GLENDORA, Calif. – A season of record-setting excitement will come to a dramatic conclusion at the Auto Club NHRA Finals, Nov. 10-13, at historic Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, Calif., the birthplace of NHRA Drag Racing.
All four pro classes in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series — Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle — will crown the 2016 World Champions in a last-race showdown to cap a spectacular season of on-track performances for the fastest motorsport on the planet.
Shawn Langdon (Top Fuel), Matt Hagan (Funny Car), Allen Johnson (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were last year’s winners of the season-ending event.
Langdon currently sits third in points trailing teammate and points leader Antron Brown by 172 points. Brown is trying to win back-to-back titles in Top Fuel and his third championship overall.
Hagan cut his points deficit to 88 and is third behind teammates Ron Capps and Tommy Johnson Jr. after winning the most recent event in Dallas. Capps, a four-time runner-up in Funny Car, leads the standings and could finally win that elusive title, ending his streak as the winningest driver in NHRA history to never win a championship.
Two former Pro Stock champions, Greg Anderson and Jason Line, are in a tight points battle to see which man will win another crown. In Pro Stock Motorcycle, at least five riders still have a shot at the title, including three former NHRA champions — Eddie Krawiec, Andrew Hines and Angelle Sampey.
Along with the exciting on-track action, the Auto Club NHRA Finals is the completion of the full-year celebration of 50 years of Funny Car. NHRA’s Hot Rod Junction will have displays of current Funny Cars along with legendary cacklefest cars, NHRA Heritage Champions, Jr. Dragsters and the coolest hot rods in Southern California.
Kids 12 & under can see it all for free with a general admission ticket, while all students can save 50 percent on general admission at the gate with a student ID.
Tickets in an exclusive tower suite are available for purchase Friday through Sunday where fans will meet current Funny Car stars who will sign autographs in the suite each day. The suite ticket includes food & non-alcoholic beverages.
Pre-race activities on Sunday, Nov. 13, include a morning track walk and driver introductions where fans can see all the stars up close. NHRA also will have a skydiver drop on the track before the first of four elimination rounds to determine the champions. After the race, fans can join the Winners’ Circle when the championship drivers are interviewed live on FOX Sports 1.
NHRA events also have the most interactive midway in motorsports with the Nitro Alley, which includes simulators, manufacturer displays, driver autograph sessions a concessions stands with food and drink options for everyone.
The Auto Club NHRA Finals is a can’t-miss event for the whole family. Come see the best-of-the-best battle for the 2016 NHRA championships. Tickets are available at NHRA.com/tickets or by calling 1-800-884-NHRA.
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AUTO CLUB NHRA FINALS FACT SHEET
WHAT: 52nd annual Auto Club NHRA Finals, the final of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series and the final of six races in the NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship playoffs. Drivers in four categories – Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle – earn points leading to 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world championships.
WHERE: Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, Pomona, Calif. Track is located off I-10 at Fairplex Drive. From I-10, go north on Fairplex drive and follow the signs to Auto Club Raceway at the Fairplex.
COURSE: Championship drag strip; Track elevation is 1,100 feet above sea level; Track direction is north to south.
WHEN: Thursday through Sunday, Nov. 10-13
SCHEDULE:
THURSDAY, Nov. 10 – LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying
FRIDAY, Nov. 11 – LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying
MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at noon and 3 p.m.
SATURDAY, Nov. 12 – LUCAS OIL SERIES eliminations
MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at noon and 3 p.m.
SUNDAY, Nov. 13 – Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m.
MELLO YELLO SERIES eliminations begin at 11 a.m.
TELEVISION:
Friday Nov. 11, FS1 will televise one hour of live qualifying coverage at 11:30 p.m. (ET).
Sunday Nov. 13, FS1 will televise one hour of qualifying coverage at 11:30 a.m. (ET).
Sunday, Nov. 13, FS1 will televise three hours of live finals coverage starting at 4 p.m. (ET).
2015 EVENT WINNERS:
Shawn Langdon, Top Fuel; Del Worsham, Funny Car; Allen Johnson, Pro Stock; Eddie Krawiec, Pro Stock Motorcycle.
MOST VICTORIES:
John Force, FC, 8; Kenny Bernstein, TF-FC, 6; Greg Anderson, PS, 5; Bob Glidden, PS, 5; John Myers, PSM, 5; Warren Johnson, PS, 4; Dave Schultz, PSM, 4; Tony Schumacher, TF, 4.
TRACK RECORDS:
Top Fuel – 3.700 sec. by Shawn Langdon, Feb. ’14 and 332.34 mph by Langdon, Nov. ’15
Funny Car – 3.884 sec. by Jack Beckman, Nov. ’15 and 331.45 by Matt Hagan, Nov. ’15
Pro Stock – 6.480 sec. by Erica Enders, Nov. ’14 and 213.84 mph by Drew Skillman, Nov. ’15
Pro Stock Motorcycle – 6.766 sec. by Andrew Hines, Nov. ’12; 198.29 mph by Eddie Krawiec, Nov. ’12
NATIONAL RECORDS:
Top Fuel – 3.671 sec. by Steve Torrence, July ’16, Sonoma, Calif.; 332.75 mph by Spencer Massey, Aug. ’15, Brainerd, Minn.
Funny Car – 3.822 by Matt Hagan, Aug. ’16, Brainerd, Minn.; 335.57 mph by Hagan, May ’16, Topeka, Kan.
Pro Stock – 6.455 sec. by Jason Line, March ’15, Charlotte, N.C.; 215.55 mph by Erica Enders, May ‘14, Englishtown N.J.
PS Motorcycle – 6.728 sec. by Andrew Hines, Oct. ’12, Reading, Pa.; 199.88 mph by Hector Arana Jr., March ’15, Charlotte, N.C.
TICKETS:
For tickets call (800) 884-NHRA (6472). Tickets also available online at www.NHRA.com/tickets.
Story courtesy of the NHRA. Photo courtesy of Mark Broughton
