Funny Car Throwdown Packs the House at Island Dragway

Phil Hutchison Drag Racing Action Online

Images: Bob Reed, John McCartney, John Charbonneau, Keith Hudak, and Phil Hutchison

In what was one of the largest gatherings of Funny Cars on the East Coast in 2025, Island Dragway track managers Melissa and Carl Milano booked in some of the quickest Alcohol Floppers for their annual Funny Car Throwdown

The fans packed the stands and the road to the track was backed up all morning. One barometer of how popular an event is the number of photographers on hand to capture the action. All of the Northeast’s best shooters were on hand at the Great Meadows facility. Steve Bell, Dave DeAngelis, John McCartney, Todd Dziadosz, Keith Hudak, along with John Charbonneau, Bob Reed and Jeff Unfried.

In addition to the Funny Cars, Nostalgia Pro Stock, blown dragsters and altereds were on hand to thrill the crowd along with NETO, Nostalgia classes, and a car show.

Unlike the NHRA Fuel Funny Cars who have ceased doing long and smokey burnouts due to the clutch and tire setup in today’s modern floppers, the Funny Cars on hand at Island were doing big time burnouts smoking down the track with some racers tickling the eighth mile clocks.

After two sessions on Sunday, the last pair Matt Stambaugh in the Generation X Vega against Jon Wall in Ed Parker’s Cape Codder Arrow was the quickest of the day. Wall pulled out all the stops running a 6.33 in the win which was Low ET of the event.

After the event, Jon Wall said, “We love coming out to Island Dragway. It seems more special each year. We’re running Ed’s car Ed’s way, and it shows with quick consistent runs. Thank you to all my guys for making it work.”

Chris Massarelli owner and driver of the “Total Insanity” Monza adds, “Huge thanks to Island Dragway’s Melissa and Carl Milano, and their entire team. Over the past several years, all the rest of the dragstrips in NJ have closed their doors. Melissa and Carl have poured their heart and soul into keeping the gates open at Island, and I know the racers and fans greatly appreciate it.”

Massarelli who was in the running for Low ET with a 6.79 in R1 said, “Fans saw some great performances including Joey Pirrone’s 217 mph top MPH run and Jon Wall’s 6.33 low ET of the event. Island Dragway took a chance on hosting a small Nostalgia Funny Car event 11 years ago. And it’s slowly grown into being their biggest event of the year.”

Cody Helger, driver of the crowd pleasing Dazed and Confused ’69 Camaro had this to say, “What an excellent turn out at Island Dragway’s Funny Car Throw Down.”

“We always look forward to this event. Stands and pits were packed, Island gives off a truly nostalgic feeling for drivers, crews and fans. A feeling you don’t get at a lot of tracks now days. The starting line was there, with sub 1 second 60’ times. Multiple cars with mid to low 6 second passes 205+Mph. What a weekend!”

“Thanks island Dragway! Congrats Jon Wall and the Cape Codder team!”

Helger’s team also claimed the Back Up Girl (BUG) award with Macy Andre, channeling her best Jungle Pam, was selected from a bevy of great candidates.

Rocky Pirrone, owner of the Super Camaro and father to Joey who aims the car down the track said, “Awesome day for the 65th anniversary of Island Dragway and the Funny Car Throw down event. At the end of the day, Jon Wall defended his event crown with a 6.33 final round et over Matt Stambaugh.”

“Joey Pirrone after resetting the track record with a 220 mph blast, was awarded the honor of Top Speed of the meet with his 217 second round heat. This event was awesome with an overflow crowd. My hats off to Melissa and Carl Milano for putting this event on for the fans..

In addition to the Alcohol Cars, two Nitro burning cars were also on the property to lay down some quick and loud runs. NHRA racer Terry Haddock was behind the wheel of the “Fools Errand” Vega up against long time Funny Car Chaos racer Jim Gifford driving his Svengali Firebird.

Andy Good owner of AG Customs, was out at Island getting his license upgrade