GOODGUYS AT POMONA

Notes and photos by Tim Marshall

LAST GOODGUYS AT POMONA WAS A BARNBURNER
This race was in all probability the last one for the Goodguys at Pomona. It will be the last time that the new-wave version of the Sixties front-motored fuelers will put rubber to asphalt on the historic Pomona Fairplex quarter-mile. Next year NHRA will run three of their own events with nitro cars. Maybe that was the reason for the huge turn-out of nostalgia cars at this event including 22 top fuelers and numerous jr fuelers, gassers, geezers and altereds.

In Top Fuel Jack Harris and Larry Gotelli Jr reprised their identical ET in the finals act that they debuted at the Indy Goodguys race and with the same results. Canadian racer Sean Bellemeur got the win over NorCal legend Steve San Paolo but Don Enriquez carried the banner for the Sixties generation by winning Jr Fuel. Other winners included Ron Nunes' AA/GS Vette. Chris Abbey in A/G, Tom Schiffelea in B/G and Bob Lander in the always tough nostalgia eliminator.

WHO SAID THE ELPHANT'S DEAD
Utah Fuel racer Jack Harris (above photo) proved that the hemi is still the boss of Nostalgia Top Fuel by driving his hemi-powered rail from the eighth and last qualifying spot to the winner's circle at the Pomona County Fairgrounds. Harris used a holeshot to defeat Larry Gotelli Jr's rat-powered rail when both cars recorded the identical elapsed time of 6.19!

BILL DUNLAP COPS "B" MAIN
With 22 entries in Top Fuel at Pomona there were easily enough fuel cars for a second eight car field. Once again the hemi reigned supreme as Bill Dunlap drove Mike Fuller's fueler to a win over Dave Uyehara. Alexander booted the digger to a 6.36 elapsed time spoiling "Rookie" Uyehara's return as a driver of a fuel car

NUNES TAKES WOODS TO SHED

Steve Woods' flamed, supercharged, '48 Prefect (right) took him to the Goodguys' AA/GS title in 1999 but it wasn't strong enough to get him to the finish line in front of Ron Nunes' '63 'Vette at Pomona. Former BB/GS racer Nunes (left) ran a string of 7.0 s to get the win ,running a 7.02 in the final to Woods' losing 7.21.

ABBEY GETS THE GOLD

Chris Abbey's boss '57 Chevy was not only lowered but it was also chopped. Oh yeah, and it was fast enough to beat all comers in A/Gas competition.

NOSTALGIA IS NICE
In an altered vs dragster final round Bob Lander was the victor in his supercharged

rat motored digger beating Todd Miller's altered.