57th Annual Circle K NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, CA
The drag racing season kicks off every year at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing series, 57th Annual Circle K NHRA Winternationals, held at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, CA. On February 9 thru 12, 2017 the premier NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series began its 24 event season with the Winternationals. Competitors come from Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada to make this an international event. Racers came from the 7 NHRA divisions in the United States to participate.
The weekend weather included a brief rain Saturday morning, other than that, the temperatures were in the mid 70’s. The track was ready for some good times. The wheel standing Stock Eliminator’s & Super Stock’s were, as usual, very entertaining. Top Fuel Harley’s were an interesting addition.
In year 2016, Pro Stock champion Jason Line made it 2 in a row by outrunning his Summit Racing teammate Greg Anderson. In Funny Cars, Matt Hagan’s 3.875et & 330.07mph Dodge Charger R/T edged out Courtney Force and her Chevy Camaro. In Top Fuel, #1 qualifier Leah Pritchett and the Papa John’s Pizza dragster left Doug Kalitta and his Mac Tools dragster struggling at the start.
In the pits, a classic car show, celebrity autographs, Nitto Alley, and food vendors were packed with families enjoying the show.
FUNNY CAR – Matt Hagan (far lane), 3.875sec @ 330.07mph beat Courtney Force, 3.901sec @ 326.95mph.Tony Schumacher – took out Brittany Force in the second round.TOP FUEL – Leah Pritchett (near lane), 3.711sec @ 324.9mph beat Doug Kalitta, 7.630sec @ 103.85mph. The picture shows Doug Kalitta (behind Leah) struggling at the startPRO STOCK – Jason Line (far lane), ’17 Camaro 6.568sec, 211.10mph def. Greg Anderson, ’17 Camaro 6.579sec, 211.56mph.TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER – Joey Severance, 5.214sec, 275.51mph def. Garrett Bateman, 5.486sec, 263.33mph.TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR – S. Westerfield (far lane), Chevy Camaro, 6.652sec, 127.19mph def. Jonnie Lindberg, Chevy Camaro, (foul)COMPETITION ELIMINATOR – Doug Lambeck (near lane), Pontiac Sunfire, 8.351sec, 156.97mph def. Clint Neff, Bantam roadster, 7.655sec, 156.48mph.SUPER STOCK – Justin Lamb (far lane), Chevy Cobalt, 8.638sec, 153.23mph def. Timothy Fletcher, Camaro, 10.375sec, 120.43mph.6340 – STOCK ELIMINATOR – Jerry Emmons (far lane), Chevy Camaro, 10.170sec, 119.87mph def. Justin Jerome, Plymouth Duster, 10.985sec, 119.38mph.SUPER COMP – Steve Williams’ Dragster, 8.903sec, 185.38mph def. Dave Alves, Dragster, 8.891sec, 184.77mph.6357 – SUPER GAS – Ed Olpin (near lane), Corvette, 9.886sec, 168.98mph def. Robert Naber, Corvette, 9.882sec, 163.06mph.TOP DRAGSTER – Mike Coughlin’s Dragster, 8.093sec, 212.73mph def. Andy Spiegel, Dragster 6.662sec, 199.85mph.TOP SPORTSMAN – Ed Olpin (far lane), Chevy Camaro, 6.978sec, 198.26mph def. Jeff Gillette, Pontiac GTO, 6.939sec, 193.24mph.
There are 23 more races to go in the 2017 Mello Yello Drag Racing Series!
2017 Winternationals Funny Car Champ – Matt HaganThe traditional “Spectator Track Walk” on Sunday morning.The “Big” Jim Dunn team was sporting this unique Mooneyes Top Fuel Funny Car driven by Jim CampbellDoug Kalitta had the fastest Top Fuel speed of the event, 331.85mph.Brittany Force heats up the tires of her Top Fuel dragster.Robert Hight was piloting his new 300+mph Highway Patrol Cruiser.J.R.Todd moved from Top Fuel to Funny Car as he is driving the DHL Toyota that won 2016 championship.
