Words by John Drummond • Photos by James Drew • 11/8/06
An abbreviated 2006 Goodguys/VRA Nostalgia Drag Racing Series came to a picture perfect end at Auto Club Famoso Raceway, just north of Bakersfield, as all 14 class finals were run at sunset. It was almost as if Mother Nature was
in sync with the drag racing gods – timing the whole thing just right.
The Nostalgia Top Fuel race outcome and the championship points battle hung in the balance of the final which featured 2005 Goodguys champion Rick White against 25-year-old hard charger Sean Bellemeur. At stake in the final for Bellemeur was his first-ever Goodguys Top Fuel event win and his first-ever Goodguys Top Fuel Championship. His bid fell short just after he left the line as his Plaza Hotel & Casino entry went up in smoke. White, who had struggled all season, found the winning combination at the Finals and streaked away to win the event in 5.873 seconds.
Utah’s Brett Harris, who had gone out in the second round, won the Goodguys Top Fuel Championship as his second round finish here and big win earlier in the season at Pomona gave him the needed points for his first-ever Goodguys Top Fuel title. Harris also set a new Goodguys Top Fuel class speed record at 261.24 mph.