Dirt
MARCH MEET RECAP
early shutoff for the win . Although that ’ s probably not the way he wanted to win , it marks a historic moment for Cottrell since he tied the legendary “ Big Daddy ” Don Garlits in winning his fifth March Meet title .
The Fuel Altered final pitted Mark Whynaught driving the “ Nitro Mamba ” AA / FA against Johnny West in his “ Plan A ” Altered . Whynaught , seeking redemption after his dramatic loss in last year ’ s final , cut down the tree to beat West on a holeshot with a 6.120 at 223 MPH to West ’ s quicker 6.109 at 247 MPH run .
Eily Stafford finally got her well-deserved first March Meet win after beating Keith Wilson in the Nitro Pro Comp finals . She ran a 6.120 at 223 MPH to beat Wilson , who broke out with a 5.753 at 261 MPH .
After Saturday ’ s qualifying concluded , reigning Nostalgia Top Fuel Champion Tyler Hilton was sitting at the top spot with his 5.75 at 250 MPH . Jim Murphy ’ s 5.94 at 242 MPH marked the bump spot of the 16 cars entered to qualify for an eight-car field . Due to the rain on Sunday , the Front Engine Dragster teams and race officials agreed to pair drivers up in qualifying rounds at the California Hot Rod Reunion in October to run for the March Meet trophy . This will surely make for some additional drama to the season finale of the 2023 NHRA heritage series .
Winners in other categories were Wayne Ramay in A / Fuel , Jesse Howe in Hot Rod Eliminator and D / Gas , Eddy Plaizier in C / Gas , Meghan Gorman in B / Gas , Chris Kurtis in A / Gas , Ron Anzalone in Nostalgia Eliminator III , Scott Chamberlain in Nostalgia Eliminator II , Steve Schoenfeld in Nostalgia Eliminator I , and Jason Vanderpool in 7.0 Pro . DI
34 | Drag Illustrated | DragIllustrated . com Issue 182