Editor’s Note: A version of this article first appeared in the June 2017 print issue of the Drive Magazine.
An year of change for the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA).
The big announcement was that starting with this 56th NHRA Mello Yellow Winternationals and including the 2016 NHRA Mello Yellow Drag Racing Series, the races will be televised by Fox Sports 1(FS1). Fox will be providing coverage for the next several years.
There are more changes. The Pro Stock class has new rules that will help the factory doorslammers recapture their fan appeal. Backup runs are no longer required for NHRA national records.
In July 2015 the fourth president of the NHRA was announced, Peter Clifford. He clearly has a new vision for America’s number two motorsport. The new TV deal should help elevate the sport even further.
During the 2016 Season the NHRA celebrated 50 years of the Funny Car. At this particular event the “Hot Rod Junction” had many nostalgia Funny Cars on display. The legends participated in a Q&A session and an autograph session. In addition, several nostalgia Funny Cars made exhibition runs, thrilling the crowd with long, Smokey burnouts.
The weekend weather was great with temperatures in the mid to high 70s. That was truly fortunate given that only four days later it rained.
The wheel standing Stock Eliminator’s & Super Stock’s were a very moving show. As usual, fans had the opportunity to interact with their favorite drivers as their ticket was an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful motorsports attraction on the planet. And along Nito Alley, food vendors were packed with families goings-on.
Several nostalgia Funny Cars made exhibition runs, thrilling the crowd with long, smokey burnouts, the way it used too be.
Greg Anderson (right), Chevy Camaro, 6.617 sec @ 210.05 mph def. Jason Line, Chevy Camaro, 6.609 sec @ 209.82 mph.TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER – Shawn Cowie,(black car) 5.314 sec @ 272.23 mph def. Donald St. Arnaud, 5.332 sec @ 279.85 mph.
Greg Anderson (right), Chevy Camaro, 6.617 sec @ 210.05 mph def. Jason Line, Chevy Camaro, 6.609 sec @ 209.82 mph.COMP ELIMINATOR – Doug Lambeck,(far lane) Pontiac Sunfire went 8.406 sec @ 158.61 mph def. Dan Flecher, Chevy Cobalt, 8.027 sec @ 167.55 mph.TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR – Jonnie Lindberg, 5.243 sec @ 271.90 mph def. John Lombardo Jr. 5.456 sec., 272.83 mph.STOCK ELIMINATOR – Dan Fletcher, Chevy Camaro, 10.474 sec @ 128.36 mph def. Don Little, Dodge Challenger, 9.899 sec @ 130.67 mph.
SUPER STOCK – Jimmy DeFrank, Chevy Cobalt, 9.315sec @ 119.52mph def. Fred Moreno, Ford Mustang, Foul – Red Light.
SUPER COMP – Steve Williams,(far lane) Dragster 8.895 sec @ 186.25 mph def. Robert Naber, Dragster 8.880 sec @ 180.91 mph.
SUPER GAS – Robert Naber,(far lane) Chevy Corvette 9.901 sec @ 160.23 mph def. Mike Wiblishouser Corvette, Foul – Red Light.These “Nitro Harleys” run the ¼ mile in under 6 sec at over 220mph, WOW!Funny Cars weren’t the only ones making noise. This restored AA/FD “Magicar” cackles for the crowd.
Some of the legendary Funny Cars on display.
Editor’s Note: A version of this article first appeared in the June 2016 print issue of the Drive Magazine.
58th Annual Good Vibrations Motorsports March Meet
Rain was the headliner of the 58th Annual Good Vibrations Motorsports March Meet, a huge four-day, action-packed event at the Auto Club Raceway at Famoso, near Bakersfield, CA, filled with nitro burning funny cars, dragsters, and hot rods. Saturday had some rain and on Sunday it poured, stopping the racing for almost two hours. This was the first race of the Hot Rod Heritage Series and the Famoso crew worked their tail off to keep the track running, and all the classes finished.
