2007 NHRR Columbus

Troy Green Wins Columbus Top Fuel Crown
4th Straight NHRR Win for High Speed Motorsports

Columbus, Ohio - June 15-17, 2007: Troy Green drives to his first major Top Fuel win and the High Speed Motorsports team score their 4th consecutive title at the 5th annual NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion. The HSMS/Silverthin Bearings Top Fuel Dragster got some racing luck to make the finals then easily defeat Kevin Lennon of Salem, Wisconsin.

Starting on Wednesday thousands of drag racers, Cacklefest cars, spectators, rodders, and members of the news media converged on National Trail Raceway for the Fifth Annual Holley NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion. As is its big brother (CHRR in Bakersfield) this event is also produced by and benefits the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, presented by the Auto Club of So. Calif.

The first four NHRA National Hot Rod Reunions were held at Beach Bend Raceway in Bowling Green, Kentucky. It was a great location for a laid back nostalgia event with a few hundred cars. Trees and grass everywhere with covered grandstands to shield the fans from the sun. However, getting in and getting out was a bad joke. Also, the nearest decent airport is Nashville which was over 100 miles away. The location, five hundred or more race and show cars, a high spectator turnout and neighbors combined to make the single lane entrance/exit road slow 'n go at best. This road was the main reason a change of venue was made.

Columbus, Ohio's National Trails Dragstrip became available in late 2006 as an alternative site and being only a few hundred miles away, distance was not a factor for most people. National Trails has been in operation since the 60's and the facility today is up-to-date in respect to the track and amenities as it has hosted a "Big Show" events through 2006. The pit area is much larger that BG (but NO shade), easy access from the nearby I-70 freeway and Columbus is only 25 miles away with big airport served by all the major carriers, ample hotel, restaurant and general merchandise availability. In short, a lot less nostalgic, but much easier to get to and more room once you're there. Some thought it was fine and would go there again. Many others were not pleased with the facility, its track crew or electronics and would love to see the event moved back to Bowling Green. Only time will tell.

As it is at most big drag racing events, the Saturday crowd is the tale of the tape and as these photos attest, the fans came to Columbus in droves that day.

Top Fuel Qualifying - Session One - Friday

The first pair to test the water was Troy Green in the High Speed Motorsports fueler from Southern California and Brendan Murry in his Running Wild Chevy car out of Northern California.

By the 100' mark Green realized the front end was coming up too fast and he shut it off. The run was virtually wasted and left the High Speed guys trying to figure out why the car wheelstood so fast. Murry collected some data with a 6.246 at 211.53.

Out on his own, Howard Haight in Butch Blair's "Fugowie".

After a decent leave Haight ran 'er out the back door to a 6.149 at 246.62.

Adam Sorokin in the RB Entertainment - Champion Speed Shop car from NoCal was paired with Ernest McClain from Smyrna, DE.

Sorokin left like a rocket and went low by a bunch with a 5.898 at just 232.67 (slow for this car). McClain shut off early in the run. The other two NTF cars chose to sit out the Friday session.

Top Fuel Qualifying - Session Two - Saturday

First pair out for session two was Howard Haight and Ernest McClain.

Haight's leave was more aggressive than session one and he improved to a 6.036 at 246.62. McClain carded a 6.203 at 224.28.

Next out was Adam Sorokin and Brendan Murry.

Sorokin left with the wheels up and served notice that he was the baddest dog on the block with an incredible 5.789 at 232.67 which gave him 3 tenths on the field. Murry improved a little with a 6.206 at 238.05.

Out next was a solo by Troy Green. Optimistic that the car will stay on all fours this pass, Green heats the tires.

Any optimism Green had was gone at the hit when the car once again yanked the front end before he moved 5 feet.

Once again a run is aborted and Troy coasted down the track. One shot left.

Next out was Roger "Radar" Lechtenberg and the Iowa based Orange Crate of Dale & Kat Suhr. This was only the third outing for their brand new Neal & Parks car.

