2010 Top Fuel Champion Crowned and CHRR Winner Yet To Be Determined

The 19th California Hot Rod Reunion was billed as an exciting race and that it was. Crazy weather would force the finals to be postponed, the top fuel champion would be crowned and serious crash saw a driver walk away.

When qualifying started on Friday the weather was warm. Jim Murphy went #1 with a 5.80 at 230 mph, some thought he was on his way to win the 2010 Championship. Fugowie had a serious crash during the first qualifyer, and driver John Weaver was able to walk away unharmed. The engine lost a couple of rods and the car got into its own oil and shot across the track and rode the right guard rail taking out some very expensive photography equipment. It finally came to a rest and Weaver was shook up, but luckily in good shape.

First Round at the Reunion is run on Saturday afternoon, it was 87 degrees with a track temp of 107. First pair out was Rick White and Brett Harris. White was having problems and was shut off on the line and Harris singled to a 5.73 at 257 mph. The roar of the crowd still lingered in the air when Mike McLennan and Brad Thompson started their burn outs. Brad Thompson rips off a 5.71 at 247 mph, which would end up being quickest of the session. Mike McLennan slowed to a 6.98 at 149 mph. Out next Bill Dunlap in Bob Richardson's Circuit Breaker and Troy Green in the "Crop Duster". Green rockets to a 5.87 at 244 mph while Dunlap runs a respectable 5.95 at 229 mph. Jim Murphy would end up with a bye when Weaver was a no show due to damage sustained in Q1. Murphy ran a nice 5.76 at 253 mph. Next up Rick WIlliamson and Brendan Murry, Williamson ran a clean 5.92 at 235 mph to defeat Murry's 6.43 at 177 mph. Rick McGee turned up the heat on Rick Roger with a 5.79 at 243 mph. Rogers had issues and coasted to a 20.90 at 58 mph. The final pair was Denver Schutz and James Day. Denver ran a 5.88 at 240 mph and Day had a problematic 20.90 at 58 mph.

Sunday morning the clouds started to linger and the temp was a mere 74 degrees with track temp at 89. Second round began with Denver Schutz and Rick McGee in what was a very close race, but McGee's 5.82 at 251 defeated Denver's 5.83 at 246. Next up was Thompson and Sorokin. Who ever won this round would eventually meet Murphy in the semis and would determine the 2010 Champion. In yet another close race, Sorokin's 5.81 at 249 mph defeated Thompson's 5.82 at 252 mph. Brett Harris would take out Williamson with a 5.80 at 229 mph to a 5.92 at 236 mph. Troy Green fell to Jim Murphy who ran a 5.842 at 229 to Green's 5.846 at 264 mph. Although, The Crop Duster did become the newest member of the 260 mph Club.

In the Semis Sorokin and the Van Dyke Motorsports car would run low et of the event and also take home the 2010 Championship with their 5.634 at 252 mph pass against Murphy's 8.60 at 104 mph. At the top end of the track when he got out of the car he exclaimed, "5.63 with a FOUR!?" Congratulations to the whole team on their 2010 NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series Top Fuel Championship.

Brett Harris would end up taking out McGee with a 5.77 at 250 mph to Rick's 6.88 at 132 mph. So it would be Sorokin and Harris in the final. Both teams made the mad dash back to their pits to make the turn around before the dark skies started rolling in heavier.

But before they knew it race officials had called the race for the day due to an electrical storm and postponed it until Monday morning at 11 am. When Monday rolled around mother nature decided she would rain on their parade and the teams packed up and headed home. NHRA officials have decided that the Top Fuel and Funny Car finals for the 19th California Hot Rod Reunion will be held at the WOrld FInals November 11-14, 2010. So, stay tuned for the results from Pomona!