The IHRA’s Mopar Rocky Mountain Nationals presented by Good Vibrations attracted a good field of Nostalgia-bodied Funny Cars last weekend at Edmonton Alberta — and in the end a familiar face stood tall.

Rupert, the IHRA’s defending World Champ, went up against points leader Mike McIntire Jr. in the final round for the AMSOIL Funny Car division and landed in the winner’s circle with a holeshot win.

Rupert posted a .049 reaction time, 5.704 seconds at 253.38 mph against McIntire’s .089, 5.698 second at 255.39 mph in the final round battle of Chevy Camaro-bodied cars.

(The FC final round went to Jason Rupert – on a holeshot – over points leader Mike McIntyre)

This marked only the second time Rupert had gone up against McIntire in the finals this year. Their first encounter was at the season-opener in Tucson when Rupert fouled at the line and McIntire took the win. Rupert’s latest victory had come just one week before when he won against Kris Krabill at Spokane County Raceway.

Prior to the championship round at Edmonton — Jason Rupert qualified his Bays & Rupert Camaro #3 for the 8-car field before beating Bob Godfrey’s Barracuda and Mark Sanders’ Mustang in round one and two.

The FC class drew in a total of 9 cars – including the much anticipated public debut of the new Troy Lee Designs ’69 Camaro raced by Edmonton’s own Ryan Hodgson and tuned by Vancouver’s Bob Papirnick.

(Ryan Hodgson’s new Camaro caused a lot of event buzz!)

While Ryan was unable to actually compete in the FC eliminator, his highly touted machine was very fast out to the box during mandatory licensing runs — including laps of 5.86 secs 254.52 mph and 5.81 secs 253.66 mph – making his future in the class look very bright.

Defending event champion Tim Nemeth (from Chilliwack BC) fell in round one.

Local favorite Tim Boychuk drove the Twig Zeigler Plymouth at Edmonton – and finished in the semi final round.

(That’s Mark Sanders and Bob Godfrey racing in front of the capacity Castrol Raceway crowd!)

Photos by:  Bruce Biegler

Posted with files from Shayna Keller & Bruce Biegler