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?
Tripp Shumake from Phoenix, Arizona USA (Comp Number: 774) 1974 - Category: FUELFC, Type: FN, Class: AA/FC, Div: 7 "Sundance" Owned by Dennis Fowler from Phoenix, Arizona USA '73 Plymouth Satellite by Dennis Watson | Powered by a 484 cubic inch WRE Hemi by Waterman Racing Engines with 2 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile ET: […]
Russell Long from Mission Viejo, California USA (Comp Number: 751) 1975 - Category: FUELFC, Type: FN, Class: AA/FC, Div: 6 "Sundance" Owned by Dennis Fowler from Phoenix, Arizona USA '75 Chevrolet Monza by S&R Race Cars (Steve Plueger & Richard Conklin) | Powered by a 484 cubic inch Keith Black Hemi with 2 speed manual […]
Fernando Cuadra Jr. from Leon, Guanajuato Mexico (Comp Number: 406M) 2025 - Category: PS-500, Type: LN, Class: Pro Stock, Div: 7 "Corral Tequila" Owned by Fernando Cuadra Sr. from Leon, Guanajuato Mexico 2020 Ford Mustang by Jerry Haas | Powered by a 500 cubic inch GM with 5 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 6.535 […]
David Cuadra from Leon, Guanajuato Mexico (Comp Number: 411M) 2025 - Category: PS-500, Type: LN, Class: Pro Stock, Div: 4 "Corral Tequila" Owned by Fernando Cuadra Sr. from Leon, Guanajuato Mexico 2019 Chevrolet Camaro by RJ Race Cars | Powered by a 500 cubic inch GM by DRCE with 5 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile […]
Mason McGaha from Odessa, Texas USA (Comp Number: 400) 2025 - Category: PS-500, Type: LN, Class: Pro Stock, Div: 4 "Harlow Sammons of Odessa" Owned by Lester McGaha from Odessa, Texas USA 2020 Chevrolet Camaro by Jerry Haas | Powered by a 500 cubic inch Chevrolet with 5 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 6.505 […]
Chris McGaha from Odessa, Texas USA (Comp Number: 4264) 2025 - Category: PS-500, Type: LN, Class: Pro Stock, Div: 4 "Harlow Sammons of Odessa" Owned by Lester McGaha from Odessa, Texas USA 2019 Chevrolet Camaro by Jerry Haas | Powered by a 500 cubic inch Chevrolet with 5 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 6.545 […]
Matt Latino from Cornelius, North Carolina USA (Comp Number: 201) 2025 - Category: PS-500, Type: LN, Class: Pro Stock, Div: 1 "Bear Grill/AirIQ" Owned by Eric Latino from Cornelius, North Carolina USA 2019 Chevrolet Camaro by Jerry Haas Race Cars | Powered by a 500 cubic inch Chevrolet by Titan with 5 speed manual transmission […]
Troy Coughlin Jr. from Columbus, Ohio USA (Comp Number: 300) 2025 - Category: PS-500, Type: LN, Class: Pro Stock, Div: 3 "Jegs" Owned by Richard Freeman from Mooresville, North Carolina USA 2025 Chevrolet Camaro by Jerry Haas Race Cars | Powered by a 500 cubic inch Chevrolet by Elite Motorsports with 5 speed manual transmission […]
Ken Delco from Setauket, New York USA (Comp Number: 150) 2025 - Category: PS-500, Type: LN, Class: Pro Stock, Div: 1 "Fuel Juels/Artisan Coffee Co." Owned by KD Racing from Setauket, New York USA 2021 Chevrolet Camaro by Jerry Haas | Powered by a 500 cubic inch GM by KB Titan with 5 speed manual […]
Erica Enders from Montgomery, Texas USA (Comp Number: 430) 2025 - Category: PS-500, Type: LN, Class: Pro Stock, Div: 4 "JHS/Elite Motorsports" Owned by Richard Freeman from Mooresville, North Carolina USA 2024 Chevrolet Camaro by RJ Race Cars | Powered by a 500 cubic inch Chevrolet by Elite Motorsports with 5 speed manual transmission 1/4 […]