Randy Meyer debuted his nitro-injected Funny Car at last year’s Funny Car Chaos Classic with driver Julie Nataas. Although Randy wasn’t able to make a full pass down the drag strip, their spirits stayed optimistic. After making changes to the centrifugal clutch, while using one of his championship-winning Top Alcohol Dragster motors, the team made tremendous progress and is ready to compete at the 2023 Funny Car Chaos Classic this weekend.
“We’re doing this for multiple reasons,” Randy said. “I wanted a new challenge and we’re looking to diversify our operation and help drivers that want to eventually move up to fuel Funny Car but can’t get experience anywhere else. The Funny Car Chaos deal is becoming more popular here in the Midwest, so it’s an opportunity for us to go race close to home, have some fun, and take on a new challenge.”
The car is a 2016 Murf McKinney-built chassis formerly campaigned by Brian Hough in NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car. It sustained damage in a minor crash, but racer and chassis builder Jonnie Lindberg fixed it up before Meyer bought it for the A/Fuel project. The car then underwent a series of changes in Meyer’s shop to prepare it for an injected nitro engine. Julie Nataas will be back behind the wheel of the 4,000 horsepower front-engine machine with support from Right Trailers and Lucas Oil.
“This race marks a year from our funny car debut when we didn’t make it down the track once. We were all disappointed, but that’s how it is with new projects,” said Julie. “This time we are coming in with a couple laps under our belt and I have my funny car license. I’m excited to be back, get more experience in the funny car and to see what kind of numbers with can run with the car. No matter what happens Funny Car Chaos is always a good time!”
The Funny Car Chaos Classic is billed as the “biggest Funny Car race in the world,” with 50-plus cars entered. The Funny Car Chaos Classic kicks off Friday with 2 qualifying passes, and a third session will be held on Saturday before eliminations under the lights at Texas Motorplex. Fans can watch live coverage of both days on FloRacing.