Totaro and Bogacki? Is there a difference?

[Larry Hill]

In August of 2009 in Brainerd, Luke Bogacki entered a 1970 Nova 402 in AA/SA. The Nova at that time was a natural B/SA car allowing it to also run A/SA or C/SA. He made qualifying runs in AA/SA, then was disqualified for entering the car in the wrong class and was not allowed to race.

This week at Reading, PA, Wayne Totaro entered his 2002 Formula Firebird as a Firehawk. A couple of problems I see is that in the Stock Car Classification Guide, there is not a listing for a Firehawk in 2002. The other problem is he ran the car with a fresh air hood as a Formula which is a natural CC/SA car. So the car can also run A/SA or BB/SA, not B/SA. If he wanted to run the car as a Formula, he would have to put the heavier flat hood on, then the car would fit B/SA. He was allowed to compete in B/SA first round.

To me, it looks like there was no difference. One got sent home and the other got to race.

I feel it is up to the competitor to make sure that he is entering the car in the correct class. Most all Stock Eliminator racers knew that the LS1s just got 12 HP. from Mattingly's performance at Columbus. You would think that NHRA Tech Dept. would have been more than aware of this and would have double-checked for correct class.

I don't know if this will change the outcome of the race, but one thing is for certain--he was in the wrong class if he had a Formula Firebird with a fresh air hood.