Goodguys: Lil Nate Pomona preview

Orange, CA - Nate Bugg and his Lil' Nate Nitro Funny Car will be joining approximately 20 nostalgia funny cars this weekend in Pomona, CA at the 9th annual GoodGuys Nitro Nationals event at Pomona Raceway. In what is technically the second race of the West Coast Championship series, this weekend's race will be the first time that these nostalgia funny cars will be competing in 2006 since the season opening March Meet race was cancelled. This year's Pomona race was moved to May from its usual August date in hopes of avoiding last year's racing conditions of temperatures in the high 90's and track temps as high as 140 degrees. So far, it seems that the weather will cooperate.

In the three years since the Nostalgia Nitro Funny Car class was created, the Pomona Nitro Nationals event has seen about 9 cars compete. This year will be double that ! The racers are hoping that GoodGuys will grant them a 16 car field since so many funny cars have pre-registered.

The qualifying bump last year was 6.803 seconds and the top qualifier ran 6.149 seconds. Nate Bugg advanced all the way to the finals at the 2005 event and brought home runner up honors. Lil' Nate's best elapsed time (ET) at this track is a 6.223, which is also a career best. The team considers this their 'home track' and bragging rights always seem to factor a little higher at this particular race, where many more local sponsors and friends will be in attendance.

In all there will be 14 classes of racing, an automotive swap meet and many retail vendors, in addition to a HUGE show and shine hot rod car show. Fans will also have the chance to meet Hot Rod Hero - Ed Iskenderian at this event. The 9th annual Nitro Nationals will open at 8 am on Friday, May 5 and continue thru Sunday, May 7. The funny cars will have two qualifying passes on Friday afternoon; one qualifying pass on Saturday morning and then eliminations will be on Sunday. Tickets are available at the event or online at www.good-guys.com.

-ln-