Final Results: The 42nd March Meet at Bakersfield

By Goodguys

Bakersfield, CA - He walks tall and carries a big stick. He is Jack "The Sheriff" Harris of Kayesville, Utah and he is the Top Fuel Champion of the Goodguys 42nd March Meet. Harris, who restarted his nitro drag racing career in 1995 with a front-engined Top Fuel dragster, won his first-ever Goodguys March Meet Crown with a devastating final round performance running Low ET and Top Speed of the meet in his bright red "Nitro Thunder" dragster. The Sheriff's final round opponent, Lee Jennings's of Chino, CA struck the tires and could only watch as Harris rode off into the Bakersfield sunset posting a stunning 5.99 @ 244.56. By winning the March Meet, Harris took home a whopping $10,000 - the biggest cash payout ever offered to a Front Engined Top Fuel driver.

The huge payout came courtesy of MBNA America who has offered the "MBNA Bonus Bucks" program to Goodguys Vintage Drag Racers this year. The posted winner's purse of $5,000 was doubled prior to eliminations when Top Fuel was randomly drawn for the pro portion of the Bonus. "Words can't describe how happy I am to win this event," said Harris in the March Meet winner's circle. "I didn't fully realize what I had accomplished until I unbuckled in the shutdown area and took a look around." Harris was quick to credit crew chief and head of the Sherriff's "Utah Posse" with the victory. "Scott calls all the shots on the tune-up and he called the right one's today," he said clutching his patented bronzed Goodguys 392 hemi Oscar. The soft spoken Mason acknowledged the team was lucky to even be in Sunday's show, their last ditch 6.23 landing them safely in the number 8 spot. "We changed our engine combination this off-season and moved some things around on the car," Mason said. "We had put the fuel tank further forward and added more compression to the motor, but after smoking the tires on Friday and again Saturday morning, we put the tank back where it was and added 65 lbs to the front end." The remedy worked wonders, as Harris was progressively quicker with each pass down the track following the last-ditch qualifier. In the opening round he disposed of Marc Malde with a 6.14. He then defeated Denver Schutz with a 6.11 and Mike McLennan with a 6.05 before unleashing the 5.99 in the final.

Defending Goodguys A/Fuel Champion Jim Paul put in a standard day at the office in his "Mischief Maker Racing" A/Fuel dragster dusting off all comers, and like Harris in Top Fuel ran Low ET and Top Speed of the Meet in the final. Paul took care of Sean Bellemeur in the trophy dash by posting a 6.59 @ 205. Bellemeur had Paul covered 'til half-track, but slipped from Famoso Raceway's narrow groove and actually wound up in Paul's lane crossing the finish line. With both drivers qualifying in the number one and two slots, respectively, look for this rivalry to heat up next month at Sears Point Raceway in Sonoma.

Junior Fuel action featured a final round which boxing promoter Don King could easily have billed as the "Battle of the Titans." Defending Jr. Fuel Champion Don Enriquez faced 1999 class champ Bill Wayne of Bullhead City, AZ and as expected both drivers delivered heavy blows, Wayne delivering the knockout punch 7.33 to 7.42. Guess what? Wayne's 7.33 was good for Low ET and Top Speed of the Meet. Wayne is happy to be competing at all, let alone win a prestigious race like the March Meet. He was diagnosed with cancer last spring and this past off-season his crew re-configured his Chevy powered dragster while he was out of commission adding a full-body and modifying the car slightly. The win was his first since his 1999 Championship season.

Perhaps putting on the wildest show of the day were the alcohol guzzling coupes and sedans of Pro Supercharged. These full-bodied blown and injected monsters never could seem to find traction on Sunday, the opening round upset of reigning champ Steve Woods setting the tone for a wild day. Howard Anderson's big black '38 Chevy pulled off the unlikely upset of Woods, posting a 7.12 to the loser's aborted run. Anderson used his "Get Out of Jail Free" pass to make it to the final where he met up with the Richwood Meats sponsored '53 Studebaker of Merced's Steve Wood. In a race that looked more like a ballet, Wood managed to tiptoe through the timers with an on and off the throttle 7.93, while Anderson's Chevy went silent near half-track. It was Wood's first win of his Pro Supercharged career.

