BRETT HARRIS DOMINATES 51st MARCH MEET Rick White Runner-up in quickest race ever Austin Wins Funny Car       Bakersfield, CA - March 06-08, 2009: Horrible economy aside, the 51st anniversary of the March Meet can be summed up with an amalgamation of superlatives that would send an English major scrambling for their Thesaurus. Under three days of Chamber of Commerce skies, the largest car count/spectator attendance in history filled the hallowed Famoso Dragstrip grounds for the event that lived up to its star billing - and more. John and Blake Bowser along with one of the best crews ever assembled put on a drag race for the ages. From the full pits on Thursday to the Winners Circle shots on Sunday this was an event brimming with an accommodating facility, incredible racing surface, friendly staff, full bore fans and record performances. "It was deja vu all over again. Seriously, it could have been 1966, 1972 or even 2008 as perfect weather, packed stands and incredible drag racing competition all added up to another wildly successful March Meet at Auto Club Famoso Raceway near Bakersfield, Calif. And speaking of 2008, the 2009 winner were certainly familiar: Bucky Austin once again claimed the Nostalgia Funny Car category and the Harris family continuing its winning ways as Brett Harris took the Nostalgia Top Fuel title. Both racers also got a points jump on the competition as the March Meet is also the season opener for the NHRA's eight-race Hot Rod Heritage Series. Austin, who won the Hot Rod Heritage Series Nostalgia Funny Car championship last year, beat Garrett Bateman, Tacoma, Wash., in the Funny Car final with a record-breaking time of 5.72 seconds at a blistering 246.77 mph. Garrett finished with a 5.85 time at 245.36 mph. Both Austin and Bateman drove cars owned by Steve Plueger. "We've accomplished a lot here in Bakersfield," Austin said after the race, "but it takes a good car, a great crew and a little luck. Everything has to go right. My hat's off to Steve (Plueger) and the whole team." Austin may have team support, but Brett Harris has family support. Brett and his father, Jack, have dominated the Nostalgia Top Fuel competition at the March Meet the last three years. Brett won it in 2007, Jack in '08 and Brett kept it going in '09 by beating Rick White of San Diego in championship race. Harris, from Kaysville, Utah, ran a 5.67 (263.77 mph) to White's 5.68 (259.36 mph). It was a career best ET and speed for White and the quickest NTF race in history. Harris also claimed the low ET (5.65) and top speed (263.77 mph) during the three-day event. All told, the Harris father-son combo now have five March Meet titles between them, with "Sheriff" Jack owning three and Brett now with two. "We like Bakersfield a lot," Brett said after the race. "We've figured out the track and have it dialed-in. We've been dominate here, but we try to dominate everywhere. But the March Meet is the big-big one. It's the Indy 500 of drag racing. This is the one event you want to win so you can pump your chest all year long." More than 500 race cars in 14 classes were entered in this year's March Meet, which is now celebrating 51 years of racing at Auto Club Famoso. Last year's 50th anniversary drew record crowds, but there was concern that the soft economy would take a toll on the race entries and the crowds this year. But the economy be damned, again it was a blast from the past as the stands were full, as were the vendors midway, swap meet area and the hot rod/street rod and cacklecar lined Grove. And other than an incident between Dan Horan and Mike Chrisman in the first Top Fuel qualifying session it was a very safe race as well. "People came out to forget their troubles and enjoy themselves with some affordable family fun," said Blake Bowser, vice president and general manager of the Kern County Racing Association, operators of Auto Club Famoso Raceway and producers of the March Meet. "That's what has made this race and track so popular over the years: People want to see a great show and have fun. Hopefully we can continue to provide this for years to come."     Photos by: Bob Brown, Stephen Justice, Dan Kaplan, Tim Hanaseth, Pam Schavrien, Darrell Conrad, Paul Hutchins, John Ewald and Don Ewald Special thanks to Darryl Jackman and dragracecentral.com for blow by blow stats. He makes my job so much easier.     1st Qualifying Session Friday, 2:13 p.m. Under cool, cloudy skies the call went out from starter Bill Condit to 'Fire the first pair', and the pro side of the 51st March Meet was underway. However, it was apparent early on that following a week of rain and cold weather, the normally tight Famoso track was not ready for the 3000 HP fuel cars. With the exception of Rick White and Rick McGee, nobody had much luck getting from point A to point B under power. Low track temp and lack of rubber made for an interesting first session.     The first pair of Top Fuel qualifying got off the session off to an auspicious start with the match up of Dan Horan in his updated 1971 Don Long car and TF rooking Mike Chrisman driving for John Rodeck and the Paso Posse.                 Both cars were on the soft side at the hit.                   At the 330' block Horan was already drifting to his right.   He then really made a move after the 330' block into the left lane which was occupied by Chrisman. Horan's header took out the left rear tire on Chrisman's ride leaving him rudderless and ultimately pinned to the guardwall for a long slide to the other end.   Horan caromed off of Chrisman, had a short flight followed by a very rough ride.                   Back in his own lane, it looked for a second like Horan may just come out of this in one piece but a wide open throttle ended any chance of that happening. Just after this shot the spinning right tire drove the car hard into the guardwall (below) rendering Digger Dan unconscious and motoring to toward the top end.                     