Story By: SARA SLAUGHTER / SCAG RACING – BRAINERD, MN – Rocking a specialty BlueBird Turf paint scheme on their Funny Car, Dave Richards and his team are looking for a solid weekend at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway (BIR) to set the tone for the remainder of their 2024 Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Series season.
“There are only eight races left this year and I’m pumped to start making some moves,” Richards said. “The car is improving each lap, and we are excited to give it 110% and start going some rounds on race day.”
Richards will be looking to improve on his 2023 performance at BIR where he qualified No. 14 and defeated reigning world champion Matt Hagan in the first round before coming up short to three-time world champion Robert Hight in the quarterfinals.
“I raced in Brainerd last year. It was a good weekend. We had a good race taking out Hagan in the first round,” Richards said. “We’ll have a big group of supporters there as almost all of our crew guys live in the area so lots of family and friends will be in attendance with us. Brainerd International Raceway is a really cool place and ‘The Zoo’ is always fun. It’s going to be a great weekend.”
With BIR famous for its “Zoo” campground, the three nitro hot rods of SCAG Racing driven by Richards, Funny Car teammate Daniel Wilkerson and Top Fuel teammate Justin Ashley, as well as the Pro Stock car of Elite Motorsports’ Jeg Coughlin Jr. will feature the animal version of SCAG Power Equipment products. Richards’ Funny Car will highlight BlueBird Turf.
Competition at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway begins with four sessions of qualifying Friday at 4:30 and 6:45 p.m. and Saturday at 12:30 and 3:00 p.m. Eliminations are slated for Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Television coverage of the event will begin with qualifying shows Friday at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday at 1:00 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1 (FS1). Eliminations will air on FOX Broadcasting Network (FOX) Sunday at 3:00 p.m. ET.