CHRISMAN MOVES TO NOSTALGIA TOP FUEL
Tue, 2009-01-13 11:29
Mike Chrisman, the son of legendary drag racing pioneer Art Chrisman, has entered into an agreement that will find him
behind
the wheel of a nostalgia front engine Top Fuel Dragster for the 2009
season. Ironically Mike’s competition debut will come at the historic
March Meet in Bakersfield, California exactly 50 years after his father
won the inaugural US Fuel & Gas Championships (later to be known as
the March Meet) at the same Famoso Drag Strip in 1959.
For the past 17 seasons Chrisman (who is known to his peers as ‘The Bulldog’) has piloted a Junior Fuel Dragster that he campaigns with his father. Racing in the ANDRA, GoodGuys/VRA, and NHRA Heritage series the team has earned three season championships. He also holds the unofficial low ET Saki Championship record that was set while racing in Japan. Mike Chrisman, the son of legendary drag racing pioneer Art Chrisman, has entered into an agreement that will find him
behind the wheel of a nostalgia front engine Top Fuel Dragster for the 2009 season. Ironically Mike’s competition debut will come at the historic March Meet in Bakersfield, California exactly 50 years after his father won the inaugural US Fuel & Gas Championships (later to be known as the March Meet) at the same Famoso Drag Strip in 1959.
For the past 17 seasons Chrisman (who is known to his peers as ‘The Bulldog’) has piloted a Junior Fuel Dragster that he campaigns with his father. Racing in the ANDRA, GoodGuys/VRA, and NHRA Heritage series the team has earned three season championships. He also holds the unofficial low ET Saki Championship record that was set while racing in Japan.
Chrisman, of Lake Forest, California will begin the season as the driver for the Paso Posse team based out of Paso Robles, California. Team owner John Rodeck and Mike Chrisman have a long standing relationship that dates back to the days when
Chrisman was one of the early employees of the then new Rodeck Aluminum Blocks business, but this will mark the first time that the two have raced together.
Rodeck stated “I am pleased to be able to provide the opportunity for Mike to make the move up to top fuel. I have watched him race for a long time and I know he has the skills to handle one of these things.”
Mike Chrisman has confirmed that “We will still run the Junior Fuel car when there is no conflict in the schedules between the two cars, but rest assured my focus will be with the top fuel car. Right now I can’t wait to experience the difference between the two cars. For the first sixty feet my lightweight unblown car actually accelerates a little quicker, but after that the top fuel car is a whole new deal. I am sure there will be a pretty steep learning curve, but I am fortunate that the Posse crew is one of the most experienced in the game. They’ll be a big help.”
Chrisman will join approximately 25 other front engine Top Fuel Dragsters in contesting the first race of the 2009 NHRA Heritage Series in Bakersfield on March 6-8.
John Rodeck & Mike Chrisman (Henry Walther Photo)
For the past 17 seasons Chrisman (who is known to his peers as ‘The Bulldog’) has piloted a Junior Fuel Dragster that he campaigns with his father. Racing in the ANDRA, GoodGuys/VRA, and NHRA Heritage series the team has earned three season championships. He also holds the unofficial low ET Saki Championship record that was set while racing in Japan. Mike Chrisman, the son of legendary drag racing pioneer Art Chrisman, has entered into an agreement that will find him
John Rodeck & Mike Chrisman (Henry Walther Photo)
For the past 17 seasons Chrisman (who is known to his peers as ‘The Bulldog’) has piloted a Junior Fuel Dragster that he campaigns with his father. Racing in the ANDRA, GoodGuys/VRA, and NHRA Heritage series the team has earned three season championships. He also holds the unofficial low ET Saki Championship record that was set while racing in Japan.
Chrisman, of Lake Forest, California will begin the season as the driver for the Paso Posse team based out of Paso Robles, California. Team owner John Rodeck and Mike Chrisman have a long standing relationship that dates back to the days when
Chrisman was one of the early employees of the then new Rodeck Aluminum Blocks business, but this will mark the first time that the two have raced together.
Rodeck stated “I am pleased to be able to provide the opportunity for Mike to make the move up to top fuel. I have watched him race for a long time and I know he has the skills to handle one of these things.”
Mike Chrisman has confirmed that “We will still run the Junior Fuel car when there is no conflict in the schedules between the two cars, but rest assured my focus will be with the top fuel car. Right now I can’t wait to experience the difference between the two cars. For the first sixty feet my lightweight unblown car actually accelerates a little quicker, but after that the top fuel car is a whole new deal. I am sure there will be a pretty steep learning curve, but I am fortunate that the Posse crew is one of the most experienced in the game. They’ll be a big help.”
Chrisman will join approximately 25 other front engine Top Fuel Dragsters in contesting the first race of the 2009 NHRA Heritage Series in Bakersfield on March 6-8.
Categories:
