Here are the classes and cars left to compete:

• Super Stock: 7 cars left

• Stock: 7 cars left

• Super Comp: 15 cars left

• Super Gas: 14 cars left

• Top Dragster: 16 cars left (round partially completed)

• Top Sportsman: 10 cars left

• Competition eliminator (9 cars) will conclude on April 12, after the second qualifying session at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals. Top Alcohol Funny Car (4 cars) will conclude at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals on April 13 during qualifying sessions three and four. Don’t miss out on the action at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway!

In the meantime, we present a Gallery of Kim Fuller’s Sportsman Photos from the starting line at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip!

The post The Rain-Delayed NHRA Winternationals Sportsman Will Finish In Vegas • We’ve Got The Pomona Gallery! appeared first on BangShift.com.

In Top Fuel, Tony Schumacher and defending event winner Justin Ashley both advanced to the final round on Sunday. Ashley, aiming for his third straight win at the Winternationals, reached the finals thanks to victories against Shawn Reed, Steve Torrence, and No. 1 qualifier Brittany Force. On the other hand, Funny Car’s John Force and reigning world champion Matt Hagan powered to the championship round at the second of 20 races during the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.

Defending world champion Erica Enders and No. 1 qualifier Dallas Glenn will meet up in the finals in Pro Stock in Phoenix.

The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series returns to action on April 5-7 with the 39th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals at Firebird Motorsports Park in Phoenix.

Check out our first Gallery from the Pomona Winternationals

The post Mother Nature Is The Ultimate Winner At 64th NHRA Winternationals • On To Phoenix! appeared first on BangShift.com.

The other thing that makes this broadcast great is Steve Evans and Don Garlits calling the race. They are loose, they are cracking jokes, and they are having fun. It feels like you are in the grandstands with them just watching the race and BSing while having a beer.

From personal experience I can tell you that making the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series television shows with guys like Alan Reinhart and Bruno Massel is really fun. We like to have fun like these guys and loosen up a little. We still treat the action and the competition with the seriousness that it deserves but at the same time we have some fun like these guys.

Such a fun watch!

Press play to see the fun action from the sportsman classes at the 1991 Mile Highs

The post Having Fun In 1991: Wild Combos, Interesting Cars, And Laughs At The 1991 NHRA Mile High Nationals appeared first on BangShift.com.

It takes some guts and great reporting skills to have the want or need to ask Big Daddy about one of the most infamous failed experiments in his long history of awesome innovation, Swamp Rat 17 but the NHRA’s Phil Burgess packs both. This was the car which was built short and built to fit a streamliner body as designed by Jocko Johnson, an “out there” Californian who believed in aerodynamics, free living, and pushing the boundaries of performance at the drag strip. He didn’t believe in a lot of the normal scientific testing process, though.

In this story, Garlits tells the whole history of the car, why it was no good, how it was no good, and how he regrets none of his experience and what it brought to him in both knowledge and cool additions to the museum. This is a really awesome piece of history.

NHRA.com: Don Garlits tells the wild story of Swamp Rat 17 – The Jocko ‘Liner 

The post The Car That Would Be Kite: Don Garlits Spills The Beans On Swamp Rat 17 And Its Star-Crossed History appeared first on BangShift.com.

The center section was fixed but the front end and the rear section behind the driver were bolt on. This was an era where no one ran wheelie bars so cars would often stand up on their rear tires and come flopping down back to Earth, and the result of that was a bent chassis. This required the car to be sent back to a chassis shop and fixed, killing time, and perhaps costing team races. Now you could stock a couple of front ends and make your repairs right there in the trailer! The back section of the car was bolt on and could be swapped out if you wanted to change the location of the engine depending on track conditions, or if you simply wanted to “back half” the car after a set number of runs.

Swindahl’s chassis were what all the premier cars of this era used. Other builders like Brad Hadman also had great cars and ideas but as you’ll see Swindahl had a booming business with loads of cars under construction on jigs in his shop. This is a neat little piece of old school tech.

Press play to see some cutting edge top fuel chassis technology from 30 years ago –

The post Old School Chassis Tech: This Video From 30 Years Ago Shows The Al Swindahl Bolt Together Top Fuel Chassis appeared first on BangShift.com.

From his early racing career at Kahuku Drag Strip, on the Island of Oahu, Leong hot rodded the family car making way for his first blown gas dragster, a Dragmaster chassied, Corvette-powered winner in the early 1960’s. His dragster, with supercharged Chrysler power, was one of the strongest running dragsters in the State of Hawaii.

