Bakersfield,
CA - 10/24/11: The
20th edition of the California Hot Rod Reunion disappointed no
one. It lived up to its rock star billing and then some. The
weekend featured Chamber of Commerce weather and a race track
second to none. There was no doubt that Auto Club Famoso Raceway
operators Blake and John Bowser had their facility ready for
what was the largest CHRR ever. The smooth as glass concrete
quarter mile yielded record runs in both Top Fuel and Funny Car.
Ron Capps was heard saying it was one of the best tracks he's
ever driven on, and should be held up as a standard.
Points leader
Brett Harris took advantage of these great conditions to win
his second consecutive CHRR and the fifth in a decade for Jack
Harris Racing.
After qualifying
fifth with a 5.827 at 255.15, Harris went on to beat Brendan
Murry, arch-rival Jim Murphy and the #1 qualifier, Jimi Young
to earn a spot in the final where he met the low ET car of Tony
Bartone. It was there that Harris' star shined brightest. Knowing
the difference in the race could well be decided at the starting
line, Brett definitely did his job winning all the gold on a
holeshot.
Without concrete plans for their
2012 season, Jack Harris Racing will savor this huge win and
second championship before making any firm decisions for next
season. Much hinges on if the funny car can be sold. Updates
will be available as they are announced.
But for now enjoy some great
photos from a great weekend.
We'll pick up this winning weekend
when the team was warming up the engine before the first qualifying
session on Friday.
While taking the car up to the
staging lanes a local reporter caught Carissa Harris driving
and texting! It was in the sports section of The Bakersfield
Californian on Saturday.
1st
Qualifying Session
2:44 p.m. Weather
conditions: air temperature 83 degrees, relative humidity 40
percent, barometer 28.97 inches, adjusted altitude 2,943 feet,
track temperature 111 degrees.
For the first session
Harris was paired with Denver Schutz.
Big Red wasn't quite on its game
as Harris had some unusually soft early numbers.
At the other
end Schutz posted a stout 5.785 at 234.70 while Harris carded
a baseline pass of 5.987 at 232.75.
Under sunny skies
the crew got the car ready for the second and last qualifying
session Saturday morning.
2nd
Qualifying Session
Saturday: 12:06
p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 82 degrees, relative
humidity 41 percent, barometer 28.97 inches, adjusted altitude
2,853 feet, track temperature 108 degrees.
The second
session would be a pre-view of sorts for the final.
Both cars had
great early numbers but Bartone, again, couldn't keep a grip
on the track.
Bartone spun
the tires twice by the 330' mark and the run was aborted. Harris
improved to #4 with a 5.827 at 255.15.
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Top Fuel Qualifying Final Order
1 - Jimi Young
5.593 @ 255.92
2 - Rick White 5.698 @ 231.20
3 - Denver Schutz 5.785 @ 234.70
4 - Jim Murphy 5.786 @ 246.12
5 - Brett Harris 5.827 @ 255.15
6 - Rick McGee 5.861 @ 214.83
7 - Bill Dunlap 5.868 @ 237.38
8 - Howard Haight 5.913 @ 249.21
9 - Terry Cox 5.990 @ 253.47
10 - Tony Bartone 6.064 @ 250.64
11 - Brad Thompson 6.100 @ 208.68
12 - Brendan Murry 6.250 @ 200.83
13 - Mendy Fry 6.261 @ 181.32
14 - John Everette 6.281 @ 214.31
15 - Michael Irwin 6.887 @ 177.16
16 - Jim Boyd 7.588 @ 133.33 |
The team just did routine maintenance
prior to round one of eliminations scheduled for 5 PM on Saturday.
Round
One
Saturday: 4:22
p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 88 degrees, relative
humidity 45 percent, barometer 28.90 inches, adjusted altitude
3,307 feet, track temperature 110 degrees.
Harris' first round pairing
was Brendan Murry -- aka David vs. Goliath.
With a 0.016 light Mike Dunn
would say Murry did a bad job of red lighting. Nonetheless, Harris
did see the back of Murry's car for a flash while making sure
he did not red light.
It was Harris all the way with
a very nice 5.774 at 253.99. The tune-up skills of crew chiefs
Steve Watson and Steve Tyrell were now coming into play.
Murry clicked it to a 6.235 at
198.58.
Final
Eliminations - Page 2
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