Bakersfield, California, Oct.2019 - Mendy Fry is the 28th California Hot Rod Reunion Top Fuel Champion. Fry drove the High Speed Motorsports dragster to victory with a 5.52 ET at 264 MPH after runner-up Pete Wittenberg red-lighted in his Circuit Breaker machine, disqualifying a 5.64 ET at 248 MPH. Fry arrived at Auto Club Famoso Raceway with her second NHRA Heritage Series Top Fuel Season Championship already clinched and won the race for the second year running.

"The final was nuts," Fry said. “I thought I lost on a holeshot. I was beyond shocked and amazed that I did that. I walked off in the field at the top end because I couldn't bear facing the team having let them down in that way. Then I found out Wittenberg red-lighted, and I screamed with joy like a little girl. I am so proud of Sean Bellemeur and the team for digging deep and making this win happen."

Fry's fifth consecutive Heritage Series event win was an emotional moment for the entire team as they triumphed in honor of High Speed Motorsports team founder and crew chief Tom Shelar, who unexpectedly passed away in August.

Fry set Low ET of the meet in Round One with a 5.522-second win against Dan Horan Jr., who was behind the wheel of an all-new dragster built as a tribute to his departed father, Top Fuel driver "Digger" Dan Horan, Sr. Fry also clocked event Top Speed with her 5.526-second 264 MPH Final Round win to conclude the 2019 NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series Nostalgia Top Fuel racing season.

Mendy summed up the weekend with this thought. "We all did our jobs, but there was a presence and energy missing,” Fry said. “Tom was so much fun. Such a force and a tremendous leader. And he was a heck of a tuner. We had a 5.60 (second) bracket car. Tom flat-out got it. We did this for him.”

Now, without further ado, we present the weekend with Team High Speed and the Shelar family. Lots of photos making sure everyone can remember an exciting and emotional three days.

Leading off, a few candid shots from Friday afternoon when the team was getting ready for the first qualifying session.

Nobody's better than Car Chief Rick Shelar at paying attention to details from the front wheels to the chutes.

Mendy hams it up as Larry Shelar and Carol Dobson made sure the pre-run check list is followed to the letter. Another facet of organization that makes this team click.

Frankie Hedge, Maria Stevens, Patrick Shelar, Danielle Berger, Patrick's mom and Tom's life partner and Mendy.

The third pair of the first of three quaifying sessions would be a classic final round match up at any drag race. 76 year old Jim Murphy out of Santa Rosa, CA, in his "WW2 Racing" entry up against newly crowned 2019 Top Fuel Champion Mendy Fry from Los Angeles driving the High Speed Motorsports monster.

Sean never asked for, nor did he ever want the role that Tom Shelar played race in and race out on his car. But fate dealt the hand and Sean played it well. Here making the final tweaks on the potent hemi.

As she has done so many times before Mendy comes out of the box with a back breaking number. Her 5.595 at just 237.42 was a full two tenths quicker than Murphy's 5.730 at 247.07 which was good for #2 for the day.

Amanda Wakefield, wife of High Speed Motorsports bottom end specialist, Kyle Wakefield got all Wonder Woman to back up Pete. HSMS shared her since Walter Stevens is the High Speed "BUG" LOL!

Pair two of Q3 featured #1 Mendy and Adam Sorokin who was on the outside looking in. A very rare spot for the Champion Speed Shop car.

Mendy didn't improve but was still low for the session. Her 5.70 at just 207 supplied all the data needed for E1. As for Sorokin, a 6.23 put the last nail in the Champion coffin. He, Bobby and the team would be spectators on Sunday. A role none are used to.