After moving to the Mainland, Leong continued his winning with the Top Gas Championship at the ’64 Winternationals with Danny Ongais driving. Later that year he drove his brand-new Kent Fuller chassied, nitro-powered “Hawaiian” crashing it at over 190 MPH on his first licensing pass at Lions Drag Strip. His new car was totaled with friends Keith Black and Don Prudhomme looking on. NHRA then barred Leong from a competition driving license as a result the accident.

In 1965 Don Prudhomme would then drive the newly rebuilt dragster to victories at local tracks like Pomona, Lions, San Fernando, San Gabriel, Phoenix, Detroit, Ohio and others setting track records and earning championship trophies across the country. Prudhomme and Leong solidified a lifelong friendship between the two.

Through a series of drivers like Mike Snively, Leong became a tuning wizard with Keith Black powerplants winning nearly 80% of all their races. By 1967, and with Chrysler’s help, Leong fielded two “Hawaiian” dragsters driven by Snively and Mike Sorokin in the “Hawaiian II” with 426 Hemi’s.

Leong received his Crew Chief of the Year award from the Car Craft All-Star Drag Racing Team in ’67 & ’68 along with engine builder Keith Black.

By 1969 Leong, with help from Chrysler, would debut his long series of “Hawaiian” funny cars at the Winternationals with Larry Reyes driving the Dodge Charger. The funny car became airborne at over 180 miles per hour crashing hard on the Pomona top end. After rebuilding by mid-year, the “Hawaiian” funny cars would dominate the drag strips across the nation that year.

Leong’s ability to bring in sponsorships like Dodge and Yamaha, by 1973 would lead him to Revell model kit company along with other racers.

By 1975, with help from General Motors, Leong would field Chevy Monza and Corvette-bodied funny cars. By the 1980’s, major sponsor King’s Hawaiian Bread

Came aboard with driver Ron Colson. Then in came Hawaiian Punch, probably Leong’s most visible and lucrative sponsor package with driver Mike Dunn.

By the 1990’s driver Jim White was winning Big Bud Shootouts and setting records for the Hawaiian Punch Dodge, carding the fastest run for a nitro powered vehicle at 288.27 MPH, faster than any Top Fuel Dragster at the time.

Leong would finally sell his funny car operation after running a Hawaiian Vacation Dodge Daytona bodied car with driver Gordie Bonnin, until sponsorship funding ran out.

Roland Leong would go on to Crew Chief for owner Don Prudhomme and driver Ron Capps. In all he employed twenty-one drivers in his racing career and, after fifty-five years in drag racing was honored by the Hawaii State Legislature for his accomplishments, a proud honor he shared with his longtime friend Prudhomme last year.

Roland’s sense of humor and his ability to listen to what “the motor was telling him” led to his long, successful career and his many, many friends along the way. He passed away at the age of 79 on December 29, 2023.

On a personal note: I first saw Roland in 1965 at Hawaii Raceway Park. We became friends years later when Roland needed a ride into Bakersfield from Famoso Dragstrip. He climbed into my truck and after a minute of silence, he said, “Hey, you ever been to Hawaii?” I said I’d seen him at HRP in the 1960’s when my dad moved to Oahu for work. A moment passed and he smacked me on the arm saying in Hawaiian pidgin English, “Hey, we’re bruddahs!” Roland Leong was a very special man. Aloha.

Chad’s Note:

Growing up in a drag racing family, and reading National Dragster every week, I knew Roland Leong’s name and reputation for as long as I can remember. But when we first started streaming Nostalgia Drag Racing events at Famoso back in the day I never would have expected that I’d get to meet and hang out with Roland. Those days had me hanging out with a lot of big name racers, but while a lot of them are wild and crazy, Roland is nothing like that at all. He was the most mellow guy you could meet, which in hindsight is totally the Hawaiian Island’s spirit so it makes sense. 

And while I got to talk to Roland on several occasions, one of my most memorable wasn’t even at the dragstrip. I was walking around the Grand National Roadster Show in Pomona one year, and the show had just officially closed for the night. I was in a hall full of old drag cars, along with one section of lowriders, shooting photos for another group of galleries on the site and was just talking to my wife Daphne who had called to see how long it would be before I was home. While talking to her and shooting more photos, Roland comes walking down the aisle toward me. As he walked up to me, I told Daphne that he was standing there waiting on me, and she told me to “Get off the damn phone! Roland Leong is waiting to talk to you!” So I hung up and proceeded to walk around the show for another 30 minutes or so with Roland, shooting photos and talking about the state of drag racing, before they shut out the lights and kicked us out. 

