Randy Meyer isn't giving up on the injected nitro Funny Car.

Though it's not a legal combination for the NHRA's Top Alcohol Funny Car division yet, the injected nitro racing icon is building a program in hopes it will be. 

Julie Nataas piloted Meyer's Funny Car at the recently completed Funny car Chaos Classic event at the Texas Motorplex. She could not get the car much further than the starting line without the car going up in smoke. 

Still, Meyer is determined to make it all work. 
 
"We're not at all discouraged," Meyer said. "I knew it would be a challenge. I didn't think it would be quite as big of a challenge as it turned out to be to get the car off the starting line. It had nothing to do with the racetrack – it was plenty good. We didn't have enough pieces to do what we needed to do, so we tried to make the best of what we had. We'll be better prepared now that we know the areas we need to work on. We're not giving up. We're just getting started." 
 
By today's Top Alcohol Funny Car standards, the car with its unique combination was well received by the race fans at the drag strip outside Dallas, Texas. 

Injected nitro-burning Funny Cars are not new to drag racing but, since 1998, have not competed with the major race series. 
 
"We were hoping for a better performance and to put on a better show for the fans," Meyer said. "It was amazing how many people came by to check out the car and were intrigued by it. That was really great." 
 
Meyer, who's competed in AHRA Pro Comp, IHRA Top Fuel, and NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster over the course of his 40-plus-year racing career, plans to bring the Funny Car back out for testing once there's a break in the team's busy NHRA Lucas Oil Series schedule. He also still plans to run the two Nitro Chaos races later this year.  
 
"We're going to do the Nitro Chaos race at Mo-Kan Dragway (July 15-16); we just don't know if we're going to take the Funny Car or the dragster," Meyer said. "We plan on being there regardless just because it's close to home, and we want to continue to support those races. It's a good deal for these smaller venues, and as racers, you get treated really nice with respect. That's what I liked about it." 
 
Meyer plans for more testing. 
 
"We're going to regroup and make some new parts and change stuff on the chassis," Meyer said. "I want to thank all the people and fans who came out to support us. We'll be back, and hopefully, we'll be better prepared next time out. Don't give up on us yet." 

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