Other winners at the 42nd Goodguys March Meet included Sean Renteria (A/GAS), DeWayne Sanders (Nostalgia Eliminator), Brad Chaffee (B/GAS), Monty Fitzgerald (C/GAS), Bob Lander (Nostalgia II), Dave Gruzen (Nostalgia III - which was the Sportsman Class drawn for the MBNA Bonus Bucks), Al Silva (Hot Rod) and Alan Ross (Street Machine).

Next up on the Goodguys/VRA West Coast Championship Series is the 13th Nitro Nationals, April 21 & 22 at Sonoma's Sears Point Raceway. Professional Qualifying is scheduled for 11:00am and 2:00pm Saturday April 21st, with final eliminations Sunday, April 22nd at 10:00am. - John Drummond

GOODGUYS-1 - Summary of Eliminations in Nostalgia Top Fuel BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Summary of eliminations in Nostalgia Top Fuel at the 42nd March Meet presented by Goodguys and Famoso Raceway:

Round 1: Lee Jennings, Chino CA, Stirling-Donovan, Right lane, (0.576) 6.226 226.30 def. Butch Blair, Martinez CA, Stirling-Chrysler, (0.587) 6.238 222.60 Mike McLennan, Orangevale CA, -Donovan, Left lane, (0.530) 6.399 232.31 def. Tim Gibson, N. Hollywood CA, -Chevy, (0.564) 6.473 202.70 Dale Pulde, Sylmar CA, Dragster-Donovan, Right lane, (0.546) 6.162 237.65 def. Bill Dunlap, Capitola CA, Uyehara Donovan, (0.575) 6.235 219.72 Rance McDaniel, Daly City CA, -Chevy, Right lane, (0.538) 6.017 234.55 def. Jim Murphy, Santa Rosa CA, Stirling-Donovan, (0.516) 6.077 208.04 Howard Haight, Upland CA, -Donovan, Right lane, (0.569) 6.040 221.67 def. Bob Muravez, Burbank CA, Dragster-Chrysler, (0.554) 6.673 154.00 Rick McGee, Exeter CA, Tedford-Donovan, Left lane, (0.508) 6.300 227.79 def. Gerry Steiner, San Jose CA, Stirling-Chevy, (0.657) 6.187 237.15 Jack Harris, Kaysville UT, N&P-Chrysler, Right lane, (0.570) 6.142 223.21 def. Mark Malde, Windsor CA, Stirling-KB, (0.571) 6.359 213.47 Denver Schutz, Fresno CA, Stirling-Donovan, Left lane, (0.528) 6.223 225.45 def. Roger Lechtenberg, Cedar Falls IA, -Donovan, (0.579) 7.900 118.51

Round 2: M McLennan, Left lane, (0.549) 6.423 227.79 def. D Pulde, (0.559) 8.785 97.59 H Haight, Right lane, (0.529) 6.246 192.18 def. R McGee, (0.549) 6.344 223.65 J Harris, Right lane, (0.568) 6.110 234.49 def. D Schutz, (0.496) 6.336 204.91 L Jennings, Left lane, (0.537) 6.187 227.44 def. R McDaniel, (0.513) Broke, Round 3: L Jennings, Right lane, (0.581) 6.093 233.88 def. M McLennan, (0.532) 6.358 227.10 J Harris, Right lane, (0.615) 6.055 237.71 def. H Haight, (0.507) 7.332 133.27

Round 4: J Harris, Right lane, (0.581) 5.993 244.56 def. L Jennings, (0.634) 7.795 123.83