It was awesome. 

We didn’t talk about anything “important”. We didn’t talk about anything ground breaking. We talked about nostalgia drag racing, which bodies I liked most, which ones he liked most. We talked about conversations we’d had with other racers and crew chiefs about changes NHRA should make to the nostalgia rules in order to make the cars more reliable and less prone to blowing up in the lights. We talked about how much fun racing was. He told me how much he enjoyed being a crew chief with people that really had the passion and yet knew this was all for fun even though winning was the goal. 

He was a normal dude. Quite honestly, all the big time racers I like are real normal dudes and dudettes. It will come as no surprise that a bunch of them worked together over the years. I’m talking Roland, Prudhomme, Capps, etc. These like minded people all seem to end up together. Folks like Densham, Rupert, Littlefield, Pruett, Fry, Cook, and so many more that would become friends from those days really do mean something to me. 

I haven’t seen Roland in the last few years, but have kept tabs through friends like Darr and Donnie Couch, and appreciate their news and updates. It’s because Roland mattered so much to Darr and Donnie, and so many of our friends, that this took a few days to post since Roland’s passing. We had to wrap our heads around it, and it makes me sad. He impacted all of us for a very long time and we could talk about him for years. 

Rest in Peace my friend, we promise to keep talking about you and telling our stories and yours because it will keep you close to us for years to come. Thanks for all the memories. 

Aloha…

Roland Leong, Sush Matsubara & Bobby Rowe in the garages behind Keith Black Racing Engines

Kings Hawaiian Bread Sponsorship Announcement.

The post Roland Leong, The Hawaiian, Is Gone. He Was Truly A Legend, In The Purist Sense Of The Word. RIP My Friend. appeared first on BangShift.com.

Schumacher, who was 79 at the time of his passing, leaves a lasting legacy on not only the NHRA community, where he etched his name as one of the sport’s most successful team owners and a champion for the advancement of safety innovation, but on the motorsports community as a whole. Schumacher’s contributions to the auto racing industry reach far beyond drag racing and have been widely recognized. In November 2022, Schumacher was honored at the NHRA Awards Ceremony where he was presented with the NHRA’s Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2019, he was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in Daytona Beach, Florida, and in May 2013, he was enshrined into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in Talladega, Alabama. He also joined a prestigious list of straight-line racing legends when he was invited into the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame in 2007.

A fierce Funny Car match racer in the 1960s and ‘70s who fielded multiple entries with top-notch drivers to fulfill the demand for bookings of his Stardust Funny Cars, Schumacher took a departure from motorsports in the early 70’s to grow the family business, Schumacher Electric. While operating Schumacher Electric, he grew the family business into a global corporation. Schumacher increased the company value more than ten-fold and employed thousands of people around the globe. He was known as a fierce and compassionate leader to all who worked with him.

In 1998, he returned to NHRA Drag Racing to build a team with son Tony Schumacher. Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) made its competition debut at the 1998 U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, and by the time the 1999 season had wrapped, DSR had clinched its first of many championship titles. Soon after, the single-car team exploded into a multi-car powerhouse.

As the patriarch of DSR, Schumacher was a force to be reckoned with. More than 25 drivers have raced for the legendary team owner. He created champions, introduced new personalities to the sport, and was responsible for the resurgence of several careers. Schumacher is the only team owner to have wins from each of NHRA’s four professional categories. He was also successful in the Factory Stock Showdown Series, winning the 2018 title in only his second year of campaigning cars in the category.

His teams have amassed 19 NHRA world championship titles and 367 Wally trophies, including the five he won while behind the wheel of a Funny Car. During his driving career, he contributed cutting-edge safety innovations for the new Funny Car category including a roof-mounted escape hatch that allowed drivers to quickly exit when all-too-frequent fires occurred. He was also the first to mount the lever that activated a fire suppression system on his Funny Car’s brake handle so the driver could apply both while keeping one hand on the steering wheel.

As a team owner, he funded and spearheaded a project to develop a protective, enclosed canopy for Top Fuel dragsters, which has since been adopted by multiple NHRA teams. Schumacher was also intent on utilizing his team’s fleet of race cars to raise money and awareness for various charities. Each year ahead of the U.S. Nationals, DSR hosts a pre-race event at its Brownsburg, Ind. headquarters to benefit Riley Hospital for Children, and for seven seasons, Schumacher, along with Terry and Doug Chandler, campaigned ‘giving cars.’ The program enabled non-profits, such as the Infinite Hero Foundation, Make-A-Wish Foundation, and MD Anderson Cancer Center to be recognized through a dedicated tribute livery at no cost to the organization. The impact Schumacher had both on and off the race track is undeniable.

