Drag Racing Drama, the Bakersfield March Meet

Every year at this time, we’re bludgeoned with March Madness basketball hysteria. It takes command of TV, radio, newspapers and the internet. Freakishly tall guys in shorts bouncing a ball? Get over it! If you want real action and excitement, head to Bakersfield for the March Meet.

The historic Auto Club Fomosa Raceway played host to yet another barnburner: Race cars from coast to coast were pitted cheek to jowl, so many that “traffic cops” were needed to manage the flow. Near 30 nitro Funny Cars and more than 16 Top Fuelers thundered for four days. The number of Big Show drivers and crew chiefs in attendance provided further proof this is a serious event.

In the nitro ranks, upsets were the order of the meet, even before eliminations began. A handful of heavy-hitters and past winners didn’t make the F/C 16-car cut. Those frantic Fuel Altereds, for years relegated to exhibition runs, were elevated to Eliminator status, more than a dozen bringing the fans to their feet.

Sportsman racers provided hours of heart-pounding action, including the Gas class competitors, many of which were show car- quality appearance and construction.

John and Blake Bowser and staff are to be commended for all they’ve done to continually improve the Famoso facility. This year the participants were greeted by acres of new blacktop. Congratulations to all involved for perpetuating excitement and hard racing that makes The March Meet such a legendary event.

And the winners of the fifty-sixth annual March Meet are: Tony Bartone (Top Fuel), James Day (Funny Car), Dan Hix (Fuel Altered), Ryan Davenport (A/Fuel), Richard High (7.0 Pro), Wayne Ramey (Jr. Fuel), Brian Rogers (A/Gas), Cliff Boyles (B/Gas), Todd Lindgren (C/Gas), Sam Tucker (D/Gas), Bill Webber (NE-1), Tom Mardis (NE-2), James Kirkman (Hot Rod).

The number of Big Show drivers and crew chiefs in attendance provided further proof this is a serious event.

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