But there is more to the March Meet than drag racing. From a car show, clothing, automotive swap meet treasures to manufacturers midway, there is something for everyone at the event. No matter how many times you walk up and down vendor row, you’re sure to discover something new.
Nostalgia Funny Car: Kris Krabill of Tacoma, WA.(far lane) ran a 5.582et & 256.94mph in a close win over Steven Densham of Oceanside, CA. 5.640et & 254.57mph.
Once at the Auto Club Famoso Raceway you won’t have to wander outside the gates to have a euphoric experience. Past parties thrown in the pits and in the campgrounds have been of epic proportions. Fire up a fuel car at 2am? Sure, no noise ordinance or curfew here.
In the “Grove”, behind the grandstands, the beautiful Show & Shine cars stretched the length of the track. The “Rat/Vintage Rodders” occupied their usual spot at the end of the grandstands. The weather was perfect for the Hot Rod Heritage Series season opener, where 400+ racers, competed in 15 classes. The show also included three awesome jet cars!
Fans were able to mingle with the racers and hot rods all while enjoying food and drinks. Drag racing celebrities on-hand included Ron Capps, Tommy Ivo, Isky, Bob Muravez, Leon Fitzgerald, Del & Dad Worsham, Cruz Pedregon, Gary Densham, Steve & Gloria Gibbs, Dave Wallace Jr., and many others.
A/Fuel: Drew Austin of Tacoma, WA (son of former Top Fuel pilot Pat Austin) ran a 6.418et & 220.04mph, beating Kin Bates’ of Anderson, CA, 7.583et & 132.31mph.B/Gas 8.60 Index Runner Up: Val Miller of Bakersfield, CA 8.592et.A/Gas 7.60 Index Runner Up: Frank Merenda 7.655et.B/Gas 8.60 Index Winner: Roy Castagnetto of Elk Grove, CA. 8.606et.A/Gas 7.60 Index Winner: Jerry Jahnnsen Jr. 7.604et.C/Gas 9.60 Index Winner: Jim Finn from, Rancho Cordova, CA. 9.676et.C/Gas 9.60 Index Runner Up: Wayne Hoover from Alta Loma, CA. 9.528et.Fuel Altered 6.00 Index
Shawn van Horn in “Choo Choo Mama”, great name!AA/Supercharged Winner(near lane): Howard Anderson, ’38 Chevy Coupe 7.494et. Runner Up – Gary Reinero, ’48 Austin 7.706et.AA/Supercharged Winner(near lane): Howard Anderson, ’38 Chevy Coupe 7.494et. Runner Up – Gary Reinero, ’48 Austin 7.706et.Nostalgia Eliminator lll 9.60 Index Winner: Ed DeStaute from Rosemead, CA. 9.592et. Not pictured: Runnerup Wes Anderson from Wales, UT. Foul. Nostalgia Eliminator ll 8.60 Index Winner was Charlie See of Bakersfield, CA. 8.560. Runnerup: Jay Huckleberry of Long Beach, CA.Randy Winkel smokin’, driving the “Revelution” Top Fuel dragster.
Chris Moral of Reno, Nevada launched his ’70 Cuda Nitro Nostalgia Funny Car and it very quickly made a left turn toward the wall where several photographers were standing.The car to rolled over on to its roof, sliding along the wall upside down for several 100 feet. A small fire broke out but it was quickly extinguished by the safety crew.The crew extracted the driver who was unhurt.
Cruz Pedregon takes a break from his “California Charger” nitro Funny Car.Leon Fitzgerald and his “Pure Heaven” altered are legendary.John Bowser does everything at the track.Adam Sorokin, driver of “Champion” Top Fuel dragster.
Editor’s Note: A version of this article first appeared in the July 2016 print issue of the Drive Magazine.
