Race 2 of 6 - Funny Car Fever 2023

The California Independent Funny Car Association (CIFCA) held their second race of the 2023 season at Sacramento Raceway Park during the Annual Funny Car Fever. 12 CIFCA teams came out shooting for 8 qualifying spots on the 7.10 index.

Qualifying started off strong with, Christian Marshall, from the United Kingdom taking home the System 1 number one qualifier with a 7.122. Tony Trimp, the defending event winner, qualified second and Jim Maher, the defending CIFCA champion qualified third. Bobby Cottrell, NHRA NFC Heritage series champion, slipped into the number four spot. Rick Alvarado & Mike Troxel qualified fifth & sixth respectively. Joacim Ljungberg, from Sweden, qualified seventh and took home the Mike’s Transmission burnout contest. James Maher made the show in the number eight position. Shaun Bryan & Ken Breneisen just missed the 8-car field. Final Qualifying Order:

1. Christian Marshall '95 Firebird 526 KB 7.122 184.27 Mph 2. Tony Trimp '65 Mutang 500 TFX Hemi 7.161 178.40 Mph 3. Jim Maher '85 Tempo 504 KB Hemi 7.169 189.90 Mph 4. Bobby Cottrell '74 Mustang II BBC 7.176 181.79 Mph

5. Rick Alvarado '86 Corvette 540 Arias 7.192 183.47 Mph

6. Mike Troxel '93 Trans Am 489 Chevy 7.231 190.89 Mph 7. Joacim Ljungberg '96 Firebird 493 Chevy 7.305 144.41 Mph 8. James Maher '84 Tempo 504 KB Hemi 7.350 184.04 Mph 9. Shaun Bryan '89 Firenza 540 Chevy 7.454 179.06 Mph 10. Ken Breneisen '96 Camaro 446 Don 9.213 127.81 Mph

Elimination had some tight racing as Alvarado barely got past Marshall. The margin of victory was .002 of a second! Ljungberg took out the defending CIFCA Champion, Jim Maher, who went -.063 red. Trimp laid down a stellar package with a .022 light and 7.136 to put Troxel on the trailer. James Maher was awarded the Enderle Quick Reaction time award with a .001 light against Cottrell in round one. Cottrell was able to outrun Maher to the stripe with a margin of victory .030.

In the semi-finals Ljungberg was able to get around Alvarado who broke on the burnout. On the flip side of the ladder, Trimp in the 65’ Mustang, was up against Cottrell, who was in the 74 Mustang II. They were almost dead even off the line with a slight advantage going to Trimp .023 light to an .025 and on the big end Trimp turned on the win light with a 7.123 over Cottrell’s 7.155. Another close race with a margin of victory of .034. Trimp was honored the Good Vibrations Motorsports best package on that run.

In the final round Trimp fouled out with a .024 red light and the “Swede” walked his way into the winner circle. Congrats to Joacim Ljungberg on his first CIFCA win! On a side note, Trimp was entered in 7.0 Pro and he was able to defeat Lawton Ferreira in the final round for the 7.0 Pro win!

Thanks to all our sponsors for supporting CIFCA this season. Good Vibrations Motorsports, Enderle Fuel injection, Billet Connection, D&P Torque Converters, Mike’s Transmission, SCE Gaskets, Specialty Fasteners, System One Fuel Filters, Control Cables Inc, and Stith Printing Inc. Special thanks to the Smith family at Sacramento Raceway for hosting the circuit. Finally thank you to all the CIFCA teams who showed up. Next race is at Redding Dragstrip June 9/10.