Funkhouser, Bunch represent Ridge racing
Two Paradise residents in their mid twenties took to the quarter mile dirt oval at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds Friday April 4 to give it their all in sprint cars on the first points race of the year.
Justin Funkhouser took third place, with 47 points overall in his, wingless sprint class. But John Bunch didn’t place in the competitive 410 class.
Both teams rely heavily on sponsorship to propel their expensive racecars across the finish line. Each team runs a low budget team and has family and friends volunteering to help and donating parts.
The 5f car Funkhouser piloted Friday night was powered by a borrowed 360 cubic inch V8 engine running on alcohol.
John Beck is a machinist at Pro Machine in Chico. He makes engines for some of the racecars and said Funkhouser is one of the best.
“He’s one of the best drivers out here,” he said. “He just doesn’t have the money.”
Beck speculated the engine in Funkhouser’s car was producing 350 horsepower in a class with much more
But it takes a great driver to win with Mark Forner racer and Funkhouser crewman said.
“Justin is an upcoming star,” he said. “He’s got the nerve for it. He’ll step up to the 410s and be phenomenal.”
Mike Funkhouser, Justin’s uncle, has been around racing for more than 45 years.
He helped build the Justin’s car. He said tuning a car is essential to running fast times.
“You could be a hero one night and a zero the next.”
Racing is something a driver almost has to be born into, Mike said.
“Justin is third generation,” he said adding that if his grandchild is a boy, he’ll be the fourth.
Justin’s car is a hot setup for the wingless sprints and features front and rear breaks with breaking on the left rear wheel. He also runs a coil-over front suspension and a torsion bar rear, which is new to this year.
Last year, Justin raced a four corner coil-over suspension, a hot asphalt setup, Mike said.
John Bunch raced his winged sprint car in the 410 cubic inch class. Though he is running a smaller, 360 engine in the class to build experience before he hops in the driver’s seat of the incredibly powerful 410 cars.
“Once he runs well with this, we’ll bump him up to 410,” his step mom Patty said.
Though Bunch didn’t place in the race, it was to be expected with his lack of experience and underpowered motor, his crew said.
410 cubic inch alcohol motors can make nearly 900 horsepower, while his 360 makes a max of 650 hp, John said.
His car is also at least 200 pounds heavier than the lighter, more expensive race cars that use aluminum engine blocks and titanium bolts.
Friday night many cars wrecked, blew tires out and exploded engines.
A lot of racers who jump from cart racing to 410 cars wreck and because of that, the team runs low budget cars with lots of safety equipment, Patty said.
“We’ll let him crash this used one before he crashes a new one,” she said.
Being a parent can be nerve racking, watching cars flip over and roll violently on the course.
“I love it but his mother goes bananas.”
Justin and John know each other and help one another out, Patty said.
“Justin has been wonderful with helping set up the car for the track,” she said.
Bill Bunch, John’s dad and car owner said the car was not up to par with the bigger teams.
“We’re underpowered,” he said. “But, if he does well with this, he’ll run well with a 410.”
Brad Bumgarner, Bunch’s crew chief, has been around racing his whole life and behind the wheel of his car for six years.
He said the sport is expensive.
“It costs so much money and you don’t make anything,” he said. “It’s just for fun.”
Having a 360 in a 410 class is a huge handicap, Bumgarner said.
“It’s like bringing a knife to a gun fight.”
Top notch cars weigh less than 1,400 pounds.
“And this thing there’s no telling how much it weighs.”
Top notch cars have 850 to 875 hp.
“This thing’s lucky if it’s got 600.”
John has a four month old son, who’ll one day inherit racing, Patty said.
“We’re already scoping out what box stock to get him when he’s five.”
Two Paradise residents in their mid twenties took to the quarter mile dirt oval at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds Friday April 4 to give it their all in sprint cars on the first points race of the year.
Justin Funkhouser took third place, with 47 points overall in his, wingless sprint class. But John Bunch didn’t place in the competitive 410 class.
Both teams rely heavily on sponsorship to propel their expensive racecars across the finish line. Each team runs a low budget team and has family and friends volunteering to help and donating parts.
The 5f car Funkhouser piloted Friday night was powered by a borrowed 360 cubic inch V8 engine running on alcohol.
John Beck is a machinist at Pro Machine in Chico. He makes engines for some of the racecars and said Funkhouser is one of the best.
“He’s one of the best drivers out here,” he said. “He just doesn’t have the money.”
Beck speculated the engine in Funkhouser’s car was producing 350 horsepower in a class with much more
But it takes a great driver to win with Mark Forner racer and Funkhouser crewman said.
“Justin is an upcoming star,” he said. “He’s got the nerve for it. He’ll step up to the 410s and be phenomenal.”
Mike Funkhouser, Justin’s uncle, has been around racing for more than 45 years.
He helped build the Justin’s car. He said tuning a car is essential to running fast times.
“You could be a hero one night and a zero the next.”
Racing is something a driver almost has to be born into, Mike said.
“Justin is third generation,” he said adding that if his grandchild is a boy, he’ll be the fourth.
Justin’s car is a hot setup for the wingless sprints and features front and rear breaks with breaking on the left rear wheel. He also runs a coil-over front suspension and a torsion bar rear, which is new to this year.
Last year, Justin raced a four corner coil-over suspension, a hot asphalt setup, Mike said.
John Bunch raced his winged sprint car in the 410 cubic inch class. Though he is running a smaller, 360 engine in the class to build experience before he hops in the driver’s seat of the incredibly powerful 410 cars.
“Once he runs well with this, we’ll bump him up to 410,” his step mom Patty said.
Though Bunch didn’t place in the race, it was to be expected with his lack of experience and underpowered motor, his crew said.
410 cubic inch alcohol motors can make nearly 900 horsepower, while his 360 makes a max of 650 hp, John said.
His car is also at least 200 pounds heavier than the lighter, more expensive race cars that use aluminum engine blocks and titanium bolts.
Friday night many cars wrecked, blew tires out and exploded engines.
A lot of racers who jump from cart racing to 410 cars wreck and because of that, the team runs low budget cars with lots of safety equipment, Patty said.
“We’ll let him crash this used one before he crashes a new one,” she said.
Being a parent can be nerve racking, watching cars flip over and roll violently on the course.
“I love it but his mother goes bananas.”
Justin and John know each other and help one another out, Patty said.
“Justin has been wonderful with helping set up the car for the track,” she said.
Bill Bunch, John’s dad and car owner said the car was not up to par with the bigger teams.
“We’re underpowered,” he said. “But, if he does well with this, he’ll run well with a 410.”
Brad Bumgarner, Bunch’s crew chief, has been around racing his whole life and behind the wheel of his car for six years.
He said the sport is expensive.
“It costs so much money and you don’t make anything,” he said. “It’s just for fun.”
Having a 360 in a 410 class is a huge handicap, Bumgarner said.
“It’s like bringing a knife to a gun fight.”
Top notch cars weigh less than 1,400 pounds.
“And this thing there’s no telling how much it weighs.”
Top notch cars have 850 to 875 hp.
“This thing’s lucky if it’s got 600.”
John has a four month old son, who’ll one day inherit racing, Patty said.
“We’re already scoping out what box stock to get him when he’s five.”