Backing up from his burnout Lechtenberg noticed there was no oil pressure.

Dale Suhr, alerted to the problem has Roger shut off the engine and the car was pushed back. For what ever reasons the car could not be fixed and was retired for the weekend. This was too bad as the team won the first NHRR and have been runner-up twice.

No matter how they do, besides being great people, the Orange Crate gang always gets a lot of press here... wonder why?

The last car is session two as Kevin Lennon from Salem, WI.

Lennon shut off early to a 7.799 at 176.49. But with only 6 cars he was guaranteed a spot in the show.

Top Fuel Qualifying - Session Three - Saturday

The first pair out for the final session was Troy Green and Brendan Murry.

Almost instantly the front wheels started to come up into yet another wheelstand which was very uncharacteristic for this car.

Green was frustrated at this point and stayed with it for about as long as he dared to. He realized that if it just fell to earth their weekend was over so he waited for the front end to snap and then he rolled back into it. Most who saw it said it was one of the best saves they have ever seen.

These four shots, pulled from video, give some idea of how high the car was on the pass.

With the front wheels as high as six feet in the air, Troy finally set the car down nearly 500 feet down track and managed to clock a 6.453 at 208.91 which put him in the #5 spot for eliminations.

The only other pair to take advantage of session 3 was Adam Sorokin and Kevin Lennon.

Sorokin remained # 1 (by 3 tenths) with his 5.789 at 232.67 while Lennon remained on the bottom of the heap. The pair would meet again for Round 1 on Sunday.

There was an 8th NTF car in attendance but this one was just there to license Julius Hughes Jr. No word how the Atlanta Speed Shop car ran or if Hughes got his license.

From the hit Stewart had the better car.

Final Order of Qualifying

Top Fuel E.T. Top speed
1. Adam Sorokin, Los Angeles, CA 5.789 232.67
2. Howard Haight, Brownsburg, IN 6.036 246.62
3. Ernest McClain, Smyrna, DE 6.203 224.28
4. Brendan Murry, San Jose, CA 6.206 238.05
5. Troy Green, Purcell, OK 6.453 208.91
6. Kevin Lennon, Salem, WI 7.799 176.49

Funny Car
1. Dennis LaCharite, Torrance, CA 6.212 236.96
2. Mike Savage, Tucson, AZ 6.315 224.25
3. Bob Godfrey, Moreno Valley, CA 6.400 191.78
4. Steve Nichols, Newark, DE 6.453 199.91
5. Troy Martin, Pierceton, IN 6.508 210.24
6. Kyle Wuntzel, Pierceton, IN 6.546 222.77
7. Bob Rosetty, Huntington Valley, PA 7.928 125.03
8. Randy Walls, El Cajon, CA 8.694 104.58

A Junior Fuel
1. Scott Parks, Burlingame, KS 6.982 189.87
2. Brian Darcy, Newburgh, NH 7.017 188.54
3. Jon Rowley, Amado AZ 7.038 189.55

B Junior Fuel
1. Odie Coke, Dallas, TX 7.635 173.25
2. Mike Millsap, Sachse, TX 7.711 170.84
3. Robert Donovan, Choctaw, OK 7.774 168.98
4. Bruce Hacker, East Greenville, PA 7.951 166.44
5. Chuck Rearick, Arlington, TX 8.346 156.90

Nostalgia Dragster
1. Jim Swedberg, Grand Forks, ND 6.694 207.75
2. Dave Rosenberg, Long Beach, CA 7.010 195.85
3. Pat Hine, Lake Placid, FL 7.112 191.59
4. Domenic Paris, Loves Park, IL 7.226 173.74
5. Dick Gaylord, Mapleview, NY 7.230 198.61
6. Don Slagle, Bethel Park, PA 7.337 176.35
7. Charlie Smith, Kiefer, OK 9.778 107.05

Sunday Eliminations - Page 2