PIEDMONT BIG DOG SHOOTOUT
JASON HARRIS
Jason Harris spent his teenage years at North
Carolina ’ s Piedmont Dragway working for his dad , former track co-owner Bob Harris , learning the proper way to groom a track so as to allow competitors an equal chance to win , no matter which lane they choose . Over 10 years later , it was Harris who won the track ’ s prized Big Dog Shootout championship for the 2020 season , his first in 14 seasons . This was to be a season that would present major challenges to all the competitors , track management , and fans .
Harris began his competition in the popular program during the 2007 season and endured a bumpy season but came back to win two events in 2008 and finish second in points in only his second full season with the group . That second-place finish would be the first of four times that young Harris would find himself in the runner-up position at the end of the year .
The combination that propelled Jason to his points title is the trusty red ‘ 69 Camaro that Jerry Bickel built for PDRA competition in Pro Nitrous and paid homage to Harold Denton ’ s cars of the ‘ 90s with the name “ Party Time .” Power came from a Top Sportsman powerplant originally built for Lizzy Musi by her father , Pat . With Billy Albert messaging the 780ci motor , the success has been incredible with almost no motor issues .
None of this is possible without sponsorship and an understanding car owner . Enter Willie Terry , better known by most in the Big Dog community as “ Mr . Wine ,” a 70-plus-year-old businessman that just wanted to go fast and be competitive . Harris has been provided both since teaming up with Wine . On the way to winning the points title , he was low qualifier several times and ended up with two wins and three runner-up finishes in six races .
Harris is quick to credit his strong faith in his Lord and family for carrying him through tough times . With his wife , Crystal , and their kids , as well as his dad , Bob , Jason is a well-grounded family man . Harris also thanks engine builder Billy Albert ; his chassis guru , Jayme Thompson ; Mark Micke ’ s M & M Transmission , Justin Carmack ’ s Carmack Engineering differentials , Hoosier Tires and PRS Suspension . – GREG BURROW DI
FUNNY CAR CHAOS
KEN SINGLETON
The 2020 Funny Car Chaos Championship Tour presented by Red Line Shirt Club hosted an eight-race campaign full of heads-up , flip-top flopper action and welcomed 55 different teams who participated from coast to coast . Despite schedule changes related to the pandemic , it was a record-breaking season for Chaos that provided some heated battles as racers fought for position in the final top five points payout .
Inaugural 2019 world champion Ken Singleton came into 2020 with a target on his back as the winningest Chaos racer on the planet . His Chickasha , Oklahoma-based “ High Risk ” screw-blown alcohol-burning Monte Carlo has proven to be the car to beat and that trend continued in their effort to become back-to-back Funny Car Chaos world champions .
Singleton and company took home the Rodak ’ s Custom Coffee ‘ A ’ Field win at three of the first five events , but was feeling the heat from the competition including Chuck Loftin , Chris Schneider and Steve Vang , who were also racking up round wins as the second half of the season got underway . The cards fell into place for team “ High Risk ” in the final three events of the season as Loftin took a tough first-round loss in Amarillo and Schneider bowed out early at Mo-Kan Dragway . Meanwhile , Singleton and crew stuck to their guns making quick and consistent passes resulting in a runner-up finish at Mo-Kan heading into the final event of the season in San Antonio .
The 2020 Funny Car Chaos World Finals rocked Alamo City Motorplex in San Antonio with a new series elapsed time record by Allan Middendorf ’ s “ American Outlaw ” with a 3.38-second blast during qualifying . Middendorf and Singleton marched through the ‘ A ’ Field and met in the final round . By this time , Singleton had been officially named the 2020 world champion , claiming $ 5,000 for his title defense efforts . The final race of the 2020 season between Singleton and Middendorf would determine who would take home the increased $ 7,500 winner ’ s check .
Middendorf ’ s car exploded the supercharger on the burnout in shocking fashion , as Singleton soloed to the win to claim a combined event total payout of $ 12,500 and become the series ’ first back-to-back and thus far , only world champion . Passion , persistence and downright hard work has paid off for Singleton as yet again the target will be on the backs of team “ High Risk ” as the Chaos series kicks off the 2021 season March 26-27 at the Texas Motorplex .
Schneider , Loftin , Vang and Dustin Bradford rounded out the top five for 2020 and all signs indicate a huge fleet of Funny Cars are ready for Chaos action this season . – CHRIS GRAVES DI
PHOTOS : GREG BURROW , CHRIS GRAVES
102 | Drag Illustrated | DragIllustrated . com Issue 164