Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The first Nostalgia Funny Car session of the Bakersfield March Meet delivered one of the most emotional moments of the weekend.
Driver Bobby Plate powered the Problem Child entry to the top of the field with a 5.485-second pass, setting the early benchmark in Nostalgia Funny Car competition at Famoso Dragstrip.
The run carried added meaning for Plate and his team. It marked the first full pass for the car since a violent crash at the California Hot Rod Reunion last season.
Plate credited the crew for the offseason rebuild that brought the car back to competitive form — and faster than expected.
“I've got goosebumps right now,” Plate said. “After coming back, that was the first full pass after crashing at the reunion.”
The pass wasn’t entirely perfect. Plate later revealed the engine suffered minor piston damage during the run, which likely held the car back from an even stronger mph number.
“But it's just when it's right,” Plate said. “It nipped two pistons on that run, so the mile per hour's down a bit, but boy, it was just a smooth run.”
Even with the minor issue, the 5.48 immediately reset expectations for the Nostalgia Funny Car field at one of drag racing’s most historic events.
For more drag racing news and video coverage, visit
👉 competitionplus.com
#DragRacing #FunnyCar #NostalgiaFunnyCar #MarchMeet #Bakersfield #FamosoDragstrip #Nitro #CompetitionPlusTV #DragRacingHistory #PEAKSquad
The first Nostalgia Funny Car session of the Bakersfield March Meet delivered one of the most emotional moments of the weekend.
Driver Bobby Plate powered the Problem Child entry to the top of the field with a 5.485-second pass, setting the early benchmark in Nostalgia Funny Car competition at Famoso Dragstrip.
The run carried added meaning for Plate and his team. It marked the first full pass for the car since a violent crash at the California Hot Rod Reunion last season.
Plate credited the crew for the offseason rebuild that brought the car back to competitive form — and faster than expected.
“I've got goosebumps right now,” Plate said. “After coming back, that was the first full pass after crashing at the reunion.”
The pass wasn’t entirely perfect. Plate later revealed the engine suffered minor piston damage during the run, which likely held the car back from an even stronger mph number.
“But it's just when it's right,” Plate said. “It nipped two pistons on that run, so the mile per hour's down a bit, but boy, it was just a smooth run.”
Even with the minor issue, the 5.48 immediately reset expectations for the Nostalgia Funny Car field at one of drag racing’s most historic events.
For more drag racing news and video coverage, visit
👉 competitionplus.com
#DragRacing #FunnyCar #NostalgiaFunnyCar #MarchMeet #Bakersfield #FamosoDragstrip #Nitro #CompetitionPlusTV #DragRacingHistory #PEAKSquad
