POMONA, Calif. – The stage is set for Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle world championships to be decided at the Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals, Nov. 8-11 at historic Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. Thanks to winning performances in Las Vegas, Allen Johnson (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) come to the tradition-rich Southern California drag strip in the championship driver’s seat in their respective categories.
Team Mopar Pro Stock driver Johnson has dominated the Full Throttle Countdown to the Championship playoffs in the 200-mph factory hot rod class with two victories in four final rounds. He has claimed a personal best six victories this season and leads defending world champ Jason Line by 126 points entering the final race of the season.
With that kind of cushion, Johnson needs only to qualify for eliminations to secure his first world championship title.
“I want to go to Pomona and win that last race and really with an iron fist come down on this championship,” Johnson said. “That’s what this team wants to do this year. We wanted to win (in Las Vegas). We didn’t just want to come out of (Las Vegas) with a big points lead. We want to win the last two races and just kill this thing.”
Krawiec is hoping to become a three-time world champ in Pro Stock Motorcycle at Pomona. As winner of the last three Countdown playoff races, Krawiec is also hoping to earn a fourth victory in a row. Both accomplishments would put him in exclusive company.
Like Johnson, Krawiec brings a big lead to the final race. He is ahead of second place Andrew Hines by 111 points, and while he could wrap up his championship title during qualifying, he will certainly win it by racing in the first round on Sunday.
“It takes a lot of pressure off me going into Pomona,” Krawiec said. “Reflecting back on the whole year, it’s been really like a dream season for me. I still have the opportunity for one more win and I want to go after it. I have a great track record at Pomona, so there’s no reason to count myself out. I’m just really excited and really happy and just proud to be a part of my Harley-Davidson team. These guys support me 100-percent and they give me awesome equipment to make sure it goes up and down the track.”
In Top Fuel, Antron Brown is seeking to become the first African-American to win an NHRA Full Throttle Series title as well as a major U.S. auto racing championship. He leads Tony Schumacher by 65 points and third place Spencer Massey by 70. Brown is a two-time winner of the Auto Club NHRA Finals, while Schumacher has won this race four times and has claimed two come-from-behind championship trophies at the event.
In Funny Car, points leader Jack Beckman and second place Ron Capps are separated by only four points at the top of the series standings. Mike Neff is in third and still in title contention but at 88 points back he will need a miracle run to win the championship. While those three drivers fight for the world championship title, high-profile rookie drivers Courtney Force and Alexis DeJoria will continue their season-long battle for bragging rights. Pomona legend John Force, an eight-time winner of this event, will be trying to add to his record 134 career victories behind the wheel of his Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang.
In observance of Veteran’s Day, on Sunday, Nov. 11, active and retired military can save $10 per Sunday ticket by showing military ID. A special Veteran’s Day Track Walk with Tony Schumacher and Antron Brown will be held on Sunday morning. Free for all Sunday ticket holders, the popular Track Walk gives fans the opportunity to walk down the legendary drag strip alongside some of the NHRA’s biggest stars.
As always, fans will have the opportunity to interact with their favorite drivers as they’re granted an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful motorsports attraction on the planet. While strolling through the pits and the Midway, fans will want to check out NHRA’s “Rumble in the Junction” Car Corral featuring dozens of nostalgic dragsters, race cars and hot rods on display. The Rumble in the Junction also will showcase several NHRA-exclusive Cacklefests throughout the weekend.
As part of the Nitro Generation theme of the season, NHRA is offering free general admission for kids 12 and under with a paying adult. Tickets are available online at www.NHRATIX.com or by calling the NHRA Ticket Sales Center at 800-884-NHRA (6472).
• SCHEDULE: Full Throttle Series qualifying sessions are scheduled for 1 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 8, 1 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 9 and continue at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 10. Final eliminations begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 11.
• TICKETS: Tickets are available online at www.NHRATIX.com or by calling the NHRA Ticket Sales Center at 800-884-NHRA (6472).
• TELEVISION: ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise 90 minutes of qualifying coverage at 2:30 a.m. (ET) on Sunday, Nov. 11. Also on Sunday, Nov. 11, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise three hours of coverage starting at 7 p.m. (ET), and will be preceded by one hour of qualifying coverage at 6 p.m. (ET). ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will re-air eliminations at 3:30 a.m. (ET) on Wednesday, Nov. 14.
• ON THE WEB: Get instant results, access to photos, video and audio clips, and the latest news updates from every NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event on the Internet at www.nhra.com.
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AUTOMOBILE CLUB OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NHRA FINALS FACT SHEET
WHAT: 48th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals, the final of 23 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series and the final of six races in the NHRA Full Throttle Countdown to the Championship. The top 10 drivers in four categories - Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle - earn points leading to 2012 NHRA Full Throttle 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.
WHEN: Thursday through Sunday, Nov. 8-11.
SCHEDULE:
THURSDAY, Nov. 8 - LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying at 8:15 a.m.
FULL THROTTLE SERIES qualifying at 1 p.m.
FRIDAY, Nov. 9 - LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying and eliminations at 8:15 a.m.
FULL THROTTLE SERIES qualifying at 1 p.m.
