Bakersfield, CA - October 6-8, 2006: The 15th edition of the NHRA California Hot Rod Reunion lived up to its star billing - perfect weather, record crowds, huge car counts and to say the least, exciting racing. Considering this is one of the two premier nostalgia drag racing events in the country, teams come here loaded for bear with one thought in mind - winning. After a rough outing at the National Hot Rod Reunion in Bowling Green, KY the Nitro Thunder team needed a good showing here. But there was a twist, patriarch Jack Harris would be more than the team owner, he would be a competitor in another teams car. More on that later.

The weekend got off to a good start with Brett running a 5.915 at 260.19 (top speed of the event) in the first qualifying session on Friday. Aside from some problems with the rear tires it appeared that the mechanical woes suffered in Kentucky were fixed. In the second and last session on Saturday afternoon Harris kicked it up a notch with a 5.895 at 259.51. However that would only qualify him # 7 in the quickest 16 car Top Fuel field in history.

Round one of eliminations went off Saturday night and it proved to be one of the "ugliest" in memory. In the only "clean" and without a doubt the quickest race of the entire session Harris was nipped by Howard Haight 5.945 at 257.43 to Brett's 5.950 at 253.02. This was one hell of a drag race and its too bad there had to be a loser.

So, even though they went out early, the Nitro Thunder team was pleased with their performance (all three runs in the fives) and had no significant parts breakage. Harris will be back in the thick of things at the Goodguys 8th Fuel & Gas Finals November 3 - 5.

 

Photos and full story below.

Big Red comes out of the trailer Friday morning.

 

 

---

 

First Qualifying Session - Friday

The first Qualifying session went off at 3:10 Friday afternoon. The Utah Posse was ready.

 

 

Brett gets focused.

 

Harris starts his burn-out.

 

Harris and opponent, Sean Bellemeur back up from their burnouts.

 

 

 

Tires get wiped, final adjustments made. Time to stage.

 

Both cars left hard and headed for the lights.

 

 

 

 

 

Even thought it was qualifying this was one hell of a drag race. Harris stopped the clocks with a 5.915 at 260.19 (top speed of the event) while Bellemeur carded a stout 5.868 at 254.74.

 

 

 

---

 

Second Qualifying Session - Saturday Afternoon

 

Fast forward to Saturday afternoon and the second and last qualifying session. Several cars opted to sit out this session so there were cars that got singles to keep the mandatory lane switch. Harris had such a single which meant every camera in the place was on him. Results - lots of photos.

 

 

 

 

Rayce Muchmore backs Harris up from his burnout.

 

 

 

 

 

 

.

 

Harris gets off the throttle and cards one of the cleanest runs of the session. Straight, hot and clean ... 5.895 at 259.51.

Harris and crew head for the scales (cars are weighed after every run) and then back to their pit to get ready for the first qualifying session.

 

---

 

Round One - Saturday Night

 

After waiting for an hour and twenty minutes for the cars ahead of him to mess up the track it was finally Harris' time to face Howard Haight in round one of eliminations.

 

Harris does his burnout under the lights.

Haight got a 5 hundredth advantage off the starting line but it looked like Harris would reel him in by the 330' mark. Not to happen. Haight never faltered and his 5.945 at 257.43 beat Harris' 5.950 at 253.02 by about 20 feet. However, father Jack had previously won his first round race and would be back on Sunday.  Jack Harris 2006 CHRR