Photos by Dave Kommel, Mike Burghardt
SATURDAY NOTEBOOK - ONE CHAMPIONSHIP DECIDED, THREE OTHERS ROLL INTO WHAT PROMISES TO BE INCREDIBLE SUNDAY
1 – NOW, THAT’S AN EXCLAMATION! – Austin Prock could have clinched his first NHRA championship simply by putt-putting down the track – but that wouldn’t be the Prock Rocket way.
Prock thundered down the In-N-Out Dragstrip 1000-foot course with a track-record 3.804-second elapsed time at 334 miles per hour to secure his 15th No. 1 qualifier. On Sunday, he will gun for his ninth victory this season.
If there was ever an exclamation mark on a championship clinch, Prock pulled it off Saturday under the lights.
“I think it was important for all of us” to make a run like that, Prock said. “We’re all so competitive. You all know how competitive all the time. And coming in here – I said at the beginning of the year – ‘If we got it locked up before Pomona’s over, I wanted to do dry hoppies.”
Dry hops are cool in Prock’s world, but low elapsed times are way cooler.
“We finally got to that point, and then when we got here, I said, ‘I’m not wasting a run. We want to run low ET. We want to go for another No. 1 qualifier. We want to win another race,” Prock said. “All jokes aside, we’re rolling into this weekend just like any other, and we want to leave here with some more gold. So that’s the main focus.”
And, yes, Prock believes he could lay down an iconic dry hop.
“It can’t be that hard,” Prock said with a smile. “I didn’t practice driving a Funny Car, and that went alright.”
Alright seems like such an inadequate word in this instance.
2 – FORCE GETS ANOTHER NO. 1 QUALIFIER – Brittany Force has six No. 1 qualifiers to her credit this season and one win. Yet, heading into Sunday’s final eliminations, she needs a miracle of epic proportions for a chance to score her third series title.
Force, who made the quickest Top Fuel run of the 2024 season with a pass of 3.643, 336 miles an hour, has qualified No. 1 in four of the last five races.
“We put a .64 on the board. That’s huge for this team, but then to hear that it’s the quickest of the entire season, we’re very proud to hold that,” Force said. “That’s David Grubnic, John Collins, and this entire Monster Energy team.”
Force has hunted and gathered every bonus point she could find to make up for her slow start in the Countdown. Friday’s abbreviated qualifying and the cancellation of the Q2 session dealt her chances a blow she could ill afford.
“We definitely wanted those two runs yesterday because we wanted as many bonus points as we could get,” Force said. “We got bonus points today, which is great, but everyone’s in the same position we are. It’s unfortunate. We really wanted it because we wanted to grab as many as we could, qualify the best we could, and we’re looking for four win lights tomorrow.”
As impressive as Force’s Saturday run was, it was only .04 seconds quicker than that of No. 8 qualifier Tony Schumacher.
“It tells you this field is strong,” Force said. “The competition is just fierce. We got a great racetrack, conditions are great, and everyone’s running killer. I was back getting ready to suit up, and I heard Langdon ran a .65, and that’s just outstanding. And then, to be able to pull up and run a .64, again, I’m very proud of that. I didn’t know until I pulled off the track. Had no radio again down there, as usual, but pulled off the track, and all the cameras were in my face, and I thought maybe we ran quicker than I thought – and we did.”
3 – ANDERSON: ALL I NEED IS A CHANCE – Greg Anderson entered the Pomona media center with a clear goal: “All I need is a chance.” The winningest driver in NHRA Pro Stock secured his eighth No. 1 qualifying effort of 2024 with a 6.505-second run at 211.20 miles per hour.
Anderson trails point leader Aaron Stanfield by 48 points, but is concentrating on his first-round duel and nothing else. “I can’t worry about [what I didn’t do] right now,” he said.
Despite reflecting on missed opportunities throughout the season, Anderson believes he has a legitimate shot at his sixth Pro Stock series championship. “I’ve had the strongest horse out there and we just haven’t been able to close the deal,” he noted.
With the opportunity to control his own fate, Anderson expressed optimism. “You don’t want to have to sit back and hope and pray,” he said. “It’s going to be hell of a Sunday.”
Securing a race victory would not only crown him champion, but also mark a significant achievement in his career. “It would mean the world to me,” Anderson stated. With the stakes high, he is poised to put everything on the line in the championship race.
