California-based Jason Rupert has claimed the IHRA’s top season prize for it’s Nostalgia Nitro Funny Car class for the third season in a row.

Racing his Littlefield & Rupert-U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds-themed Chevy Camaro Rupert successfully defended his IHRA AMSOIL Nitro Funny Car World Championship and earned and his second win of 2016 during the season-ending IHRA Northern Nationals event held at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park in Michigan.

In addition, Rupert shattered the IHRA elapsed time World Record for the class when he ran a 5.522 at 262.54 mph in the final round.

In the championship final he and his closest points opponent Mike McIntire Jr. found themselves in familiar territory as the two paired off.

But to surpass Rupert, McIntire Jr (from Ohio) needed to break an IHRA record in order to secure the championship by one point. But his “loaded up for bare” car faltered early and he finished in the runner-up position in the point standings for the third year in a row.

(The final FC round of the season determined the IHRA’s World Championship title)

Rupert had set the pace in qualifying too over the 10 other cars entered when he ran a 5.578 secs at 259.22 mph to qualify number one. Prior to the final round he beat Richard Hartman in round one and then a earned single in the semi final round when his scheduled opponent (Marc White) could not make the call.

Posted by Bruce Biegler

Photos courtesy of Bryan Epps (BME Photography)