In more recent years, Schumacher turned his focus to growing Don Schumacher Motorsports, more commonly known as DSM Precision Manufacturing and DSR Performance. DSR Performance is considered one of the sport’s leading race engineering and aftermarket parts brands. DSM Precision Manufacturing is a successful precision manufacturing supplier for the motorsports, defense, and aerospace industries. These entities will continue to honor the business legacy of Schumacher.

When not at a race track or leading his teams of employees, Schumacher enjoyed spending time with his children, grandchildren, fishing, and golfing.

Arrangements, including a celebration of life ceremony, will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests making a donation to MD Anderson Cancer Center.

The post Iconic Racer And Team Owner Don Schumacher Dies At 79: Motorsports Icon Don Schumacher Leaves Lasting Legacy After Battle with Cancer appeared first on BangShift.com.

@DodgeMoparMotorsports on Instagram The @DodgeMoparMotorsports Instagram channel continues to share content capturing Dodge//SRT Mopar drivers on the track. Fans can see action from the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series and NHRA Sportsman grassroots racers, competing in classes such as Factory Stock Showdown, Stock and Super Stock, as well as additional motorsports series. Dodge//SRT For more than 100 years, the Dodge brand has carried on the spirit of brothers John and Horace Dodge. Their influence continues today as Dodge shifts into high gear with a lineup that delivers unrivaled performance in each of the segments where they compete. Dodge drives forward as a pure performance brand, offering SRT Hellcat versions of the Dodge Challenger, Dodge Charger and Dodge Durango, as well as an R/T plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) version of the all-new 2023 Dodge Hornet, representing the brand’s first-ever electrified performance vehicle. Dodge delivers the drag-strip dominating 807-horsepower Dodge Challenger SRT Super Stock; the 797-horsepower Dodge Charger SRT Redeye, the most powerful and fastest mass-produced sedan in the world; and the 710-horsepower Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat, the most powerful SUV ever; and best-in-class standard performance in the compact utility vehicle segment with the Dodge Hornet. Combined, these four muscle vehicles make Dodge the industry’s most powerful brand, offering more horsepower than any other American brand across its entire lineup. In 2022, the Dodge brand ranked No. 1 in the J.D. Power APEAL Study (mass market), making it the only domestic brand ever to do so three years in a row. In 2020, Dodge was named the “#1 Brand in   Initial Quality,” making it the first domestic brand ever to rank No. 1 in the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study (IQS). Fans can follow all the NHRA action this season at DodgeGarage, the one-stop portal for Dodge//SRT and Mopar drag-racing news, including daily updates and access to an online racing HQ, news, events, galleries, available downloads and merchandise. Dodge is part of the portfolio of brands offered by leading global automaker and mobility provider Stellantis (NYSE: STLA).

The post Tony Stewart Will Take Over Driving Duties For Wife Leah Pruett In 2024 As They Focus On Starting A Family! appeared first on BangShift.com.

Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), Aaron Stanfield (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won the 21st race of the 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season, and the last of six races in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs. Kalitta’s victory also handed him the championship for the first time in his career.

Green knocked off Wilkerson in his 11,000-horsepower Bond Coat, Inc. Ford Mustang, going 3.916-seconds at 328.54 mph in the championship round. It’s been a true breakout season for Green, who advanced to seven semifinals and two final rounds heading into Pomona. He knocked off Robert Hight in the second round, handing the world championship to Matt Hagan in the process, and then J.R. Todd to reach the final before a great .033 reaction time helped Green to a memorable holeshot victory.

To add to the moment, Green’s son, Hunter, also earned the win on Sunday in Top Alcohol Dragster in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.

“It’s just been an amazing weekend,” Green said. “First off, it’s been an amazing season. This has been a dream season for us. I couldn’t be more proud of my guys. They’ve really come a long way in the last few years and they’ve stuck with me. We’ve been trying all year to get this Wally. We’ve been close a few times, but it’s just been an amazing season. I can’t think of a better way that you could top off a season, ending it like this.

“But I just can’t say enough about our season. It’s been so amazing. You could have never drawn it up like this. This season has been a great season, we surprised a lot of people, and to cap it off with a win is awesome.”

Kalitta powered to a Sunday-best run of 3.673-seconds at 334.98 mph in his 11,000-horsepower Mac Tools/Toyota dragster in the winner-take-all final round, driving past Pruett’s run of 3.720 at 326.16 to pick up his third win of the season. After six runner-up finishes in his 26-year career, Kalitta finished the job on Sunday to win a world title for the first time.

