Pro Comp Hydro Winner Steve Cranford (far lane) ran a 5.9293-second elapsed time at 145.55 miles per hour over Mike Davis (near lane) with a .018 reaction time.
The NJBA race teams returned to Lake Ming in Bakersfield, California after its annual three-month summer reprieve, and despite being later in the year, conditions were unusually hot and humid.
Story by Beverly Stokes / Photos by Mark McLaughlin
The NJBA race teams returned to Lake Ming in Bakersfield, California after its annual three-month summer reprieve, and despite being later in the year, conditions were unusually hot and humid. Approximately eighty race teams made the trek to central California for the fourth of its six-points race series, with one more race remaining at Bakersfield in October before heading to the season finale at the lake at Wildhorse Pass Motorsports Park in Chandler, Arizona in November.
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Representatives of the Racers For Christ and Racers Emergency Support Program were on hand to assist with a couple of incidents during the event, and the non-profit organization, Racers ESP, also held a Bucket Raffle fundraiser to raise much needed money for a very great cause.
Pro Outlaw
Jack Wright drove his “Joker” machine to the top qualifying spot in the 5.2-second Pro Outlaw class after posting a 5.253-second elapsed time during time trials on Saturday and he advanced automatically to the final on Sunday when the number four qualifier, Gary Bauer, was unable to fire his machine on the starting line. The number two qualifier,
Tim Riston in “Mayhem” (far lane) runs a 5.304-second elapsed time at 162.148 miles per hour with a .037 reaction time to take the win in the Pro Outlaw final over number one qualifier Jack Wright in “The Joker”.
Vic Esposito negated a very nice .059 reaction time in his opening round of eliminations when he posted a too-quick 5.179-second ET that automatically advanced Tim Riston to the final with a 5.267-second run. In the final between Tim and Jack Wright, both men posted closely matched runs, but Tim was slightly quicker at both ends of the track to take the PO win by a .077 margin of victory.
Quick Eliminator
Dan Jensen posted a stellar 6.009-second elapsed time to take the top qualifying spot in the thirteen-boat field of Quick Eliminator race teams, and the number two through seven qualifiers posted elapsed times in the 6.0-second range, which goes to show just how tough the competition is in this class. The number two qualifier, Ken Petrovich,
The Quick Eliminator final pits number one qualifier Dan Jensen in “Without a Trace” (near lane), against QE winner Corey Hallberg (far lane).
advanced on a single in the opening round of eliminations on Sunday when Brien Dunn was unable to make the call, and then he got the bye in round two before falling to number three, Corey Hallberg in the semifinals. Dan Jensen, who got the round one bye and then advanced through the next two rounds by default, faced Corey in the final and Dan was off the line first with a .111 reaction time, but Corey was not far behind with a .181 r/t and he paired that with a stout 6.028-second elapsed time to secure the QE victory.
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Top Eliminator
The Aggravated Assault team watch their driver Scot Tillinghast (far lane) against Steve Newton (near lane) in “P-Town Hustler” as he takes the win in the Top Eliminator Final.The Top Eliminator class was just as fun to watch, as the top half of the ten-boat field posted qualifying times in the 9.00-second range with Scott Simmons besting the class with a near perfect 9.008-second run during time trials. JoJo Masek took the number two qualifying spot with a 9.023-second run but she lost to Scot Tillinghast in round two by a .058 margin on a hole shot by Scot. Scott Simmons advanced on a double breakout in round one and again in round two on a bye run, but he fell to number four, Steve Newton in the semifinals when he posted a too-quick 8.984-second elapsed time, setting up a final round matchup between Steve and Scot Tillinghast. In their final round race, Steve Newton was better at both ends of the track, logging a stout .041 reaction time and posting an equally impressive 9.027-second elapsed time to secure the TE victory over Scott, who got a late start off the line and then broke out while trying to catch Steve at the top end of the class.
