to put it to the test in NHRA competition.
“The A/Fuel Funny Car has been Randy’s project for the past few years, and I’ve been fortunate to be the test driver. So when he asked if I wanted to make some more runs, I couldn’t say no. The car was flying in testing this past week, and I’m excited to keep gaining Funny Car seat time and see what this A/Fuel Funny Car can do in Gainesville while I work on the next steps in my career,” said Nataas.
During a recent test session, Nataas recorded a 5.38-second elapsed time, demonstrating the car’s incredible potential.
Randy Meyer, a multi-time NHRA championship-winning team owner and crew chief, has been fine-tuning this concept and is eager to see it perform on one of drag racing’s biggest stages. The A/Fuel Funny Car is a hybrid concept that combines elements of A/Fuel Dragster and nitro Funny Car technology, utilizing a mechanically injected nitromethane engine.
“This combination is unlike anything else in NHRA competition right now, and the time is right for us to bring it out,” said Meyer. “We’ve been developing the A/Fuel Funny Car to create a more accessible and cost-effective way for drivers to get into the Funny Car class while still delivering performance. Testing has shown great momentum, and Gainesville will be the perfect place to showcase what this car can do.”
The car is a 2016 Murf McKinney-built chassis formerly campaigned by Brian Hough in NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car. It sustained damage in a minor crash, but racer and chassis builder Jonnie Lindberg fixed it up before Meyer bought it for the A/Fuel project. The car then underwent a series of changes in Meyer’s shop to prepare it for an injected nitro engine.
“I’ve been building a lot of pieces and modifying a lot of stuff to make my combination fit,” Meyer said. “The car was never made for nitro or A/Fuel, so we had to do heavy modifications to get it to where I wanted it. We’re looking forward to going out and having some fun with this in NHRA.”
Meyer’s A/Fuel Funny Car will be stacked up against some of the best Top Alcohol Funny Cars in the country at the first NHRA national event of 2025. The team will go head-to-head with Mick Steele’s A/F Funny Car and the Bartone Bros. Racing new entry driven by Sean Bellemeur. With a deep field of top-tier Top Alcohol Funny Car competitors also set to battle at Gainesville Raceway, Meyer and Nataas are eager to see how their A/Fuel Funny Car measures up against the best.
“I just want to thank the handful of people who’ve donated parts and helped me on this deal,” Meyer said. “They want to see what it can do and what the potential is. There are a lot of people watching to see what happens.”
Randy Meyer Racing, one of the most successful teams in Top Alcohol Dragster competition, is now venturing into uncharted territory with the A/Fuel Funny Car as part of our continued innovation in NHRA drag racing. After a few successful passes in Funny Car Chaos, the team is looking forward to showcasing this nitro machine in Gainesville and taking the next steps in its evolution.
Fans can witness the historic debut at Gainesville Raceway during the Baby Gators, March 1-3, and the NHRA Gatornationals, March 7-10. Follow along on Facebook and Instagram.
This story was originally published on February 14, 2025. 
