NHRA Funny Car Racer James Day to Compete at Goodguys 21st Hot Rod Nationals June 12-14 at O'Reilly Raceway Park

Clermont, IN - NHRA Nitro Funny car driver James Day will once again jump behind the wheel of a Nitro burning Nostalgia car but its been awhile since he’s driven a Nostalgia Top Fuel car. Day will pilot Art Dromgoole’s Charlotte, NC based “Backyard Guys” entry at the Goodguys 21^st Hot Rod Nationals, June 12-14 at O’Reilly Raceway Park.

Day is eager to mash the throttle of a front engined Nitro burning dragster. “I haven't driven a Nostalgia Top Fuel car since 2005 and I'm really excited about it,” he said. “There's nothing quite like sitting behind the motor with nothing to protect you. You need to have a lot of respect for this kind of car, you never know when those little tires are gonna come lose out there and it can get away from you in a heart beat. I enjoy the challenge of driving different types of cars, it keeps my mind fresh and it also keeps me off suicide watch (laughter) as our big show NHRA car is parked due to lack off funding. I can't thank Art and John Dromgoole for letting me drive their hot rod. We have Mark Leigh tuning the car and Pete Jensen is coming along to help out too. The Backyard Guys have great parts to work with so I'm excited.”

Day is no stranger to the nostalgia ranks as he drove Bob Steffens’ front engined top fuel car in 2004 and 2005,Ron and Ed Lenarth's Holy Toledo Jeep in 2008, and Johnny Nilssons Tre Kronor Plymoth Arrow out of Sweden at the 2009 march meet. “I love the Nostalgia movement,” he said. “I was born in 1978 so I missed this era of cars. I'm a drag racing freak and for me this is special because I get to relive just a little bit of the history of this sport.”

A large contingent of both Nostalgia Top Fuel Dragsters and Nostalgia Funny Cars are signed on for the 21^st Hot Rod Nationals including defending Top Fuel event champions Roger Lechtenberg (top fuel) and John Dunn (Funny Car). Pro qualifying session’s are schedule for 3pm Friday June 12^th and NOON Saturday, June 13^th. Opening round of nitro eliminations will be held Saturday afternoon beginning at 3:30pm. A special Fuel Altered match race between Rich Guasco’s legendary Pure Hell and Dave Hough’s Nanook will be run all three days of the event. Guasco is coming out of retirement this year and will race Hough’s Nanook at the Hot Rod Nationals and the Goodguys 8^th Blue Suede Cruise later this summer August 28-30 at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, OH.

The Goodguys Hot Rod Nationals is one of the nation’s biggest hot rodding event bringing over 4,000 1972 & earlier hot rods, customs, muscle cars & classics together with hundreds of vintage drag racers. For more event information visit www.hotrodnats.com