March Meet in May: Dan Horan Wins Top Fuel, Bobby Cottrell Funny Car
Photos Marc Gewertz
Presented by RatTrapRacing.com & USAutomotve.co.uk
As I kid, doing my paper route, I would sit on the curb and read Hot Rod Magazine. I remember in 1963 or ’64, Dick Wells penned a report on the US Fuel and Gas Championships, as the March Meet was then known, and I remember it as an inspirational piece of reporting.
The very first US Fuel and Gas Championship was held in 1959 and organized by the Smokers Car Club, and was a controversial event . It was controversial because they had invited east coast ‘Big Daddy’ Don Garlits who was recording some ‘questionable’ times. Big Daddy hauled west to ‘The Patch,’ pushed his way through a field of beer cans thrown by the home team fans, and lost out early due to mechanical problems with his carbureted Chrysler. The winner was Art Chrisman in the then state-of-art Hustler.
Due to the pandemic, this year’s 63rd Good Vibrations March Meet presented by Lucas Oil at Famoso Raceway was held in May, and there were still some restrictions— such as 35% capacity— but it didn’t fail to deliver some fantastic nostalgia drag racing.
Not to diss any of the other classes, but the March Meet has always been about Top Fuel and this year, after more than 20 years of trying, second generation driver Dan Horan Jr. finally took top honors. He ran a 6.039/233.96 to beat Tyler Hilton, who smoked the tires.
Nostalgia Funny Car was equally hotly-contested and the win went to Bobby Cottrell with a 7.728/248.71, beating runner up Michael Peck Jr. 5.997/245.90.
Meanwhile, Pro Mod saw a great result from eventual winner Jeremy Hanger, who went 5.949/253.95 in the final.
For more information about racing at historic Famoso go to: https://aaafamosoraceway.com/
