Bakersfield,
CA - October 16 - 18, 2009: The 18th edition of the California Hot
Rod Reunion is in the record books and for Brett and Jack Harris
along with their entire crew it will be a weekend to remember.
When they rolled
through the gates on Thursday they were sitting #2 in the points
standings a whopping 59 points behind Rick White. To say they,
or anyone else, was a longshot to overtake White would have been
an understatement. Although the Nitro Thunder top fuel dragster
had won the March Meet and fared well at the other points races,
the Neal & White car had been the most consistent car on
the circuit all season. To think they would stumble here was
almost ludicrous.
However, played
out over three days before a record crowd the unthinkable unfolded
into the unbelievable and by Sunday afternoon Brett Harris was
the new NTF world champion by just nine points. White had in
fact stumbled - badly - and Harris picked up just enough pieces
to take advantage.
This was the
second championship for the younger Harris to go along with one
in 2004 by father Jack.
Photos
and the whole story below.
With the first
qualifying session not scheduled until 2:00 p.m. Friday was pretty
low key in the AM. The crew basically made sure the car was ready
to rumble.
At 2:50 locked and loaded,
Big Red finally headed for the staging lanes.
Both cars left hard and
racked up good early numbers.
For the first 500 feet
they were both side by side on a solid five second pace.
But at half track Harris
experienced a slight problem and shut down.
At about 850 feet White suddenly
got out of the groove and made a move toward the center line.
Unable to reel it back in Rick's
left rear tire crossed the center line and took out the 1000'
timing block. This was an automatic disqualification.
Even though the run was in the
can White got it back in the lane and nailed it again. In this
shot the injectors are about half open and there is a fuel fitting
wrench exiting the chassis on the left side of the car. Nice
shot by Kaplan.
In spite of all his troubles
White still carded a 5.941 at 220 which, had it not been thrown
out, would have been good for the #2 spot for the session.
The track had indeed changed
and Harris was in trouble early... and to add to his tires smoking
the blower burst panel had let go (fatigue was the only post
mortem) and there was very little boost going to the engine.
Everybody loves a pedalfest (except
the drivers) and this deal could have handed the championship
to White but in spite of being there for the taking, Harris recovered
better, had a car left on the other end, and won the slip n'
slide with a 7.000 at 225.79. Chrisman tried but fell short with
a 7.841 at 133.98.
