The Nitro Nationals at Tulsa Raceway Park is the place for front-engine Top Fuel drag racing action this weekend. The All American Fuel Dragsters are tanked up for a nitro-burning supercharged spectacle of explosive 1/4-mile competition under the lights. The event carries on 50-plus years of Top Fuel competition that stretches back to the 1965 NHRA World Finals at the legendary dragstrip.
The Nitro Nationals is the next to last for NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series Top Fuel championship race ahead of the season closer at the California Hot Rod Reunion in Bakersfield, California. Mendy Fry and the High Speed Motorsports fueler, Adam Sorokin and the Champion Speed Shop small block Chevrolet, and Jim Murphy with the WW2 dragster are rolling towards Tulsa from California in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place respectively.
Ohio’s own Tyler Hilton will strap into the fearsome big block Chevrolet-powered “Great Expectations III” AA/Fuel Dragster. Tim Cullinan is on the way from Illinois and ready to light the fuse on his late-model 426 hemi-powered “Irish Car Bomb.” Local racing legend Paul Schultz is loaded up with nitro for his hemi-powered “Spirit of Tulsa” dragster and BBQ spare ribs for the assembled Top Fuel drivers and crews.
Mendy Fry and the High Speed Motorsports team are heading into the pivotal race following the tragic loss of Crew Chief and patriarch Tom Shelar, who died unexpectedly in his sleep on Thursday, August 22nd. The sad news came just days after the tight-knit team won the Nightfire Nationals at Firebird Raceway and the Nitro Summer Nationals at Spokane County Raceway.
Through the shock and grief, Shelar’s family decided the best way to honor Tom’s memory was to finish the 2019 season and run for a second consecutive Heritage Series Top Fuel title. Former drivers Sean Bellemeur and Troy Green stepped back into the team to help make it happen. Fry holds the championship points lead by a substantial margin, and the Nitro Nationals could be the de facto decider.
TOP FUEL TRADITION
Tulsa Raceway Park co-owner Todd Martin was instrumental in bringing Heritage Series racing to Tulsa Raceway Park. “We’re proud to carry on the 50-plus year tradition of Top Fuel drag racing here at Tulsa Raceway Park. NHRA Heritage Series drag racing is perfect for our Nitro Nationals event,” said Martin. The Nitro Nationals features drag racing competition, a vintage car show, and the famous pinup contest for a nitro-fueled throwback in time.
The All American Fuel Dragsters, fuel-huffing supercharged Funny Cars and injected-on-nitro A/Fuelers will join an armada of front-engine Junior Fuel diggers, high-axle Gassers, pre-1972 doorslammers, and econo dragsters for two days and nights of non-stop action.
For full event information and tickets head over to www.tulsaracewaypark.com or check out the official Tulsa Raceway Park Facebook page for the latest news and updates.
NITRO NATIONALS TOP FUEL SCHEDULE
Schedule subject to change
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 20th:
Gates 10 AM for racers
Gates 5 PM spectators
Top Fuel Qualifying: 8 PM
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 21st
Racer Gates: 9 AM
Spectator Gates: 11 AM
Top Fuel Qualifying Session Two: 2 PM
Opening Ceremony: 5 PM
Eliminations: 6 PM
Semi-Final: 8 PM
Final: 10 PM
NHRA HOT ROD HERITAGE SERIES TOP FUEL POINTS STANDINGS
1) Mendy Fry 447
2) Adam Sorokin 341
3) Jim Murphy 261
4) Bret Williamson 227
5) Tyler Hilton 184
6) Phil Ruskowski 176
7) Jim Young 97
8) Rick White 78
9) Pete Wittenberg 67
10) Brendan Murry 62
11) Rick McGee 54
12) Joey Haas 53
13) Tim Cullinan 52
14) Julius Hughes 51
15) Gerald Hangey 10
15) Roger Lechtenberg 10
Head over to www.nhrahotrodheritage.com for all Heritage Series racing news, schedule, official points standings, tickets, race results, rules and more.
TOM SHELAR CELEBRATION OF LIFE
A celebration of Tom Shelar’s life will be held at the Bakersfield Elk’s Lodge on October 24th in conjunction with the California Hot Rod Reunion. Instead of flowers, the family requests donations in Tom’s name to the Workshops for Warriors Foundation.
Thursday, October 24th, 2019
The Elks Lodge
1616 30th Street
Bakersfield, CA 93301
Tacos 5:30-7:30. Rememberances at 7 PM. Classic Rock at 8:30 PM
|
|
|
Share this article:
Discover more from Drag Racing List
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
You must be logged in to post a comment.