The NitroGeezer staff recently caught up with Howard Haight between qualifying sessions at the VRA race at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, CA. Howard has been driving top fuel dragsters for 35 years. In arguably the biggest win of his 35–year career, Howard won the 46^th edition of the March Meet last month. Victory at Bakersfield was far from an easy task, as he needed to beat Denver Schutz, Mendy Fry, Jim Murphy, and Rick McGee, part of the quickest field in history, to earn his place on the winner’s stand. He took a few minutes out of his busy day to give us this exclusive interview.

NGs: Tell us about your first exposure to drag racing.

H H: I was born and raised in Pomona. I lived just about a mile from the Pomona track. I could hear the cars roaring down the track. As a kid, I would ride my bike over to the track, and because I didn’t have the 50 cent admission, sneak-in under the fence. I believe 1963 was when I started going to the drag races.

NGs: How about your hero-drivers?

H H: Definitely, Tommy Ivo and Tom McEwen. In fact, I’ve been a life-long fan of Tommy Ivo. I still remember the Ivo-Crossley/Williams/Swan final at the 1964 Winternationals. (Ed. note: 41 years later and Howard recalled it right!) And, what a thrill to race Ivo for the first time in 1973.

NGs: When did you first start driving top fuel dragsters?

H H: 1971. The first car I drove was owned by ‘Giant’ Jim Moore. It was called the ‘‘James Gang’’ because both owners were Jims. It was originally Jim Dunn’s ‘Rainbow Car’, the one he won Bakersfield with in 1969. I started as a crew member, but that all changed after one night at Lions. Jim had an engine explosion and burned, how can we say, some sensitive areas of his anatomy. He couldn’t sit down, much less drive a race car. With a big match race at Carlsbad just two weeks away and no driver, I jumped at the chance to get behind the wheel. I asked to drive the car, and because he didn’t have a lot of options, he took this 19-yr. old kid to Irwindale Raceway. I made three runs and got my license. In retrospect, I owe a lot to Jim Moore. I was just a poor kid and he gave me a chance to drive. It may not have happened, again.

NGs: Why don’t you take us through the next couple years.

H H: ‘Giant’ Jim Moore healed up and I was out of a ride. So, he takes me over to Nick Cirino’s (ed. Note: same Nick Cirino that builds street rods and custom cars out of his San Bernardino shop today). Nick needed a driver for his Warlock top fueler and I got the ride.

NGs: There’s a good story here. Tell it to us.

H H: It’s the 1971 World Finals at Ontario. At the time, we were still puddling with VHT. This crew member puddles one side, trips over the frame rails trying to do the other side, and spills the stuff all over the headers. I’m waiting there to go, finally get the signal, and I lay down a huge patch of flame. Of course, that was a Buster Couch absolute no-no.

NGs: And…….

H H: This lasted just a few months, and after that, I went from car to car, maybe eight different cars before I hooked up with Ron Cochrum in late 1971. We use to hang-out at the Weekly-Rivero-Fox-Holding shop in Pomona. We acquired a SPE rear-engined car and soon thereafter assumed the title of the ‘’world’s fastest Chevy’’ top fuel dragster. Wanting to update our racer, we ordered an M&S car from Sherm Guinn. This is late 1972, just about the time I got involved with the "American Way" fueler.

NGs: Tell us about Harry and Maxine Lehman’s "American Way" rear-engined car, the one some drivers called the ‘bath tub’. How did you get involved with that dragster?

H H: Well, they came to California for the ‘Last Drag Race’ at Lions, but Al Friedman had died, and they did not have a driver. I was going to the race just to watch when I got a call from Mike Waggoner (Midwest racer) who told me, "Bring your stuff to the ‘Beach". I drove the car that night and even though we dq’d, he asked me if I wanted the ride. Hell yes! Since our Cochrum-Haight car was a work in progress, I packed up and went to the Right Coast for a while. I had a ball. Here’s this 20-year old kid making a living match racing 2 or 3 times a week. I mean, I got paid good money for the time. I got 1/3 of what the car made. But, in terms of wins and losses, it was not a successful stint. We were constantly blowing up stuff and there were a lot of fires. I loved the match racing. In fact, I’m a match racer at heart. But, I’m also very competitive and I want to win. So, after about six months, I returned to the West Coast.

NGs: In the mid-‘70s, you were driving the Cochrum-Haight Chevy-powered fueler. Your recollections of that car?

H H: It had a cast iron engine, and with our limited budget we did very well. We qualified 99% of the time, went rounds, and even won the 1977 Nitro Championships at OCIR setting top speed as well. It was a 16-car show and we beat Denver Schutz in the Skinner Bros. car in the final. (ed. note: Denver and Howard still compete against each other. In fact, they were R1 opponents at both Bakersfield and Infineon 2005. Howard won both times).

NGs: The "Hemi Hunter" had a bunch of drivers (Toth, Thierer, yourself). How did you get involved with that car and how long did it last?

H H: Dale Thierer left to drive for the Lees and Roger Toth was semi-retired. I got a call to come back East, and I jumped at it. I drove the Hemi Hunter in 1978 and 1979 and the car was very successful. We were Division 1 runner-up in ’78 and 3^rd in ’79. And, we won a lot of races, including the Grand American at New England Dragway, divisional events at Budd’s Creek and Maple Grove. At one point, we won seven races in a row. The Hemi Hunter made a profit in 1978, but in 1979 the ‘sh—hit the fan’. Gasoline went ballistic, nitro doubled, and just about everything else sky-rocketed. The team lost 6K and they offered me the entire operation. I declined and returned to the West Coast and resumed racing the Cochrum-Haight "rat" until 1985.

NGs: The 1980s?

HH: The Chevy was having a hard time holding its own, so I bought a Rick Casarez car campaigned by Jody Smart. This was a great car. It went A to B on a string. I ran my quickest and fastest time with that car: 5.50-260. Also, some great memories, like racing ‘Big’ at Indy in 1984. Bakersfield 1985 was my last race with my own car. After that, I drove a bunch of cars including Leon Fitzgerald’s Pure Heavenand Mike Sullivan’s fuel altered.

NGs: So, now you are driving the nostalgia front-motored top fuelers racing the Good Guys circuit?

HH: Robert Richardson, owner of the Circuit Breaker, approached and offered me a ride. I drove for him for three years and during that time we won two Good Guy VRA races. But, he wanted to go in a different direction after the 2002 March Meet, and I was suddenly without a ride. Enter Butch Blair. He hurt himself racing his sand dragster and needed a "shoe". So, I started driving for him at the 2002 VRA race at Infineon Raceway and here we are.

NGs: Best race car ever driven?

HH: Wow, that’s tough. Actually, two cars. My Jody Smart/ Casarez RED and Butch’s new FED. The Fugowie is just like driving a Cadillac; nicest and smoothest car I’ve ever driven.

NGs: Best drag race you ever participated (in), win-or-lose?

HH: The Grand American at New England Dragway with the Hemi Hunter in 1978. We slaughtered them: low qualifier, top speed, and top eliminator.

NGs: Guy you don’t want to race when the $$$ is on the line?

HH: Well, until Bakersfield, Murphy.

NGs: Any nicknames?

H H: Thanks to Giant Jim Moore, "pooh bear". He was 6’9’’ and I’m 5’6".

NGs: Drive a jet dragster/funny car?

H H: No interest whatsoever.

NGs: How about drag boats?

H H: I was offered a top fuel hydro ride in 1973. I went to Marine Stadium in Long Beach and saw a guy get killed. That was that. Probably the best decision I ever made.

NGs: Present company excluded, best ‘natural’ driver of all-time?

H H: Garlits.

NGs: Favorite tracks?

H H: Lots of ‘em. New England Dragway, Budd’s Creek International, Infineon, Las Vegas, and OCIR. Ironically, my home track, Pomona, has not been nice to me. I believe I have only won two rounds at Pomona over all these years.

NGs: Scariest moment as a driver?

H H: I have been very lucky or I’m very good. In 35 years of driving nitro cars, I’ve had only one encounter with the guard rail and have never been on my head. That one incident came just last year against Harris at Boise. Every car has its personality, and even though the Fugowie (first car) is a very calm dragster, that night it wanted to dance a little to the right once the chassis arched up. Without moving the steering wheel, it made a quick move right, and I hit it pretty good; cracked a collar bone.

NGs: Given the opportunity, would you drive a contemporary top fuel car in the NHRA Powerade series?

H H: Oh yeah! In fact, my biggest wish is to get back into the late model deal. I just like going fast.

NGs: Where do you see drag racing in 2010?

H H: I don’t know. But, I think expenses are killing the sport. Outside of winning the lottery, I don’t know how I could go racing on my own and justify it.

NGs: You just won the race and dinner is on your buck. Where are you going to take us?

H H: Black Angus for steak; my favorite dinner.

NGs: If I couldn’t be a drag racer, then I would want to be a …………………?

H H: I’ve been at it so long, I wouldn’t know what else to do.