Welcome to this new feature of All American Fuel Dragsters. We invite fans to submit questions or comments on cars, drivers or events. They will be posted here and the answers or further comments on the subject will follow in that thread.

This format eliminates spam, foul language, personal attacks etc. so this can be a place for education and sharing - not public ranting. This also eliminates the need for "Member" passwords and constant monitoring. Any reasonable question or comment will be posted within hours - if not minutes. We invite you to submit at will and most of all have fun.

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Why the poor turn out of top fuel at Indy GoodGuys and what if any thing will be diferent this year? Ive been to some of the big shows in CA and would love to see that kind of show elsewhere in the US.. Mark

To answer your questions, there are several reasons; first the travel cost has hurt teams in the last few years as few teams have the resources and money to travel from the coast.

I have a sponsor that helps us get to Indy and another one that helps us get home! In 2007 the fuel bill was 1800.00 I expect that to double in 2008.

There is also the question of time off from work as this is really an expensive hobbies for most teams The Goodguys rod and custom association used to market this event more aggressively and actually paid tow money ,with the present state of the economy it is sadly a thing of the past.

The weather has rained out 4 of the last 5 years it is unpredictable feel this has an effect as well. In the last few years the Top Fuel show has been strong but with few cars. Almost all the Midwest cars either are not prepared to race 2 weekends in a row or it is not financially feasible, work/vacation time also is a major factor as it takes 5-8 people on each team usually.

There have been a few new cars and this year should be a good show 3-4 west coast teams are planning on going to the NHRA National hot Rod Reunion in Bowling Green Kentucky this year. Maybe we can convince them to go to Indy as well?

I know we are planning on going - Brendan Murry Running Wild AA/FD, we hope to see you there!

03.13.08: I wanted to just thank you for your awesome coverage on AA/Fuel Dragsters! I was home sick and Sooz was in Kentucky spending time with the daughters who are in college. So checking on the course of events ment alot to me as well as many others who couldn't attend.

Also your top end photography is second to none! So a "high five" to you... very impressive.

I was sadened to hear of John Shoemaker's death, but at the same time I thought of the inevitable in that we all have our day. John was blessed in the fact that he was able to do these things he loved so much and to end his life (that was full) and long in years in that moment in time in his own seat of his dragster.

He will be missed.

Thanks again and remember you are loved... by people like me!

God Bless,
Bryan Ellis

03.11.08: Hey all just got back to MI from a truly awsome and memorable event cant wait to make it back hopefully next year with my 7 & 5 yr old boys my hats of to jack harris and all the drivers for a tremendous show by far the best ive ever seen. truly sad about John Shoemaker my thought to his family and friends. once again thanks again for a great time.

Phil Ryder

03.11.08: It was truly a great fuel show at Famosa. We couldnt have asked for much better weather, maybe a little less wind but that just adds to the challenge. The huge crowd on Saturday was just like the old days and only goes to prove "Nitro is the fuel of drag racing."

Sorry for the passing of John Shoemaker, a real class individual, memories
of John and his ever present flag go way back. But as his wife Judy said "it
was doing what he loved."

Congrats on a great show!!!!!!!

Michael Moore
White Rock BC

02.26.08: I've been a drag racing fan since I was 8 years old and even though I'm only 36 now these, as you call them, extreme top fuel cars are way more impressive than the cars we see on NHRA. My dream is that this class will migrate to the Midwest so I can see them first hand. Until then keep up the great coverage and I hope my favorite, Jim Murphy, wins his fifth March Meet.

Thanks for listening,
Todd Peterson
Duluth, MN

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Hey Todd, it’s great to hear we have a fan in the Midwest. My wife’s family is all in Wisconsin so we have a few fans in that part of the Midwest. It would be really fun to come to a race back your way but it’s awful hard as all the crew guys work at regular jobs and it’s hard enough getting the time off for the races out this way, BUT you never know. Thanks for writing and we will be giving it everything we can for that fifth March Meet win, JIM

02.21.08:
To: Jack Harris

Jack, the Nitro Thunder dragster is my favorite. I am excited that you are going to drive it again. I have a question for you. Why do these dragsters use such small slicks? Would you not go faster with bigger tires? Thank you in advance for your response.