Steve Newton was better at both ends of the track for the Top Eliminator win
Modified Eliminator
Three race teams registered to compete in the 10.00-second Modified Eliminator class, but Ricky Sneed elected to bow out of competition after time trials on Saturday, leaving a final round matchup on Sunday between the number one qualifier, Jared Vance, and number two, Noah Wright. On their final round race,
Modified Eliminator winner/number one qualifier, Jared Vance in “My Favorite Memories”, wins over Noah White in “Difference Maker”
ADVERTISEMENT - T and D MACHINE PRODUCTSNoah was off the line first with a .058 reaction time, but he slowed to a 10.739-second run and Jared Vance secured the ME victory with a 20.248-second elapsed time at 86.460 miles per hour.
Stock Eliminator
Three race teams also registered to compete in the 11.00-second Stock Eliminator class, but Tony Scarlata pulled his “Bling Bling” machine out of competition after not being able to make a pass on Saturday, leaving Christopher Wasinger and Justin Gorr to battle it out for 1st Place. In their final round matchup, Justin Gorr was quicker at both ends of the track, taking the win easily with a .336 reaction time and 11.349-second elapsed time over Christopher, who posted an 11.548-second pass for the runner up honors.
Justin Gorr with a .336 reaction time and 11.349-second elapsed time wins over Christopher Wasinger in Stock Eliminator.
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TAF/TFJ
Donny Lebon ran a single for the TAF/TFJ trophy with a 5.597-second elapsed time at 152.76 miles per hour. 
The Hydro-Phobia team celebrated the TAF/TFJ victory.The TAF/TFJ class was slim this weekend with only two race teams registered for competition, and the class was pared down to just one on Sunday when Jeff Steward was unable to make the call, so Donny Lebon ran a single for the trophy with a 5.597-second elapsed time at 152.76 miles per hour.
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Top Alcohol Hydro driver/owner Jason Mullican ran 4.907-second elapsed time at 174.629 miles per hour.
“The Butcher” Kelly Rhead ran a 5.730-second final pass at 140.427 miles an hour to take the win over Jeff Martin (near lane) in the BGF Final.
Kelly Rhead posted a stellar .016 reaction time and a 5.730-second run to take the win.Blown Gas Flat
The Blown Gas Flat class was packed with thirteen tough race teams and Kelly Rhead led the field at the close of qualifying after posting a stout 5.801-second elapsed time, and Kelly was also the only one in the class to run in the five-second range. Jeff Martin secured the number two qualifying spot with a 6.021-second run and Jim Shelton was third with a closely matched 6.066-second effort. Jim advanced over Wyatt McAllister in round one on a double red-light infraction. but he fell to Jeff Martin in the semifinals when his machine suffered mechanical problems, and slowed to a 16.542-second run, and Jeff posted a stout .080 reaction time and a 6.020-second elapsed time to advance to the final. 
ADVERTISEMENT - GRP CONNECTING RODSOn the other side of the ladder, Kelly Rhead eased into the final with a bye run in round one, a legal single in round two when Craig Lucas was unable to make the call, and again in the semifinals where Sean Giroux was a no-show. In the final between Kelly and Jeff Martin, Kelly posted a stellar .016 reaction time and a 5.730-second run to take the win, and Jeff was forced to settle for the runner up honor by virtue of a -.193 red light.
BGF on the rope.
Duncan Patterson (far lane) faced Ken Petrovich (near lane & above) in the UFJ trophy dash with Ken taking the win at 126.30 miles per hour.
Ken Petrovich takes the win with the slower 6.038-second run as Duncan struggled on the starting line.
Unblown Fuel Jet
Unblown Fuel Jet was limited to two race teams, and Duncan Patterson faced Ken Petrovich in their trophy dash, with Ken taking the win with the slower 6.038-second run as Duncan struggled on the starting line.
Approximately eighty race teams made the trek to central California for the fourth of its six-points race series, with one more race remaining at Bakersfield in October.
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Pro Comp Hydro Winner Steve Cranford (far lane) ran a 5.9293-second elapsed time at 145.55 miles per hour over Mike Davis (near lane) with a .018 reaction time. 
BGF on the rope.
