California’s Dan Horan clinched the 2014 NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series Championship title for the (Nostalgia) Nitro Funny Car category.

Wheeling his ’66 replica Ford Mustang, Horan took home the event win during the season ending California Hot Rod Reunion event held at Auto Club Raceway Famoso – near Bakersfield.

Dan topped points rival John Hale in the finals with his run of 5.724 at 254.38 getting him the event title on the same day he secured the Nostalgia Funny Car title for the Hot Rod Heritage Series. It also marked his last race with crew chief Ron Swearingen.

“Absolutely phenomenal and a story book ending to three years with Ron Swearingen. It was a bittersweet farewell,” said Horan. “Ronnie has had Jack Beckman working with me and getting me to relax and not worry about shifting the car or keeping it in the groove, just relaxing. Without Ron I wouldn’t have known Jack and have had this blessed year.”

Dan beat a very formidable Funny Car field which featured 30 machines vying for the elite 16-car eliminator.

(Dan Horan)

FUNNY CAR ELIMINATIONS SUMMARY:

ROUND ONE — Rick Rogers, Camaro, 5.857, 244.07 def. John Weaver, Arrow, 5.857, 239.02; John Hale, Camaro, 5.709, 256.80 def. Richard Townsend, Camaro, 5.791, 237.59; Jason Rupert, Camaro, 5.792, 254.23 def. Brad Thompson, Camaro, 5.758, 251.49; Mark Sanders, Mustang, 5.834, 217.28 def. Dennis Swearingen, Omni, 5.979, 204.20; Jordan Pawlick, Mustang, 5.907, 245.00 def. Steve Easton, Barracuda, 6.032, 231.68; Dan Horan, Mustang, 5.723, 253.09 def. Robert Overholser, Firebird, 5.844, 247.97; James Day, Challenger, 5.805, 244.60 def. Tim Nemeth, Firebird, 14.031, 61.47; Mike Lewis, Vega, 5.864, 242.84 def. Kris Krabill, Firebird, 5.854, 241.84;

QUARTERFINALS — Day, 5.757, 245.67 def. Rupert, 5.806, 252.38; Hale, 5.765, 253.66 def. Pawlick, 5.887, 244.21; Horan, 5.728, 254.42 def. Lewis, 5.937, 221.71; Sanders, 5.729, 246.62 def. Rogers, foul;

SEMIFINALS — Hale, 6.267, 211.83 def. Day, broke; Horan, 5.743, 246.84 def. Sanders, 5.735, 249.90;

FINAL — Horan, 5.724, 254.38 def. Hale, 5.791, 247.29.

(FC class runner-up – John Hale)

Photos and post by:  Bruce Biegler