Harris Wins 39th Annual Nightfires

Just as in years past, Idaho's Premiere Motorsports Experience the Pepsi Nightfire Nationals did not disappoint. With great summer weather teams started to arrive on Wednesday getting set up for the weekends festivities. As always, the New Crew did a great job with this 39th Annual event. Racers love coming to this facility and the fans are unlike any other. With autograph signings on both Friday and Saturday evenings the upper pit area was packed with excited fans wanting to meet their favorite Top Fuel and Funny Car drivers.

The first qualifying session on Friday evening brought a bunch of 6 second passes. Top Fuel headed to the lanes about 6:30 p.m. and first out was Rick White and Brad Thompson. White laid down a 6.03 at 242 mph and Thompson trailed with a 6.22 @ 192 mph. Mike McLennan in Mike Fuller's Forever Young ran a 6.44 at 193 and Tony Bartone was up in smoke with a 7.90 at 103 mph. Out next was Rick Williamson with a 6.13 at 234 and Adam Sorokin with a tire smoking 7.94 at 109 mph. Jim Murphy ran a 6.01 at 233 mph out of the box to put him #1. Mark Malde in the Birky Bunch ran a 6.40 at 210 mph. Which left Brett Harris on a single with a 6.20 at 181 mph to conclude friday evenings top fuel entries.

Saturday brought a little warmer temperatures and a few 5 seconds passes. Thompson ran a 5.86 at 252 mph. Harris followed up with a 5.87 at 229 mph, which put them #1 and #2. During the third session on Saturday night first pair out, Mark Malde in the Birky Bunch had no chutes and went off the end of the track into the wheat field about 100 ft. Mark and the car were both alright and able to return for some Sunday racing action. Rick White stepped up with a 6.00 @ 242 mph. After a short cleanup, both Williamson and McLennan advanced up the ladder. Williamson ran a 6.08 @ 241 mph and McLennan a 6.27 @ 209 mph. Next out points leader, Adam Sorokin in the Van Dyke Motorsports dragster. Sorokin had a single, went up in smoke and coasted to a 6.88.

Tony Bartone debuted his new Bartone Brothers AA/FD at the Nightfires. He was on a great pass, when the motor let go and he was pulled to the centerline. His numbers until that point were impressive 3.85 @ 207 mph to the split, that would have equated to a mid 5.70 pass had everything went as planned. Next up, Brad Thompson, the HSMS team would have to pull back and hope their numbers would hold when the throttle linkage stuck. Brett Harris was the last top fuel car down the track and took the #1 spot with a 5.81 at 250 mph.

It was 90 degrees on Sunday when first round started around noon. First pair, Adam Sorokin and Rick White. Sorokin is the points leader coming into this race with Murphy and Thompson close enough to catch him. White was out first, and ran a 5.99 at 245 mph to Sorokin's 6.03 at 234 mph. This would put the points leader on the trailer, but the team came back for a test run during second round and ran a clean 5.83 at 250 mph. As #1 qualifier, Harris would have a bye and ran a nice 5.78 at 246 mph. Next up was Brad Thompson with another single as Bartone was unable to make the call due to rear canard damage from the previous night. Thompson shut it off at 1000 ft and coasted to a 6.36 at 150 mph. Next Murphy ran a 6.04 at 223 mph against Mark Malde's 6.31 at 210 mph. Last out Rick Williamson held off Mike McLennan with a 6.04 at 243 mph against Forever Young's 7.17 at 135 mph. Williamson would meet Harris in the second round.

With the temperature still in the low 90's top fuel pulled into the lanes for round 2. First out, Murphy with a 5.98 at 236 mph. defeats Rick White's 6.08 at 235 mph. Second pair, Harris was out first and ran a 5.82 at 246 against Williamson's good effort 5.98 at 232 mph. Number 2 Qualifier Thompson had a bye during the second round. The car went about 200 ft. and he got out of it and headed back to get ready for a semi-final wound match up against Brett Harris.

At 6: 30 p.m. the temperature was still 94 degrees and the track temp was 105. Jim Murphy had a bye into the final and ran a 5.92 at 224. Next out, Brad Thompson and Brett Harris one of Nostalgia Top Fuels greatest rivalries. Thompson was out of the gate first, but lost traction about 200 ft and had to pedal. Unfortunately he was unable to recover and watched Harris drive around him for the win with a 5.97 at 243 mph.

The final round would be the 2009 Hot Rod Heritage Series Champion, Brett Harris against Ignitor winner, Jim Murphy. In an exciting side by side pass, Harris ran a 5.83 at 247 against Murphy's 5.89 at 240 mph. This would put Jim Murphy #1 in points with Adam Sorokin only 9 points back and Thompson close behind. The 2010 Championship will be come down to the final race of the season, the California Hot Rod Reunion, Oct 14-16 at Auto Club Famoso Raceway in Bakersfield, CA.