Drag Racing Action Online  Images: Dave Kommel

Firebird Raceway played host to the 52nd edition of the Nightfire Nationals presented by Bi-Mart, a key stop in the NHRA Hot Rod Heritage series.

Tyler Hester was Low Qualifier in Top Fuel at Firebird

Eight Top Fuelers were on hand at the Firebird Raceway in Boise Idaho for one of the most anticipated events on the series tour. Leading the field was Tyler Hester from Visalia Calif. with a 5.813 in his Donavan powered digger. Right behind Hester was Gilroy Calif. racer Brett Williamson in his Rodeck 417 car. Holding down the bump was Canadian Phil Ruskowski from British Columbia.

Hilton, far lane, took the Top Fuel title at the Nightfire Nationals

After two rounds the finals boiled down to second generation racer Tyler Hilton in the Great Expectations dragster out of Ohio against former series champ Jim Murphy from Fulton Calif.

Murphy got the better light but Hilton passed him easily running Low ET of the race with a 5.734 to Murphy’s losing 5.82. Murphy did have the distinction of setting Top Speed in his WW2 car with a booming 258.67 MPH.

James Day was Low Qualifier in F/C

Fourteen Funny Cars were on the grounds to qualify for the quick eight spots. Leading the field was Aliso Viejo Calif racer James Day in the Mathews Motorsports Camaro with a 5.591.

Reigning NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series champion Bobby Cottrell slipped into the #2 spot with a 5.724. The bump was Ryan Horan in his ’68 Camaro with a 5.832.

Pocock, near lane, left way too early in his Camaro giving Cottrell and easy win

Cottrell took the “Northwest Hitter” Camaro to the finals to face the “California Hustler” Camaro driven by Kamaka Pocock. Pocock got too anxious on the starting line leaving way to early giving Cottrell his sixth consecutive Firebird win. Cottrell kept his foot in it running a 5.72-252.99 for the win in Idaho.

Karstetter was right on the six flat index in his AA/FA with a 6.009

The Fuel Altereds were also part of the Nightfire show with nearly a dozen of the wild beasts on the grounds. Leading qualifying was Vince Karstetter out of Buckeye AZ. with a 6.009. The 8th qualifier was Jason Pettit with a 6.462. All the Fuel Altereds run off a six second index.

West, near lane, had the right combination winning AA/FA in easy fashion over Pettit

The finals of AA/FA went down to former NHRA Funny Car driver and tuner Johnny West racing out of Arizona in his “Plan A” T Bucket up against “Hell Fire II” Fiat of Pettit.

Pettit was second off the line with a 0.174 RT to West’s better 0.106. On the top end it was West crossing the finish line first winning with a 6.156 to the 6.424 of Pettit.

For more of Dave’s images from the event, go to: