Drag Illustrated Issue 152, January 2020 | Page 95

ond-place racer just one round away from tying
the lead. But an unfortunate test session would
pay off big.
“I knew the right thing to do was go somewhere
and test the car at a similar elevation as close as I
could to the track we were racing at,” Martin says.
“We went to the track to test and had nothing but
problems. So I utilized the entire test session for
fixing broken parts. If I didn’t go do that and if I
didn’t fix all those broke parts and chase all that
stuff for 14 hours straight, I wouldn’t have been
able to go to the championship race with a car
that was running.”
Martin pulled from the bucket in round two
and paired off with Kye Kelley in a race that would
ultimately decide the championship. With Mar-
tin’s burnout complete, Kelley found himself at
the starting line without a functioning transbrake.
When the lights came down, Martin got a massive
jump, and Kelley could never make up the deficit.
The 2020 NPK season is an important one for
the defending champion. There are rumors that
the series might be extending the race season. But
two things are certain: Martin is bringing out a
brand-new car, and he will have a massive target
on his back as he looks to keep his dominant
momentum alive.
“I just need to do things the same way I’ve been
doing them,” he explains. “I’ve seen people in the
past not back up championships and not follow
with a good season, and I don’t want to do that
same thing.” – PETE EPPLE
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[ FUNNY CAR CHAOS ]
Ken Singleton
T
he debut of the Funny Car Chaos Championship points tour made
big waves in the flip-top flopper world as the series expanded in 2019 to seven races
from Texas to Michigan. With points on the line for the first time, excitement built
as the season progressed and the inaugural title contenders established themselves.
With support from Best of Texas BBQ Sauce and Red Line Shirt Club, the Funny Car Chaos
Championship battle was on and it all came down to the final event of the season and an epic
conclusion in Texas. Ken Singleton and the screw-blown “High Risk” Monte Carlo from Chicka-
sha, Oklahoma, was the last one standing and capped off an impressive championship effort with
an A-field win at the final race of the season. But it was no easy feat for this former boat racer.
With 51 Funny Cars entering Chaos competition in the 2019 season, Singleton and company
had plenty of opposition to contend with and a target on their backs after winning the A-field
in all three events they entered in 2018. Singleton led the points standings for a majority of
the season, stacking up A-field runner-up finishes in three straight races during midseason.
Allan Middendorf and the Jake Sanders-tuned “American Outlaw” nitro burner became
the biggest threat to Singleton’s title efforts with two events remaining. After breaking both
ends of the series performance records and defeating Singleton in the final round at U.S. 131
Motorsports Park, Middendorf went into the final event of the season gunning for a come-
from-behind victory, but a 227-mph trip into the sand trap during the final qualifying session
at North Star Dragway unexpectedly ended those hopes.
It certainly wasn’t how Singleton wanted it to be decided, but with Middendorf out of com-
petition and Singleton’s march through the A-field eliminations and into the winner’s circle at
the final event, the title was all his and team “High Risk” celebrated in fine form as inaugural
Funny Car Chaos world champions. Middendorf held on for a second-place finish followed by
Brandon Lewis, Jordan Ballew and Tod Barker.
Funny Car Chaos will charge into 2020 with an eight-race points tour across the central part
of the U.S. Singleton and company will again have a target on their back in their title defense
effort as rumors in the pits indicate numerous cars are Chaos bound next season. – CHRIS GRAVES
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Ja n u a r y 2 0 2 0
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