Jake Milner
Chico, CA

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Hi Jake, the tires we run are spec tire as required by NHRA to keep us from going to fast for a front engine dragster, bigger tires would help to go faster but with bigger tires we would need a bigger fuel pump for the load the bigger tires would put on motor. I am looking forward to driving NITROTHUNDER again, come say hi to us. JACK "THE SHERIFF" HARRIS

02.18.08: I've been a drag racing fan since I was 8 years old and even though I'm only 36 now these, as you call them, extreme top fuel cars are way more impressive than the cars we see on NHRA. My dream is that this class will migrate to the Midwest so I can see them first hand. Until then keep up the great coverage and I hope my favorite, Jim Murphy, wins his fifth March Meet.

Thanks for listening,
Todd Peterson
Duluth, MN

02.19.08: Hey Dad and Brad - slow it down, yer gonna get a ticket !

Mike Bless

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02.19.08
Hey Mike,

Hope you make it to the 50th MARCH MEET, your sister Julie is coming down from Oregon to attend. By the way I’m still paying on the speeding ticket I was slapped with coming home from Boise.

Brad Thompson

02.15.08: This is Freddie just wanted to let you know the new AAFD site is excellent..I've been on it all week. Finally a site I can follow and keep up on happenings and results. Keep up the good work...Thanks very much!

Fred Young

02.13.08: New site looks bitchin' Looking forward to being a spectator at March Meet and hope some you AA/FD guys & girls can make it back to the Midwest for some of the "New" Goodguys events at Indy, Norwalk and Bowling Green. Top Fuel is still KING!

Troy Coker
Nostalgia Pro Comp Association www.nostalgiaprocomp.com

02.13.08: Firstly let me congratulate Brad Thompson and crew on yet another milestone in Nitro FED history. I have to agree with your comment on the lack of coverage of the nostalgia cars in the TV media.I believe this comes from the programmers giving people what they think they want, instead of asking them what they want. Here in Australia, we have the same problem, although I think we are making some headway due to the efforts of our governing body ANDRA.

Great new site, best of luck.
Regards Ross Preen

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02.14.08: Hi Ross, We were also disappointed at the lack of coverage at Pomona, but I see great things ahead for AAFD and the heritage series. Thanks for the congrats, the crew we have assembled deserve the credit for the cars performance. Steve Faria (tuner / crew chief), John Arnold (engine chief), Scott miller (eng), Craig fridlund (bottom end), John Sharp (clutch), Dave Searcy (clutch), Bob Rehfeld (fuel/chutes), Chris Fusano (employee of the year). Hope you make it to The MARCH MEETS!!!

Brad Thompson

02.13.08: NHRA Dateline Jan. 2009

With the dwindling number of top fuel cars unable to make a full fields last year we are proud to announce that 2009 will see the return of the front engine Top Fuel dragsters formerly known as Nostalgia Top Fuel.

Brendan Murry will be testing next week in Phoenix with his Budweiser car along with Jim Murphy in the U.S Army top fuel car.

The Winternationals this year will start off with the first annual 100 car Cacklefest on Friday night with push starts and exhibition burnouts. The show will be covered live in a one hour program on the Fox HD Sports Network.

Sunday will feature 32 car fileds of front engine Top Fuel dragsters and Fuel Funny Cars (formally known as Nostalgia Nitro Funny Cars) also covered live on Fox Sports HD.

This event will be sponsored by World Wide Fuels, sole supplier of free nitro for all fuel cars.

Last years funny car field featuring such notables as the Force Family will run the following week with a taped program on ESPN2 at 2:30 am along with pro Stock and the other classes from last year.

NHRA Director of Competition

Terrible Tom Barnhill