Whit Bazemore discusses the Jim McLennan Drag Racing Foundation’s Top Fuel Intern Program with founder Bob McLennan and Bakersfield College Student Himmet Bhogal.
The Jim McLennan Drag Racing Foundation unveiled its “Top Fuel Interns” program at the Good Vibrations March Meet last month.
Twenty students from the Bakersfield College Auto Tech program were placed among a dozen Heritage Series Top Fuel Dragster teams at the 60th March Meet and began training as mechanics in the rarefied world of nitro drag racing.
In the attached video, AAFD President Bob McLennan explains to Whit Bazemore his reason and rationale for getting the program started — and the possibility of career changes for these trainees.
ICYMI: THE CONCLUSION OF 60TH MARCH MEET DRAGSTRIP RUMBLE, PT. 3: TOP FUEL Semi-finals and PT.4: TOP FUEL Final Round.
Mendy Fry guns for a back-to-back March Meet conquest and faces a familiar foe in the semi-finals, NHRA Heritage Series Top Fuel Champion, Jim Murphy, who is seeking out a 5th March Meet win. In the other match, two new faces, Pete Wittenberg and Bret Williamson, are making laps and taking names.
Will fate be kind to our AA/Fuel Dragster heroes? Or is Bakersfield just another boulevard of broken dreams?
Megan Smith from Anderson, South Carolina USA (Comp Number: 250) 2025 - Category: AFUELDRAG, Type: XN, Class: A/FD, Div: 2 "Hartman Enterprises" Owned by Virgil Hartman from Anderson, South Carolina USA 1997 Dragster by Murf McKinney | Powered by a 439 cubic inch BAE with direct drive 1/4 Mile ET: 5.341 at NHRA Norwalk OH […]
Anthony Troyer from Lehigh Acres, Florida USA (Comp Number: 200) 2025 - Category: AFUELDRAG, Type: XN, Class: A/FD, Div: 2 "Fendt/Troyer Brothers/NGK" Owned by Rich McPhillips from Phoenixville, Pennsylvania USA 2023 Dragster by Indy Speed Shop | Powered by a 439 cubic inch BAE Hemi with direct drive 1/4 Mile ET: 5.193 at NHRA Pomona […]
Jackie Fricke from Flemington, New Jersey USA (Comp Number: 1212) 2025 - Category: AFUELDRAG, Type: XN, Class: A/FD, Div: 1 "Finke Equipment" Owned by Kevin, Joe & Steve Cantrell & John Finke from Wilmington, Delaware USA 2019 Dragster by Copeland | Powered by a 439 cubic inch BAE Hemi by CRP with direct drive 1/4 […]
John Ausherman from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania USA (Comp Number: 2610) 2025 - Category: AFUELDRAG, Type: XN, Class: A/FD, Div: 1 "JC Auto Glass" Owned by John Ausherman from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania USA 2015 Dragster by Joe Monden | Powered by a 439 cubic inch BAE with direct drive 1/4 Mile ET: 5.356 at NHRA D1 Reading PA […]
Tom Fox Jr. from Cinnaminson, New Jersey USA (Comp Number: 183) 2025 - Category: ALKYDRAG, Type: DN, Class: TA/D, Div: 1 "Fox Racing | Anniemac Cash 2 Keys" Owned by Tom Fox Sr. & Jr. from Cinnaminson, New Jersey USA 2022 Dragster by Brad Hadman | Powered by a 468 cubic inch BAE Hemi with […]
Richard Bourke from Old Tappan, New Jersey USA (Comp Number: 1482) 2025 - Category: AFUELDRAG, Type: XN, Class: A/FD, Div: 1 "Richard Bourke" Owned by Richard Bourke from Old Tappan, New Jersey USA 2002 Dragster by Heads Up | Powered by a 421 cubic inch TFX Hemi with direct drive 1/4 Mile ET: 5.257 at […]
Brett Winward from Newark, Delaware USA (Comp Number: 118) 2025 - Category: ALKYDRAG, Type: DN, Class: TA/D, Div: 1 "Winward Racing" Owned by Ken Winward from Newark, Delaware USA 1993 Dragster by Ken Keir | Powered by a 471 cubic inch Chrysler Hemi/BAE Hemi with 3 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 5.403 at Rising […]
Joe Morrison from Flemington, New Jersey USA (Comp Number: 171) 2025 - Category: ALKYDRAG, Type: DN, Class: TA/D, Div: 1 "Pickett Racing" Owned by Tom Pickett from Salem, New Hampshire USA 2002 Dragster by Dave Uyehara | Powered by a 469 cubic inch Keith Black Hemi by Jonathan Pickett with 3 speed manual transmission 1/4 […]
Phillip Esz from Cleveland, Ohio USA (Comp Number: 365) 2025 - Category: ALKYFC, Type: CN, Class: TA/FC, Div: 3 "Ultra Sonic LLC" Owned by Phillip Esz from Cleveland, Ohio USA 2024 Chevrolet Camaro by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a 521 cubic inch BAE with 3 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 5.425 […]
Bob McCosh from Columbia, Missouri USA (Comp Number: 572) 2025 - Category: ALKYFC, Type: CN, Class: TA/FC, Div: 5 "Bob McCosh Chevrolet" Owned by Bob McCosh from Columbia, Missouri USA 2022 Chevrolet Camaro SS by Brad Hadman | Powered by a 523 cubic inch BAE Hemi with 3 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 5.499 […]