Intermittent rain delays, a track with little rubber build-up and several long oil down delays, threw a lot of crazy conditions at the race teams competing in the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals earlier this month in Pomona. In fact, conditions nearly postponed the event finale on Sunday, April 12. But, through the extraordinary efforts of the NHRA Safety Safari and perseverance of the race teams, the race was completed.
In Top Fuel, Leah Pruett qualified on the pole (3.724 at 329.75 mph) and had a single opening round bye run due to a short field. Her day ended in the second round when she was taken out by Justin Ashley on a holeshot (0.025 to 0.064 reaction time), 3.720 at 336.70 mph to 3.703 at 334.73 mph. Ashley took out fan favorite Maddi Gordon in the opening round with a 0.025 reaction time and a 3.714 at 332.43 mph to 3.744 at 334.15 mph performance margin. Ashley then used another 0.025-reaction time to take out Doug Kalitta, 3.705 at 326.42 mph to 3.705 at 340.56 mph. This made Kalitta the first driver to lose while going 340 plus mph but made him the new track speed record holder. Tony Stewart marched into the final round, to face Ashley, by taking out Will Smith, Josh Hart and Shawn Langdon. In the final, it was Ashley who got away first (0.036 to 0.047) but, it was not enough, as Stewart set low elapse time of the event for the win, 3.683 at 332.51 to 3.714 at 328.54 mph. This was the first win for the Elite Motorsports Top Fuel team and third career Top Fuel win for Tony Stewart.
In Funny Car, the struggles of two-time champion Austin Prock and his Prock Family team continued, as they work on adjustments to the TASCA Mustang race car and components. They were able to make one breakthrough qualifying pass of 3.967 at 323.58 mph to take the fifth spot on the qualifying ladder. They are getting better, but still have a lot of things to iron out as the car is completely different, in every way, from what they raced with the last two seasons at John Force Racing. Prock and his TASCA/PPG Ford racing team was taken out by Jason Rupert and his Hot Probes race team, as Prock’s car suddenly shut off approaching halftrack, due to a safety system malfunction, as Rupert sped on to a 4.286 at 245.90 mph to 4.945 at 157.53 mph win. On the same side of the ladder, Matt Hagan took out Spencer Hyde, Jason Rupert and JR Todd (the number qualifier) to advance to the final round. On the other side of the 16-car elimination ladder, Ron Capps took out Dylan Winefsky, Alexis DeJoria and Jordan Vandergriff (3.863 at 330.32 mph to 3.889 334.15 mph; low elapse-time of event) to advance to the final round to take on Hagan. In the final, Capps got away first (0.047 to 0.0570) but Hagan went around him for the 3.876 at 330.39 mph to 3.393 at 334.32 mph win. With the win, Hagan scored NHRA’s historic 1000th win in the Funny Car category and the 56th of his career.
In Pro Stock, the K-D Titan team showed why continuing research, development and building of better parts has made a difference, as they took the top three qualifying spots and six of the eight top spots on the qualifying ladder. Greg Anderson had the top spot and Dallas Glenn had the second spot, as they both marched through the field to a final round matchup. Anderson took out Kenny Delco, Matt Latino and Greg Stanfield with runs of 6.496, 6.487 and 6.495 seconds to get to the final round. Glenn advanced past Matt Hartford, Eric Latino and Dave Connolly with runs of 6.508, 6.520 and 6.515 to get to the final round matchup against Anderson. In the final, Glenn got away first (0.003 to 0.018) but was unable to hold off Anderson, who took the win, 6.505 at 209.88 mph 6.526 at 208.94 mph. This was Anderson’s 113th win.
With three events in the books, Doug Kalitta leads Top Fuel by four points over Shawn Langdon, Ron Capps and Matt Hagan are tied up, leading Funny Car by 21 points over JR Todd and Dallas Glenn leads Greg Anderson by 31 points in Pro Stock. Pro Stock Motorcycle has completed one event (Gainesville) with Richard Gadson leading John Hall by 30 points.
