Bakersfield, CA - November 03-05, 2006: The 8th Goodguys Fuel & Gas Finals was a virtual roller coaster ride for Sean Bellemeur and the High Speed Motorsports team - a ride that ended one win shy of the 2006 Goodguys/VRA Top Fuel World Championship title.

This event was also filled with mixed emotions as after 19 years of Goodguys/VRA WCC series events, the organization has made the decision to bow out of the west coast part of Goodguys Championship competition events. Goodguys/VRA will not stage a West Coast Championship Series in 2007. That leaves next season with a lot of question marks. Check back for updates but one thing for sure is there will be a 2007 Bakersfield March Meet held on the weekend of the 9th through the 13th so make your reservations now.

Back to business... Brett Johansen and Troy Green had the SilverThin Bearing HSMS Top Fuel dragster flying all weekend. After qualifying # 4 with a 5.827 at 253.87 they were dominant until the final round when they fell victim to tire smoke. All in all the team had a great season and have every right to hold their heads high and look forward to 2007 with great optimism. Now for the race coverage.

For this session they were the fourth pair out Next out and Bellemeur was paired with Rick White in the Neal & White car from San Diego. This would be a preview of the TF final on Sunday.

Both cars had nice 60' times with no tire smoke - the new 10 lb minimum air pressure rule didn't seem to effect either car.

Down track White had to pedal twice while Bellemeur streaked to a piston burning 5.875 at 253.87. White carded a respectable 6.033 at 246.84.

Sean improved to the # 4 spot with a career best ET of 5.827 at 251.67 MPH.

The first round of Top Fuel Eliminations kicked off at 3:50 PM. The weather remained cool and the track excellent. Sean Bellemeur and Rick McGee were the first pair out.

Bellemeur was not to be caught and held on for a 5.944 at 243.96 win light. McGee was right on his tail with a game 5.980 at 251.95. This was a close one.

Sunday promised to be the warmest day of the weekend and once again it was Bellemeur in the first pair out to turn up the heat. His opponent was Brendan Murry.

Once again Bellemeur cut the better light and had the lead from the hit.

With Murry a non-factor Bellemeur went right down the groove for the win improving his career best ET in the process - 5.819 at 252.80. There was some engine damage at the top end but nothing that couldn't be fixed.

The semi match-up had the makings of a dandy. Two best fiends, two great drivers in two great cars. Once again Sean Bellemeur v. Adam Sorokin. In round two Bellemeur carded a career best 5.819 while Sorokin was in the 70's again with a 5.798 so he had lane choice.

With Sorokin hopelessly mired in tire smoke Bellemeur went on to a nice 5.880 at 242.45 which meant White would have lane choice in the final.

The final pitted two cars that deserved to be there. Rick White had been the most consistent TF car in the pits all weekend and Sean Bellemeur had to race for every round win. On the drama side, this round meant everything to Bellemeur and the High Speed Motorsports team. A win here would have given them the event crown and the 2006 Goodguys/VRA World Championship by 13 points. By virtue of his 10 point bonus for top speed, Brett Harris had a 3 point lead when the final pair fired up.

The photo speaks for itself. Incredibly Bellemeur suffered the same fate as Sorokin the round before. Just like that the Championship and the Finals Top Fuel title were up in smoke - literally.