On a pressure-packed Sunday, Kalitta knocked off Dan Mercier, Josh Hart and Justin Ashley to set up an incredible final round with Pruett. Kalitta led wire-to-wire, setting off a raucous celebration on the starting line as the veteran had finally achieved the ultimate goal in the sport.

“It’s incredible the way the points thing worked out to come down to that last run,” said Kalitta, who won for the third time this season and 52nd time in his career. “I just stay focused. It was obviously a big round for us and it played out just perfectly.”

Pro Stock’s Aaron Stanfield closed out the regular season with his first win of the year, taking down Matt Hartford in the final round on a holeshot with a run of 6.534 at 209.91 in his Janac Brothers Chevrolet Camaro. It marks the eighth career victory for Stanfield, who use a great .031 reaction time to get past Hartford, who went 6.519 in the championship round.

“We’ve struggled this year, we’ve been waiting for that win to come so to get it here at the last race is just awesome and given everything else that’s going on in my life, it’s perfect timing,” Stanfield said.

“Matt and I, we definitely go at each other. He’s a great competitor and a good friend. It’s cool to race against them and it’s always a god time beating Matt. It’s not very fun when he beats you. I’m personally, my team and myself, we are as focused as ever. We’re here to compete for championships at Elite Motorsports. We’re going to come out swinging in Gainesville. We’re looking forward to it already.”

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Gaige Herrera’s dominant 2023 season ended with a victory, as the incredible world champion set the single-season wins mark in the category after earning his 11th victory of the season. He went 6.721 at 201.46 in his Mission Foods/Vance & Hines Suzuki to beat teammate Eddie Krawiec in the final round, denying Krawiec of his 50th win for a fourth straight race and fifth time overall.

“This is very surreal. The whole championship thing, I have to give it up to the whole team, it’s not only my championship, it’s theirs – especially Andrew (Hines, crew chief),” Herrera said. “He works his butt off day and night to make sure my bike, Ed’s bike, all the Vance & Hines bikes are fast. He texted me during the week and he’s like, ‘I’m ready to go to Pomona and just get this thing done. We had an incredible season, and I’m very excited.’ Just to have someone like Andrew Hines text me and say it was one of his best seasons ever, even though he’s not riding the bike, it’s very cool to get that text message from someone like him.

“I can’t put this season into words. I don’t think it’s set in, what’s been accomplished this year, and I think it’s only the beginning. This season, I can’t even put it into words. I didn’t expect it to end like this this weekend.”

The 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series begins March 7-10 with the NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway.

Doug Kalitta

Top Fuel World Champion, Top Fuel Winner

Mac Tools Toyota Top Fuel Dragster

3.673 seconds, 334.98 mph

NOTE: Top Fuel veteran Doug Kalitta finally became a NHRA champion on Sunday at the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals. In a winner at all final, Kalitta ran a 3.673-second pass at 334.98 mph to claim the championship over competitor Leah Pruett.

Matt Hagan

Funny Car World Champion

Dodge Direct Connection Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car

NOTE: Matt Hagan secured his fourth NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series championship on Sunday at the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals. When competitor Robert Hight lost in the second round, Hagan was able to clinch the title. He joins NHRA greats Kenny Bernstein and Don Prudhomme with four championships.

Chad Green

Funny Car Winner

Bond Coat Ford Mustang

3.916 seconds, 328.54 mph

NOTE: Funny Car’s Chad Green raced to his first NHRA win on Sunday at the season finale at the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals. Green’s 3.916-seconds pass at 328.54 mph was good enough for a holeshot win over Tim Wilkerson in the final round at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip.

Erica Enders

Pro Stock World Champion

Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage / Melling Performance Camaro

NOTE: Pro Stock’s Erica Enders collected her sixth NHRA championship on Sunday at the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals in Pomona. When she won the opening round on elimination, she locked up the title. She now ties Warren Johnson for second most titles, behind Bob Glidden at 10. Enders is the winningest female across all motorsports.

Aaron Stanfield

Pro Stock Winner

Janac Brothers Camaro

6.534 seconds, 208.91 mph

NOTE: Aaron Stanfield picked up his first win of the season at the final event of the year when he defeated Matt Hartford in the final round at the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals. Stanfield clocked a 6.534-second lap at 208.91 mph to win at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip.

