10:59 a.m. Following the opening ceremonies, the first pair of Top Fuel fired-up starting a long, hot and yes, humid afternoon of drag racing.

Green was paired with Californian Brendan Murry in his Running Wild Racing entry. With lane choice, Troy chose the favored left lane.

2:10 p.m. With four cars left - all won round one in the left lane - the cream was rising to the top. So was the track temp now up to over 130 degrees. Add that to the dense humidity and you and a tuners nightmare.

Green, again with lane choice, faced the ever improving the New York based Nitro Diction car with Howard Haight in the seat.

What promised to be a good race was over at the hit when Haight left early catching the dreaded red light - an automatic loss.

Green, knowing he had the race won, clicked it early to a 6.263 at 204.51 to advance to the final against Denver Schutz.

In sweltering heat the crew set about getting the car ready for their biggest race of the season. Crunch time without much joking around.

4:40 p.m. With all the other class finals in the books, the only thing left was to crown the king of the Bowling Green hill. A few hard core fans hung in to see the two best cars meet in a final that could go either way. Although Green had low ET of the event (5.93), Schutz carded the quickest time in eliminations (5.99). Due to his early shut off in the semis, Green lost lane choice and would get the less favored right lane - a lane nobody had won a Top Fuel race in all day.

 

Green left first by a bunch (0.048 to a 0.123) leaving Schutz to play some big time catch-up. After a crisp 1.01 60' time, the HSMS car lifted the front wheels and soon drifted out of the groove.

It was then that Green earned his title as "driver". After two attempts to stabilize the car and return to the groove, Green went into heavy tire smoke. Getting out of the throttle he noticed that he could not hear Schutz so, assuming correctly that Denver was having troubles too, Troy drove back into the throttle and legged it to the finish line several cars ahead of Schutz. Arguably the most exciting final in NHRR history.

Before the car even reached the tree you can see it's already drifting left and Green is turning the front wheels to the right.

It was at this instant, with both drivers off the throttle, that Green realized that Schutz was having troubles of his own and he nailed it again.

At this point it was a sprint to the finish line with Green still holding his starting line advantage plus some.

In a valiant attempt to catch Green, Schutz broke the tires loose again sealing his fate. Had he stayed hooked up this would have been VERY close. This was a case where both teams upped the ante in the tune-up department and both got bit by it. On a track that was not ready for a five second run, Green and Johansen got bit the least.

A hot and disappointed Denver Schutz slowly climbed out with just one thought in mind.... get me out of Kentucky! (the weather did not agree with him at all).

The question was asked several times over the weekend, "Can you guys get any more people in that truck?" The answer is, NO.

Crew Chief, Brett Johansen telling Troy, "You saved my ass". Or something like that.

Rick Shelar, Danny Porche, Rian Kono, Todd Shappie, Pete Palumbo, Roger McMartin, Brett Johansen, Troy Green, Tom Shelar, Walt Stevens, Dakota Fontes, Robert Fontes and Patrick Shelar.

The core team - Rian Kono, Todd Shappie, Pete Palumbo, Rick Shelar, Tom Shelar, Walt Stevens, Troy Green and Brett Johansen.

Johansen did him one better. He signed the banner then added a HSMS decal where nobody could miss it.

The NHRR marks a yearly reunion for the Shelar Clan: With Tom and son Patrick (behind the trophy), we have oldest brother Larry, his wife Molly, brother Rick and his wife Domenica, sister Carol, Nephew Robert Fontes, grand Nephew Dakota Fontes.

We'll close this memorial HSMS weekend with Troy enjoying a well deserved COLD beer.