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49TH AUTO CLUB NHRA FINALS

Roger Rohrdanz . September 26, 2022 . All Feature Vehicles
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The Heat is on!

On Nov. 7-10, 2013 the 49th annual NHRA Finals were contested at the Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, California. This event saw champions crowned in 11 classes, including the four pro classes of the NHRA Mello Yellow Drag Racing Series, six classes of the 2013 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and four classes in the Summit Racing Series. More than 500 racers came from geographic divisions around the United States. They represented the best in 14 classes, competing not only for a Finals event win, but also for the NHRA Mello Yellow Drag Racing Series Championship. The weather was perfect, temperatures in the mid to high 70s with evenings cooling off to mid 60s produced a very fast track.

Pro qualifying concluded with Brandon Bernstein as the quickest in the Top Fuel Dragster class; John Force went 3.995 E.T. to be the quickest in Top Fuel Funny Car; the quickest Pro Stock was Mike Edwards; and Hector Arana Jr. qualified #1 in Pro Stock Motorcycle.

Nitro Alley was packed with rows and rows of vendors displaying their wares. Long lines of stands served all kinds of food,­­ and in the pits, a vintage corral full of 30-plus restored historic front-engine Dragsters and beautiful nostalgia Funny Cars cackled twice daily. As if that wasn’t enough to satisfy your gearhead needs, the pits were always open with hundreds of amazing race cars to check out. You could also pick up some great souvenirs or get an autograph from your favorite driver.

John Force cinched the championship in Las Vegas, but stunned the fans on Saturday with a 3.995 E.T. pass!

THE 2013 NHRA MELLO YELLO DRAG RACING SERIES CHAMPIONS

After qualifying #1, Shawn Langdon took home the trophy and then some!
Note: Since the NHRA 2009 season, Top Fuel Dragsters and Funny Cars have run on a 1,000-foot track, not a quarter-mile track. Winners and record holders in those classes are champions at the latter distance. Quarter-mile elapsed time and speed records can only be challenged on a quarter-mile track. Shawn Langdon, Brandon Bernstein, Cruz Pedregon, Antron Brown, Jack Beckman, Del Worsham, Matt Hagan, Larry Dixon, John Force, Tony Schumacher and Robert Hight are the only NHRA Drag Racing Series Champions at the 1,000-foot distance.

Jeg Coughlin took the 2013 Pro Stock Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Championship.
Matt Smith had the Pro Stock Motorcycle Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Championship wrapped up in Las Vegas.

LOW QUALIFIERS

Mike Edwards was the quickest Pro Stock driver.
Hector Arana Jr. qualified #1 in Pro Stock Motorcycle.
Brandon Bernstein was quickest in the Top Fuel Dragster class.

AUTO CLUB NHRA FINALS WINNERS

Top Fuel: Shawn Langdon, 3.784 at 323.58 mph, defeated Doug Kalitta’s 3.808 at 323.04 mph.

Funny Car: Matt Hagan, 4.018 at 320.66 mph beat John Force’s 4.057 at 317.94 mph.
Pro Stock: Rickie Jones, 6.584 at 210.28 mph, defeated Allen Johnson’s 6.581 at 211.03 mph.

Pro Stock Motorcycle: Eddie Krawiec (far lane), 6.918 at 198 mph, beat Scotty Pollacheck’s (near lane) 6.963 at 193.57 mph.

Wally Parks NHRA Museum Director Larry Fisher (R) with Steve Gibbs.

LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING FINALS WINNERS

Top Alcohol Dragster: Johnny Athen (blue and white), 5.428 at 259.86 mph, beat Jim Whiteley’s 8.590 at 95.5 mph.
Top Alcohol Funny Car: Frank Manzo (shown) ,5.531 at 265.06 mph, defeated Clint Thompson’s 6.758 at 161.59 mph.
Comp Eliminator: Jeff Lane (gold car), 9.863 at 95.90 mph, beat Doug Lambeck who fouled.

Super Comp: Bobby Dye Jr. (dragster), 8.915 E.T., defeated Andrew Madrid’s (pictured) dragster at 8.938 E.T.
Super Gas: Pete Zak ’27 Ford, 9.881 E.T., defeated Dave Kelly’s (Firebird) at 9.877 E.T.

Stock Eliminator: Bo Butner (black car), 9.951 E.T., defeated Peter Biondo’s 10.393 E.T.
Smoke on the track and in the sky. Megan McKernan does a burnout at sunset in her Top Alcohol Dragster.
Shawn Langdon’s dragster gets ready in his pit.
Antron Brown’s pit readies his dragster.
When the nitro dragsters warm up, people like to breathe deeply of the dragster exhaust.

49TH AUTO CLUB NHRA FINALS

Legends Tom McEwen and Don Prudhomme were the co-grand marshals of the event.
Drag racing legend Roland Leong (R) talks with a fan.
Lots of nostalgia race cars, including these Top Fuelers, were displayed in the Cackle Corral.

Spencer Massey autographs stuff for fans.
Top Fuel Funny Car driver Jack Beckman signs autographs.

 

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