Funny Car Cup

The Nitro Funny Cars are back! This season, the ever-popular fire breathing monsters return to the track for four rounds of nitro competition at Santa Pod Raceway. The 2025 Funny Car Cup promises fierce battles, with Kevin Kent of Westten Motorsports, Steve Ashdown in The Undertaker, and John Hale piloting One Bad Texan. Dale Leeks takes the wheel of the former Gladiator - now racing under The BEast from the East - and you can bet there will be plenty more surprises along the way!

2025 Events:

• Festival of Power- 18th - 20th April 2025
• FIA Main Event - 23rd - 26th May 2025
• Bug Jam – 25th – 27th July 2025
• FIA European Finals - 4th - 7th September 2025

2025 Points:

2024 Champion - Kevin Kent
2023 Champion - Kevin Kent
2022 Champion - Steve Ashdown
2019 Champion - Kevin Chapman

Funny Cars originated in 1960s America when venturesome drag racers began merging nitro-burning dragster powertrains with passenger-car bodies and created an instant sensation. Originally dubbed Factory Experimentals, their altered wheelbases and protruding engine parts made them look ‘kinda funny’, commentators said, and the description stuck. The emphasis lies firmly on ‘funny peculiar’, not ‘funny ha-ha’.

Modern Funny Cars still share the same engines as Top Fuel Dragsters, nitromethane-fuelled powerplants packing an 8,000-horsepower punch. Funny Car bodies sit on tube framed chassis and hinge at the back to allow access to the engine and drivers seat, their composite-material bodies might nowadays bear just a slim resemblance to the production cars on which they are modelled, but production-car bodies are not designed to hit 300mph in five seconds flat from a standing start. Channelling such groundshaking force through a short wheelbase makes a Funny famously hard to handle – the racetrack may be straight but the cars often have other ideas.

Taking on the 2025 Funny Car Cup!

Meet Dale Leeks, the latest powerhouse contender in the Funny Car Cup! Known for his fearless approach on the track and relentless drive to push the limits on his outrageous Funny Bike, Leeks is set to make waves in the 2025 season as he takes the wheel of the newly rebranded Hawk Racing Funny Car—formerly the Gladiator. With a fresh setup, refined strategy, and a hunger for victory, Dale Leeks and Mark Hawkins is ready to go all-in.

A New Era with Hawk Racing

The 2025 season marks an exciting new chapter for Leeks, as he steps into a car with a legacy but brings his own vision and style. The transformation of the Gladiator into The Beast from The East isn’t just a name change—it’s a full-scale commitment to top-tier performance. Expect aggressive runs, razor-sharp reaction times, and a team determined to make an impact as car owner and tuner Mark Hawkins makes the post of the new era.

Performance Upgrades and Innovations

Winning in Funny Car racing requires both raw horsepower and technical finesse, and Leeks’ team has left no stone unturned. The car has undergone a series of enhancements, including a new Psi 14/71 supercharger, set back manifold and new carbon injector hat, 8 John force Racing stage 5 cylinder heads, new Bryant crankshafts, bullet camshaft’s with an upgraded firing order, new msd magnetos, chassis modifications to the roll cage, carbon fibre modifications to the bodywork and an inventory of spares that will see him through the toughest of seasons.

Unwavering Determination and Preparation

Racing at the highest level means being prepared for anything, and Leeks understands the demands of nitro-powered competition. With a well-stocked arsenal of spare parts and a dedicated crew behind him, Hawk Racing is ready to tackle the challenges of the season head-on. From fine-tuning the setup to rapid turnarounds between runs, the team is fully committed to staying competitive throughout 2025.

Backing from Dedicated Sponsors

Success in drag racing is a team effort, and Dale Leeks is backed by a strong network of supporters. His sponsors Proxl Paint specialist,baumgatner racecars, king racing, pro race engineering, The Leeks landscapes Group and Rod Lock Agricultural, play a crucial role in his 2025 campaign, ensuring the team has the resources to compete at the highest level. Their belief in Leeks’ talent and Hawk Racing’s potential fuels the drive for victory.

Gunning for the Funny Car Cup

As the 2025 season kicks off, all eyes will be on Dale Leeks as he charges towards Funny Car glory as he crosses over with his Nostalgia Funny Car licence to the full AA/FC version. With a powerful machine, a dialed-in crew, and the determination to fight for every round win, Hawk Racing is ready to make its mark. Expect thrilling runs, fierce competition, and a relentless pursuit of success from one of the most exciting drivers on the strip.

Get ready for an electrifying season—Dale Leeks and Hawk Racing are coming for the 2025 Funny Car Cup.