4 – SMITH TAKING WINS WHERE HE CAN GET THEM – Matt Smith seeks to add to his collection of hats during the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series finale this weekend. The six-time Pro Stock Motorcycle champion grabbed one for low qualifier and seeks the event-winner hat. For a chance to get an improbable world championship hat, he needs to claim victory and see points leader Gaige Herrera lose in the first round.
Smith acknowledged that a first-round loss for Herrera is unlikely. “As long as one of our four bikes wins, that’s what we came here for,” he said.
Despite competing tightly in the Countdown, Smith reflected on the mistakes that have had an impact on his championship bid. He is on track to finish second in points, a position he has never held in his 25-year career.
Smith attributed his challenges to bad racing luck rather than major errors. He noted several setbacks this season, including a fuel pump failure and a malfunctioning cam sensor that cost him crucial points.
“We had a fuel pump power break, which cost us 20 points that we had in Round Two,” he explained. “St. Louis, we had a cam sensor that went out, and that cost us 20 points. And then, of course, Dallas, we had Gaige beat in the Finals, and that was a 40-point swing.”
Smith believes these critical losses would have left the championship within reach had those issues not occurred. “All in all, we had too many mistakes … just parts failures. And that’s what happens when we’re pushing these things as hard as we are.”
5 – SALINAS PLANNING TWO TF CARS IN 2025, AND MORE – How badly does Mike Salinas want to return to driving a race car?
Imagine this: The 63-year-old Salinas, visiting his doctor for clearance to return to driving, dropped and did 50 push-ups for his doctor to prove his level of readiness.
“He goes, ‘You’re real good. You’re real good. No big deal,’” Salinas said. “So then I got all the paperwork with me still right now. And he goes, ‘You’re clear to drive. No restrictions, nothing.’”
Less than a year after extensive open-heart surgery, 50 push-ups proved Salinas’ point. Salinas could have been considered the healthiest unhealthy person. For likely the last few months before being sidelined, Salinas walked around with seven percent blood flow.
“I never drank, smoked, did anything, drinking and all that other stuff,” Salinas explained. “I never did any of that stuff, and so I got off the meds. I toughed it out because I don’t like the way they made me feel, so all the meds and the blood thinners and everything, I got off of them in half the time. I would say maybe eight weeks, and I was off all meds.”
Salinas pointed out that the only medications he takes now are an aspirin and a cholesterol pill daily.
The day after the Ford Performance NHRA Nationals in Las Vegas two weeks ago, Salinas made his first run down the dragstrip. He left the line with a .073 reaction and still managed a 330-mile-per-hour speed.
“Didn’t feel a thing,” Salinas admitted. “The second run, we were trying to run a .67 on Monday, I felt something at half-track. I did a quick pedal because it was just a different way of, I don’t know how I remember all this, but I just did. You couldn’t hear it in the motor, but I pedaled it quickly, went down, and my heart felt good. Feels good. We’re good. Ready to go. So I’m ready to go for next year.”
Salinas told CompetitionPlus.com that he and his daughter Jasmine will represent Scrappers Racing in 2024. A third car will run at select events.
“We have a bunch of things in the works, we just got to finalize them all,” Salinas said.
“We’re going to try to have some fun, and I just want to race her and beat her. That’s all. Don’t care about everybody else. It’s the same with the motorcycle. I need to get a little bit stronger on my legs and my arms, and I want to run the bike, too.”
After heart surgery, Salinas still wants to pursue racing a Pro Stock Motorcycle and even has a Pro Modified car under construction.
“I want to run the bike because I’ve always wanted to do that,” Salinas said. “And then I have a new Pro Mod that’s being finished, so I want to try some of this stuff. We’re getting older, so I need to hurry up and finish this before I get too old.
6 – ANTRON’S SECOND FUEL CAR IN 2024? – A rumor has been floating around the In-N-Out Dragstrip suggesting Antron Brown will have a teammate for five races next season, with Angelle Sampey filling the role.
Brown quickly corrected the rumor of five races.
“No, the plan is to race another Top Fuel car a whole season,” Brown responded. “The main thing is getting the funding to make it happen. That’s what we’ve been working on right now. So, our main focus right now is if we can get the right partners and put the right package together. We have some things in the works, but we don’t have any guarantees as of yet.”
