NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Funny Car driver Chris King has been building his nitro program with an attention to detail that would make Bill Bader Jr., second-generation owner of Summit Motorsports Park, proud. 

Known as “America’s Racetrack,” the host facility for this weekend’s Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals presents one of the most professional and family-friendly motorsports events in the country, and King, along with his Howards Cams/Competition Products Dodge Charger Funny Car team, is looking forward to racing there for the first time. 
 
“I am excited to get back on track and race at Summit Motorsports Park for the first time,” said King, who started his season at the Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by Peak Performance. “The Baders do an amazing job with their event, and it is one of the most popular races on the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series for the fans and the teams. They have a rich history, great track, and if you win, you get a one-of-a-kind ice cream scoop. ‘How cool is that?’ ”
 
King and his Bob Peck-tuned Funny Car will have their hands full with the rest of the Funny Car competition. The plan is to take advantage of all four qualifying runs to gather additional data and build off their positive momentum from Chicago. As a new team, they are still putting organizational pieces together and building a reserve of parts to make sure when they go rounds that are keeping a high level of competitiveness.
 
“The organizational aspects are some of the hardest things for a small-budget, part-time team,” said King. “We are training guys all the time, and we have to keep our focus on the big picture and also every little detail. All teams have to do that, but they have a lot more people. Bob is doing a good job, and I try and be as involved as possible, but I am also talking with sponsors, media, and fans.”
 
The team has heard the best part about racing at the Summit Racing Equipment Nationals is the fan experience. This will be a new event for King and the Howards Cams/Competition Products Funny Car team, but they have heard about how packed the track will be over the three-day event. The track will host a variety of special events, including an ice cream eating contest for drivers and massive fireworks display on Friday night after qualifying.
 
“You want every event to have a personality, and I can’t wait to experience Norwalk,” said King. “I know I sound like a fan, but as a professional driver, you want to go to events that give the fans and sponsors a little extra. We are serious about our racing, but we also want to be part of a great show. I am looking to come off the trailer and make good clean runs that we can build on to race on Sunday.”

When the race does get started, King will face some of the toughest competition the sport has seen in recent memory. The class will also have Hall of Fame driver John Force on their minds as he recovers from a serious accident at the PlayNHRA Virginia Nationals. The legendary driver is still recovering from a serious on-track incident.
 
“Everyone is keeping John Force and his family in our prayers,” said King. “He is one of the reasons I wanted to race Funny Car. I hope he continues to improve and gets back out here if that is what he wants to do. The guy doesn’t have anything to prove. He has every record known to man. I just want him to get better and see that John Force smile at the track again.”
 
The Howard Cams/Competition Products team that King has assembled has been working together since 2021 when King raced in three NHRA national events, qualifying for the NHRA Mile-High Nationals in Denver, the Menards NHRA Nationals in Topeka, and the NHRA Midwest Nationals in St. Louis. Last year, King entered the Route 66 NHRA Nationals, the NHRA Mile-High Nationals in Denver, the Topeka nationals, the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd, and the NHRA Midwest Nationals in St. Louis. This season, King is looking forward to competing in five or six national events.