Gary Densham of Teacher’s Pet fame, Northwest veteran Twig Ziegler part of Nostalgia Nitro funny car field next Saturday
"Veteran Northwest funny car owner/driver Twig Ziegler will have his nostalgia nitro funny car at Spokane Saturday, Aug. 18 for the NAPA Night of Fire. Tickets and info available at spokanecountyraceway.com or calling 509-244-3333. "
Airway Heights, Wash. – Some familiar faces are returning next Saturday night, Aug. 18 to Spokane County Raceway.
And so is that familiar aroma of nitro-methane when SCR hosts its final major drag racing event of 2012, staging the NAPA Night Of Fire.
Bellflower, Calif’s. Gary Densham, who used to run regularly in Spokane during the old American Hot Rod Association days in the 1980s and 1990s with his “Teacher’s Pet” funny car, won four titles and was runner-up twice. The former shop teacher’s son, Steven, drives the nostalgia car while dad does the tune.
Twig Zeigler, out of Seattle has been a fixture in Northwest drag racing for nearly 40 years and used to appear in Spokane in the 1970s with his famed Pizza Hazen-sponsored car. But he made noise here just a year ago at this event setting top speed, low E.T. and a new personal career best time with a 5.84 pass at the Night of Fire. Jim Obalek will drive the car for the 2012 racing season according to Ziegler’s website.
The current nitro field will also have a local flavor in Chris Davis out of Spokane.
Dave Benjamin from Seattle used to race his funny car here in AHRA days, as did Kenny Sitko, the father of second-generation driver Edmonton, Alberta’s Nathan Sitko. Others in the field include Canadians Ken Webster and Kris Krabill also from Edmonton and Jay Mageau. Tim Boychuk comes from Phoenix Ariz. and Brad Fareea out of California.
A field of 16 alcohol funny cars, a pair of jet dragsters and the fan-favorite wheel-standers of Ed Jones and Rick Markham will also be part of the program.
SCR’s drag strip will be quiet this Saturday with no racing scheduled.
Night of Fire will see hot tub give away
The Aug. 18 race will also be the final event where fans can qualify for the Apollo Spas hot tub, which will be given away at the NAPA Night of Fire.
To qualify, fans need to have purchased tickets at any of three previous major SCR events, including June’s N.W. Thunderfest and July’s Monster Mayhem. For each ticket purchased, an entry was made in the drawing.
“We will do the drawing for the hot tub at 8 p.m. before second round,” SCR general manager Craig Smith said.
Buy NAPA night of fire tickets on SCR website
The first 80 people to purchase tickets online (spokanecountyraceway.com) will get 101.1 FM VIP Section Tickets, which includes a hot dog, soda, and VIP seating. Tickets purchased online can be picked up at the will-call booth on the oval entrance (spectator) side. Click "Buy Tickets" under the VP racing logo.
General Admission is $25 with $3 discount coupons available from NAPA stores. Those 6-12 are $5 and 5 and under free. Gates open at 8 a.m. with racing at 1p.m.
