SECOND-GEN TF RACER MIKE BUCHER TO MAKE TOP FUEL DEBUT AT GATORS

by Tracy Renck    Fri, 2021-03-12 17:00

Mike Bucher has achieved a lifetime drag racing goal.

Bucher obtained his Top Fuel license Wednesday and will compete in the season-opening 52nd annual AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville (Fla.) Raceway March 12-14.

“I want to make it clear that God did this, and He gets the glory, the thanks, the credit, above and beyond anyone else,” said Bucher, 58. “I believe he’s helping me. I asked him to, and I feel his presence. I made five passes, and we had car struggles the first two runs because it was the beginning of the year and two passes were good. The third one went well, 4.03 (seconds) at 276 (mph). The next one I had to pedal it (at West Palm Beach), the car put the front wheels up and went toward the centerline. The last run it took a 4.30 to get my license, and I ran a 4.30.

“I want to give a huge thank you to Terry Totten and his two crew guys Dave and Scott. Terry went through so much. He had a trailer breakdown and he drove 30 hours and we had first race glitches to work through. They were tired, short-handed and I can’t thank Terry Totten enough for being willing to do this and take a risk with me doing this.”

Chip Lofton’s VitaCshot.com will be Bucher’s primary sponsor for the 2021 season.

“Hope Over Heroin will still be on the car and there will be other sponsors involved as well,” Bucher said. “This is about thanking my sponsors, Chip Lofton, VitaCShot.com, Bill Stuart, the Glosser at Cleantool.com, Mike Ashley Realty Warehouse, Gene Lampshire TFC trucking, Dave Nelson, Nelson Trucking, Tom Scheiman Sweeties Candy, Becky Elias Mufflers for less, Brian Corradi Master Pizza, Lucas Oil, Josh Hart Burnyzz speedshop. Calvary Chapel Cleveland food and hospitality Bob Wynne, and Jim Surace more than anything. There a lot of people involved, and I want to see them all blessed. I’m grateful. I’m humbled. I’m the last person who deserves to do this and it is a privilege that God is letting me do. Good things are ahead. This year I probably will just get my feet wet and run three races total, but we are planning bigger things for 2022.”

Bucher promotes and supports the Hope Over Heroin faith-based ministry believing in the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to transform lives. Bucher has been a pastor at the Calvary Chapel of Cleveland (Ohio) for 28 years.

Bucher said he’s possibly going to compete at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio, June 24-27. At that event, he is hoping to run a tribute paint scheme to his father, Jim Bucher. 

Jim was a popular Top Fuel driver who won the 1975 NHRA Summer Nationals before becoming sick and eventually passing away in 1977 at the age of 37. Bucher finished fourth in the 1975 points standings behind champion Don Garlits, Gary Beck and Marvin Graham.

“My dad died when I was 15 so I have no idea what he would had said (about me racing Top Fuel),” Mike said. “It has been so long. He wasn’t one who expressed emotion a lot. He told other people he was proud of me, but he never told me. A lot of friends who have found me since I have been racing, they are the ones who have come up and told me what he would think, so I just have to believe them.

“Ultimately, my Earthly dad I’m thankful for, but it is my Heavenly dad who I’m here representing even more so because he has opened the door and he’s doing this, and I think it is just to point people to him. He’s the one who is making this happen for me. He’s doing this not me. I give 100 percent of the credit. The last few years the car said for God’s glory I’m going to change it. It is going to say God is good all the time and all the time God is good.” 
 
Receiving a Top Fuel license is a dream come true for Mike.

“I’ve wanted to have a Top Fuel license since I was 18,” Mike said. “I have waited 40 years. “A-Fuel is already scary fast. People don’t respect A-Fuel enough. They are running as fast as Top Fuel was in the 1990s. Top Fuel is faster, but the first 10 runs in A-Fuel scared me more because I had no experience. I have 65 runs in A-Fuel. It is identical to driving an A-Fuel car it is just faster. 

“The most intimidating thing was the warm-up. It is like sitting in a car with this huge monster six inches from your neck ready to bite your head off. The Lord told me to drive it like the A-Fuel car, it will feel the same and it did. The only difference is when it drops a cylinder it definitely pushes the car to that side. That’s the one thing A-Fuel never did.”  

While competing in only 14 career NHRA events since his rookie year three years ago, Bucher won the 2020 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series North Central Region Standings with 235 points while driving Robin Samsel’s dragster.

In 2020, Bucher, while driving for Samsel Racing, competed in the regional event in Columbus, Ohio, and lost in the finals to eventual world champion Megan Meyer. He then advanced to the semifinals in regional races in Indianapolis and Bowling Green, Ky., and then the last weekend of September he won the race at World Wide Technology Raceway in St. Louis.

The final round in St. Louis, Bucher defeated Jared Dreher, which was Bucher’s inaugural race win. Bucher’s first final-round appearance came in March of 2019 when he lost to Meyer at the Gatornationals.

 

 

 
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