Tyler Hilton Stays Red Hot Taking Third Top Fuel Win in a Row in Redding at Thunder Under The Lites
Redding Motorsports Park played host to its inaugural NHRA Heritage Series stop featuring a seven-car Top Fuel field, a full eight-alcohol field courtesy of the California Independent Funny Car Association, plus a host of nostalgia sportsman entries from A/Fuel to Hot Rod.
The event, dubbed “Thunder Under the Lites,” was a two-day affair, with plenty of after-hours and sundown action on the track. The Top Fuel showdown showcased seven of the finest machines in the land and the current top six cars in the heritage points chase for 2024.
Pete Kaiser and the Kaiser Family Top Fuel entry took advantage of a test and tune session and proceeded to blast down the 1320 with a jaw-dropping 5.74. For a team that has been knocking on the door of victory all year, it was a fantastic start to the weekend.
Boise Nightfire Nationals winner and current points leader Tyler Hilton and the Great Expectations III machine had come into Redding looking to extend his lead and march towards another championship. The Hilton gang blasted a solid 5.91 in qualifying session one, good enough for the second spot behind the 2024 March Meet champion, Tyler Hester’s 5.83 in the Overtime Special entry.
It was high noon on Saturday and time for the second and final qualifying session for the Top Fuel teams. Pete Kaiser responded with a track record of 5.72 to take the top spot, while Hester and Hilton both smoked the tires and stand on their earlier numbers.
In the opening Top Fuel round, Kaiser blasted another 5.72 on a bye run, his reward for qualifying number one. Bryan Hall and the H&H Nomad shocked the No. 2 qualifier, Tyler Hester, to move on. Bret Williamson and the Mike Fuller-owned Forever Young Machine were given a single pass when fan favorite Adam Sorokin in the Champion Speed Shop breaks on the burnout. Tyler Hilton escaped a big holeshot and early lead by Shawn Bowen in the Violator for the victory.
Pete Kaiser, who seemed destined for a showdown with Hilton in the final, smoked the tires at the hit in round two and sent Bret Williamson is off to his second final in a row. Hilton again survives a razor-close race, as Bryan Hall had him covered to 1,000 foot before his H&H Nomad shut down due to a pan pressure issue. Final numbers: Hall 5.94 to Hilton’s winning 5.95.
In the Top Fuel final, Tyler Hilton saves his best for last, making it two straight final victories over Williamson, with a stellar 5.76 to a 6.59. It was a trifecta for the Hilton Top Fuel Team, their third race win in a row and a big extension of their points lead.
In CIFCA action, ten alcohol-powered Funny Cars made the tow to Redding for an eight-car show. With a 5.90 index, an eclectic mix of body styles, and vibrant paint schemes, these funny cars put on a great show for the fans. A 1978 Mustang, a 1984 Tempo, a 1970 Camaro? Yes, all three doing battle.
The semi-finals featured Pete Ortiz’s ’97 Cutless win over Ken Breneisen’s ’96 Camaro – 6.08 to a 6.22, while last year’s champ and number current No. 1 James Maher’s ’84 Tempo downed Mike Troxel’s ’93 Trans-Am, legging out a stellar 6.01 over a 6.22. In the final, James Maher, in the Junior Vibes entry, saved his best for last, laying down a 5.97 to best Ortiz’s race-ready 6.09.
In other sportsman action, Redding’s own, Jason Vanderpool, downed Tony Trimp in a battle of ’32 Bantams for the 7.0 pro title. The A/Fuel crown went to Wayne Ramay, as his 6.01 dispatched the always competitive Kin Bates Air Force entry, while the Junior Fuel title went to Brad Woodward, who trailered Ritchie Fenton’s 388 cubic-inch Chevy machine.
Other class winners:
A/Gas – Chris Kurtis
B/Gas -Kevin Albert
C/Gas – Chris Rea
D/Gas – Doug Fournier
NE1 – Jason Barta
NE2 – Terry Lindblad
NE3 -Don Mallory
Hot Rod – Henry Roberson
No-Cal Bikes – Everett Everhart
Tony Trimp’s 32 Bantam in round one action, putting away the dragster of Dean Nilson. Trimp parlayed a series of wins into a runner-up finish at Redding.
Fan favorite Chris Bates, in his 1978 Mustang Funny Car, Bad Intentions, boils the hides prior to his 1st round showdown with Mike Troxel.
James Maher and this 84′ Tempo bodied flopper took top honors in the CIFCA 8 car Funny Car show with a 5.97 in the final over Pete Ortiz.
Pete Kaiser piloted the KFR team Top Fueler to a new track record 5.72 in qualifying, then duplicated that feat in his first round bye. Kasier fell in round two when the big red machine struck the tires at the hit.
2024 March Meet champ, Tyler Hester mixes it up with eventual runner-up Bret Williamson during qualifying. Hester, despite running a solid 5.98 was beaten in round one by Bryan Hall.
Bryan Hall and the H&H Nomand Team had their best race weekend of 2024, advancing to the semifinal and coming within .009 seconds of taking out the event winner, Tyler Hilton.
Shawn Bowen and the Violator team made the long tow from Michigan and squared off with points leader Tyler Hilton in round one.
Shawn Bowen strikes the hides as the sun sets on qualifying at Redding.
Kin Bates took runner-up honors in the A/Fuel field, driving the Team Air Force dragster.
Jim Horne’s 23T prevailed in round one of NE2 over the spectacular school dragster of Jeff Schulz.
This story was originally published on October 4, 2024.
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