Jeff Harrington: Kathleen All Star burns rubber at NHRA

When you think of Kathleen Georgia the first thing that pops into your head is probably not drag racing. However, Local racer Jeff Harrington is trying to change that. Harrington a native of Kathleen has been racing for many years and recently he has been enjoying a high level of success. Harrington was approached by Red Top Racing in the stock eliminator pro series, to take a shot at a regional level of racing within the NHRA (National Hot Rod Association). The NHRA is the big dog of the drag racing community and to land an opportunity to race in one of these events is a dream come true.

“It was truly an honor when Wallace Sanford approached me about driving in one of his race cars at the elite level of drag racing,” said Harrington.

Harrington, is a second-generation racer from Kathleen, his dad Keiland raced for many years before tuning the wheel over to Jeff and his younger brother Jamie.

In the beginning the team had to overcome a few obstacles while competing against the highest level of talent within the NHRA. The biggest obstacle being that they were doing this as a hobby, while competing against drivers who were doing this for a living. However, the expectations were set very high as Red Top Racing was involved in the early career of Kyle Busch, who won the Spring Cup title last year in the Nascar Spring Cup Series.

For the drag racing program to be successful in the eyes of the owner, there were big shoes to fill.

After four seasons of blood, sweat, tears and a little luck, dreams are becoming reality for the racer from Kathleen Georgia. After finishing in the top four, three consecutive years in the southeast region, Harrington has also risen to the top 10 in national standings. Harrington currently sits in fourth place out of 1300 racers throughout the United States in his class. As a result of his success in 2015, Harrington earned a spot in the JEGS All Star Race held in Chicago a couple of weeks ago. The race consisted of eight competitors representing each geographic location of the NHRA. Harrington advanced to the finals by defeating former world champion Austin Williams from Texas and Anthony Fetch from New York. In the finals Mick Alley from Idaho narrowly defeated Harrington.

Not to let the runner up spot dampened his sprits, Harrington advanced to the semi- finals in the Route 66 finals the following day.

“We won more rounds of racing than any other driver in our class, so Chicago was really good to us,” said Harrington. Not a bad weekend for the racer from Kathleen, considering the nation’s top racers was competing at the same location. The competition is fierce with less than a thousandth of a second sometimes separating the winner from the loser.

“I have been truly blessed by God to have the opportunity that many racers can only dream to live,” said Harrington.

“We feel as a team that we have turned the corner and we are capable in any race to be a threat to reach the finals. We have four races to compete in until the end of the year, with our sights set on a world championship still in reach. It would take a great finish to accomplish this feat, but we are honored to have the opportunity.”

To have the success that Harrington has enjoyed this year involves many individuals and sponsors. “I have to thank my wife Amy and our family,” Said Harrington.

“I will be forever grateful to Wallace Sanford and Randy Payne for the opportunity, as well as the sponsorship help from Red Top Racing. I would also like to thank Ford performance racing.com for their help so that I can keep living the dream.”

To “live the dream” as Harrington said, it takes a lot of people and a whole lot of resources. It also takes a fast car and a lot of confidence in the motor. The car is a tribute to the late 60’s Ford sponsored cars of Hubert Platt and Randy Payne called, Platt and Payne. The car was built as one of fifty 2013 Cobra Jet Mustangs sold through Ford Motor Sports. It is powered by a naturally aspirated 302 “Coyote Motor.” Harrington will be competing with this car at the Lucas Oil Divisional meet at his home track in Reynolds Georgia, “The Silver Dollar Raceway”, this October.

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