Sacramento, CA - April. 11-12, 2008:  The 27th Annual Funny Car Fever race promoted by Lee Paul and Lisa Jennings was a huge success by any bodies standards. Marking the return of nitro floppers to Sac, 13 of the best pre-1979 bodied Nitro Funny Car Association cars were on hand to qualify for the 8 car show. Add the 22 supercharged alcohol funny cars from the California Independent Funny Car Association and the spectators had a combined total of 34 funny cars for their viewing pleasure.

When the smoke cleared (literally) Saturday night it was Kris Krabill in Gary Turners "Pedaler" upsetting #1 qualifier Bucky Austin in Steve Plueger's hot rod in the final. As he's done in his last 3 events, Austin was low ET every session/round until he went up in smoke against Krabill.

The two day event had the fuel funny car program making one qualifying run on Friday and then one Saturday morning. After two sessions Bucky Austin's stout 5.846 at 232.75 was low on a tricky sun baked track.

Although I don't normally cover the "floppers" at non-Top Fuel events this is an exception for my friend, Lee Paul Jennings Jr. who, along with his wife Lisa, took a huge leap of faith to bring the nitro cars back to Sac and through hard work and stellar planning realized success.

Then there's the fact that "my guys" had some really awesome photos that need to be shared. So, in no particular order, here is the nitro coverage from Funny Car Fever 2008.

Photos by: Stephen Justice, Steve Wallace, Jason Ellis and Matt Nausin.

Bucky Austin in the Austin & Plueger "Northwest Hitter".

Dodge Daytona Charger is owned by Mark Stuckey and was at Sacramento for Jim Adolph to re-gain his nitro funny car license, he did it and will drive the “Nitro Charger” in competition at the Las Vegas Speed Spectacular May 2 - 4.