Funny Car Fever
April 2006

This weekend was Funny Car Fever, one of Sacramento Raceway's five biggest events of the year. We were running in a class called Nor Cal 330 which is heads up as fast as you can go in 330 ft. This style of racing is very quick and very exciting and keeps the fans amazed. We started the morning off very well on our first qualifying pass we ran 4.686 seconds and had a 1.527 60 ft. time. This had us sitting in the number two qualifying position. On our second qualifying pass we ran 4.692 seconds with a 1.520 60 ft. time. after qualifying the order was posted as follows:

1. 7067 JD Trevor Mitchell Vacaville, CA 4.471
2. 7648 JD Chad Axford Carmichael, CA 4.686
3. 7800 JD Kristine Harmon Gold Run, CA 4.808
4. 7099 JD Crystal Myhre Sheridan, CA 4.840
5. 7011 JD Joseph Harmon Gold RUn, CA 5.142

We were paired with Joe Harmon in round number one. When the tree dropped i took an early jump on Joe with a .085 reaction to his .234 (note this is on a 4 tenths pro tree) the car launched hard with a 1.530 60 ft time and pulled all the way to a 4.691 and took the win over Joes 7.127. In the second round we had the bye for our high qualifying position. I left with a .071 reaction time had a 1.528 60 ft time and ran 4.707 in 330. This put me in the final against Trevor Mitchell. The final was set how it was meant to be. Numbers one and two qualifiers racing in the final. I took a huge reaction time advantage .079 to Trevor's .226 and hoped it was enough to hold off Trevor's quick car. the car went 1.561 in 60 ft and we were still ahead by a tenth of a second in the end we did not have enough to hold off Trevor today he took the win light by about 3 feet. We ran a 4.745 to Trevor's very fast 4.425.Congratulations to Trevor and the rest of the Mitchell family. We were very pleased with our runner up finish and number two qualifying attempt considering our car and driver is 30 pounds heavier than the minimum. When the car and driver at at minmum weight we will be a very heavy hitting team. I would like to thank all of our sponsors: Mellow Insanity Racing, City
of Sacramento used oil recycling, 1-800-cleanup, Greg's VW Service, Cheetah Supply, Lucas Oil, K&N Filters, Ringers Gloves, and everyone else involved. I would also like to thank Joe and Teresa Mitchell for everything they have done for this series along with Rogger Williams, Greg Urrutia, and Doug Downs for keeping everything running smooth.

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Chad Axford 7648 J/AD Pilot of the Mellow Insanity Racing, 1-800 clean
up, Greg's VW Service, Cheetah Supply, Lucas Oil, Ringers Gloves, K&N
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Western Conference Finals
July 2006

We have just got home from our trip to the Western Conference Finals at Bandimere Speedway in Denver, Colorado. Roughly 1400 miles each way and two 12 hour days of driving each way.

We arrived at the track on Friday (7-21) and dropped our trailer in line. On Monday the track held a test and tune session. The car went 8.18 and 8.20 both at 81 mph. Tuesday was the shootout for the younger kids and our day off. On Wednesday we participated in the mile high shootout and we ran 8.16 and 8.17 in the time trials and in the first round I got beat on the tree and on the top end.

Thursday was the official opening day of the O’Reilly Auto Parts Junior Drag Racing League Western Conference Finals. On Thursday everybody received two time trials. Which were basically throw away time runs due to the constantly changing weather and variations in corrected altitude. It was 80 degrees and cloudy and then on Friday it was 94 degrees at 11:15 am.

On Friday all teams received one time run and then its was the first round. In our time run we ran 8.196 @ 80.94 mph. Not bad for the heat and nearly 10,000 foot corrected altitude. In the first round I knew I had to step up my lights after losing due to my reaction in the shootout. We dialed the car in at 8.15 and my opponent was dialed in at 8.20. It was clearly visible to me that I had a huge advantage off of the line when I left before her and her car was dialed in slower than mine. I had a .004 reaction time to her .232. I never saw her and lifted off the throttle and ran 8.177 @ 76.24 taking the win by more than two and a half tenths of a second (.259). My .004 light earned me an award for best reaction in the 15 year old age group.

Saturday morning was the second round of eliminations. We dialed in at an 8.17 to my opponents 9.20 I had a nice light (.015) to my opponents .188 I had caught the other car by 330 feet and in an effort not to break out I just kept myself ahead of the other car. I ran 8.325 @ 70.09 mph good for the win by .107. In the third round we dialed in at 8.15 to my opponents 7.99. This meant for the first time in this event I was going to be caught and not the one doing the catching. I had another great light (.008) to my opponents .049. I used this to my advantage and hit the brakes to run an 8.207 @ 80.39 mph. Now come the quarter-finals. This round is when ESPN started taping for the television coverage. We dialed in at an 8.16 to my opponents 8.03 When I hit the throttle the car went BLAH! A huge stumble and I thought I was done. The stumble slowed my reaction to a .305 all I could do was hope coming up to the top end I saw the other driver looking over and getting of the gas. I kept the throttle pinned and ran 8.170 @ 81.65 mph good for the win! There is my one give me for the day.

Now the semi Finals. In order to fix the bog we decided to start the car on the line and not do a burnout. This kept the motor from getting too hot. In the semis I was up against Cydney DeFrang of Auburn Washington. I dialed 8.16 to Cydney’s 7.94 off the line I went .053 to her .098. On the top end I hit the brakes and ran 8.231 @ 79.66 mph. good for the win by .017 (seventeen thousandths of a second). In the final round I was up against Sean Holm of Eagle Creek, Oregon. Sean dialed 8.76 to my 8.18 Both of us did our jobs on the tree. Sean had an .043 to my .054. On the top end I caught sean and hit the brakes. I ran 8.245 @ 76.95 to his 8.844 @ 74.84 mph. I took the win by eight thousandths of a second. (.008)

I am proud to say that we are the 2006 Western Conference Finals 15 Year Old Champions! The Western Conference Finals is the biggest race for junior drag racers. To be able to win this race was a dream come true. We were presented the Wally and $5,000 check in the winners circle.

There will be articles in National Dragster, Junior Dragster, and the event will also air on ESPN 2 on September 14th 2:30 pm Eastern time.

All of this would not have been possible without my parents and all of my sponsors: Mellow Insanity Racing, Greg’s VW Service, Lucas Oil, K&N Filters, Cheetah Supply, and Ringers Gloves.