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A Dampened Affair! Jul 21, 2016 // Nostalgia FC Updates // editorThe IHRA’s Mopar Rocky Mountain Nationals event held at Castrol Raceway was dogged with weather issues which both abbreviated the schedule and delayed the event conclusion.
A 5 1/2 hour delay to start of Sunday’s eliminations due to a wet surface — did put a damper on the overall event’s championship activities.
In the end it was Michigan’s Shawn Bowen who raced to victory – earning his second win of the 2016 season for the IHRA’s AMSOIL Nitro Funny Car division.
Racing his “The Violator” Dodge Challenger bodied machine, Shawn defeated three top points contenders during the event while earning his win. After beating hometown favourite Tim Boychuk and then Mike McIntire in rounds one and two – Bowen handled the very formidable challenge of No. 1 qualifier and overall points leader Jason Rupert in the final round. He beat Rupert to the stripe in a 5.706 secs to 5.724 secs championship decision.
The top-five drivers in the AMSOIL Nitro Funny Car point standings, Rupert, McIntire, Mark Sanders, Bowen and Boychuk, entered the Mopar Rocky Mountain Nationals presented by Good Vibrations separated by just 60 points. Despite the final round loss, Rupert does retain his AMSOIL Nitro Funny Car points lead. But with his win, Bowen jumped from fourth to second in the standings with one race remaining. McIntire is now third while Sanders is fourth.
“We moved up to second in points, and it all comes down to Martin (Mich.),” Bowen said. “It’s gonna be a battle between us, Rupert, McIntire and Sanders. It’s anybody’s game now. Whoever doesn’t make a mistake is gonna win the deal. I live two and a half hours from Martin so I like racing there.”
Rupert, from California, was credited with low ET of the event after hitting a track record 5.553 secs during Friday night’s single qualifying session. Edmonton’s own Tim Boychuk qualified his new Happy Hour/NitroMoose Camaro #2 with a 5.623 secs.
A total of 10 cars made qualifying attempts at Edmonton with the 8-car bump spot being Canadian Jason Bussey’s 6.023 secs.
Posted with files by Bruce Biegler & Rob Goodman
Photos by Bruce Biegler & Don Meleshko
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