Jack
Harris' racing career spans 40 years and over the last four decades
he's won a lot of drag races. But his sweetest victory came at
the NHRA 50th Anniversary Nationals in Pomona in July of 2001.
It was the first, and possibly the last time NHRA ran Nostalgia
Top Fuel Dragsters as a featured class. The 16 car show featured
the best cars in the country and Team Harris proved to be the
best of the best. What made this win extra special was the fact
the entire "family" was there and were able to celebrate
in the winners circle on Sunday night.
Jack Harris - Nitro Thunder
- Pomona, July 2001
Moving in for the final at
Pomona, July 2001.
Harris (right) may push the pedals
and pay the bills but when Nitro Thunder wins it's as if the
entire crew was in the seat. They work hard, play hard and celebrate
together. Pomona, 2001.
Speaking of wins, Team Harris
celebrates their 2000 Goodguys VRA Fuel Championships at Pomona....
which turned out to be the very last race Goodguys would ever
have at the hallowed SoCal facility.
In August of 2000, fans saw this
classic final round dual between Harris and Jim Murphy in the
WW2 Racing fueler at the Boise Nights of Fire Nationals in 2000.
Team Nitro Thunder came out on top, defeating the reigning World
Champion.
It may not have been their
prettiest victory, but Team Harris was plenty happy to wade though
a tough 16 car field to win the 2002 Goodguys VRA March Meet
at Bakersfield. As the sunsets after the final round, The Sheriff
and his Posse proudly display the perpetual March Meet trophy
that they've now had possession of for two years as they also
won the event in 2001.
Jack Harris and the Top Fuel
Eliminator trophy - a common sight the last three years.
Jack Harris (near lane) and
Gerry Steiner in the lights at Sonoma during the Goodguys VRA
Nitro Nationals on April 21, 2002
Harris drew Gerry Steiner in
round one and came within 8 lousy inches of putting Team U-Boat
in the box. Harris strapped a huge hole-shot on Steiner and Gerry
damn near didn't catch him. Look at the photo then check this
out: Harris 0.477 RT 6.105 @ 227.73 -- Steiner 0.699 RT 5.881
@ 239.10. Margin of victory = 0.002 seconds (approximately 8
inches).
Harris launches hard at the 2002
Nitro Nationals in Sonoma.
Heating the tires at the 2001
VRA March Meet.
Harris at 240, beating
Jason Howell in Bakersfield.
Nitro Thunder on its way to
a win over Tim Gibson in the Mastercam fueler at Fallon, NV in
2001.
This five shot series was
taken by Gil Rebelas at the ADRA West Coast Reunion race at Top
Gun Raceway in Fallon, NV. Easter weekend, 2001. He caught Harris
pulling his chute just after the second light at over 230 MPH.
Some spectacular camera work.
Chute blossoms and all looks
well.
A combination of down force
from the chute and hitting a dip in the track plants the rear
tires on Nitro Thunder.
The end result was this
wild ride at over 175 MPH. Being the pro he is, Harris got the
car stopped and it was ready for the next session.
Never lose your sense of patriotism
or humor! The Nitro Thunder in the staging lanes of Sonoma in
2002.
Ron
Lahr photo
Harris and Kent Terry leave the
line together at the 2002 March Meet.
Driving a front engine Top
Fuel car at night is an undescribable thrill. Here Harris leaves
the line at Fallon in 2001.
Harris heat the tires at Bakersfield
at the 2002 March Meet.
Nitro Nationals at Sears Point (Sonoma)
2002.
Nothing to driving a Top Fuel
dragster - "AIM IT AND STAB IT". Like Jack needs this
reminder on the underside of the Nitro Thunder cowl.
2001 California Hot Rod Reunion
Calm before the storm - Bakersfied
March Meet, 2002
Off to do battle.
Harris is guided back to the line
at Fallon, NV in 2001.
It's good to be king! Jack right
after his 2002 March Meet win.
Nitro Thunder at home in its livery. |