Gaige Herrera

Pro Stock Motorcycle Winner

Vance & Hines Mission Foods Suzuki

6.721 seconds, 201.46 mph

NOTE: Gaige Herrera secured his 11th NHRA race win of the year, the most Pro Stock Motorcycle wins in a season, on Sunday at the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals in Pomona. He defeated his Vance & Hines teammate Eddie Krawiec in the final round with his 6.721-second pass at 201.46 mph at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip. Herrera clinched the Pro Stock Motorcycle on Saturday after qualifying.

The post GREEN, KALITTA, STANFIELD AND HERRERA CLOSE OUT 2023 WITH WINS AT IN-N-OUT BURGER NHRA FINALS appeared first on BangShift.com.

Austin Prock (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car) and Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) also qualified No. 1 at the 21st race of the 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season, and the last of six races in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.

Herrera extended his single-season class record by earning his 14th No. 1 qualifier thanks to a track-record run of 6.661-seconds at 203.80 mph on his Mission Foods/Vance & Hines Suzuki. He will try to pick up his 11th win of the season on Sunday, which would also set a single-season record in the class, but earned the bigger prize on Saturday by picking up a world championship for the first time.

It is the finishing touch on one of the most incredible seasons in Pro Stock Motorcycle history, as Herrera dominated from start to finish. He won the first three races of the season, added another three-race winning streak during the year and then has won the last four races during the Countdown to the Championship. Add in a multitude of track records, the quickest run in class history and a sweep of the Western Swing and Herrera enjoyed a simply spectacular season.

“This is very special, it doesn’t feel real to be honest,” Herrera said. “The amount of stuff we’ve accomplished this year and then wrapping it up getting the championship and then making a run like that the last qualifier, it’s been an incredible season. I’m living the dream. Last year I was just out here trying to have a little fun and to get the opportunity to ride for the legends that I grew up watching race and looked up to, to be able to race with them and accomplish what we have, it’s very surreal.

“Wrapping up the championship here in my hometown, this is something I’ll never forget, winning the championship in my first full season. There is a lot that has been accomplished this year, but this definitely tops it all. This is something I’ll always cherish and remember. You never can take anything for granted. The bike has been flawless all year. We set a lot of records and it just goes on and on. It’s crazy.”

Funny Car title contender Robert Hight powered to a massive run to close out qualifying under the lights in Pomona, going 3.844 at 331.61 in his 11,000-horsepower Automobile Club of Southern California/Cornwell Tools Chevrolet Camaro SS. It’s the seventh No. 1 of the season for the three-time world champ and the 84th in his career, and he also moved past Bob Tasca III into second place in the process. He’s just 12 points behind leader Matt Hagan – with Tasca only 17 points out of first – heading into what will be one of the most thrilling finishes in class history on Sunday.

For Hight, he’s eager for the opportunity to compete for a world championship, knowing full well it’s going to be a monumental battle against Hagan and Tasca – one that could come down to the final run of the year in a winner-take-all scenario. Hight and Hagan, who is the No. 5 qualifier could meet in the semifinals, while Tasca, who qualified sixth, is on the other side of the bracket.

“That’s big [going around Tasca],” Hight said. “Let’s say it comes down to Tasca and I, and we lose the same round, you want to go ahead of him in qualifying, so this was big for us today. I was a little nervous yesterday after screwing up the first run and then we had to make a safe run last night. We knew what we had to do but you have to execute, too. This is a tricky place, no matter what anybody tells you, this place is tricky. Two separately different lanes and when it’s good, it’s really good and you have to be aggressive and get after it. I’m really proud of the whole Auto Club team.

“It’s exactly what we needed to do and it might have a little effect going into Sunday. We’ve got a little momentum and we’re running well but we have to race smart tomorrow. Probably not going to sleep tonight, but at least we’re qualified.”

John Force qualified second with a 3.862 at 328.14 and defending event winner Cruz Pedregon took third after a run of 3.865 at 330.15.

In Top Fuel, Austin Prock made a huge move to close out qualifying as he looks to close out the season with a win for a second straight year, taking the No. 1 spot with a run of 3.636 at 332.92 in his 11,000-horsepower Montana Brands/Rocky Mountain Twist dragster. It’s the second top qualifier this season for Prock and the third in his career as he made a career-best pass to close out the session. The run also gives him a strong opportunity to end his year on a high note – much like he did in 2022.

“I love it anytime I come here,” Prock said. “As a kid growing up, ditching school and flying out here to come watch my dad race and race for championships and Wallys, it was always a treat to me. It’s got a special place in my heart and it just seems like we’ve a little mojo going here. If we go to the final round tomorrow that’s five consecutive final rounds for me here in Pomona, so I hope I can make that a fact.

