August 04-16-2009
- Boise, ID - The
38th edition of Firebird Raceway's signature event was a weekend
of way below normal temperatures, huge crowds, record runs, major
upsets and lots of drama. The Nightfire Nationals are Idaho's
premiere motorsport's national championship, and the 2009 edition
was even bigger and better than any year previous. Headlining
the 4 day show was Top Fuel Dragsters and Nostalgia Nitro Funny
Cars. In spite of a grim economy, there were 32 nitro cars on
the grounds and both the Friday and Sunday crowds were bigger
than years past. Most credit the absence of the normally hot
weather for much of the increase.
For Jack Harris
and his Nitro Thunder Nostalgia Nitro Funny Car this race was
unusual in the fact that for the first time there was someone
other than Jack in the seat. Steve Macklyn, who was a IHRA Funny
Car stand out, needed to make some passes to keep his FC license
current. So, he worked out a deal with Harris to drive the Nitro
Thunder Firebird at Boise.
As it turned
out, it was a good deal for both of them. Macklyn got his required
runs in (including top speed of the meet) and Jack got to observe
the car from the outside. They qualified #5 for the 16 car show
and went to the second round loosing to the eventual runner-up
Bucky Austin.
Photos
and full results below.
With the first
qualifying session not scheduled until 7:00 p.m. so after getting
set-up, Friday was pretty low key.
Kaden
Harris (Brett's son) had the best seat in the pit.
Jack and Cami Beck (neice of
multi time NHRA Top Fuel Champion Gary Beck). When Cami isn't
with the Paso Posse Top Fuel car that her uncle advises John
Rodeck on the tune-up the Paso Posse Top Fuel car. She's also
the official mascot of the Nitro Thunder camp.
Eliminations
- Round One - Saturday
In the first stanza #5 qualifier
Steve Macklyn was paired with #12 Mike Savage. Keep in mind that
the sun had set, the temperature had plummeted and there was
virtually no heat on the track and Boise is known for loosing
the track at night. This race was just one on a few that came
close to ending very badly.
Macklyn left first by
a bunch.
Right here the car went
into tire shake so bad it shook one of the chutes out.
With Macklyn slowed down by a
deployed chute it didn't take long for Savage to catch him. But
in the process of playing catch up he got out of the already
slippery groove and made a violent move into the right lane.
Savage took out a timing block
and crossed the center line coming way to close to Macklyn. This
immediately disqualified him but also cause Macklyn to make a
sharp move to the right to avoid being hit.
In a masterful job of driving
Macklyn stayed off the wall, straighten the car out, and went
through the traps pedaling the throttle - chute and all.
It wasn't pretty by any definition
but Macklyn's 8.194 at 120.01 was good enough to advance to round
two on Sunday.
Eliminations
- Round Two - Sunday
In round two Macklyn had the
task of getting around one of the toughest cars in the country
- the "Northwest Hitter" Mustang of Bucky Austin.
Final adjustments before
the car is sent up to the starting line.
Macklyn left first but Austin
caught him in the first 150' and there's a reason for that, Steve
left in high gear dooming the run from the hit.
By half track Austin had a sizable
lead and the Harris - Macklyn adventure was over. Austin carded
a really stout 5.96 at 231.56 to Macklyn's shut off early 6.43
at 233.22.
Back to the pits where the body
came off and the car was prepared to go home. The team would
now focus on Brett Harris who was still in the Top Fuel show.
Brett Harris - Top Fuel at Boise