SATURDAY, Nov. 10 - LUCAS OIL SERIES eliminations begin at 8:15 a.m.
FULL THROTTLE SERIES qualifying at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
SUNDAY, Nov. 11 - Pre-race ceremonies, 9:45 a.m.
FULL THROTTLE SERIES eliminations begin at 11 a.m.
TELEVISION:
Sunday, Nov. 11, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise 90 minutes of qualifying coverage at 2:30 a.m. (ET).
Sunday, Nov. 11, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise one hour of qualifying coverage at 6 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, Nov. 11, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise three hours of eliminations coverage starting at 7 p.m. (ET).
Wednesday, Nov. 21, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will re-air 90 minutes of eliminations at 3:30 a.m. (ET).
SATELLITE (Digital HD feed):
Friday, Nov. 9, 7:30 - 8 p.m. (ET), AMC 9 / Transponder 20C
Saturday, Nov. 10, 9:30 - 10 p.m. (ET), AMC 9 / Transponder 20C
Sunday, Nov. 11, 10:30 - 11 p.m. (ET), AMC 9 / Transponder 20C
(4100 MHz, vertical; Data Rate: 40.461470554 Mbp; Symbol Rate: 29.27 Ms; FEC: ¾; Bandwidth: 36 Mhz)
Video news release contains race action highlights each day and winners’ interviews on Sunday.
2011 EVENT WINNERS: Del Worsham, Top Fuel; Matt Hagan, Funny Car; Greg Stanfield, Pro Stock; Andrew Hines, Pro Stock Motorcycle.
MOST VICTORIES: John Force, FC, 8; Kenny Bernstein, TF-FC, 6; Bob Glidden, PS, 5; Greg Anderson, PS, 5; John Myers, PSM, 5; Tony Schumacher, TF, 4; Warren Johnson, PS, 4; Dave Schultz, PSM, 4.
TRACK RECORDS:
Top Fuel - 3.745 seconds by Spencer Massey, Feb. ’12; 328.62 mph by Massey, Feb, ‘12
Funny Car - 4.009 seconds by Matt Hagan, Nov. ’11; 318.92 mph by Robert Hight, Nov. ‘11
Pro Stock - 6.520 seconds by Mike Edwards, Nov. ’11; 212.46 mph by Jason Line, Feb. ’12
PS Motorcycle - 6.811 seconds by Eddie Krawiec, Nov. ’10; 198.12 mph by Krawiec, Nov. ’11
NATIONAL RECORDS:
Top Fuel - 3.701 sec. by Antron Brown, Oct. ’12, Reading, Pa.; 332.18 mph by Spencer Massey, April ’12, Charlotte, N.C.
Funny Car - 3.986 sec. by Jack Beckman, Oct. ’12, Reading, Pa.; 320.58 mph by Beckman, Oct. ‘12, Reading, Pa.
Pro Stock - 6.477 sec. by Jason Line, Oct. ’11, Reading, Pa.; 214.35 mph by Line, Oct. ’12, Reading, Pa.
PS Motorcycle - 6.728 sec. by Andrew Hines, Oct. ’12, Reading, Pa.; 199.26 mph by Eddie Krawiec, March ’11, Gainesville, Fla.
TICKETS: For tickets call (800) 884-NHRA (6472). Tickets also available online at www.NHRATIX.com.
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NHRA FULL THROTTLE COUNTDOWN TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS STANDINGS
GLENDORA, Calif. – Point standings (top 10) following the 22nd of 23 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series:
Top Fuel: 1. Antron Brown, 2,522; 2. Tony Schumacher, 2,457; 3. Spencer Massey, 2,452; 4. Shawn Langdon, 2,406; 5. Brandon Bernstein, 2,336; 6. Doug Kalitta, 2,309; 7. Morgan Lucas, 2,299; 8. Steve Torrence, 2,265; 9. Bob Vandergriff, 2,264; 10. David Grubnic, 2,225.
Funny Car: 1. Jack Beckman, 2,531; 2. Ron Capps, 2,527; 3. Mike Neff, 2,443; 4. Johnny Gray, 2,323; 5. Cruz Pedregon, 2,307; 6. Courtney Force, 2,293; 7. (tie) John Force, 2,249; Robert Hight, 2,249; 9. Tim Wilkerson, 2,241; 10. Jeff Arend, 2,211.
Pro Stock: 1. Allen Johnson, 2,630; 2. Jason Line, 2,504; 3. Erica Enders, 2,433; 4. Vincent Nobile, 2,419; 5. Greg Anderson, 2,305; 6. Mike Edwards, 2,274; 7. V. Gaines, 2,268; 8. Jeg Coughlin, 2,239; 9. Ron Krisher, 2,237; 10. Larry Morgan, 2,167.
Pro Stock Motorcycle: 1. Eddie Krawiec, 2,672; 2. Andrew Hines, 2,561; 3. Hector Arana Jr, 2,448; 4. Hector Arana, 2,399; 5. Karen Stoffer, 2,334; 6. Matt Smith, 2,293; 7. Michael Ray, 2,285; 8. Scotty Pollacheck, 2,262; 9. LE Tonglet, 2,217; 10. Shawn Gann, 2,208.
