IN
THE
WIND
P34
THARPE WINS TOP FUEL HARLEY
CHAMPIONSHIP
D
rama was served up in
spades as the 2018 Mickey
Thompson Top Fuel Harley
Championship was decided be-
tween Doug Vancil and Spevco-
sponsored Tii Tharpe in a final
round run-off at the National Hot
Rod Association's U.S. Nationals
at Lucas Oil Raceway in India-
napolis, September 29-30.
Prior to the final in Indianapo-
lis, Tharpe and Vancil had battled
it out nine times over the course
of the season, with Tharpe win-
ning four times and Vancil three.
After missing the opening round,
which was won by Vancil, Tharpe
had to battle back all season and
would eventually meet Vancil in
the final race of the season to
determine the 2018 champion-
ship.
The final-round showdown
started with the duo cutting
identical 0.043 reaction times,
but shortly after Vancil's Vance &
Hines entry began to falter and
Tharpe rode his Spevco machine
to the win light and the champi-
onship with a 6.44 pass for his
fifth win of the season.
Tharpe finished out the sea-
son with 650 points, just seven
points ahead of Vancil. Defend-
ing champ Jay Turner was third
with 531. CN
FINAL
1. Tii Tharpe (H-D)
2. Doug Vancil (H-D)
Tii Tharpe wrapped
up the 2018 Mickey
Thompson Top Fuel Harley
Championship at the final
round in Indianapolis.
