Brian Thiel is set to make his 2010 Nitro Funny Car debut this weekend at the NHRA Northwest Nationals in Seattle, WA, July 9-11.  The CASE IH sponsored entry is owned and piloted by Brian Thiel, with proven crew chief Johnny West calling the shots on the newly assembled nitro machine.

Brian Thiel is set to make his 2010 Nitro Funny Car debut this weekend at the NHRA Northwest Nationals in Seattle, WA, July 9-11.  The CASE IH sponsored entry is owned and piloted by Brian Thiel, with proven crew chief Johnny West calling the shots on the newly assembled nitro machine.
 
Thiel, a rice farmer from Pleasant Grove, CA, obtained his nitro funny car license in 2009 and entered four national events last season with team owner Paul Smith. The farmer of more than 4,000 acres most recently campaigned his Top Alcohol Funny Car in the NHRA Lucas Oil Series, as well as a Nitro Nostalgia Funny Car in the NHRA Heritage Series.
 
“It has been a challenging road getting our own pro operation together to debut this weekend, but we are ready, and Johnny West is the man” said Brian Thiel. “Sonoma is a hometown race for us, and this weekend should set us up for that."
 
After starting the 2010 season in the TAFC class, Thiel plans to finish the season in the nitro category. Thiel expects to attend additional national events this season including Sonoma, CA, the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, IN, with the possibility of the Las Vegas Nationals and Auto Club Finals in Pomona, CA.