AA/FD drivers gather in Bakersfield

Adam Sorokin  (James Drew photo) Tony Bartone at last year’s CHRR.  (James Drew photo) Also competing will be Mendy Fry, the lone female of the group, piloting Mike Fuller’s explosive “Forever Young” dragster. (Brian Losness photo)

With NHRA’s Heritage Series Points Title on the line, Top Fuel drivers Adam Sorokin and Rick Williamson lead a field of fifteen AA/Fuel Dragsters into battle this weekend at the 21st California Hot Rod Reunion at Auto Club Famoso.

Sorokin, driving the Champion Speed Shop Chevrolet, is leading the series by 61 points -- less than three round of racing. Number 2 in points, Williamson, manning the Team Craig machine, will be gunning for the Champion Speed Shop dragster in hopes of upending Sorokin’s title quest. All of which matters little to East Coast and Midwest drag racers towing to Bakersfield looking to prove to Left Coast racers and fans that the baddest fuelers aren’t from California. Of those, strongman Tony Bartone and the Bartone Brothers car from New York is the fastest of them all, clocking a 274-mph top end speed earlier this year.

Similarly, former IHRA Top Fuel champ and two-time DRO AA/FC champion Paul Romine, taking the seat in Frank Ousley’s “Crop Duster” dragster out of Illinois, will attempt to post more 5.50-second elapsed times like those that the team recorded en route to winning this year’s Bakersfield March Meet. Moreover, for the first time this year accomplished journeyman Howard Haight will be racing the “Mr. Boston” car out west.

As always, consistently fierce competitors Jim Murphy, Rick White and Rick McGee will all play a major role in setting the pace for the 21st Reunion in their Chrysler 392-type powered dragsters. In contrast to their approach, among entries sporting the 426-Hemi powerplant are young guns Terry Cox, Brendan Murry and Dan Horan Jr.

Rounding out the field is respected wheelman Bill Dunlap in the “High Speed Motorsports” entry, as well as John Rasmussen driving for Bob Richardson’s “Circuit Breaker” machine and El Segundo peacenik beach-bum Jim Boyd and his vintage-perfect "Red Turkey."

We Did it For Love.com runs a tout sheet with the odds and notes for the AA/FD field for the 21st California Hot Rod Reunion.

Remember, this is for entertainment purposes only - No Wagering!

[10/16/2012]

The Tipsy One picks on the AA/FC drivers

What are the odds on the Tipsy Trickster getting the odds right on the AA Funny Car drivers at this weekend’s California Hot Rod Reunion?

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