2002 California Hot Rod Reunion (Oct. 4-6)

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PAST CALIFORNIA
HOT ROD REUNIONS
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  Hot Rod Reunion

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  Hot Rod Reunion

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  Hot Rod Reunion

Jack Harris of Kayville, Utah shows off the trophy he won at Top Fuel Eliminator at the 11th Annual NHRA California Hot Rod Reunion presented by the Automobile Club of Southern California. Harris defeated Glenn Hutchison to win the top class at Famoso Raceway.

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - After two days of swapping nostalgic stories and comparing hot rods, racing took center stage on the final day of the 11th annual NHRA California Hot Rod Reunion, presented by the Automobile Club of Southern California.

And what races they were - the closest and most competitive finals in the history of the Reunion.

Jack Harris of Kayville, Utah at 6.124 second and 216.24 miles per hour, defeated Glen Hutchison of Sacramento at 6.276 seconds and 232.55 mph in the hotly-contested Top Fuel A Final. Both Harris and Hutchison had their quickest runs during qualifying at 6.124 seconds and 6.276 seconds respectively.

Top Fuel B class, for the second-fastest eight Top Fuel cars, went to Bill Dunlap of Capitola, who defeated Denver Schutz of Fresno.

Terry Caldwell of Hemet and Bobby Runyon of Jean, Nev. Battled it out in the Nostalgia Eliminator class with Caldwell taking the victory. Caldwell is crew chief for Larry Minor's Top Fuel dragster on the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing tour, while Minor sponsor's Caldwell's Nostalgia effort.

National records were set in the Junior Fuel Class as Dean Carter of Glendale, Ariz., ran the quickest and fastest quarter-mile in the class's history at 7.114 seconds and 188.28 miles per hour in his victory over Kelly Craig, whose quick time was 7.123 seconds at 185.83 mph.

"In all areas, this was the most successful Reunion we've ever had," said Steve Gibbs, vice president, director of the NHRA Motorsports Museum, producers of the California Hot Rod Reunion. "We broke attendance records each day and the racing was exciting, but more importantly, everyone had a good time and a lot of fun. And that's what the Hot Rod Reunion is all about."

Next year's NHRA California Hot Rod Reunion is set for Oct. 3-5, 2003 and Gibbs reminded prospective attendees to get their hotel reservations in early for best selection.

Top Fuel A
Round 1
Rich Howell (6.048 sec., 231.30 mph) def. John Shoemaker (6.175, 191.69 mph)
Glenn Hutchison (6.037, 215.98) def. Bob Hallock (6.020, 242.84)
Jim Murphy (6.026, 239.10) def. Gerry Steiner (5.985, 249.51)
Jack Harris (5.920, 250.62) def. Rick McGee, (6.232, 195.52)

Round 2
Hutchison (7.955, 111.28) def. Murphy (broke)
Harris (5.884, 249.79) def. Howell (7.370, 120.44)

Final
Harris (6.124, 216.24) def. Hutchison (6.276, 232.55)

Top Fuel B
Round 1
Bill Dunlap (5.925, 242.78) def. Bill Alexander (6.109, 210.08)
Denver Schutz (6.039, 231.06) def. Brendan Murry (6.091, 228.94)
Troy Green (6.189, 220.37) def. Lee Jenning (6.123, 216.86)
Kerry Moreira (6.221, 236.46) def. Marc Malde (7.912, 114.34)

Round 2
Dunlap (6.102, 224.83) def. Green (7.496, 117.18)
Schutz (6.161, 218.76) def. Moreira (6.207, 236.96)

Final
Dunlap (6.049, 230.88) def. Schutz (6.601, 167.13)

Nostalgia Eliminator
Round 1
Chuck Bayuk (7.670, 176.05) def. Gregg Scott (7.513, 178.39)
Dave Gruzen (7.954, 158.50) def. Bob Hensel (7.719, 176.78)
Terry Caldwell (7.740, 152.77) def. Ronnie Lennon (7.508, 164.29)
Bob Murphy (7.755, 178.04) def. Gil Valencia (broke)
Scott Christlieb (7.625, 173.94) def. Lenny Hahn (7.589, 185.87)
Ronnie Lennon (8.539, 125.52) def. Mike Cross (10.965, 79.87)
Alan Hull (8.462, 153.08) def. Woody Duke (foul)
Bobby Runyon (7.784, 179.21) def. Tony Lemmon (7.477, 158.06)

Round 2
Bayuk (7.951, 167.59) def. Gruzen (8.046, 157.78
Runyon (7.622, 182.85) def. Hull (7.813, 154.32)
Caldwell (7.659, 184.84) def. Lennon (7.508, 164.29)
Murphy (7.615, 180.50) def. Christlieb (foul - 7.641, 182.66)

Round 3
Caldwell (7.798, 151.61) def. Bayuk (7.653, 171.52)
Runyon (7.663, 182.18) def. Murphy (7.714, 175.19)

Final
Caldwell (7.742, 180.57) def. Runyon (7.675, 184.65)

Junior Fuel
Round 1
Dean Carter (7.153, 185.83) def. Brett Murphy (8.321, 25.44)
Tod Movius (7.415, 52.19) def. Jim Moore (7.695, 173.37)
Jon Rowley (7.395, 177.37) def. Dan Fenton (7.725, 38.36)
Stacy Paul (7.390, 53.74) def. J.D. Zink (foul)
Kelly Craig (7.119, 79.44) def. Bud Hammer (7.582, 177.54)
Mike Chrisman (7.323, 183.29) def. Brad Woodard (7.610, 172.94)
Scott Parks (7.254, 180.28) def. Kol Johnson (7.484, 48.35)
Wayne Ramay (7.342, 56.98) def. Don Enriquez (7.438, 179.74)

Round 2
Chrisman (7.356, 182.55) def. Movius (7.354, 178.14)
Craig (7.208, 185.52) ef. Ramay (7.334, 184.16)
Carter (7.141, 184.35) def. Paul (7.353, 179.46)
Parks (7.270, 179.67) def. Rowley (7.377, 176.85)

Round 3
Craig (7.152, 186.37) def. Parks (7.277, 179.92) Carter (7.129, 184.69) def. Chrisman (7.344., 182.29)

Final
Carter (7.114, 188.28) def. Craig (7.123, 185.83)

AA/Gas Final
Ron Nunes (7.092, 198.01) def. Howard Anderson (7.079, 194.72)

AFuel Final
Jeff Diehl (6.641, 205.43) def. Russ Conroy (6.753, 207.56)

A/FX Final
David Franklin (10.291, 118.03) def. Phil Featherston (10.339, 133.96)