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BOWLING GREEN,
Ky. (June 15) – The NHRA Motorsports Museum Holley National
Hot Rod Reunion presented by AAA came to a thrilling close on
Saturday after three action packed days of racing and honoring
NHRA drag racing and cacklecar legends. Grandstands filled to
capacity on Saturday with fans three deep standing by the fences
down the quarter mile.
As always I'll
start off with Top Fuel where Jim Murphy returned to defend
his title and Tony Bartone came to attempt to further his points
lead.
This year saw
Top Fuel return in strength with 10 cars vying for a spot in
the eight car show.
Dave Hirata was
back in Dale Suhr's “Orange Crate” and he led the field
following Thursday's initial qualifying session with a 5.843
at a stout 254.71 mph followed by Tony Bartone with an early
shut off 5.95. After two sessions on Friday, June 13, Bartone
was on top of the list with a 5.830, again slowing on the top
end. Hirata's earlier run held up for second and Jimmy Young
was third with a 6.013 in Steve and Ernie McClain's car, just
ahead of Jim Murphy's 6.057 and Randy Bridges' 6.084. Dave Miller,
Lincoln Hassell and Roger Letchenberg filled out the field with
Jerry Kumre and Jason Greenwood missing the cut.
All that said,
I now present what I feel is comprehensive coverage of the first
full field in Top Fuel here in a few years. Following the dragster
coverage are the Funny
Cars
followed with all the winners and other cars. Hope you enjoy.
Top
Fuel First Qualifying Session
The first session
was held on Thursday and only five cars opted to run it.
First out was
Jim Young in Ernest and Steve McClain’s big-block Chevy-powered
“Tri-State Racing” fueler and Randy Bridges out of
Gerard IL. with a hemi.
Bridges
was shut off after his burnout leaving Young to solo.
Pair two matched
March Meet winner, Tony Bartone in the Bartone Bros. entry and
Roger Lechtenberg in the Back Yard Guys fueler.
Bartone
had good early numbers and just drove away from Lechtenberg.
First
in the fives went to Bartone.
The final pair
out for the Thursday session was Dave Hirata in Dale Suhr’s
“Orange Crate” out of Iowa and defending champion Jim
Murphy in his WW2 Racing entry.
Dave's
legendary father Kenny was on hand to lend support.
Both
cars had strong leaves.
Just
past the tree Murphy started smoking the tires and soon after
called it quits.
Hirata
went low to that point while sacrificing some pistons to the
aluminum gods.
Top
Fuel Second Qualifying Session
First
pair out for the Friday sesson was Roger Lechtenberg and Tony
Bartone.
Bartone
had stout early numbers, not so much for The Back Yard Guys.
While Bartone
was motoring down Broadway, Radar had his hands full after getting
out of the groove.
Here he is fighting
it off the wall and did a masterful job of saving it. The only
damage was a scraped canard end plate and rear wheel scuff.
Second pair out
was Jim Murphy and Jerry Kumre Jr. making his first and only
attempt.
Murphy
left hard and appeared to be on a good run..
But at
half track Murphy's car started getting out of the groove.
He couldn't
reel it back in and had to lift.
Next out for
their respective first attempts were Jason Greenwood and
Lincoln Hassell.
Next
pair was again Jim Young and Randy Bridges.
Neither car had
great early numbers and the scoreboard reflected it. However,
both cars did improve on their Q1 times.
The final pair
of session two was "Diamond Dave" Miller making his
first attempt in the
Telstrar and Dave Hirata for his third pass of the weekend.
Final
Qualifying Order
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1. Tony Bartone
- 5.830 @ 228.31
2. Dave Hirata - 5.843 @ 254.71
3. Jim Young - 6.013 @ 232.43
4. Jim Murphy - 6.057 @ 202.48.
5. Randy Bridges - 6.084 @ 205.76.
6. Dave Miller - 6.721 @ 181.72.
7. Lincoln Hassell - 6.776 @ 186.67
8. Roger Lechtenberg - 6.849 @ 159.21
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Not Qualified ------------
9. Jerry Kumre
Jr - 7.354 @ 161.29
10. Jason Greenwood
- DNQ |
Top Fuel Eliminations - Page 2
Funny cars, Winners and Other Cars - Page 3
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