Low ET: Jack Harris 5.993 seconds
Top Speed: Jack Harris 244.56 MPH

GOODGUYS-1 - Summary of Eliminations in Afuel

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Summary of eliminations in Afuel at the 42nd March Meet presented by Goodguys and Famoso Raceway:

Round 1: James Paul, Auburn CA, Uyehara-Chevy, Left lane, (0.886) 6.773 203.20 def. Rick White, San Diego CA, Dragster-Chevy, Broke Mike Joyce, Van Nuys CA, California-KB, Right lane, (0.528) 7.099 194.51 def. Jason Richey, Pleasanton CA, Sterling-Chevy, (0.069 foul) 7.077 201.11 Sean Bellemeur, La Canada CA, Uyehara-KB/BAE, Left lane, (0.516) 6.779 205.47 def. Todd Miller, Sparks NV, '32 Bantam, (0.663) 7.052 188.83 Bill Genco, Westchester CA, Tuttle-Donovan, Left lane, (0.877) 6.848 195.31 def. Kin Bates, Anderson CA, Tuttle-Chrysler, (0.669) 7.281 187.22

Round 2: S Bellemeur, Right lane, (0.436) 6.847 206.09 def. B Genco, (0.482) 12.399 55.86 J Paul, Left lane, (0.541) 6.796 193.96 def. M Joyce, (0.460) 7.142 179.21 

Round 3: J Paul, Right lane, (0.746) 6.594 205.76 def. S Bellemeur, (0.450) 7.158 156.54

Low ET: James Paul 6.594 seconds Top Speed: Sean Bellemeur 206.09 MPH

GOODGUYS-1 - Summary of Eliminations in Junior Fuel

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Summary of eliminations in Junior Fuel at the 42nd March Meet presented by Goodguys and Famoso Raceway:

Round 1: Todd Movius, Long Beach CA, Stirling-Chevy, Right lane, (0.540) 7.663 175.02 def. Dan Fenton, San Lorenzo CA, -Chevy, (0.539) 7.963 166.91 Elmer Sawyer, Le Roy IL, Stiletto-Chevy, Left lane, (1.277) 9.320 147.85 def. Kelly Craig, Campbell CA, Davis-Chevy, Broke Alan Hull, Arcadia CA, Fuller-Chevy, Left lane, (0.418) 7.586 175.43 def. Scott Parks, Burlingame CA, N&P-Chevy, (0.531) 7.482 174.45 Mendy Fry, Chula Vista CA, Meyer-Chevy, Left lane, (0.433) 7.487 173.11 def. Frank Valente, Ramona CA, Dragster-Chevy, Broke Bill Wayne, Bullhead City AZ, JP-Olds, Right lane, (0.631) 7.390 179.92 def. Jim Moore, Watsonville CA, Dragster-Chevy, (0.738) 9.051 149.97 Don Enriquez, Mission Viejo CA, Fritz-Chevy, Right lane, (0.714) 7.405 178.32 def. Rob Morris, Santa Rosa CA, Gilmore-Chevy, (0.451) 8.003 166.66 Wayne Ramay, Simi Valley CA, JP Motorsport-Chevy, Right lane, (0.534) 7.472 176.95 def. Kristin Neumann, Ventura CA, Victory-Olds, (0.487) 8.582 156.25 Mike Chrisman, Lake Forest CA, Chrisman-Chevy, Right lane, (0.474) 7.303 177.13 def. Bud Hammer, Oxnard CA, Tuttle-Chevy, (0.396 foul) 13.852 52.59

Round 2: A Hull, Left lane, (0.529) 7.641 173.54 def. W Ramay, (0.701) 7.489 177.40 D Enriquez, Right lane, (0.482) 7.431 177.54 def. T Movius, (0.420) 7.778 165.16 B Wayne, Right lane, (0.493) 7.356 180.18 def. E Sawyer, (0.723) 8.967 147.27 M Fry, Right lane, (0.462) 9.881 76.23 def. M Chrisman, Broke 

