Funny Car Fever 2021

CIFCA’s Season Opener Submitted by: James Maher May 3, 2021 CIFCA Funny Cars at the Funny Car Fever & NHRA Heritage Series

The California Independent Funny Car Association (CIFCA) held their 2021 season opener at Sacramento Raceway Park during the Annual Funny Car Fever. 9 CIFCA teams came out firing on all eight cylinders for the 5.90 index and racing to only a 1000ft.

Qualifying went as followed. Defending event winner Tony Trimp came off the trailer with a 5.937 to take home the System 1 #1 Qualifier Award & The D&P Revolving qualifier bonus. James Maher followed with a 5.968 and Darrin Hamby, from Williams Arizona, took the #3 spot. Hamby also won the Mike’s Transmission Burnout Contest & the Control Cables Longest Tow Award. Rick Alvarado 4th, Ken Breneisen 5th, Johnny Kirschenman 6th, Jim Maher 7th and Shaun Bryan 8th. Bob Sanguino just missed the 8-car show. Ed Roump also made an appearance with a few shake down laps.

CIFCA Eliminations started off with Tony Trimp taking on Ken Breneisen, the two local guys were neck and neck off the line. Slight advantage to Breneisen with .010 light to Trimps .021 but on the big the end Trimp clicked it early and took the stripe 6.001 to Breneisen’s 6.322. Next up was Darrin Hamby & Jim Maher. Maher dropped an exhaust valve in the final qualifying and was unable to make the call for round #1. Hamby had a solid run .085 light and 5.931 which was good enough for lane choice over Trimp in the semi’s. On the flip side of the ladders James Maher took on Johnny Kirschenman. Maher only had one qualifying run, as he had to swap transmission’s and didn’t make the 2nd qualifier. Maher rolled in deep and cut .131 light to Kirschenman’s abnormal .324 and at the stripe it was Maher 6.048 to Kirscheman’s 6.560. Last up was Rick Alvarado vs Shaun Bryan. Alvarado .138 light to another abnormal .419 light by Bryan. At the finish line it was Alvarado’s 6.140 getting the win over Bryan’s 6.771.

We kicked off the semi-finals just before sunset. It was a close race as both drivers were almost dead even off the line but Trimp took the stripe with a 5.93 to Hamby’s 5.96! Maher & Alvarado faced off on the other side of the ladder. Maher off the line first with .025 light to Alvarado’s .095 and on the big end Maher’s 5.966 got the win over Alvarado’s 6.027.

In the final was the #1 & #2 qualifier, these two faced off so many times that I lost count, but you just never know what is going to happen. Trimp was off the line first with a .017 light to Maher’s .021 but then Maher struck the tires and was forced to pedal a couple times as he watched Trimp run away to a smooth 5.925! Your Enderle Fuel Injection Quick Reaction time winner, Good Vibrations Motorsports best package and Funny Car Fever Champion, Tony Timp! Congrats to Tony Trimp, Harvey Williams & the whole Rough-n-Ready Racing team for getting the first win of the year!

Thanks to all or sponsors for supporting CIFCA this season. Good Vibrations Motorsports, Aeromotive Fuel Systems, Enderle Fuel injection, Billet Connection, D&P Torque Converters, Mike’s Transmission, SCE Gaskets, System One Fuel Filters, Control Cables Inc, and Stith Printing Inc. Special thanks to the Smith family at Sacramento Raceway for hosting the circuit. Finally thank you to all the CIFCA teams who showed up. CIFCA’s next event is May 28-30 back at Famoso Raceway.