Arizona’s Johnny Gray is known as one of drag racing’s most versatile drivers. He is returning to Funny Car class racing in 2011 behind the wheel of this spectacular new Dodge Charger entry.
Fast Forward
The fabled history of Dodge Charger Funny Cars is experiencing a rather serious renaissance. Charger Funny Cars have been in existence since 1968—almost parallel with the creation of the Funny Car class itself.
Words: Bruce Biegler
Click photos to enlarge.
Photos: Bruce Biegler
The choice of the Dodge Charger Funny Car has a very long history and has included some of the most famous names ever in the category.
Fast forward to 2011, and that trend continues and is being exemplified. Following some spectacular season performances during 2010 from the Don Schumacher Racing camp and its team drivers Matt Hagan, Ron Capps and Jack Beckman, it appears the word is spreading.
The inherent advantages—aerodynamics, strength and light-weight—and the availability of the new Dodge Charger composite Funny Car body direct from Mopar® (P/N 5155205) has become a serious hot topic in the class. The result is that a number of new Dodge Charger bodied machines have emerged for the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing season.
While it is true that Hagan, Capps, Beckman and Johnny Gray (who recently returned to Funny Car with DSR) will remain the odds on favorites for championship success this season, NHRA Mopar drag racing fans should watch for and can expect some formidable efforts from a new breed of drag racers.
That includes veterans Gary Densham (California) and Johnny Gray (Arizona) as well as newcomers Brian Thiel (Indiana) and Grant Downing (New Zealand); all of whom will field Dodge Chargers for this year’s campaign.
Expectations are that the entry list could expand even further this coming season.
Bruce Biegler is a veteran motorsports photojournalist and Mopar drag racing specialist.
