More Thunder than
Speed at Bristol

Words by Jeff Burk
Photos by Jeff Burk and David Allio
5/5/03

The NHRA Top Fuel, Funny Car, and Pro Stock ranks usually supply the star power for that sanctioning body at nearly every stop on the 23-race POWERade tour, but that wasn't the case when the tour came to Bristol's Thunder Valley Dragway. John Force, Brandon Bernstein, et al. dominated the electronic and print media's attention, but the fans in the stands found their own stars in the two exhibition classes--Pro Mod and Top Fuel Harley--that were booked in for this event.

NHRA's three professional classes provided the hardcore fans plenty of excitement, but the fact that Bristol fans stood and applauded every time Pro Mod racers Rickie Smith or Shannon Jenkins came to the line, and that they waited through a five-hour rain delay to watch a Saturday night Nitro Harley qualifying session (at 11 pm!), indicated that at least part of the reason Bristol sold EVERY seat for the Friday and Saturday shows was the fans' interest in more than the regular POWERade parade of cars and stars.

Fred Hahn drove the Summit Racing Equipment-backed Corvette to the Pro Mod win.
The car, with a supercharged wedge motor by team owner Jim Oddy, was also low qualifier at 6.179.

NEXT PAGE >>