Brown said in not so many words the AB Motorsports marketing team is shaking the trees aggressively.
“We have a lot of good, hopeful things going on, and our main focus is to turn our race team into a two-car team,” Brown said. “I haven’t been stopping; we’re working on a full stream. Angelle’s been coming really good at it in the A/Fuel side of it, and it’s time to make her some progression to go forward and stuff like that.”
Brown said a lot of good behind-the-scenes work has been coming together.
“Everything else has been going really good to all the good people at Mission Food, FVP, Hangsterfer’s for stepping in where we did a lot of B-to-B deals, some business-to-business plays,” he said. “We’re raising a great deal of revenue for Hangsterfer’s. It has been slowly paying off to really help that program grow from the A/Fuel probably into the Top Fuel ranks and that’s the game plan.”
7 – PAUL LEE’S FUNNY CAR DRIVEN BY BUSINESS STRATEGY – Paul Lee’s McLeod/FTI Funny Car has thrived this season due to a solid business model paired with the essentials of making a fuel car work: money and nitro. Completing his best career season, Lee would like to add another key ingredient; i.e., a solid business model.
In Lee’s world, a solid business model begins and ends with the right people.
“It’s all about the people,” Lee confirmed. “Three things are vital: funding, the right parts, and top-notch personnel.” He cites Don Schumacher as a model for assembling successful teams in both racing and business.
Lee, who began his career emulating drag racing icons Connie Kalitta and Joe Amato, originally aimed for a career in investment banking. “I loved the stock market and initial public offerings,” he said. “I learned both the legal and financial aspects to execute my own investments.”
His business ventures include popular brands like McLeod, FTI Transmissions, FTI Parts, Silver Sport and Competition Clutches. “The synergy of our team drives success,” Lee stated. He formed his nitro team in 2019 and continually refines his roster to achieve optimal performance.
Finding the right mix can be a gamble — Lee took a risk hiring rookie tuner Jonnie Lindberg, a move supported by veteran John Medlen. “I enjoy giving chances to young talent,” Lee said. “Jonnie is a world-champion fabricator who lives and breathes drag racing.”
With Medlen’s guidance and a team of devoted crew members, Lee’s vision is coming to fruition. “People are your most valuable asset, whether in business or racing,” Lee said. “It’s not just about having the best parts, it’s about having the right people to build and distribute them effectively.”
8 – THANK YOU RODGER! – Scott Palmer was okay ending his season following his DNQ at the Texas NHRA FallNationals. The fan-favorite driver has spent this season recovering from the effects of a devastating car crash behind the wheel of his nitro-burning Studebaker doorslammer.
And according to Palmer, the incident affected his driving in the 330-mile-per-hour dragster. But then he got a chance to hone his skills in the dragster thanks to a chance encounter with Competition Eliminator icon Rodger Brogdon at the Texas Motorplex last month.
Palmer said Brogdon called him while he was recuperating to check on his recovery. When the two met up at the drag strip, it was Brogdon who nudged Palmer into doing what it took to find his way back.
“I came out after my injury, recovering, go to the first couple races, make a few runs, had a little trouble driving,” Palmer admitted. “I mean, not big trouble driving, but just probably mental, I hate to admit it. But I was having a little trouble with my foot coming off the gas, just floating off the gas, not pedaling it, just enough to stop the clutch management and slow the car down and just mess things up.
“And Rodger Brogdon honestly just said, ‘Hey, you need a few more runs. We got to get this thing to Vegas and Pomona. And the only thing that fixes this is making more runs.’ We all know what it takes to do that. It’s just not something you can just hop in and turn the key and start up and make a few runs. So Rodger Brogdon and RoofTec made that happen for me.”
Palmer got in the field with a 3.818, 294, with his best run Friday, but was bumped out in Saturday’s final session.
9 – BUNNY WOULD BE SPEECHLESS – Gary Pritchett made about as good a first impression as possible when he achieved a personal best of 3.750 seconds at 329.91 mph in his Top Fuel dragster. He is driving the Trip Shumake Top Fuel dragster supported by Scrappers Racing.
