Jack Harris' racing career spans
40 years and over the last four decades he's won a lot of drag
races. But his sweetest victory came at the NHRA 50th Anniversary
Nationals in Pomona in July of 2001. It was the first, and possibly
the last time NHRA ran Nostalgia Top Fuel Dragsters as a featured
class. The 16 car show featured the best cars in the country
and Team Harris proved to be the best of the best. What made
this win extra special was the fact the entire "family"
was there and were able to celebrate in the winners circle on
Sunday night.
Jack Harris - Nitro Thunder
- Pomona, July 2001
Moving in for the final
at Pomona, July 2001.
Harris (right) may push the pedals
and pay the bills but when Nitro Thunder wins it's as if the
entire crew was in the seat. They work hard, play hard and celebrate
together. Pomona, 2001.
Speaking of wins, Team Harris
celebrates their 2000 Goodguys VRA Fuel Championships at Pomona....
which turned out to be the very last race Goodguys would ever
have at the hallowed SoCal facility.
In August of 2000, fans saw this
classic final round dual between Harris and Jim Murphy in the
WW2 Racing fueler at the Boise Nights of Fire Nationals in 2000.
Team Nitro Thunder came out on top, defeating the reigning World
Champion.
It may not have been their prettiest
victory, but Team Harris was plenty happy to wade though a tough
16 car field to win the 2002 Goodguys VRA March Meet at Bakersfield.
As the sunsets after the final round, The Sheriff and his Posse
proudly display the perpetual March Meet trophy that they've
now had possession of for two years as they also won the event
in 2001.
Jack Harris and the Top Fuel
Eliminator trophy - a common sight the last three years.
Jack Harris (near lane) and Gerry
Steiner in the lights at Sonoma during the Goodguys VRA Nitro
Nationals on April 21, 2002
Harris drew Gerry Steiner in
round one and came within 8 lousy inches of putting Team U-Boat
in the box. Harris strapped a huge hole-shot on Steiner and Gerry
damn near didn't catch him. Look at the photo then check this
out: Harris 0.477 RT 6.105 @ 227.73 -- Steiner 0.699 RT 5.881
@ 239.10. Margin of victory = 0.002 seconds (approximately 8
inches).
Harris launches hard
at the 2002 Nitro Nationals in Sonoma.
Heating the tires at
the 2001 VRA March Meet.
Harris at 240, beating
Jason Howell in Bakersfield.
Nitro Thunder on its way to a
win over Tim Gibson in the Mastercam fueler at Fallon, NV in
2001.
This five shot series was taken
by Gil Rebelas at the ADRA West Coast Reunion race at Top Gun
Raceway in Fallon, NV. Easter weekend, 2001. He caught Harris
pulling his chute just after the second light at over 230 MPH.
Some spectacular camera work.
Chute blossoms and all
looks well.
A combination of down force from
the chute and hitting a dip in the track plants the rear tires
on Nitro Thunder.
The end result was this wild
ride at over 175 MPH. Being the pro he is, Harris got the car
stopped and it was ready for the next session.
Never lose your sense of patriotism
or humor! The Nitro Thunder in the staging lanes of Sonoma in
2002.
Ron
Lahr photo
Harris and Kent Terry leave the
line together at the 2002 March Meet.
Driving a front engine Top Fuel
car at night is an undescribable thrill. Here Harris leaves the
line at Fallon in 2001.
Harris heat the tires
at Bakersfield at the 2002 March Meet.
Nitro Nationals at Sears
Point (Sonoma) 2002.
Nothing to driving a Top Fuel
dragster - "AIM IT AND STAB IT". Like Jack needs this
reminder on the underside of the Nitro Thunder cowl.
2001 California Hot Rod
Reunion
Calm
before the storm - Bakersfied March Meet, 2002
Off to do battle.
Harris is guided back
to the line at Fallon, NV in 2001.
It's good to be king!
Jack right after his 2002 March Meet win.
Nitro Thunder at home
in its livery. |
