Jack "The Sheriff" Harris and his Utah Posse had won the last two March Meets and came to town wanting a third. With his new car still in the jig at Neil & Parks, Harris had to bring last years piece that was repaired over the winter due to a huge wheel stand at the CHRR. The team (and most everybody else) expected them to pick up where they left off - running 5.7s. Well, drag racing can be both fickle and frustrating and for Team Harris this weekend was both.

No one will disagree that the best race of the day was the first round match up between Jack Harris and Jim Murphy. Both cars had struggled in qualifying - neither getting in until the last session. Jack's 5.96 was good for the # 3 spot while Jim's 6.18 was only good for the 11 hole. So on paper, Harris looked to be the favorite but races are never run on paper. The race was a great one, the quickest side by side race in NTF history. To Jack's dismay, he was on the losing end. His 5.93 @ 237 would be good enough to win most drag races but Murphy pulled a rabbit out of the hat and ran an incredible 5.80 @ 256 (fastest speed ever). It's no embarrassment to lose to numbers like those, but Harris and company don't like to lose under any circumstance.

Harris does his burnout prior to his battle with Murphy.

Brett Harris backs his dad up after the burnout, making sure the car is in its "groove".

Prior to staging the tires are wiped clean and the data computer is turned on.

Both cars move into the staging beams.

Murphy got a slight lead on the lights and Harris gave chase.

The Nitro Thunder car left very hard, yanking the front wheels. All was fine at this point.

Try as he did, Harris could not stay with the 6.80 pace of Murphy. You can bet these two will meet again as this young season gets rolling and Harris will get even - maybe more.

After a strong burnout and good leave, the first qualifying session on Friday resulted in a tire spinning aborted run and a long coast to the top end turn out road.

Saturday offered two qualifying sessions. In the morning round, Harris' engine sounded really stout on the burnout.

Jack Harris and Bill Alexander back up together.

Both cars move into the staging beams.

On the green, Big Red left like a rocket.

Unfortunately the tune-up was more than the track could handle. Harris drove it until it hopelessly spun the tires and got out of the groove. The result - a 7.88 at just 113 MPH. This would not get them into the 16 car show. They had one chance left.

The third and last session of qualifying on Saturday afternoon was do or die for Harris. His burnout was perfect and the car, as usual, sounded very strong.

Harris left hard again only this time the car went further down track before it started to spin the tires - wanting to move to the left.

Jack was able to reel the car in and run a nice 5.96 @ 243 which was good for the # 3 qualifying spot and top speed of the event to that point. They had dodged a bullet and the crew was happy.

Here's some candid shots of what went on "in the trenches" - the hard work that makes everything happen. Here are a few pit shots taken over the weekend of Brett Harris, Jason Mott, Steve Merrill, Bob Eames, Rayce Muchmore, Randy Muchmore, Billy "The Kid" Robins, Steve Watson, Keith Adams and of course, Jack Harris at work in the pits. Most will agree they are the best equipt, maintained and organized team going. They run hard and don't use up a ton of parts. AND, they have never missed a round of racing due to breakage.
Nitro Thunder Crew

Once in a while they do get a chance to rest.

When Nitro Thunder does a "warm-up" in the pits only the very brave stay within 50 yards without a gas mask. Harris warms the car "on a full load" and the nitro fumes can be cut with at knife!

The work doesn't stop at sunset. The Posse often works into the night making sure the car is ready to go the following day. A common sight is an arm load of pizzas rolling in about 6 PM.

The well equipt "War Wagon" is where all the "clean work" is done like prepping spare pistons and rods.

The new Alan Johnson cylinder heads are performing as promised.

"The Office"

All dressed up and no place to go. After their first round loss on Sunday, the "Lady In Red" was hoping to get back in on the break rule but this year everybody made the call for round two.

Camp Harris

"The Skull" came about when the Rayce Munchmore's dad joined the team. He builds Banshee 4 wheelers and it had something to do with that. Jack liked it so it became the team mascot. Just one more thing to have fun with.

"Well, the Tonto deal started when me & Doc were sittin on the porch having a cold one and Nitro John & Shoe kidnapped miss Rhonda on thier way to match race the Sheriff in Mission, Canada. Miss Rhonda got some help from her injun friends up north and Blanchard got the short end of the stick there. After he and Shoemacher parted he got a new driver, Martin Schremp? Anyway some body had to replace Shoe in the story so Martin became Tonto. Me, the Sheriff & Billy The Kid have a lot of fun with them guys."
The inside story from The Deputy

Nitro John and some of his tribe pulled a sneak attack on the Sheriff during the 2002 CHRR race. The Sheriff didn't take to kindly to these savage advances, and put a bounty on the head of their leader. More on this saga as it happens.

Bad Bob Eames in the hat, Jack Clark, and Jack Harris with Rayce Munchmore at the motel celebrating qualifying on Saturday. Even the Sheriff will have a cold Keystone now and again.

As the War Wagon heads back to Utah -- Next stop - Boise, Idaho April 12-14