Local drag racer Jim Godec of Carson City and his 1933 Willys "Flashback" traveled to Sacramento Raceway to compete in the WCTA Fremont Reunion Nostalgia Drags and NHRA National Dragster Challenge in the Nostalgia Eliminator II class this past weekend and walked away with the class win.
Nostalgia Eliminator combines center steer altereds, front engine dragsters, competition coupes and gassers into a 8.60 second index, heads up class. Other classes competing were Top Fuel Nitro dragsters, Junior Fuel dragers, Hot Rod, Street Rod and AA Fuel classes.
Godec qualified third in the 16-car field at 158 miles an hour with an 8.62 second time in the quarter mile. He came up against the No. 1 qualifier in the semifinal round and with the advantage of a hole shot, moved onto the final round to face the No. 2 qualifier.
The final was won by Godec again with the adavantage of the better reaction time as he ran an 8.68 in the final round to win the event and also take home an NHRA National Dragster Challenge "Wally" trophy.
Members of Godec's crew were Dave Sharp, Dan and John Balzer and Lance Godec. "Without the help and support of my pit crew, it would not have been possible," Jim said.
Also competing in the Hot Rod class was Jim's son, Lance, who had his hands full in his class as he was edged out by the eventual class winner in the second round of competition.
The next event on the schedule is the Goodguys seventh annual Pomona Nitro Nationals on June 25 and 26. Last year Jim Godec won the B Gas Category while fellow local drag race Dean Bliss won the C Gas category.