Round 3: D Enriquez, Right lane, (0.460) 7.416 178.21 def. M Fry, (0.442) 7.537 173.34 B Wayne, Right lane, (0.401) 7.391 180.32 def. A Hull, (0.443) 7.601 173.01

Round 4: B Wayne, Right lane, (0.459) 7.332 180.36 def. D Enriquez, (0.508) 7.425 178.32

Low ET: Mike Chrisman 7.303 seconds
Top Speed: Bill Wayne 180.36 MPH

GOODGUYS-1 - Summary of Eliminations in Pro Supercharged

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Summary of eliminations in Pro Supercharged at the 42nd March Meet presented by Goodguys and Famoso Raceway:

Round 1: Howard Anderson, Applegate CA, '38 Chevy, Left lane, (0.496) 7.121 187.07 def. Steve Woods, San Leandro CA, '48 Austin, (0.494) 13.592 59.00 Steve Wood, Merced CA, '53 Studebaker, Right lane, (0.507) 8.304 102.68 def. Tim Burns, San Jose CA, '41 Willys, Broke Gary Beinero, Merced CA, '48 Austin, Left lane, (0.452) 7.735 191.36 def. Rich Roberts, Winton CA, '34 Willys, (0.439) 8.527 118.56 Mel Bryson, Vida OR, '34 Willys, Right lane, (0.750) 7.913 135.13 def. Ed Moss, Ontario CA, '37 Ford, Broke

Round 2: H Anderson, Right lane, (0.501) 7.057 194.63 def. M Bryson, (0.560) 7.844 171.10 S Wood, Left lane, (0.513) 9.026 135.27 def. G Beinero, (0.479) 9.597 133.35

Round 3: S Wood, Left lane, (0.853) 7.938 156.93 def. H Anderson, (0.526) 9.805 93.73

Low ET: Steve Woods 6.808 seconds
Top Speed: Steve Woods 200.57 MPH

GOODGUYS-1 - Summary of Eliminations in A Gas

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Summary of eliminations in A Gas at the 42nd March Meet presented by Goodguys and Famoso Raceway:

Round 1: Sean Rentera, Hollister CA, '62 Plymouth, Right lane, (0.501) 8.034 0.434, def. Martin Stewart, Tigard OR, '67 Pontiac, (0.454) 8.157 0.557 Mark Mahood, Anahiem CA, '69 Camaro, Right lane, (0.470) 7.611 0.011, def. Jim Pace, Fairfield CA, '48 Anglia, (0.493) 7.909 0.309 Butch Ranson, Reno NV, '46 Ford, Left lane, (0.809) 8.551 0.951, def. Steve Castelli, Windsor CA, -Chevy, (0.565) 7.572 -0.028 Gary Fauble, Eugene OR, '37 Olds, Left lane, (0.549) 9.120 1.520, def. Larry Ofria, Northridge CA, '57 Chevy, Broke

Round 2: S Rentera, Left lane, (0.493) 7.664 0.064, def. M Mahood, Broke B Ranson, Right lane, (0.766) 8.066 0.466, def. G Fauble, (0.449) 8.562 0.962

Round 3: S Rentera, Right lane, (0.504) 7.922 0.322, def. B Ranson, (0.637) 8.390 0.790

GOODGUYS-1 - Summary of Eliminations in Nostalgia Elim

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Summary of eliminations in Nostalgia Elim at the 42nd March Meet presented by Goodguys and Famoso Raceway:

