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Murphy Qualifies # 1
- Falters in Final
In spite
of extremely hot weather and tricky track conditions it looked
like the OSH-WW2 Racing team was back on track at the 2004 Night
of Fire race at Sacramento. Murphy qualified in the # 1 spot
with a 6.08 and set Low ET of the meet in the semi finals with
a 5.853 @ 254.90 (new track record).
But in
the final round their lack of regular crew members and hectic
pit work cost them when an oil line wasn't tightened and the
resulting leak forced Murphy to shut the car off after the burnout
and watch Lee Jennings Sr. make a single for the win.
Final Order of Qualifying
for Top Fuel
1. Jim Murphy 6.089 @ 206.60
2. Lee Jennings 6.362 @ 228.53
3. Rick Rogers 6.396 @ 224.92
4. Brendan Murry 6.440 @ 181.95
5. John Shoemaker 6.563 @ 181.67
6. Bill Dunlap 6.642 @ 161.72
7. Rick White 6.853 @ 203.54
8. Jason Richey 7.709 @ 141.68 |
A huge
crowd braved near century-mark temperatures for great racing
action at the Nitro Night of Fire. The weekend featured just
about every kind of drag car one can think of including jets.
But the headliner is always the Nostalgia Top Fuel dragsters.
We apologize for the lack of photos from this event as there
was only one photographer shooting.
Qualifying was held in the heat of the
day and it was HOT! Murphy managed a 6.08 at just 206 on this
second attempt.
Round
one of eliminations paired the OSH-WW2 Racing entry against Jason
Richey in "Nitro Fever". Richey smoked the tires at
the hit. Murphy clicked it off early after getting out of the
groove and really close to the guardrail. But his 6.159 @ 194.95
was good enough for low ET of the round.
Standing room
only crowd at Sac.
The second round
came at dusk when the air was cooler and so was the track. To
this point nobody had run in the fives but Murphy promised a
five (if he could keep the car straight for the full run) this
round. He delivered big time with a track record speed and low
ET of the meet (5.853 @ 254.90). Murry made the second quickest
run of the event (6.10 @ 238).
Murphy and crew (which
was short two people) had to do some serious thrashing between
the semis and final. It seems the huge run they made in the previous
round caused some internal engine damage.
Murphy hurt parts
on the 5.85 and was late getting to the lanes. He made a good
burnout but developed a significant oil leak backing up and was
shut off.
Jennings
left strong but began to move around at mid track and shut off
for the gimmie win leaving the dejected OSH-WW 2 Racing crew
left to watch.
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