29th Annual Nightfire Nationals

Boise, ID

2001's Pepsi Nightfire Nationals was arguably the finest drag racing happening ever staged in the storied 34-year history of Firebird. And thatís a pretty tall statement when you look back in time and compare it to some of the amazing races that have been conducted over the years in the country side west of Idaho's capital city of Boise.

The Idaho Lottery Prime Time Finals saw several stout performances delivered by a top flight field of Pro Stars as the five-night racing weekend came to a close.

Unquestionably, the weather was a bit to the warm side, ok, maybe hot would be a better way to sum up the climate during the 30th Anniversary event. The average temperature was a full ten degrees hotter than 2000 and 18 degrees warmer than the same weekend two years ago. The five day median temp came in just above 95 (including one day,Sat, that hit the century mark). But the heat certainly didn't deter the crowd nor the racers as the event came to a conclusion right on schedule at 10:40 pm on Sunday evening.

With temperatures topping out at 97 degrees during Sunday's first round at 5:30 pm, this would certainly be the test for all teams who had run very well during both the 2 pm (on Sat) and 8 pm (on Fri & Sat) qualifying sessions.

All Photos © 2001 Jim Sorenson
(gee, that's me!)

Jamie Bodenstadt in the Alaskan Grizzly.

Young Bodenstadt fries the hides...

...some more...

...and then hurls the Anchorage-based Fuel Altered downtrack.

Ron Fassl

Ain't motor drives on cameras neat?

Greg Daebelliehn

Greg Daebelliehn, "FLAME ON!"

A little photo op Saturday afternoon in front of the Firebird Winners Circle, with all the participating Fuel Altereds.

Ron Fassl and crew, Ron shaking hands with Amos Satterlee.

Dave Benjamin helps the Alaskan Grizzly guys move up to the pre-race photo shoot.

Alaskan Grizzly and Ron Fassl

Ricky Ruiz and Mike Sullivan.

Greg Daebelliehn makes a point to Mike Sullivan. This body replaced the "jet-ski" Fiat, when the parachute shroud hooked under the back of the body and tore out a herkin' chunk.

Gary Read models the Sullivan/Haight "Cheese Wedge".

And of course, it wouldn't be the Nightfire without the Winged Express.

When the flash doesn't fire, call it "art"!

All the way from Chicago, Tom Motry and his Drastic Plastic 30-something Chev bodied Fuel Altered.

Motry gets it on...

Blurry worm's eye view of Ricky Ruiz.

World's fastest Cheese Wedge.

A bad magneto cap caused the Fiat of Randy and Dex Bradford to belch gimungous flames...this is just reversing from the burnout!

Ricky fogs 'em in....

The Fuel Altereds stepped back up to the plate on Sunday after a hot and challenging Saturday night. At a few ticks before 8 pm, Gary Read (with their new primered and heavily winged body) would benefit from a redlighting Ricky Ruiz. The Rattler certainly would've been final round bound, but left too soon (.330) and charged to a fine 5.98-241.80 compared to the Sullivan & Haight ride, which ran 6.29-217.28.

On the other side of the Fuel Altered National Championships presented by Western States/CAT, Fassl really leaned on his Pepsi Roadster belting out a low e.t. of the meet at 5.59 @ 266.74 to dispense of Jamie Bodenstadt with the "Alaskan Grizzly"who finished at 6.51-224.77.

In the final round joust, Fassl had a toaster going as the car was on its way to another 5.5 something pass, but 800' into the run the sparklers started going off as his drive shaft to the rear end started disintegrating. With just a few feet to go, Read was hot on his tail and closing fast (especially after a .517 to .620 start line advantage). For a moment Fassl thought he had lost the title, as Read flew by 30 mph faster than his non-powered roadster, at least to the rear wheels any way as the drive line was cooked. Fassl ran 5.82-209.93 and just did clip Read who ripped of a beautiful 6.04-238.91. Margin of victory, about half a car length.

The #5 and #6 qualified AA/Fuel Altereds were also offered a bonus match as Tom Motry spanked Greg Daebelliehn with a 6.25-211.41 with his colorfully painted Drastic Plastic as the Fast `n Forty struggled to an off-the-mark 11.28.

Firing up Fassl for the final.

Trying to shoot through burnout smoke...bad idea.

The final, Gary Read has a wheel out on Ron Fassl, but it doesn't hold...Fassl takes it.