Page 20 - 2019 NM Spring

Car owner and crew chief; Tom 1320 history book. she is regarded as one of the most
“Slick” Shelar and the HSMS team accomplished drivers in the sport;
have worked very hard to get to It all started in her father’s ’27 however, Mendy credits the team’s
this point. His highly-polished Super Street roadster and his Top diligent maintenance program as
team is a tightly-knit family affair, Alcohol dragster. From there the key to their success!
in which their integrity and she campaigned the late Ron
dedication is as solid as it can get. Johnson’s Junior Fuel dragster, the Unless you have been on a
Behind the wheel is drag racing’s “Future Flash”, “McCain’s Bomb racing team, one would not
“Nitro Kitty”; Mendy Fry. As her Squad”, and “Smokey’s Darkside” understand how many helping
daddy’s very special little girl; she Nostalgia Funny Cars, in addition hands are required to coordinate
was born with the gene of defying to the “Master Cam”, “Jennings a successful operation. The
danger. Ron Fry, car designer/ & Scheele”, “Forever Young” man responsible for the overall
builder, fabricator, engine builder, and “High Speed Motorsports” maintenance of the HSMS hot rod
and racer knew when the stork Nostalgia Top Fuel dragsters. Her is “Car Chief” Rick Shelar; who
dropped her off on the front porch long-established history is dotted has been a cherished member of
that she was going to accomplish with many records and significant the team from the very beginning.
amazing things in her life! From accomplishments. At the 2004 The critical undertaking of the
the first time she climbed into a CHRR she was the first female in clutch management system is
Quarter-midget Sprint Car at the a front engine Top Fuel dragster executed by second generation
age of 4, until the day she became to break the 5-second and 250 racer Sean Bellemeur. In addition,
the world’s quickest Top Alcohol mph barriers, with her 5.87/251 he also pilots Tony Bartone’s
Dragster driver (6.15/220) at the effort. She is also the only female Hussey Performance Camaro
age of 18; she was destined to leave member of the exclusive “Nostalgia Top Alcohol Funny Car (and won
her mark within the pages of the Top Fuel 250 mph Club”. Today the 2018 NHRA Lucas Oil World

As that familiar haze of yellow fog slowly obscures the environment, Tom Shelar puts the final tweaks on the tune-up while Sean
Bellemeur looks everything over. Mendy’s behind the butterfly attentively responding to Tom’s hand signals. It’s just another day in
the field office for these guys.
20 Nitro Madness Magazine Spring 2019