The Stardust Cuda driven by Mike Lewis. Photo: Dave Ferrin Photo Dave Ferrin

The Great Lakes Nostalgia Funny Car Circuit really has our attention with their program that runs across the Unites States. From Ohio to Pennsylvania, they have 12 events on tap for 2010. Stop number seven was their 3rd Annual Marion County Nostalgia Funny Car Nationals held at Marion County International Raceway on LaRue, Ohio. 29 funny cars showed up to do battle and along with plenty of nostalgia action scheduled for the day’s activities this was a great show.

For more details on the GLNFCC visit their website.

The Mexican Revolution driven by Army Armstrong. Photo: Dave Ferrin

Of the 29 competitors there was six injected cars, 21 blown entrants and two nitro funny cars ready to get after it. Competitors traveled from eleven states to join in on the action and to show exactly what it was like to be a part of the racing scene in the 1960’s when the class first began. The pioneers of the sport started out with injected engines on nitro and alcohol. Just as they did back in the day these six entrants were leaving the line with the wheels up and down the 1320 in eight seconds.

One of the coolest cars in our eyes is the Mexican Revolution Camaro driven by Army Armstrong. The name may sound familiar as he is one of the legendary voices of motorsports on television. Armstrong wheels the blown nitro funny car just as you would have seen in the 1960’s with all the starting line antics. They were famous for the dry hops and burping the throttle which always gets the crowd on their feet. On the day the nitro cars made two runs for eliminations which was reminiscent of a match race. Armstrong took the win light both races over the Stardust Cuda driven by Mike Lewis.

The final rounds came to the water and it was the blown cars up first. The Snakebite Mustang had run 6.86 in the semi finals and would have to take on the Destroyer Trans Am who had been 6.34.  With the odds against the Snakebite car but as both drivers did huge smokey burnouts it was evident that they were serious about winning.  As they staged the Destroyer was shut off by the starter for oil leaking from the car which gave the single and the win to Snakebite.

In the other final round it was the injected funny cars coming to the line. A pair of New Jersey racers were ready to do battle as Frank  Barnard in The Poison Arrow faced the No Funny, No Money Nova. At the hit of throttle it looked as if the Poison Arrow was out of it as he skated around on the track but a top end charge took the win light over the No Funny, No Money Nova.