Salving the wounds of the fuel altered face-slap was a superlative, tight display of theater by the AA/Fuel Dragster circuit, which was the domain of Jack "the Sheriff" Harris, who bested "Handsome Rance" McDaniel and the Champion Speed Shop entry for the event win. Harris clocked a 6.15 in his Chrysler-powered rail as he motored past the Champion machine in the lights.

McDaniel clocked a 6.30, but made the race tight as a mousehole with a .419 reaction time. Competition amongst these retro, front-engined fuelers was particularly fierce and brought out the best of all 16 entries invited to compete for a 8-car eliminator. The most salient proof of how cut-throat and over-the-top the competition was, was exemplified by the fate of Howard Haight and the Circuit Breaker entry -- he was #3 on the ladder going into the last session of qualifying with a 6.16 and failed to make the show at all.

There was a three-pronged mutual admiration society amongst the front-motored fueler crowd, the fans and the NHRA. One pleasantly surprised AA/FD crew chief said, "In all honesty, we expected to be treated worse than Super Comp." Lucky for him, that dubious distinction would be reserved for the likes of "Dyno Don" Nicholson and his vintage-fashioned A/Factory Experimental, AA/Fuel Altereds "the Winged Express," "the Rat Trap," "Nanook," and the like, all of whom were sent home without making a pass on Saturday.

It is worth noting, however, that in addition to the laser show, which one ticket buyer likened to "Lite Brite," the NHRA was able to ensure that the Junior Dragster final round was consummated. In an egregious example of journalistic oversight, this writer failed to catch the name of the winner.

Cole Coonce is a drag strip journalist who insists he is not taking any more assignments until he finally finishes INFINITY OVER ZERO, a historical novel on the Land Speed Record. For a peek at that transcript, visit www.nitronic.com/infinity.

EXTRA POMONA NOTES & QUOTES

HERBERT GOES HOME FOR A WIN
Doug Herbert, who grew up in nearby Villa Park in Orange County was happy to get his sixth career victory.

"We were sure hungry for this one," Herbert said of his first Southern California win. "I've been around drag racing all my life and this is the first time I've won a race at Pomona. I've had some good times here and some bad times. I was the second driver to go 300 (mph) and I did it here in 1993." - Joe Sherk

FORCE CLAIMS 96TH VICTORY
Although he struggled with mechanical problems, the heat and the humidity for much of the day, John Force saved his best performance for the final round.

"Austin Coil, Bernie Fedderly, John Medlen, Gary Densham, Jimmy Prock, Tony Pedfegon, all those guys, that whole group, they're the ones who really made all this come true," Force said. "We struggled (but in the final) we just hopped 'er up and tried to do what we did the other night (during qualifying) and we got away with it."

The win extends Force's points lead to 335, almost 17 racing rounds. - Dave Densmore

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