Nitro
Thunder Dominates Sacramento Set
Low ET (5.95) & Top Speed (241)
Jack
Harris and the Utah Posse in the Winners Circle -- Again
Good weather
and respectable performances from the All American Fuel Dragsters
kept the fans on their feet with one fantastic show! In spite
of a "very tricky race track", the Nitro Thunder team
didn't lose a step after their VRA win in Sonoma. They rolled
into Sacramento and immediately started a new "Wanted"
list. Out of the box Harris ran low ET of the entire meet (5.95)
which obviously netted the #1 qualifying spot. It was all down
hill from there as a string of 6.0s mowed down the field in eliminations.
In fact, there was nobody within 2 tenths of Harris in any given
race. A dominate performance, and relatively easy day at the
office for The Sheriff.
Photos
by Bryan Ellis and Jason Ellis
Final Top Fuel
Qualifying
1. Jack Harris 5.956 @ 231.15
2. Bill Dunlap 6.067 @ 234.17
3. Denver Schutz 6.081 @ 219.28
4. Brendan Murry @ 6.138 @ 227.28
5. Jeff Diehl 6.140 @ 206.88
6. Lee Jennings 6.169 @ 224.82
7. Howard Haight 6.229 @ 207.00
8. Glenn Hutchison 6.283 @ 223.27 |
Jack
Harris heats the tires in preparation for the final with Lee
Jennings.
 Jack gets "animated"
backup directions.
Despite a slight
starting line advantage by Jennings, Harris reeled him in early
and marched on to the win with a 6.05 @ 240 to Lee's 6.44 @ 218.
Jack Harris'
"Nitro Thunder" in the right lane on the tower side
puts away Lee Jennings in the "California Trucker"
in the final round with a 6.05 @ 240 mph. Jennings with a 6.44
with the chute out slows after the lights as "The Sheriff"
goes for a very late and number two chute while catching some
air ... on the brakes!
Backing up to
Friday, Harris came out of the box with a stunning (for the conditions)
5.95 at 231 (the only five second run of the weekend). He set
the bar and no one else could jump over it. Prior to the run,
the Utah Posse were doing leg poses.
5.95
@ 231 = # 1
Returning Friday night for the
second qualifying session, Harris "went for it" and
after launching hard, the car completely over powered the tricky
track. Once the tires smoked, he shut it off. With a 5.95 in
the bank there was no sense in hurting parts for nothing.
Race day - Harris heats the tires
for his first round match up with Jeff Diehl.
Diehl was arrested
by The Sheriff when Harris nailed him with a 6.00 at 241 (top
speed of the meet). Jeff clicked off his losing effort with a
6.24 at 185.
After their easy 6.00 at just
219 win over a tire smoking Howard Haight in round two, the Nitro
Thunder car comes back to the pits for maintenance.
Harris is focused as he backs
up from his burnout in preparation for the final.
What may be a
familiar scene this year is the Utah Posse with the Big # 1 in
the air. Here they head down in "Tweety" to pick up
Jack after the final.
The traditional "Nitro Thunder"
end-of-the-track celebration. They then go back to the tower
for the more "formal" photo ops and the trophy (not
photos of the all important CHECK!)
In the first
qualifying session, Jack Harris pulled a 5.95 @ 231.15 out of
the hat against Howard Haight's 6.225 @ 207 mph and keeps a hold
of "The Badge" that was up for grabs via the challenge
from Butch Blair's "Fugowie" team!
Who will
go for The Sheriff's badge at Pomona? Tune in next month!
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