Yes, there really was a Harland Sharp – he was a tool and die maker in Northeastern Ohio who helped revolutionize rocker arms for Sportsman racing worldwide!  Since the time of Harland himself in the 1950’s through the continued family ownership by Harland’s nephew Randy and Susan Becker, Harland Sharp has continued to innovate.   

Harland Sharp has been a longtime IHRA Sportsman contingency sponsor and supporter, but Susan Becker wanted to look at other options for the 2010 season.  “When Susan called and said that she was looking for something different, I immediately thought of the Top Sportsman/Top Dragster Elite 8 program,” says IHRA Director of Contingency Kurt Oberholtzer.  The Elite 8 program lets Harland Sharp support what has been and will continue to be the backbone of IHRA racing – Sportsman racers!  The next time you see Randy, Susan, Randy Jr., Mike or Steve be sure to thank them for supporting IHRA Sportsman racing programs!

The IHRA Harland Sharp Elite 8 program will be run at all Nitro Jam events and is a special event for the quickest 8 Top Sportsman and Top Dragsters as determined by final Nitro Jam qualifying.  The Harland Sharp Elite 8 qualifiers get $100 for qualifying and can earn an extra $1,000 for winning the special race.  The program will run during the second day of Nitro Jam during the professional rounds.  The Harland Sharp Elite 8 will feature heads-up competition in an effort to see who has the quickest Top Sportsman and Top Dragster entry at each Nitro Jam event.

 2010 Winners

Palm Beach International Raceway
TS - John Benoit
TD - Eddie Careccia

Baton Rouge Dragway
TS - Chris Gulitti
TD - Sheldon Bissessar

Rockingham Dragway
Top Sportsman - Ronnie Davis
Top Dragster - Sheldon Bissessar

Rocky Mountain Raceway
TS - Justin Linares
TD - Gary Groves

Castrol Raceway
TS - Dean Branham
TD - Rick Ball

Grand Bend Motorsports
Top Sportsman – Curt Fredrich vs. Tom Bene (Race Called Due To Weather)
Top Dragster – Michael Hinbest vs. Jeff Chatterson (Race Called Due To Weather)

US 131 Motorsports Park
TS - Curt Fredrich
TD - Sheldon Bissessar

Maryland International Raceway
TS - Glenn Teets
TD - Jody Stroud