The 20th Annual Honor Credit Union Funny Car Nationals at US 131 Motorsports Park delivered a weekend of high-intensity drag racing featuring the Mid-West Drag Racing Series (MWDRS) and Nostalgia Drag Racing League (NDRL). Held on September 6-7, the event showcased a mix of Nostalgia Funny Cars, jet-powered vehicles, and fierce competition across multiple classes.
The highlight of the weekend came from Buzzy’s Nitro Bomber, which broke the 300 mph barrier for the first time. Despite a minor mishap with the parachute lever that sent the car into the sand trap, the driver was unharmed, and the car is expected to be back on track soon.
Ideal track and weather conditions set the stage for record-breaking performances across the board. Mark Micke reset the MWDRS Pro Mod E.T. record with a 3.562 pass in Q2, surpassing the previous record set two and a half years ago. Chris Juliano achieved a personal best of 3.657, advancing his team into third place after the first round of qualifying.
Top Qualifiers by Class:
- Stroud Safety Pro Mod: Mark Micke (3.562), Aaron Wells (3.620), Keith Haney (3.633)
- J&A Service LLC Funny Car: Brian Hough (3.577), Steve Macklyn (3.582), Jim Whiteley (3.613)
- Icon Forged Piston/Race Star Wheels Top Dragster: Anita Strasburg (3.657), Dylan Hough (3.89), Wade Pennington (3.91)
- Performance Bearing Top Sportsman: Tim Paap (3.84), Michael Chitty (4.18), Rod Oxford (4.22)
In the elimination rounds, racers faced both tough competition and mechanical challenges. Several teams, including Wayne Roberts’ crew, swapped engines to stay in the race, earning them the Rocycle Hardest Working Team Award. Pro Mod E1 saw four competition byes as teams scrambled to get their cars ready. In Funny Car, Brian Hough, Jim Whiteley, and Steve Macklyn advanced to the next round with wins.
The finals delivered strong performances, with Mark Micke securing the Pro Mod win over Aaron Wells and Jim Whiteley taking the Funny Car title over Steve Macklyn. Other winners included Jim Hayes in Top Sportsman, Jared Ledford in Top Dragster, and Lexie Klinger in Sportsman Junior.
Final Results:
- Pro Mod: Mark Micke (3.761) defeated Aaron Wells (5.084)
- Funny Car: Jim Whiteley (3.594) defeated Steven Macklyn (3.865)
- Top Sportsman: Jim Hayes defeated Jon Vesper
- Top Dragster: Jared Ledford defeated Wade Pennington
- Sportsman Junior: Lexie Klinger defeated Elle Vesper
The event also saw several personal bests and record-setting runs. Aaron Wells logged personal bests in multiple metrics, while Kati Laughter earned her first-round win and set a new personal record with a 4.37 E.T.
Looking Ahead: As racers head home to prepare for the upcoming Smack Down 2024 at Flying H Drag Strip on September 19-21, the stakes are high. With over 150 racers registered and $300,000 in payouts on the line, the event promises to be one of the most competitive of the season.
This story was originally published on September 11, 2024. 
