NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series Coming to Idaho in August
In the world of the NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series,
they call `em the “Big Three”. Each are steeped in
history and intrigue. The March Meet begins the year
and the NHRA Hot Rod Reunion closes the season, both
of which take place in the groves of Bakersfield.
The third is a staple in Idaho not unlike the Famous
Potatoes slogan attached to Gem State license plates
for many decades. For all you history buffs, it all
started back in 1972. The event was coined the
Nightfire.
It didn’t take long at all for this one-night
marathon to earn the distinction of Firebird’s
“biggest drag race of the year”. Originally known as
the Nightfire 500, it all started on the second
Saturday of September (just a couple of weeks after
the inaugural 64 Funny Cars at the famed Bill
Doner’s S.I.R. in Washington state) featuring a
combination of the sport’s top AA and A/Funny Cars.
The event’s first winners included none other than
Twig Zeigler and Dale Armstrong.
Through the years, the Nightfire would evolve into
not only one of the leading sporting events in
Idaho, but also one of the largest drag races in the
entire Northwest. In 1982, exactly ten years after
the first 500, the event would expand from its
original one night format to a magnified three-night
extravaganza. Not only did the Professional side of
the racing weekend grow in size and status, but so
would the sportsman aspect with the
nationally-recognized Bracketeer Series joining
forces with the multi-day happening.
This was the beginning of an event that would be
renamed the Nightfire Nationals. Crowds quickly fell
in love with the variety of nights and expanded
opportunities to watch many of the sport’s top
stars, as always—under the lights.
Just look back at some of the previous
champions and you’ll quickly see a list including
many of the who’s who in Drag Racing. From Ed
McCulloch to Don Prudhomme, Raymond Beadle to John
Force, Tom McEwen to Gordie Bonin, and the list goes
on and on—all are former Nightfire winners.
The same holds true with Bracketeer Series. Expanded
to four days and nights many years ago, Bracketeer
racers have come to Firebird from all over the
United States and Canada. For all intents and
purposes, it is the only true big money bracket
racing national event in the entire country.
Thousands of fans annually get an opportunity to
watch some of the best bracket aces in the land duke
it out for some extra tall green. In fact, this year
will feature the largest sportsman payday in
Firebird’s forty-two year existence, as a whopping
$75,000 in guaranteed cash will be paid out over the
four-day event. Not unlike the Pro side of the
event, the kingpins of bracket racing have been
richly rewarded with victories throughout the years.
Renowned racers like Richard McFarland, Peter
Berkuta, Ron Nickels, Bill Heard, Mark Kidd, Stan
Leerkamp, Garnet Rose, Dan Lafferty, Dale Green,
Gordon Turner (to name but a few from a list of
hundreds) and countless others have all achieved
success and victories in the Bracketeers over the
years. On the opposite side of the fence, many
others hope this will be the year they finally hit
victory lane at Idaho’s granddaddy bracket
tournament, all of which started way back in 1976.
2009 is shaping up to be nothing shy of outstanding.
The Pepsi Nightfire Nationals will be celebrating
its 38th year on August 14th-16th. And in
combination, a record $182,000 prize pool will be on
the line in both the Professional and Sportsman
ranks.
This year’s field of AA/Funny Cars and Fuel
Dragsters is top notch. Early pre-entrants already
include the likes of Bucky Austin, Garrett Bateman,
Mendy Fry, Leah Pruett-LeDuc, Jim Murphy, Jack &
Brett Harris, Rick White and many others. The
eastern side of the country will be well represented
by the likes of Paul Romine who will be bringing his
“Man-O-War” Mustang all the way from Indianapolis
for his first appearance in western Idaho. Romine is
a former IHRA World Champion and has a storied
history in both Top Fuel and Funny Car racing.
Reserved tickets can be purchased through the
Firebird Hotline: 208 938-8986 or you can capture a
ticket application off our website (and mail it to
Firebird Raceway, P.O. Box 1398, Eagle, ID 83616 or
fax it to: 208 938-8961). At the same time,
pre-entries are being accepted for the classes of
Bracketeer, Top Fire, Pro, Heavy and Snow/Bike.
Be a part of the big one this August as the next
stop in the NHRA Hot Rod Heritage point’s series
takes up residency over the weekend of the 13th,
14th, 15th and 16th of August. If the record-busting
March Meet and Hot Rod Reunion-East held at Bowling
Green, Kentucky, earlier this year are any
indication of the sweeping success and interest—then
this one may be one for the ages.
On behalf of every member of the New Crew and our
raceway staff, we’re certainly looking forward to
seeing everyone in less than two months.

Club Challenge Series returns Friday-July 3rd
The Fairly Reliable Bob’s Club Challenge Series
kicks back into gear this Friday, July 3rd. Gates
open at 2 pm, while first round of racing will be
set to go at 6:30 pm. Adult admission is $11, kids
6-12 are $3, and toddlers 5 & under are free.
The Silver Cup point’s chase is just simply superb.
The difference between #1 and #2 is a mere 9 points.
Yes, JUST 9 POINTS! Team PSI leads the Naughty Girls
by less than one round of racing, with Melba and the
Mopars currently third and fourth. In the Bronze
Cup, the Kuna Draggers are less than two rounds in
front of the Hot Shots. And the Copper Cup finds
Idaho Diesel Power in first, while the Modern
Rodders and Loco Motion sit second and third.
This will mark the fourth stop in the six-race
series.