August 04-06-2009 - Boise, ID - The 38th edition of Firebird Raceway's signature event was a weekend of way below normal temperatures, huge crowds, record runs, major upsets, lots of drama and a very bizarre Top Fuel semi final. The Nightfire Nationals are the Idaho's premiere motorsport's national championship, and the 2009 edition was even bigger and better than any year previous. Headlining the 4 day show was Top Fuel Dragsters and Nostalgia Nitro Funny Cars. In spite of a grim economy, there were 32 nitro cars on the grounds and both the Friday and Sunday crowds were bigger than years past. Most credit the absence of the normally hot weather for much of the increase.

The big winners were Rick White who saved his best for last, ripping off a 5.70 at 254.45 for low e.t. and top speed of the meet. The defending Nightfire winner Jim Murphy who had a rough trip slowed to a 6.74 at 144.43. And in Funny Car Kris Krabill scored his second straight Nightfire Nationals Wally. Driving Gary Turner’s Peddler Arrow, Krabill nailed a 5.95 at 241.48 to defeat Bucky Austin who finished at 6.16 at 217.18.

The wins moved both White and Krabill to the head of the class in their respective classes for the Hot Rod Heritage Series points championship.

Qualifying highlights were Garrett Bateman establishing a new Funny Car track record 5.85 (to lead all qualifiers) and Steve Macklyn (driving Jack Harris' Nitro Thunder Firebird) set the flopper speed mark at 242.13.

Now, since most come to WDIFL for photos and not dialog, we have a ton for you below. Enjoy.

Photos by: Arlene Eliason, Dan Kaplan, Don Ewald, Darrell Conrad, Pam Schavrien and Don Atkinson.

 

 

In years past, there were three pro qualifying sessions at this race but in an attempt to give their largest crowd (Saturday) a better show and have first round of eliminations under the lights they dropped one session.. So, it was important to all to get a baseline tune-up on the first shot.

7:30 PM - The first pair of nitro cars to test the tack was Mike McClennan in Mike Fuller's new and beautiful "Forever Young" entry and Rick Williamson in the ever improving Hot Rod Bill's car.

Williamson got out of the groove and drifted right. Using good judgment, he clicked it way early to a 7.72 at 112.72.

Pair two featured two of the best cars on the property. Jim Murphy in his WW2 Racing fueler and Rick White in the ever consistent Neal & White car out of San Diego.

 

White on the other hand ripped off a sterling 5.813 at 250.62 which would hold for top time of the session.

With White setting the bar high, the next pair was Brett Harris in the Nitro Thunder "Big Red" Utah based fueler and Mark Malde in the Birky Bunch car.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By the 330' mark Harris was steadily pulling away which was a good thing as Malde got out of the groove and started coming toward the center line.

 

 

 

 

At this point Malde had crossed the center line, taken out the 660' timing blocks and got off the throttle.

 

 

Malde reeled it in as Harris stopped the clocks with a stunning 5.816 at 251.62. Harris missed going low by 3 thousands of a second.

 

Next out was Troy Green in the defending HRHRS World Champion High Speed Motorsports entry. Green had a single.

After a terrible 60' time the car started to drift toward the center line (where have you heard that one before?).

Out of the groove and got on the unusual asphalt strip between lanes, Green tried to steer the car back.

 

In a heartbeat the clutch finally locked up and literally tossed the car into the left lane.

Fortunately there was no other car on the track or this could have been ugly. Said Green, "The car moved so hard, so fast I couldn't do a thing but reel it in when it stabilized."

 

 

Next out was James Day also running a single because he was making his first pass in the Blair's Fugowie!

 

After a decent launch Day ran it out until the car got loose and shut off to a 8.06 at 117.69.

The final Top Fuel car to get a place in the show was the Paso Posse team with Mike Chrisman in the seat. Over all others, these guys led by John Rodeck and Gary Beck, should be commended for making the long trip to Boise, with a brand new and unproven car just because they wanted to support the New family.

From left to right: Two time NHRA Top Fuel Champion Gary Beck, Willie Wolter, 'John-Boy' Dronyk, Jim Fincham, Scott Takahashi, John Rodeck, & Art Chrisman and Mike "Bullldog" Chrisman in the seat. Not pictured (out on the track for the burnout) Henry Walther, Cami Beck (Gary's neice) and Jim Helms who was driving the tow truck.

 

After having the car totaled by an out of control Dan Horan at the 2009 March Meet, Mike Chrisman was back in the saddle without a full pass on the new car that is much different than the last new car destroyed at Bakersfield.

 

 

 

 

The car sounded and left very good.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No tire smoke, no dropped cylinders, Chrisman drove it to the 900' mark to clock a very encouraging 7.39 at just 130.52. The guys were happy.

 

 

 

Saturday - Qualifying Session Two

 

The first pair out for the second and last qualifying session was Mark Malde and James Day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day was out first but both left well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Both cars improved with Day carding a 6.14 at 235.72 with Malde staying in the groove to stop the clocks at 6.35 at just 181.52

 

 

 

Out next was Mike McClennan for a single.

 

 

 

 

 

 

McClennan left good but did not carry it through. Did not improve.

 

 

 

 

Once again Rick White and Jim Murphy would be paired up - a preview of the final in all ways.

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the hit once again White left first but both cars moved extremely hard.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

White had a slight lead at the 200' mark.

 

 

 

 

 

A thing of beauty as both cars improve. White raised the bar even further with a 5.78 at 250.27. Murphy was no slouch with a 5.99 at just 220.04... he clicked it at the 1100' mark.

 

 

 

Out next was Mike Chrisman and Rick Williamson. With only 9 cars for a 16 car show this session was just to jockey positions and in Chrisman's case, get more runs on the car.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cami Beck got her first chance to be a backup girl and did a fine job. So good in fact, the team gave her a new nickname - Jungle Cami.

*Side Note: 6 days after the event Cami let a girlfriend drive her quad that tows her Jr. Dragster - not a good idea. The friend rolled it on a city street and Cami suffered a compound arm fracture and multiple contusions from the pavement. Cami will be out of school for 9 weeks from the accident. She has to do home school until all of her road rash heals. We all wish her a speedy recovery.

 

 

 

Williamson left very hard and had great early numbers that carried through.

 

Chrisman left decent but would soon prove to be way to aggressive on the tune-up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just past the tree the Paso Posse car started blazing the tires.

 

 

 

 

 

Chrisman wisely gave up the run very early.

 

 

Williamson on the other hand really stepped up with a 5.83 at 250.90 to move up to #3.

 

 

The final Top Fuel car to take a shot was Troy Green who was the only car not in the show due to a DQ in session one. He had to keep it in the lane or their weekend was done.

Green once again drifted out of the groove but the car didn't make the violent move it did in session one.

Fighting it all the way down Green stayed in his own lane and clocked a mediocre 6.11 at 235.54 to land in the #6 qualifying spot.

Top Fuel Eliminations

Funny Car

Pits N People