“Our focus every weekend is ‘Go for a Wally,’ and I feel like we finally have a racecar that can do it. We’ve been picking at it slowly throughout the year and the last two or three races, the thing has really come around. The first run today, that was the first time we’ve smoked the tires in like eight runs. We just lowered the boom a little bit there and hopefully we can keep that up tomorrow. It would be huge to win the last race of the year here and get to enjoy it for a few months.”

Prock’s run bumped Torrence and his 3.641 at 335.65 to second, with Antron Brown taking third with a 3.663 at 335.82. Torrence takes the points lead into Sunday, holding a 12-point advantage over Doug Kalitta, 39 points over Leah Pruett, 76 points over Mike Salinas and 88 points over Justin Ashley. Torrence and Pruett could potentially meet in the semifinals, while Kalitta, Ashley and Salinas are all on the other side of the bracket.

Pro Stock’s Greg Anderson couldn’t have asked for a better performance in qualifying as he looks to make a last-ditch attempt for a world championship, making the quickest run in all four sessions, including a 6.492 at 211.69 in his HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro to close out the day. It’s his third No. 1 spot this season and the 124th in his standout career.

But he’ll need a near-miracle to get past Erica Enders on championship Sunday in Pomona. He trails by 104 points and Enders simply needs to win in the opening round against Fernando Cuadra to clinch her sixth world championship. Cuadra would have to knock off Enders and Anderson would have to win the race to clinch a sixth title, but he was thrilled with how his team performed during qualifying. He also has a chance to pick up his 15th career win at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip on Sunday.

“Super pumped with the job these guys have done this weekend,” Anderson said. “I love this racetrack, I love racing here. Just the atmosphere, it’s the perfect time to go down that racetrack and it’s a great feeling. The cars just love it and the drivers love it. You saw it today, a lot of great runs in the class and I had two of them. I’m extremely pleased with my racecar this weekend. It’s made four as-close-to-perfect runs you can make and you don’t get that very often. It set the table to do the best job we can do tomorrow.

“We don’t have any clue how it’ll turn out, but I’ve got a great horse, I’ve got a great racecar and if nothing else, I have a great chance to win. We’ll give it all we’ve got tomorrow and let the cards fall where they may.”

Kyle Koretsky qualified second with a 6.497 at 211.00 and Enders’ 6.500 at 210.31 puts her third heading into raceday.

Eliminations for the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals begin at 11 a.m. PT on Sunday at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip.

***

POMONA, Calif. — Sunday’s first-round pairings for eliminations for the 58th annual In-N-Out NHRA Finals at In-N-Out Pomona Dragstrip, the final of 21 events in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series. Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Saturday. DNQs listed below pairings.

Top Fuel — 1. Austin Prock, 3.636 seconds, 332.92 mph vs. 16. Ron August, 3.858, 312.64; 2. Steve Torrence, 3.641, 335.65 vs. 15. Spencer Hyde, 3.778, 323.27; 3. Antron Brown, 3.663, 335.82 vs. 14. Clay Millican, 3.758, 306.19; 4. Mike Salinas, 3.663, 332.26 vs. 13. Josh Hart, 3.742, 329.50; 5. Doug Kalitta, 3.666, 333.25 vs. 12. Dan Mercier, 3.716, 328.14; 6. Leah Pruett, 3.674, 336.40 vs. 11. Tony Schumacher, 3.703, 331.20; 7. Billy Torrence, 3.682, 336.74 vs. 10. Shawn Langdon, 3.693, 330.07; 8. Justin Ashley, 3.682, 334.73 vs. 9. Brittany Force, 3.682, 328.14.

Funny Car — 1. Robert Hight, Chevy Camaro, 3.844, 331.61 vs. 16. Jeff Diehl, Toyota Camry, 4.025, 306.74; 2. John Force, Camaro, 3.862, 328.14 vs. 15. Terry Haddock, Ford Mustang, 4.019, 306.95; 3. Cruz Pedregon, Dodge Charger, 3.865, 330.15 vs. 14. Bobby Bode, Mustang, 3.995, 283.25; 4. Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.869, 328.46 vs. 13. Alex Laughlin, Charger, 3.993, 320.36; 5. Paul Lee, Charger, 3.869, 327.03 vs. 12. Blake Alexander, Mustang, 3.981, 319.52; 6. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 3.880, 336.99 vs. 11. Steven Densham, Mustang, 3.949, 318.02; 7. Ron Capps, Toyota GR Supra, 3.882, 332.02 vs. 10. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.928, 328.22; 8. Chad Green, Mustang, 3.893, 325.06 vs. 9. J.R. Todd, GR Supra, 3.904, 326.08.

