Jack "The Sheriff" Harris and his Utah Posse may live in Kaysville, Utah but if you ask them what their favorite place is they will probably tell you Pomona, California. For the forth time in as many races held for the Nostalgia Top Fuel cars at the most famous drag strip in the world, Harris and company land in the Winners Circle. Not only did "Big Red" set low ET and Top Speed of the meet (5.797 @ 255.89) in route to the win, Harris all be insured himself the 2004 VRA World Championship. Coming into this race he had a comfortable points lead over the current champion, Jim Murphy and when Murphy was upset in the first round it ended any chance he had to catch, let alone pass Harris for the 2004 championship. With only one more points race this season, it is virtually impossible for anyone to deny Harris the championship he set out to get this year.

The new Brett Harris paint job and graphics were a big hit with everyone.

For several reasons including the warm weather and Fathers Day, the format for this event was 2 days (Friday and Saturday) with racing from morning 'till night. The large car count and a 10 pm curfew at Pomona forced the Goodguys to further alter the schedule and limit the Pro classes to only two qualifying sessions - both on Friday. For Harris this was not a problem and by most accounts, it did not upset most of the other fuel teams. The first session was held in the heat on Friday afternoon.

The temperature was about 87 degrees and the track had been in direct sunlight since early morning. Here the crew waits for the signal to fire the car for the first qualifying session.

Harris makes his first burnout of the weekend.

Final adjustments and tire cleaning just prior to staging.

Harris and Jeff Diehl move into the staging beams.

This was the first run on the new car since it was painted and polished. The point of that is the guys got a valuable lesson on what should be shiny and what shouldn't. As soon as Jack stabbed the throttle his foot slipped of the polished aluminum throttle pedal and he had to hit it again. The car recovered loosing at least a tenth in ET but did run a big mph. Diehl was smoking the tires hard by the sixty foot mark.

In spite of Harris' "double step" he clocked a 6.085 @ 251.39 which put him # 5 after the first session.

It was over 6 hours between sessions so after the car was ready, the crews did what they could to beat the heat and relax - like taking a nap.

Like the Energizer Bunny, Harris passed on some rest and visited with fans and peers.

The second session was scheduled for 7 pm but did not get under way until 9 pm which was fine with both the racers and fans as there's nothing better than nitro at night.

Artsy crafty shot as Harris leaves the starting line.

This time Jacks right foot stayed firmly planted on a "scuffed" throttle pedal and the car responded in kind. For the moment he was sitting # 1 with a clean 5.925 @ 249.86. He would later lose the top spot to Jim Murphy's 5.917 and end up qualifying # 2.

After the last session the crew found that a weld in the bottom of the fuel tank had ruptured and emergency surgery was called for. They pulled the tank out and sent it off to the welder to be repaired. There were no further problems with it on Saturday.

Saturday - 4:45 pm. First round is 15 minutes away and "Big Red" sits in the staging lanes ready to do battle.

First round is always the most nerve wracking but once the engines are fires, the butterflies go away.

Backing up from the burnout.

Harris' first round opponent was young Troy Green in the MasterCam-Plaza Hotel fueler. Green qualified with a solid 6.06 and is very good on the starting line lights. This would be no gimme.

Green had a slight lead at the hit, but Harris reeled him in with a stellar 5.941 @ 253.66. Green was right there with a 6.07 @ 238.

No drag strip in the world has the scenic backdrop of Pomona. I've always wondered if the sound of 3500 horsepower throws the golfers off their game?

Harris acknowledges the crowd as they tow Nitro Thunder back to the pits.

Between rounds it was business as usual. Pull all the pistons out and check the crankshaft. Normal maintenance for the Utah Posse.

The pistons from the previous run are put into a rack and examined for damage while a new set is going back into the engine. If the pistons are okay they will go back into the block at another time.

Round two would match up old rivals Harris and Bill Dunlap who qualified 6th with a 6.036 @ 238.15 and got a single in round one when Howard Haight had clutch problems and could not stage.

Both cars left together and by anybody's standard, it was one hell of a drag race. Dunlap ran his best times of the event (5.916 @ 246.10) but was overwhelmed by Harris' 5.848 @ 255.89 (which stood for top speed of the meet).

The happy crew heads to the other end to get the car. Harry Dubach, one of the crew members came up with the quote of the weekend, "We're just one round away from a beer!"

The final pitted "Big Red" with the new (in 2004) car of Chuck Neal and Rick White who are rapidly becoming one of the "heavy hitters" in the class. White was in a solid five second car so Harris and Co. knew they had to run at least in the five eighty range.

Living up to its billing, this was the best race of the event. Harris was out first and lead at all markers. He sets low ET of the event (5.79) and takes the Pomona Top Fuel title for the fourth time. White was right with him running a career best 5.890 @ 246.77.

Although they are somewhat used to it, the Utah Posse celebrates each win like it was their first.

Jack Harris gives his standard "Thumbs Up" as he climes out of the car at the other end.

Still donning his helmet, Harris picks up his chutes and puts them in the seat.

The pre Winners Circle celebration begins as soon as the crew arrives.

One of those a picture is worth a thousand words....

Harry was right, they were just one round away from a cold beer!

While waiting for their turn in the Winners Circle, the guys put Mendy Fry (driver of the Plaza Hotel - MasterCam Top Fuel car) in the seat. This was done for two reasons ... one, she's a lot better looking than Jack and two, to start a rumor that she's "seat shopping" (looking for another car to drive).

Jack's biggest fan is his grandson, Kaden Harris who's always good for several candid shots per event.

11:30 pm and as the crew packs up the rig to go home Kaden finally crashes - his feet reflecting the fun of running around a drag strip barefoot. And on that note - That's all folks!