The Nitro Thunder Race Cars....

Construction of the first car began in the Spring on 1997 at Neil & Parks Racing (Burlingame, KA). It was based on photos of the current Nostalgia fuelers from the 1997 March Meet - especially noting rollcage designs, engine placements and bodies. With his previous experience with front engine dragsters, Frank Parks designed and built the chassis with some unique ideas including placing the engine further back that the west coast cars at the time. Once completed the chassis was fitted with a full magnesium body, largely done by 13 year old Scott Franks. Although the car itself was completed in September of 1997, the engine Harris ordered from Stirling Motor Service had not arrived as promised. So, in order to make the CHRR in October, Jack purchased a complete engine from Dan Horan Jr. After a two-week thrash, the first Nitro Thunder was ready to go (less paint) and it was off to Bakersfield. Frank Parks shook the card down and Harris and crew were once again hooked on nitro racing.

During the winter of 1997-1998, Dale Emery was hired as crew chief. While the car was being painted (by Harris) its signature red and lettered, Emery completely revamped the engine and fuel system. By February Nitro Thunder was ready for battle. With Parks still in the seat the car won its first time out at Norwalk, Ohio beating Bill Dunlap in the final. Good car - good tuner equals instant success. After another stellar performance at Indy, Parks gave up the seat to return to his business and Harris jumped in qualifying for every race they entered in 1998 and early 1999 capped with a stout 6.04 at the March Meet. Their first win came at the 1999 Boise "Nights of Fire" meet setting both ends of the track record in the process.

The latter half of 1999 saw Brett Harris getting his license in Nitro Thunder and displacing dad in the seat. All was good until the last race of the year at Tucson when after a first round win over Dunlap & Fuller, Brett got sideways in the lights barrel rolling the car six times. Brett escaped unscathed but the car was a total loss. Grasping the "get back on the horse theory", Harris ordered a new car from Neil & Parks that featured a body completely done by Scott Parks with the tutoring from the master himself, Tom Hanna. However, Nitro Thunder II had a very auspicious beginning. Team Harris' bad luck was not yet behind them. On the trip home from Kansas, the entire rig slid off the road in a Nebraska snow storm and the trailer, with new race car, ended up on top of the truck trapping Jack, Brett and Bob for over an hour. A cel phone call to 911 saved the day and maybe their lives.

See: Bad Hair Days

After repairing the race car and rig, their bad luck was behind them and 2000 turned out to be a very good season in spite of the fact Dale Emery had left the crew to work for Jim Cullen. Lyle and Scott Mason tuned Harris to seven straight final round appearances including wins at Pomona, Boise and the CHRR at Bakersfield. Throw in a runner-up and new VRA record (6.01) at Indy and a 5.95 at Las Vegas (split win) and yes, 2000 was a very good year.

2001 started out where 2000 ended - winning. It was back to Bakersfield for the first race of the season, the Goodguys VRA March Meet which is considered a major event. Harris not only won the meet but set low ET (5.99) and top speed (244 MPH) as well. As sweet as Nitro Thunders's March Meet win was, the highlight of 2001 was their Top Fuel win at the NHRA 50th Anniversary Nationals in Pomona. The final pitted Harris and Rance McDaniel in the Champion Speed Shop fueler and they were the very last cars down the track followed by a spectacular fireworks show and TV interviews. The season also included three straight match race wins that included another record - a 6.18 at Bradamier and a Pro Nitro win at Las Vegas with another ET record (6.10 @ 233).

Team Harris (The Sheriff and his Posse) didn't miss a lick over the winter and opened this season (2002) with another Goodguys VRA March Meet win! With Brett Harris new tune-up, the Nitro Thunder car surely continue to be one of the most competitive (and feared) Nostalgia Top Fuel dragsters in the country. Stay tuned for more of the Nitro Sheriff's Wild Ride!