Very seldom do plans work the way they are laid out, but for Roger Batman and the Friesen
Motorsports Top Alcohol Funny Car racing team this was the case. Roger was the most dominant car
in his class all weekend at the River Cree Resort and Casino Rocky Mountain Nationals in Edmonton,
AB this past weekend. Roger re-set the track's elapsed time and speed records to put Dr. Brian
Friesen's racecar in the number one qualifying spot at 5.615 seconds and 254.23 mph. "The Track
got nice and tight Saturday Night" Car Chief Todd Murray commented. "That helped us re-set the
track record".
All eight of the cars that would race on Sunday were from Canada, ranging from Ontario, Manitoba
and Alberta, with the only car not to make the show from Alaska. Roger and crew held the
always-important lane choice going into Sunday's eliminations, where he would face off against
fellow Albertan Jordan Pawlick. Roger was first off the line and trailered the Calmar, AB resident
5.663/ 253.37 to a much slower 6.129/ 230.06. "Today is going to be good", Roger commented.
"Based on how we just ran; I can just feel it!"
In the semifinals Roger would face John Evanchuk and held the choice of lanes. Roger handily took
care of the hometown boy by running a 5.697/ 250.97 to the slower 8.112/ 109.28 for the Edmonton
racer. "We are running like a bracket car" Car Owner Dr. Brian Friesen stated referring to the fact
that the car ran 5.6 second time zone in qualifying and in Sunday's eliminations. For the finals,
Roger and crew would face off against Northwest Division heavy hitter Ken Webster of Red Deer, AB.
Once again Roger had his choice of lanes.
In the Battle of Alberta, Bateman was slightly better off of the line and held on to hand Webster a
5.669/252.80 to 5.909/ 233.92 defeat in front of a packed crowd in Edmonton. "Once they saw the
win they went loud", Murray exclaimed referring to the fact that Roger is from Alberta as well.
The team will pack up and head out of town with an Ironman, (the name of the trophy given to the
winner of an International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) event).
