Bakersfield, CA - March 06-08, 2009: Tory Green and the High Speed Motorsports team came into the 51st anniversary of the March Meet with every intent of winning the event and getting a jump on defending their 2008 NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series Top Fuel Champion title. Things didn't go exactly as hoped but with a good qualifying position and second round loss they are still looking good with three events to go for the 2009 crown.

Friday - Qualifying Session One

First of three sessions: Friday, 2:13 p.m. Under cool, cloudy skies the call went out from starter Bill Condit to 'Fire the first pair', and the pro side of the 51st March Meet was underway. However, it was apparent early on that following a week of rain and cold weather, the normally tight Famoso track was not ready for the 3000 HP fuel cars. Low track temp and lack of rubber made for an interesting first session.

Following some major down time for Dan Horan's crash and a couple of oil downs, Green and Jim Murphy were the last pair to take a shot at the tricky track.

After more skating Green, knowing they had two more shots on Saturday, aborted the run and coasted through with a 6.26 at just 186.79. Murphy got very close to the left guardwall and shut off as well.

Saturday 2:12 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 61 degrees, relative humidity 33 percent, barometer 30.12 inches, track temperature 92 degrees. Overall conditions were much better than Friday.

In session two Green got the more favored left lane and was paired with Brad Thompson who was at his first event following a horrible crash at Boise in June of 2008.

Green left hard and had no problem keeping the tires stuck and in the center of his lane.

Green stopped the clocks with a nice 5.822 at 261.78 (top speed of qualifying) to move up to the #3 spot.

5:38 p.m. It was cooling fast and five Top Fuel cars rolled into the lanes for the last session. With only 16 cars left running, everyone was in the show and with the weather change there was not much opportunity for most of the cars to improve their positions.

Although the best run of the session, Green's 5.933 at 252.38 was a tenth shower than the previous session so he ended up in the #4 hole for eliminations on Sunday.

11:13 a.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 56 degrees, relative humidity 52 percent, barometer 30.06 inches, track temperature 75 degrees. A lovely day for a drag race.

Murry was shut off with an oil leak after his burnout so Green got a single.

Green legged it on out trying for lane choice. Unfortunately there was a bunch of damage that was caused by partially closed fuel shut off at about 1.8 sec (got all 8). Crew Chief Brett Johansen is pretty sure they also had an electrical gremlin (coil or spark box). These factors resulted in an off pace 5.932 at 231.12 which would not be good enough for lane choice in round two.

2:16 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 62 degrees, relative humidity 47 percent, barometer 32.06 inches, track temperature 81 degrees.

In round two Green was paired with Denver Schutz who ran a 5.824 in round one which was good enough for lane choice. He put Troy in the less favored right lane.

From the hit it was obvious the High Speed car was not its usual self. Although the spare engine was a twin to the one that was hurt, the performance didn't match their earlier numbers.

Although Schutz was there for the taking running an off pace 6.009 at 251.95, Green's ride was further off with a shut off 6.289 at 187.77.

And so the 2009 season is underway. Only time will tell if a repeat championship is in Green's future.