For a 2nd consecutive season – California’s Bobby Cottrell has prevailed to win NHRA’s prestigious Hot Rod Heritage Series Funny Car championship.

Driving the feared Bardahl-sponsored Austin & O’Brien Chevy Camaro (which is based from the Pacific Northwest), Cottrell completed that accomplishment when he won the season finale — the 2019 California Hot Rod Reunion® presented by Automobile Club of Southern California at Auto Club Famoso Raceway.

Bobby Cottrell landed in the winner’s circle when he ran a 5.675 secs at 249.90 mph in the tell tale final round bettering Tony Jurado‘s pass of 5.859 secs at 233.80 mph.

(Bobby Cottrell prevailed to win the NHRA’s Hot Rod Heritage season championship when he won the 2019 CHRR event.)

“This day’s been very hectic. We hurt a lot of parts,” he said.  “Anybody that hung around our pits between rounds knows we didn’t back into this. We worked our you-know-what’s off. I can’t thank this crew enough. To win (the championship) back-to-back is just a dream come true. I didn’t even think we’d have half the success we have had in the past few years but I’m very thankful to Bucky (Austin, owner / crew chief) and the whole Austin / O’Brien team. I’m really, really happy. I couldn’t have asked for a better team.”

Cottrell (who is from Whittier CA) qualified #4 (5.635 secs) and he defeated Matt Melendez, Jeff Arend and Steven Densham in earlier rounds of racing.

(Tony Jurado placed event runner-up in his Chevy Camaro)

The Nitro Nostalgia FC program at the 2019 CHRR featured 20 entries and a bump spot of 5.910 secs.

Canadian born drivers Ryan Hodgson and Jeff Arend were also newsmakers at the event.

Hodgson, driver the Edmonton-based Pacemaker Camaro qualified #1 for the event, when courtesy of his wily crew chief Bob Papirnik and talented crew, he was credited with low ET of the meet run at 5.622 secs.  Ryan did win his first round before falling out of completion in round #2 to Steven Densham.

(Edmonton’s Ryan Hodgson was the quickest FC at Bakersfield – qualifying #1)

Toronto native Jeff Arend — who had been a points championship contender entering the final race of the season — saw that opportunity evaporate when was defeated by Cottrell in round #2 – losing by a narrow 5.738 secs to 5.753 secs margin. Arend who had a superb season as driver for Don Hudson’s California Hustler Firebird — finished second in final points standings.

(At Bakersfield – Jeff Arend completed his strong season of NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series racing — placing second in final 2019 FC points)

Posted by Bruce Biegler
Photos by Randy Anderson

To view more Funny Car class racing photos from the CHRR – visit the LMLCMedia event gallery presentation : HERE