Terry Haddock was fast qualifier Friday night
By JM Hallas
Marion, TX (June 12, 2020) – For those missing the cackle of Nitro Funny Cars it was a big weekend at Alamo City Motorplex, just outside of San Antonio. It’s been several years since a field of Funny Cars raced in anger, but the Funny Car Chaos group stepped up to fill the void. The FCC group is a touring series running at tracks around the country in several states for championship points.
With two events in the 2020 books (Lufkin, TX, and Oskaloosa, IA), defending Champion Ken Singleton (High Risk) leads the points by 9 over Steve Vang (Weekend Warrior) and Chris Schneider (Brutus), who are tied for second.
Some of the cars closely resemble their modern-day counterparts, while others carry nostalgia bodies, but still pack a potent punch. Nitro fumes and header flames at night always bring in the fans to experience the adrenaline rush as the cars leave the line running the eighth-mile track, some in under 4 seconds and near 200mph.
Friday was day 1 for qualifying for the FCC class with one more session set for Saturday before eliminations later in the day. Qualifying is different than national sanctions, being broken down into two groups based on qualifying times. The FCC qualifies a top 8 and the next 8 in a second group with each group running their own rounds of eliminations. Double your pleasure, double your fun, so to speak.
During the driver’s meeting, ACM Promoter Rodney Rocha threw in $100 for the night’s fast qualifier. Then another $100 was added, and another, and another, and then $50. FCC Series Promoter Chris Graves sealed the deal with another $50 making a total $500 Bonus.
The weekend’s events also included an open test-n-tune Friday with former NHRA Top Fuel Dragster Champion Tony Schumacher on hand signing autographs between rounds.
Other classes on the racing slate include the Dirty South Gassers in their nostalgia car exhibition, Southwest Superchargers with multiple styles ranging from Dragsters to Altereds, and regulars competing in Top Sportsman and two index classes (6.00 and 7.00).
Making an appearance on both nights was the Jet Dragster of Ray Kelley lighting up the night skies.
Ray Kelley Jet Dragster making a pass
Ken Singleton took the first step towards the $500 fast qualifier bonus, laying down a 3.7136 at 204.92 with Johnathon Johnson timing in second and Chuck Loftin third out of the 15 cars that timed in.
Funny Car Chaos qualifying, round 1:
Ken Singleton, 3.7136 at 204.92
Johnathon Johnson, 3.8048 at 203.07
Curtis Loftin, 3.8194 at 194.47
Nick Poloson, 3.8568 at 198.59
Ronny Young, 3.8873 at 193.47
Steve Vang, 4.2353 at 168.04
Terry Haddock, 4.5120 at 105.19
Jeff Cameron, 4.6381 at 136.24
Jordan Bellew, 5.1077 at 135.99
Chris Schneider, 5.1098 at 128.87
Andy Mears, 5.4454 at 127.80
Damon Kuhn, 6.4446 at 111.06
Randy Mueller, 8.1755 at 52.59
Robert Slaughter, 8.5900 at 55.60
In round 2, conditions were right and Terry Haddock took advantage of that. Not only did Haddock jump to the number 1 qualifying but did so in record fashion. Haddock’s 3.5459 at 234.74 was not only a series ET and speed record but also an ACM track record for an eighth-mile pass. Singleton stood on his first-round pass while Johnson bettered his time to stay third.
Funny Car Chaos qualifying, round 2:
Terry Haddock, 3.5459 at 234.74(track record, series record)
Ken Singleton, 3.7424 at 213.68
Johnathon Johnson, 3.7575 at 202.34
Chris Schneider, 4.3889 at 161.52
Clay Cunningham, 4.5375 at 131.31
Jeff Cameron, 4.6314 at 152.23
Tod Barker, 4.6411 at 122.45
Jordan Bellew, 4.9946 at 139.15
Andy Mears, 5.4608 at 126.90
Randy Mueller, 5.4612 at 125.98
Damon Kuhn, 5.9880 at 124.55
Ronny Young, 10.5090 at 49.02
