Sat, 26 Jan 2008, 01:12 PM Harris, Fabbro Open New Season with Wins at Fontana

By Bob Johnson Photos by Paul Schmitz

FONTANA, Calif. --

Gunther vs. Harris

Bob Harris had a dream come true when he won the Southern California Pro Gas Association season opening event that was named in memory of his father, Russ Harris. Harris, a four-time NHRA national event winner whose most recent win came at the '06 NHRA AC-Delco Nationals at Las Vegas, drove his uncle Les Harris' "Maui Style" K&N Filters-sponsored '02 Grand Am to a final round win in the 8th Annual Russ Harris memorial Pro Gas Nationals, sponsored by Harris Family Motorsports. Harris' first Pro Gas victory came against Rick Gunther in the final.

Randy Fabbro had an equally interesting story as he drove his Chevy-powered '78 Ford Pinto to victory on the opening weekend of the 30th anniversary of the SoCal Pro Gas Assoc., driving the same car that he won with during the associations first season, thirty years ago. Fabbro, winner of the 2007 NHRA Winternationals with Ron Marcum's '66 Nova, defeated John Ross in the final round at Fontana.

Greg Ventura led the 53-car field with a perfect 9.900 second timing that featured six drivers running on the index, including Glenn Wagner, '07 Auto Club Finals Super Gas winner Steve Parsons, Roger Kato, Bob Harris, and Rick Gunther.

Harris, winner of the 1995 SoCal Pro Gas championship, went to the final round by defeating Darryl Mitchell, Jr., Clarence Hoefer, Anthony Matassa and top qualifier Ventura before getting by red lighting Steve Parson's in the semifinal. Gunther wheeled his '27 Brogie roadster to wins over Ron Doyle, Dave Zewe, John Ross, and Larry Scarth in his semi.

Both drivers recorded identical .024 reaction times in the final, but Gunther took the stripe with a too quick 9.881, 136.61 to Harris' winning 9.951, 167.38. Harris thanked his mother Cheryl for her support over the many years he has been racing, and offered a special thanks to Les and Jeanette Harris for allowing him to race their beautiful Grand Am. Last, but not least, he would like to thank his beautiful wife Kelly for spending another weekend at the track supporting him.

Ross vs. Fabbro

Randy Fabbro had a great race on Sunday of the event, qualify number one with a 9.904-edging out Gary Cooke who ran an identical number-and won the race with his vintage Pinto. In the quarterfinals, John Ross beat Ray Cordeiro, Steve Parsons beat Bud Treadway, and Fabbro got a bye. In the semi, Fabbro got by Parson's Corvette, and Ross got a bye into the final. Ross' best race of the day came in round two when both he and mentor Gary Cooke cut .001 reaction times, with Ross getting the win, at 9.912 as Cooke went under by .003.

Ross went into the final with three wins in the past three Pro Gas season, but a .001 red light held him back as Fabbro took the win with a 9.926, 137.79 with a car he's been campaigning for over 30 years. Fabbro will hang on to the series point's lead and the shootout points lead until at least the next event, scheduled for May 31 and June 1 at Auto Club Dragway at California Speedway.

The current Pro Gas top five includes: Fabbro, 167 pts; Steve Parsons, 152; John Ross, 150; Rick Gunther, 131, and Greg Ventura, 121. The Pro Gas Shootout standings have Fabbro leading with 11 points, Gary Cooke has 9, Ventura is third with 8, and Rick Gunther and Glenn Wagner are tied for fourth with 7 points.

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