37th Annual Mopar Mile-High Nationals
July 22-24, 2016
Denver, CO
Driver Bill Litton began the famed three-part Western Swing this past weekend by joining forces with car owners and Father-Son Co-Crew Chiefs Chuck and Del Worsham along with team members Jeff Arend, James, Mike, Seth, Glenn and Mike making his official debut in the Top Fuel Division. “This is very exciting,” Del said. “It’s a good time to get your feet wet and get things going. Bill was one of our students in our Top Fuel class and I am looking forward to seeing him go out there. I think Bill is a great fit to compete at Denver.”
Team Litton Racing traveled more than 5,850 feet high and deep into the Rocky Mountains, where the altitude effects everything from engine tune-ups to aerodynamics. Factoring in the 94 degree heat and a few other factors, 5,850 feet becomes 9,175 feet of density altitude causing the Crew Chiefs to turn the wick up!
Friday commenced with an unfortunate rain delay but it didn’t stop the Bandimere Speedway from being filled with thunderous activity. On Saturday Driver Litton was positioned in the right lane during the 3rd qualifying round. Litton has been down the track 127 times in an injected nitro dragster… this would be his 3rd attempt at a full pull in an 11,000 horsepower Top Fuel Dragster. Challenged to coax maximum horsepower from the Worsham Top Fueler in the thin Denver air, Litton’s nerves were slightly amped up as he staged and took off before the tree was activated, resulting in a run with no time. Despite the result, Litton refused to waiver from his determined mindset.
Later that day during the 4th qualifying round, Driver Litton launched with header flames flying high and then started dancing around on a planned half-track run and clicked it off. Times came in at 60 feet in 0.95 seconds reaching 330 feet in 2.41 seconds. Team Litton ends the day in the #14 spot overall within the field, qualifying them into round 1 of eliminations!
E1 would be no easy challenge as the Litton Financial Dragster pulled up against the Lucas Oil team. Litton ran his quickest pass in the losing effort against Richie Crampton on Sunday with a 4.17 @ 280.49 mph to Crampton’s 4.11 @ 280.37 mph. By the end of the weekend Driver Litton became only the 555th driver to qualify for an NHRA Top Fuel field! “I’m just thankful and blessed for this opportunity,” Litton said. “Chuck and Del, and the whole team are amazing and it’s awesome to be with them. I’ve been praying almost every night since I was 8 years old to get the chance to drive a Top Fuel Dragster. It is great to have Litton Financial on the car and the American Fallen Soldiers Project along with our other sponsors. Litton Financial clients are like extended family to me and the American Fallen Soldiers Project will bring tears to your eyes in the way that they comfort the families of our fallen soldiers.” Their mission can be summarized in the following link to an inspiring video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cig_kGRFJ2Y
Chuck Worsham said it best, stating “We are here in Denver to ‘knock the dust off’ and we plan on running hard in Sonoma and Seattle to try and be somebody there.” Dragster fans can be on the lookout for Team Litton and the Litton Financial wrapped Worsham Top Fuel Dragster again next weekend in Sonoma for The Toyota Sonoma Nationals and the following weekend in Seattle for The Protect The Harvest Northwest Nationals where they plan to amplify their success through the remainder of the Western Swing. Reflecting on the weekend, the ever passionate Del commented, “We accomplished what we came for.”
Stay tuned because Team Litton and the “Blue Thunder” Nitro car will be back in action following the end of the Western Swing starting with the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals at the Lucas Oil Speedway in Indianapolis August 31st – September 5th! For more details and updates follow our Litton Racing page on Twitter and Facebook and like us on Instagram @teamlittonracing