August 08-10 - Boise, ID - For Firebird Raceway's signature event it was a weekend of warm weather, huge crowds, record runs, upsets and heart stopping drama as the 37th edition of the Boise Nightfire Nationals concluded under the dark skies of Idaho.

In the semi finals of Top Fuel, Brad Thompson upset Brett Harris with a superb 5.783 at 262.16 (track record MPH) to advance to the finals against the consistent 5.7 car of Jim Murphy.

Murphy had to replace an engine before the final that was contested at 10:15 p.m. Thompson was slightly ahead until the 1000' mark when his car got loose and impacted the right side guard wall. The impact caused the car to veer sharply across both lanes and crash into the left wall as well. Murphy was by Thompson when he came across behind him and was not involved. After Thompson was extracted he was transported to the hospital for treatment.

Murphy's winning time was a 5.991 at 233.94... his slowest pass of eliminations. In spite of his runner up finish, Thompson overcame Troy Green to take over the 2008 NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series Top Fuel Points lead by 22 with one race (CHRR) remaining.

 

Full story and photos below... two pages worth.

 

8:11 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 94 degrees, relative humidity 26 percent, barometer 29.75 inches.

 

Paired with Brett Harris, Thompson did his first burnout of the weekend.

 

Thompson shook so hard in the first 60ft that he had to slap of the pedal before getting the car settled.

Thompson still carding an abbreviated 6.072 at just 208.81. Harris had nearly the same ET in the other lane but had a much faster MPH stopping the clocks with a 6.070 at 245.70.

Prior to the second qualifying session scheduled for 2 PM on Saturday, the pits were pretty laid back in the morning.

Thompson just had to show off his new injector cover... or is that covers?

Saturday - Qualifying Session Two

2:40 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 86 degrees, relative humidity 18 percent, barometer 29.80 inches, adjusted altitude 5,400 feet.

 

Harris put Big Red into the fives with a huge speed (5.901 at 252.88) to provided a fine show for the fans. Thompson was side by side with Harris all the way down with a 5.922 at 234.61. Two nice runs under not the best of conditions.

After every run the engine has to be serviced and/or repaired. Here the crew gets it ready for the final session Saturday night.

Saturday - Qualifying Session Three

8:15 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 90 degrees, relative humidity 18 percent, barometer 29.95 inches, adjusted altitude 5,600 feet.

With Thompson waiting in the water box, the crew waited to fire the car while the track was cleaned of oil from the previous pair.

Thompson was spinning the tires in the left lane and just about got sideways around half track. Green had to give the pedal at least one slap and spent some time wandering the right lane as well. In spite of his long trip, Green did improve with a 5.999 at 227.38. Thompson's 6.350 at 180.90 was no help.

Prior to the first round of eliminations six of the elite seven members of the Top Fuel 260 MPH Club were recognized. From L to R: Jason Richey, Jack Harris, Brett Harris, Don Ewald (for sponsor WDIFL.com), Brad Thompson, Troy Green and Adam Sorokin. Missing was Pete Kaiser.

2:20 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 80 degrees, relative humidity 17 percent, barometer 29.95 inches, adjusted altitude 5,100 feet.

 

When Scott Mason couldn't make the call for round one Brad Thompson was left with a single and a great photo op.

Thompson didn't loaf it laying down a 5.927 at 242.39 to move on to round two.

Pair two - round two gave Mike Cross the unenviable task of facing Brad Thompson.

 

 

 

 

 

Both cars left together and both experienced engine problems down track killing multiple pistons well before the lights. Thompson's off pace 6.105 at 203.80 was good enough to hold off Cross' 6.597 at 208.76.

 

Weather conditions: air temperature 83 degrees, relative humidity 14 percent, barometer 29.95 inches, adjusted altitude 5,350 feet.

 

 

With three cars left in the semis, the pair was Brett Harris and Brad Thompson with Jim Murphy getting the single. Harris had out preformed Thompson all weekend so he was a slight favorite here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Both cars were nearly welded together all the way down with Thompson getting the nod with a "where did that come from?" 5.783 at 262.16 to a very game 5.824 at 260.19 by Harris. We believe this was the first ever side by side 260 MPH race in NTF history.

 

 

 

 

Top Fuel Final

 

10:15 p.m. and the two quickest cars of the weekend did their burnouts. Brad Thompson had lane choice and put Murphy in the less favored side.

 

 

 

 

Thompson left first, Murphy was right on this tail.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brad was leading until the 1000' mark when the car got loose and impacted the right side guard wall very hard. The impact caused the car to veer sharply across both lanes and crash into the left wall as well. Murphy just got by Thompson when he came across behind him and he was not involved. The rpm came up several times and it was very difficult to determine exactly what happened. Word came back that Thompson was awake but groggy when he was still in the car. After he was extracted he complained about some pain in his back, chest and arm. He was transported for X-rays and a complete check up and remained there for seven days before returning home for more recuperation.