Round 1: Bob Hensel, San Bruno CA, 32 Ford-Chrysler, Left lane, (0.657) 8.061 0.461, def. Dave Gruzen, Lakewood CA, Dragster-Chevy, (0.546) 10.822 3.222 Manuel Azevedo, Concord CA, Dragster-Chevy, Left lane, (0.556) 8.344 0.744, def. Terry Caldwell, Hemet CA, Trick-Chevy, (0.591) 7.551 -0.049 Mike Savage, Tucson AZ, '37 Fiat, Left lane, (0.561) 7.958 0.358, def. Jim Scott, Fallbrook CA, Bantam-Chrysler, Broke DeWayne Sanders, Albany OR, 23-T-Chevy, Left lane, (0.430) 9.587 1.987, def. Ed Schwarz, West Covina CA, Cox-KB, (0.635) 7.558 -0.042 Mark Hall, Rio Linda CA, Sutherland-Chevy, Right lane, (0.450) 7.794 0.194, def. Ed Cook, Santa Paula CA, Dragster-Chevy, (0.858) 7.607 0.007 Chuck Bayuk, San Diego CA, Porter-Chrysler, Left lane, (0.637) 7.715 0.115, def. Bob Truluck, San Carlos CA, Fiat-Chevy, (0.669) 8.338 0.738 Brad Thompson, Visalia CA, '23 -T, Left lane, (0.440) 7.669 0.069, def. Bobby Runyon, Jean NV, RCS-Chevy, (0.605) 7.600 0.000 Scott Christlieb, Leona Valley CA, Porter-Chevy, Left lane, (0.560) 7.687 0.087, def. Mike Kirby, Thousand Oaks CA, SPE-Chevy, (0.480) 7.599 -0.001

Round 2: B Thompson, Right lane, (0.486) 7.629 0.029, def. C Bayuk, (0.925) 7.545 -0.055 S Christlieb, Left lane, (0.464) 7.615 0.015, def. M Hall, (0.452) 7.660 0.060 M Azevedo, Left lane, (0.528) 7.673 0.073, def. B Hensel, (0.788) 7.376 -0.224 D Sanders, Right lane, (0.487) 7.578 -0.022, def. M Savage, (0.510) 7.481 -0.119

Round 3: D Sanders, Left lane, (0.458) 10.193 2.593, def. B Thompson, (0.392 foul) 7.615 0.051 S Christlieb, Left lane, (0.404) 7.729 0.129, def. M Azevedo, (0.496) 7.686 0.086

Round 4: D Sanders, Right lane, (0.443) 7.614 0.014, def. S Christlieb, (0.454) 7.655 0.055

GOODGUYS-1 - Summary of Eliminations in B Gas

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Summary of eliminations in B Gas at the 42nd March Meet presented by Goodguys and Famoso Raceway:

Round 1: Brad Chafee, Valencia CA, '69 Chevy, Right lane, (0.469) 8.664 0.064, def. Fred Kennedy, Commerce City CO, '59 Chevy, (0.364 foul) 8.698 0.098 Tom Schiffilea, Arcadia CA, '40 Willys, Right lane, (0.633) 8.641 0.041, def. John Kost, San Martin CA, '63 Ford, (0.620) 8.782 0.182 Ed Cooper, Yucca Valley CA, '69 Dodge, Right lane, (0.534) 8.628 0.028, def. Tarri Moorhead, Fairfield CA, '42 Willys, (0.415) 8.756 0.156 Kevin Riley, Santa Clara CA, '67 Plymouth, Left lane, (0.426) 8.803 0.203, def. Roger Holder, Bakersfield CA, '62 Chevy, (0.659) 9.260 0.660

Round 2: B Chafee, Right lane, (0.468) 8.582 -0.018, def. K Riley, (0.347 foul) 8.580 -0.020 E Cooper, Right lane, (0.506) 8.503 -0.097, def. T Schiffilea, Broke 

Round 3: B Chafee, Right lane, (0.497) 8.606 0.006, def. E Cooper, (0.554) 8.691 0.091

GOODGUYS-1 - Summary of Eliminations in C Gas

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Summary of eliminations in C Gas at the 42nd March Meet presented by Goodguys and Famoso Raceway:

Round 1: Monty Fitzgerald, Concord CA, '72 Chevy, Right lane, (0.425) 10.059 0.459, def. Bret Pichler, Cameron Park CA, '71 Chevy, (0.557) 10.035 0.435 Boyd Schauer, Menlo Park CA, '40 Olds, Right lane, (0.672) 10.089 0.489, def. John Contreras, San Francisco CA, '65 Olds, (0.582) 10.508 0.908 Richard Noble, Woodland CA, '95 Chevy, Left lane, (0.588) 9.592 -0.008, def. Chad Demler, Providence UT, '41 Willys, (0.507) 9.587 -0.013 Robert Patten, Tracy CA, '55 Chevy, Left lane, (0.539) 9.744 0.144, def. Dick Shannon, Yakima WA, '37 Chevy, (0.705) 9.784 0.184

Round 2: B Schauer, Right lane, (0.732) 9.959 0.359, def. R Noble, (0.483) 9.530 -0.070 M Fitzgerald, Right lane, (0.443) 9.937 0.337, def. R Patten, (0.642) 9.859 0.259

Round 3: M Fitzgerald, Left lane, (0.437) 10.019 0.419, def. B Schauer, (0.602) 9.887 0.287

GOODGUYS-1 - Summary of Eliminations in Nostalgia Elim II BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Summary of eliminations in Nostalgia Elim II at the 42nd March Meet presented by Goodguys and Famoso Raceway:

Round 1: Ed Heystee, South Pasadena CA, -Donovan, Right lane, (0.458) 8.756 0.156, def. Ray Pasch, Carson City NV, '32 Ford, (0.918) 8.982 0.382 Gene Robinson, Sparks NV, 23-T-Chevy, Right lane, (0.431) 8.486 -0.114, def. Dave Ward, Crestline CA, Dragster-Chevy, (0.389 foul) 8.568 -0.032 Bob Lander, Sebastopol CA, Dragster-Chevy, Right lane, (0.461) 8.631 0.031, def. Jim Davis, El Toro CA, Dragster-Chevy, (0.549) 8.559 -0.041 Jay Huckleberry, Porterville CA, '72 Chevy-Chevy, Left lane, (0.475) 8.838 0.238, def. Dan Schrokoson, San Marcos CA, Dragster-Chevy, (0.445) 8.889 0.289

Round 2: B Lander, Right lane, (0.541) 8.620 0.020, def. G Robinson, (0.525) 8.663 0.063 J Huckleberry, Left lane, (0.536) 8.717 0.117, def. E Heystee, Left Before Tree

Round 3: B Lander, Right lane, (0.464) 8.701 0.101, def. J Huckleberry, (0.412) 8.856 0.256

GOODGUYS-1 - Summary of Eliminations in Nostalgia Elim III

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Summary of eliminations in Nostalgia Elim III at the 42nd March Meet presented by Goodguys and Famoso Raceway:

Round 1: Dave Gruzen, Lakewood CA, -Ford, Right lane, (0.439) 9.621 0.021, def. Garry Tarvin, Highland CA, Dragster-Chevy, (0.778) 9.267 -0.333 Dave Flagg, Templeton CA, '26 Ford, Left lane, (0.481) 9.623 0.023, def. Mike Arnerich, Banta CA, 27-T-Chevy, (0.715) 9.769 0.169 Judson Witty, Oakley CA, , Left lane, (0.656) 9.658 0.058, def. Dan Stewart, Palmdale CA, 23-T-Chevy, (0.654) 9.593 -0.007 Leroy Sherman, Eugene OR, '32 Ford, Right lane, (0.587) 10.215 0.615, def. Don Bird, Orland CA, 23-T-Chevy, (0.680) 10.125 0.525

Round 2: D Gruzen, Right lane, (0.419) 9.845 0.245, def. D Flagg, (0.429) 9.892 0.292 J Witty, Left lane, (0.535) 10.316 0.716, def. L Sherman, (0.566) 10.335 0.735

Round 3: D Gruzen, Right lane, (0.432) 9.835 0.235, def. J Witty, (0.581) 9.700 0.100

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