Full Circle Funny Car!

Call it some ultimate payback, some final justice or just true grit — Tim Boychuk’s win at Bakersfield California last weekend was all of that and probably more….

Edmonton’s Tim Boychuk and his super talented Troy Lee Designs Nostalgia Funny Car team which is anchored by crew chief extraordinaire Bob Papirnick, returned to the scene of the crime so to speak last weekend when they attended NHRA’s Hot Rod Heritage Series’ 55th Annual March Meet.

Canada’s Tim Boychuk earned some sweet justice by winning at Bakersfield last weekend

Canadian drag racing fans will recall that one year ago, during 2012 at this event, the team prevailed to win on Sunday only to have the apparent victory snatched from their hands by what later proved to be a rather controversial technical violation announced and implemented by NHRA, about 10 days after.

But in 2013, Boychuk and his race team, which is co-owned by Edmonton’s Ron Hodgson, received both good karma and good tuning to score what was easily the most deserving win of their careers so far.

In the final round Tim defeated Mark Sanders when he rolled his Pontiac Firebird to a winning 5.814 secs at 249.01 mph.  In earlier competition during the weather-plagued race,  Boychuk had defeated Robert Overholser in round one, and then 2X and defending Hot Rod Heritage Series champion Jason Rupert in round #2.  In the semi final round Boychuk avenged defending 2012 March Meet winner Chad Head.

Boychuk ambushed the massive field (34 cars entered!) from the middle of the qualified pack (#8) after he hit a 5.852 secs at 240.25 mph during time trials.  His best run of the event was a very stout 5.753 secs at 252.43 mph which flashed up on the scoreboards during round one.

The overall feeling for team was best summed up by valued crewman Dan Brochu who stated, “We are damn happy to get redemption, but even prouder to bring the March Meet title home to Canada,” he said.  “It is one of, if not thee, oldest running and most prestigious drag races in the world.”

Posted by:  Bruce Biegler

Photo courtesy of:  Marc Gewertz