Chrisman came to a stop just short of the first turn-out and was able to get out of the car on his own,               Horan's engine finally blew up and the car slid about 75' into the sand trap which did its job of finally stopping him.     Dan was extracted by Don Irvin and the excellent Famoso Safety Safari. During the process he regained consciousness and the Life Flight helicopter was canceled.         He was transported to the hospital by ambulance and was released on Tuesday left to nurse multiple injuries. It is safe to say his driving days are probably over.             After a lengthily clean up Brendan Murry was out for a single with his new Arias BB Chevy based hemi.   The car was really soft at the hit and Murry clicked it very early to a 11.73 at 80 mph.             The next pair out was Mark Malde in the Birky's Bunch and Rick Rogers in Fugowie.         Neither car had stellar leaves and both had to pedal before 200'.             Malde gave up real early and coasted to a 10.88 at 76.17 while Rogers gave up a tad bit later to clock a 9.22 at 96.37. After five cars down the track that put him #1. Things had to get better.           The forth pair was Rick McGee in the Tedford & McGee "Overtime Special" and Rick Williamson in the Hot Rod Bill's entry.                     McGee's ride left better than we've seen it move in a long time. Williamson was soft.           The purple car from Exter started eating parts at 1000' and McGee clicked it but still clocked the first five of the weekend - 5.945 at 236.03.             Williamson coasted through with a 9.567 at 76.17.     After McGee showed 'em it could be done, the next pair out was Terry Cox in the Cheetah IV and Mike McClennan in the Mike Fuller Racing fueler.       Fuller's car left best but neither of the 60' times were noteworthy.                 Just past the 60' clocks McClennan started to haze the tires and put out hole. But Mike did a nice pedal job and got after it again.     Cox started to drift toward the wall and wisely clicked it.         Not exactly stellar but Mike's 6.065 at 207.27 was #2 at the moment. Coasting through behind was Cox with a 6.902 at 139.01.       By the sixth pair it was obvious the cold weather was playing havoc with the track and that big numbers were going to be sparse. Nonetheless out rolled Denver Schutz in the Raisin Express 2 and Shannon Stewart in the Circuit Breaker.             After the launch both cars had problems early on.       Schutz struck the tires early on and had to do some major pedaling.               After coming very close to drifting into the other lane Stewart had to reel it in and after one more whack gave up to a 7.19 at 134.18.   After recovering Schutz clocked a dismal 7.16 at a whopping 241.41.     Next out was Rick White in the Neal & White car and Brad Thompson in the brand new Thompson & Bless entry. This was Thompson's first race since his horrendous accident at Boise last August.                 Both cars left with authority.                               Thompson had planned to make a half pass and that's what he did clocking 6.440 at 172.71.       After pedaling once on the bottom White legged it through to a very nice (for the conditions) 5.852 at 253.52. This would stand for low ET of the round by a tenth.         Next out was the long awaited debut of Adam Sorokin in Bob McClennan's Champion Speed Shop small block Chevy canopy car (aka The Bat Mobile).   In the other lane was Brett Harris in the always tough Nitro Thunder fueler. If there was going to be a huge number this session it was probably going to happen here.                     Sorokin's ride was very soft at the hit but Harris left like a rocket.                         With great early numbers it looked like Big Red would lead the way but early numbers aside, it turned out that Horan and Stewart weren't the only drivers who would have an issue with the left lane. Harris made a quick move to the right and ended up sharing the lane with Sorokin. Fortunately he was far ahead of the sleek Chevy car and didn't get dangerously close to Adam.         Rather than risk an accident by jerking the car back into the left lane, Harris just stabilized it and coasted through hugging the center line. Sorokin kept his distance and coasted through as well.         The final pair to test the track were defending NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series TF champ Troy Green and the brand new Thornhill car of Jim Murphy.                         Both cars left hard but Murphy had great early numbers.                         By half track Green had already pedaled once and was fighting to keep the car off the center line.       In the other lane Murphy was also loose and also drifting left.   By 900' Jim realized that the car was not going to come back under power and besides, he couldn't see as the new car was telling him it needed some changes in the cockpit. As can be seen in the following shots, the car got dangerously close to the wall and Murphy wisely clicked it then gingerly guided it back to safer ground.         His 6.236 at just 178.71 reflects how good the car ran to half track and how early the run was aborted. Knowing he had two more sessions on Saturday Murphy was not unhappy with the results.   Green hung up the run shortly after Murphy and coasted through with a 6.260 at 178.41.   And so ended one very ugly first qualifying session for Top Fuel.     Page 2 - Sessions 2 & 3 of Qualifying Page 3 - Round One of Top Fuel Page 4 - Round Two thru Final Page 5 - Funny Car Fever Page 6 - Other Winners - Misc. Photos     Order Photos Bob Brown Photos Stephen Justice Photos Dan Kaplan Photos Tim Hanaseth Photos John Ewald Photos Don Ewald Photos Pam Schavrien Photos Darrell Conrad Photos Paul Hutchins   Related Links Thompson & Bless Racing Jack Harris Racing - Nitro Thunder High Speed Motorsports Jim Murphy WW2 Racing All American Fuel Dragsters     Members Site Map || Visitors Site Map Site Copyright Ewald Enterprises, 1998-2009. All Rights Reserved. WDIFL.com is a Left Coast Graphics  Web Property. Return to Top