Did Not Qualify: 17. Del Worsham, 4.062, 312.78; 18. Jason Rupert, 4.066, 317.42; 19. Alexis DeJoria, 5.365, 139.91.

Pro Stock — 1. Greg Anderson, Chevy Camaro, 6.492, 211.30 vs. 16. Mason McGaha, Camaro, 6.540, 210.64; 2. Kyle Koretsky, Camaro, 6.497, 211.00 vs. 15. Cristian Cuadra, Ford Mustang, 6.538, 210.67; 3. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.500, 210.31 vs. 14. Fernando Cuadra, Mustang, 6.535, 206.45; 4. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.500, 210.01 vs. 13. Fernando Cuadra Jr., Mustang, 6.525, 211.30; 5. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.501, 211.10 vs. 12. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.522, 211.49; 6. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.507, 209.20 vs. 11. Jerry Tucker, Camaro, 6.521, 210.24; 7. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.510, 211.03 vs. 10. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.519, 209.85; 8. Bo Butner, Camaro, 6.510, 210.08 vs. 9. Camrie Caruso, Camaro, 6.517, 211.33.

Did Not Qualify: 17. Eric Latino, 6.547, 209.79; 18. Kenny Delco, 6.548, 210.21; 19. Chris McGaha, 6.550, 209.62; 20. Steve Graham, 6.594, 208.59; 21. Val Smeland, 6.597, 205.54; 22. Joey Grose, 6.616, 207.24; 23. Alan Prusiensky, 6.629, 206.54.

Pro Stock Motorcycle — 1. Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.661, 203.80 vs. 16. Blaine Hale, Suzuki, 6.983, 192.17; 2. Hector Arana Jr, EBR, 6.729, 201.28 vs. 15. Katie Justice, Suzuki, 6.972, 189.90; 3. Eddie Krawiec, Suzuki, 6.734, 201.94 vs. 14. Chris Bostick, EBR, 6.952, 193.96; 4. Kelly Clontz, Suzuki, 6.751, 200.26 vs. 13. Angie Smith, Buell, 6.944, 166.91; 5. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.765, 197.59 vs. 12. Ryan Oehler, EBR, 6.929, 195.19; 6. Marc Ingwersen, EBR, 6.776, 199.55 vs. 11. John Hall, EBR, 6.825, 198.47; 7. Jianna Evaristo, Suzuki, 6.784, 197.77 vs. 10. Matt Smith, Suzuki, 6.810, 198.32; 8. LE Tonglet, Suzuki, 6.791, 199.20 vs. 9. Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 6.797, 197.25.

Did Not Qualify: 17. Lance Bonham, 7.070, 186.77.

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

Austin Prock

Top Fuel No. 1 Qualifier

Montana Brand / Rocky Mountain Twist Chevrolet Top Fuel Dragster

3.636 seconds, 332.92 mph

NOTE: Top Fuel star Austin Prock impressed fans at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip when he went 3.636 seconds at 332.92 mph in his dragster to secure the No. 1 qualifier spot on Saturday at the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals.

Robert Hight

Funny Car No. 1 Qualifier

Automobile Club of Southern California / Cornwell Tools Chevrolet Camaro SS

3.844 seconds, 331.61 mph

NOTE: Robert Hight took over the No. 1 spot on Saturday at the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals when he went 3.844 seconds at 331.61 mph in his hot rod to close out qualifying at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip.

Greg Anderson

Pro Stock No. 1 Qualifier

HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro

6.492 seconds, 211.30 mph

NOTE: Greg Anderson picked up his third No. 1 qualifier position of the season on Saturday at the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals thanks his 6.492-second lap at 211.30 mph.

Gaige Herrera

Pro Stock Motorcycle Champion, Pro Stock Motorcycle No. 1 Qualifier

Vance & Hines Mission Foods Suzuki

6.661 seconds, 203.80 mph

NOTE: Gaige Herrera claimed his first NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle championship on Saturday at the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals. Herrera has 10 wins so far this season and is also the No. 1 qualifier in In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip thanks to his 6.661-second pass at 203.80 mph.

The post RESULTS AND VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS: HERRERA CLINCHES PRO STOCK BIKE WORLD TITLE; HIGHT, PROCK, ANDERSON & HERRERA QUALIFY NO. 1 AT IN-N-OUT BURGER NHRA FINALS appeared first on BangShift.com.