Michigan’s Matt Bynum emerged victorious from within a ferocious Nitro Nostalgia Funny Car eliminator — a marquee part for the 62nd edition Good Vibrations March Meet – held at Bakersfield CA.

Racing his ’70 Camaro bodied car — Bynum (from Ypsilanti) took the measure of an upset-minded Matt Melendez in the final round — winning the title by a 5.617 secs 250.13 mph to 5.749 secs 224.73 mph margin.  Melendez had advanced his California-based ’70 Dodge Challenger machine to the final from the #16 qualified position.

( Michigan’s Matt Bynum – made the very best of his second career Bakersfield FC final round —  he earned his first FC win at the storied Auto Club Famoso Raceway last Sunday)

Bynum was the class of the field during eliminations, posting the quickest winning run in all four rounds while also topping James Day, Jerry Espeseth and Canada’s Ryan Hodgson.

After qualifying #3 at 5.575/261.98, Bynum never ran slower than a 5.621 and averaged 5.602 for all four rounds of eliminations. 

The 2020 version March Meet Funny Car eliminator saw 23 entries make qualifying runs — with that field being paced by Dan Horan Jr.’s track record-setting 5.547 secs 264.49 mph.  That run was low ET and top speed of the meet for Horan’s (’69 Camaro bodied car)  and it marked a solid comeback for his team who had that memorable trip into the top end catch net during NHRA’s Lucas Oil Winternationals a month earlier.

(Dan Horan Jr., set a track ET record to pace the field — but was upset in round #1)

The bump spot for FC racing at Bakersfield was a 5.832 secs.

(Canada’s Ryan Hodgson – who has enjoyed great success over the years racing at Bakersfield — did have a strong semi-final finish in the new look Pacemaker Chevy Camaro.  His best run came in round #2 at 5.654 secs 258.57 mph)

(The FC show did once again include a strong Canadian component — featuring 3 other Canadian qualifiers. Tim Nemeth (#15 – 5.828 secs) – Tim Boychuk #11 – 5.771 secs and Jeff Arend (#5 – 5.656 secs)

Posted by Bruce Biegler

All photos by Marc Gewertz