The "historic" and still most anticipated Big Bucks Bracket Race on the West Coast has to be the Nightfire Nationals at Firebird Raceway in Boise, Idaho.  For 51 years running the Nightfire Nationals draws the "who's who" of the West Coast's Best along with the oh so strong local contingent of what can be claimed as the best group of "local" bracket racers in the West.

On Friday Night Rayce Kidd, who was hot off a win the previous weekend in Woodburn, Oregon (only 400 miles away) took top honors in Super Pro in his Kidd Performance backed dragster.

The Nightfire Nationals is also the King of the Track NHRA Weekend and showcases a points program for the 3 days.  With Kidd winning on Day 1, this was bad news for the rest of the field.

Day 2 brought more hot conditions with temps in the upper 90's and corrected air numbers approaching the adjusted mark of 6,000 ft, the racing action remained as tight as ever with the 1/8th mile configuration.

As story book endings can only be written up, this one played out in real life.  Rayce Kidd and Jason Thomas are only a few years apart and grew up from birth together with their families racing at Firebird Raceway.  Both have a great support system, great families and great talent.  That made for a date in the final round on Sunday Night where they met for the last round of the weekend.  Jason Thomas laid down a .018 dead 0 to best Kidd and also secure the Overall Championship for the weekend.

The Thomas Family is a true family racing operation.  Lisa Thomas, Jason's mom won the No Box race on Sunday as well.  Jason's wife Kali also races in No Box and Troy Thomas aka "The Captain" keeps the cars in tip top shape in order to compete on the highest level every weekend and occasionally steps into the driving seat of their dragster.

 

Lucas Oil Top Gun Full Bodied

Gordon Boven, Boise .011, 5.50 (5.48 dial) 126.08 def. Tim Wallace Jr., Meridian .016, 4.94 (4.95 dial) 141.49