The Top Fuel class is regarded as the Kings of
the Sport for obvious reasons. If Nitromethane burning Hemi’s putting power to
the ground through a 300” long chassis that shoots rooster tails 20’ in the air
off of the Skat-Trak Hookers or Bigger Diggers and accelerates from 0-160mph in
2.2 seconds does nothing for you, then you obviously aren’t alive. This class
once again thrilled crowds in 2010 with record breaking times &
competition. Let’s take a look at the Best Runs of Top Fuel in 2010.Top Fuel – Top 10 Best Runs 2010
1. Scott Whipple 2.221 – Lake Elsinore, CA – Apr-10
2. Scott Whipple 2.232 – Lake Elsinore, CA – May-10
3. Scott Whipple 2.235 – Lake Elsinore, CA – May-10
4. Scott Whipple 2.255 – Lake Elsinore, CA – Apr-10
5. Scott Whipple 2.265 – Lake Elsinore, CA – Apr-10
6. Scott Whipple 2.300 – Dome Valley, AZ – Mar-10
7. Scott Whipple 2.309 – Dome Valley, AZ – Mar-10
8. Geoff Gill 2.314 – Lake Elsinore, CA – Apr-10
9. Scott Whipple 2.330 – Dome Valley, AZ – Mar-10
10. Scott Whipple 2.346 – Dome Valley, AZ – Mar-10
One name obviously sticks out on the Top Fuel Top 10 Best Runs list, and that is Scott Whipple. Scott and the Amos Satterlee-led CANIDAE Pet Foods crew had a remarkable season laying down five passes in the 2.2 range, including a new World Record of 2.221 set at Lake Elsinore in April. This team was a steam roller making incredible pass after pass look routine as evidenced by Scott running 11 of the 12 Best Runs of the season. The only other team to sneak into the Top 10 was the Gill-Bettencourt team & driver Geoff Gill’s 2.314 at Lake Elsinore in their only outing of the season at Lake Elsinore in April.
2010 Race Winners
NSDA Dome Valley (Mar ’10) – Scott Whipple
NSDA Lake Elsinore (Apr ’10) – Scott Whipple
NSDA Lake Elsinore (May ’10) – Scott Whipple
Dome Valley Oct Showdown (Oct ’10) – Dennis Rieck
Kingman West Coast Winter Nats (Nov ’10) – Dennis Rieck
Whipple would dominate in NSDA action, going a perfect 3 for 3 on the season and earning his fourth straight Top Fuel championship. With Scott not attending the final two races, it opened up the door for new winners and Dennis Rieck would be the man to do just that. Rieck beat out tough fields at Dome Valley & Kingman, and it looks like the Hammer Down small-block power is ready for the challenge in 2011.
2011 should be an interesting season in the Top Fuel class. We will see if anyone can supplant Whipple as the King of Top Fuel, and if the performance standards will be shattered once again. We will certainly see starting in January at Dome Valley. Here is a list of the Top 20 Best Runs of 2010 in the Top Fuel class.
Scott Whipple in the CANIDAE Pet Foods Top Fueler set a new World Record in 2010 with a 2.221 at Lake Elsinore & a clean sweep of the season in NSDA action.
Geoff Gill & the Gill-Bettencourt Motorsports team was the closest performance wise to Whipple in 2010, running a great 2.314 at Lake Elsinore in April.
Dennis Rieck scored two impressive late season victories at Dome Valley & Kingman showing that he will be right in contention in 2011.
John Cadzow was in the hunt with the Cadzow Motorsports Top Fueler all season & ran a season best 2.41 at Dome Valley.
Terri Blair raced to a great runner-up finish at the Kingman Season Finale as well as running a Season Best 2.56 at that event.
The Coldwater Kid Top Fuel Team debuted their new car late in the season, and made a lot of progress carding a best pass of 2.53 at Kingman.
Photos Courtesy