Pro Comp Hydro
The Pro Comp Hydro class featured a full field of eight race teams, but the class was pared down to seven when Kurt Powers bowed out of competition after time trials on Saturday. That gave Mike Davis the benefit of the bye in the opening round on Sunday while number two, Steve Cranford clicked off a stellar 5.867-second run that was just .021 off of his dial-in to advance over Jason Silva, who picked up a very narrow -.006 red light, and then posted another stellar 5.933-second elapsed time against a
Steve Cranford and the "Quick Decision" team celebrated their Pro Comp Hydro victory in the Winner's Circle.
Mike Davis and the team celetrated the PCH Runner-Up honors.
5.900 dial-in in the semifinals to advance on a single when Rick Box was unable to make the call for the run. On the other side of the ladder, Mike Davis advanced automatically in his semifinal matchup against Josh Hayden, who picked up a disappointing -.007 red light.In the final between Mike and Steve Cranford, Steve ran right on the money again, taking the Pro Comp Hydro win with a .099 reaction time and another stellar 5.929-second elapsed time against his 5.900-second dial-in.
Saturday's qualifying round in the Pro Comp Flat class. Brien Dunn (near lane) in “I-Candy” against Ben Wurster (far lane) in “Pound Foolish”.
Pro Comp Flat
The Pro Comp Flat class was packed with nineteen tough race teams, making for five rounds of competition on Sunday. Mike Ryckebosch led the field at the end of time trials on Saturday and got the benefit of the bye in the opening round of eliminations on Sunday where he posted a too-quick 5.993-second elapsed time against his picked index of 6.000-seconds. Joe Masek was the number two qualifier, and he faced the number nineteen qualifier, Tom Fulkerson, who struggled on the starting line before his “Bad Czech” machine broke, advancing Joe automatically.
Tony Scarlata (near lane), who clicked off a perfect 6.130-second elapsed time against his 6.130 dial-in in qualifiying rounds won the Pro Comp Flat Final against Joe Masek (far lane).
Tony Scarlata added another 1st Place award to his trophy wall after taking the PCF victory.
Joe went on to advance over Dale Pinckney in round two when Dale redlit, and then again over Jordan Endler when Jordan broke out. On the other side of the ladder, Mike Ryckebosche faced the number eleven qualifier, Tony Scarlata, who clicked off a perfect 6.130-second elapsed time against his 6.130 dial-in, advancing automatically over Mike, who broke out and red-lit, and then Tony advanced again over Gary Riggins, who broke out. Tony went on to face Matt Thurston in the semifinals, and in a very close race to the finish, Tony took the win by a slim .061 margin and advanced to the final against Joe Masek, who had the bye in the semis on the other side of the ladder. In the final between Joe and Tony, both men had closely matched reaction times, but Tony was slightly quicker at the start, and he posted a 6.327-second elapsed time against his 6.170 dial-in to take win over Joe, who ran a too quick 6.192-second ET against his 6.200 dial in.
Glenn Hutchison (near lane) taking the win with a 3.855-second ET over Mike Davis’s 3.994-second effort.
Pro Eliminator Winner Jim Howard with Stock Eliminator runner-up Christopher Wasinger.
660 Class
Mike Davis secured the top qualifying spot in the 660 Class, where racers compete in heads-up competition on a 660-foot racecourse. Mike posted a quick 3.798-second elapsed time during qualifying, and Glenn Hutchison took the number two spot with a closely matched 3.804-second run in the Jim Hard Racing “Mass Confusion” machine. Jim Howard, Duncan Patterson and Mark Reese made up the rest of the five-boat field. Mike got the bye in the opening round of eliminations where he posted another impressive 3.723-second run.
Mike Davis and the Dead Man's Hand team celebrated PCH and 660 Runner Up honors.
ADVERTISEMENT - 2-CYCLE MICHAEL'S CUSTOM DESIGNS, MAGIC MIKE'S MARINE & MACHINEMike elected to forego running his single in round two where Duncan was unable to make the call to save wear and tear on the motor for the final. On the other side of the ladder, the number two qualifier, Glenn Hutchison, advanced on a single when Mark Reese was unable to make his call, and then he advanced on a bye in the semifinals. In the final between Glenn and Mike Davis, Glenn was quicker at both ends of the track, taking the win with a .108 reaction time and 3.855-second ET over Mike’s 3.994-second effort.
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