To say that Jon Sharp likes to run with a fast crowd is an understatement. But the longtime EAA member is hoping to lead the crowd at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh as he goes for another speed record, this time with his NemesisNXT aircraft.

While Sharp will make 3-kilometer speed record attempts during the Showcase flights of the air show, the exact days and times won't be known until closer to the event.

Joe Schumacher, director of AirVenture aircraft operations, said there are too many unknowns to have the schedule set this far in advance of the fly-in convention. "But I'm sure he will fly twice, and he possibly could get in a third flight," Schumacher said.

No matter when or how often it happens, Sharp said he's excited. "I'm really looking forward to doing this. I would like to move the record up a couple of different times, inching it up each day."

The current record for the C-1 (b) class, planes (take-off weight of 1,102-2,205 pounds) is 331 mph, set in 1989 in a Questair Venture flown by Richard Gitter. According to Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI) rules, a record attempt must show a minimum 1 percent increase to be valid, so Sharp is aiming for at least 334.31 mph at Oshkosh.

"I don't have any predictions at this point of time," Sharp said, noting conditions will play a big part in his actual time.

Sharp said he enjoys doing the record attempts at Oshkosh for two reasons. "It's a big event, and a way to show a lot of people the performance of our airplane. But it's also for the benefit of our sponsors, such as Lycoming Engines, JP Instruments, and Red Line Racing Oil."

Sharp says the record attempt is a fun event for spectators. "They don't get to see this type of event very often, and it's not like a normal air show act. They are actually seeing history being made before them."

The record attempt will be on Runway 18-36 and Sharp will need to make four passes through the timing gate while staying within the altitude limits set by the FAI.

Sharp has broken the 3 km record twice before at AirVenture and once at Mojave in another weight category with the original Nemesis. This will be the first time he will attempt to break the record in this weight category and with the NemesisNXT.

Currently, Sharp and the NemesisNXT hold three race records and two Gold National Championships (2006 & 07) in the Sport Class at the Reno National Air Races. The records include a 2007 qualifying record of 386.9 mph, a '07 heat race record of 384.7 mph and a '07 Gold race record of 385.6 mph.