Pritchett is the godson of the late Carol “Bunny” Burkett, a trailblazer in the sport as the first female alcohol Funny Car series champion. The event celebrates Burkett’s legacy through Pritchett’s debut with co-crew chiefs Troy Fasching and Adem Cave, alongside tuning assistance from Rob Flynn and Arron Cave.
The Caves and Pritchett got their start as young crewmembers on Burkett’s Funny Car.
“This weekend has been a tribute to her,” Pritchett stated. “The reason we’re out here is because of her, and that’s why we figured we should pay a special tribute to her.”
Pritchett emphasized that their journey in drag racing started as a childhood dream. After years of striving, he feels the moment has finally come to fruition.
“We always wanted to drive one of these cars and do it together. Here we are, 17 years later, and we were able to do it,” he said.
The team added a patriotic element to their efforts, featuring an American flag on the dragster. Pritchett noted that this display reflects Burkett’s spirit and showmanship.
“We’re here to put on a show. That’s what she always did,” Pritchett remarked.
Pritchett’s prior success includes a second-place finish in the 2024 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series for Top Alcohol Dragster before joining the Top Fuel ranks. He is confident that Burkett would have embraced this moment wholeheartedly.
“I think she would be speechless, and I think that she wouldn’t have it any other way,” Pritchett concluded.
10 – GIVING BACK TO A VETERAN – U.S. Army veteran Damielle Reynolds received a refurbished 2018 Toyota Corolla on Saturday from the National Auto Body Council’s Recycled Rides® program. The presentation took place at the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals.
Reynolds, a single mother to an 8-year-old son with autism, fell on difficult times after the pandemic impacted her son’s therapy and led to car troubles. “Having a reliable vehicle will help alleviate a lot of financial burdens,” said Reynolds, adding that the car will assist in getting her son to therapy and sports and support her schooling.
The vehicle was donated by GEICO and refurbished by Gerber Collision & Glass.
Additional support comes from Enterprise and U.S. Vets, which nominated Reynolds for the program.
Since its inception in 2007, NABC Recycled Rides® has donated over 3,300 vehicles, valued at around $47 million, to individuals and families in need. Other partners in the initiative include David Wilson’s Toyota Riverside, PPG, and Advanced Remarketing Services.
FRIDAY NOTEBOOK - THE FORCE FUNNY CARS ARE FLYING, AND THE RAIN IS FALLING
6 – NO PRO STOCK, PRO STOCK BIKE ON FRIDAY — Because these classes elected to run behind the fuel classes because of the rain delay, they never made it to the staging lanes, much less made a run.
7 – DHL EXPRESS, KALITTA COME THROUGH FOR THE HUNGRY – DHL Express and its partners have donated two million meals to Feeding America and the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, raising the initiative’s five-year total to 11 million meals. The contributions come at a time when approximately 49 million Americans face food insecurity.
The “Race to End Hunger” program, supported by DHL, Kalitta Air, and Kalitta Motorsports, provides critical relief to families during the holiday season and throughout the year. For five years, DHL employees have partnered with local food pantries and the Feeding America network.
This year, DHL expanded its campaign, enabling employees to donate through online retail purchases to benefit Feeding America. This effort, combined with corporate matching donations and contributions from Kalitta partners, resulted in a total of 1.25 million meals.
Additionally, DHL’s relationships with the National Hot Rod Association produced 750,000 meals. Two years ago, DHL teamed up with Kalitta Motorsports and Kalitta Air to enhance their efforts, resulting in 2.75 million meals donated over three years.
At six recent NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series events, DHL and Kalitta Motorsports, along with five new partners, contributed to this cause. For every “win light” from drivers Doug Kalitta, J.R. Todd, and Shawn Langdon, $1,000 was donated, leading to a $4,000 contribution for each win.
The “Race to End Hunger” initiative has gathered additional support beyond the track, helping to provide one million meals through the Feeding America network. This program is vital for communities, especially near the Pomona Dragstrip, home to the In ‘N Out Burger NHRA Finals.
“No one should have to worry about where their next meal will come from,” said Nemer Abohasen of DHL. “The impact in our communities continues to be significant.”
Roger Castle, Chief Development Officer at the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, expressed gratitude for DHL’s support, as did Kalitta Motorsports drivers, emphasizing the need to end hunger in the U.S.
8 – SPORTSMAN CHAMPIONSHIPS CLINCHED – Cody Lane secured his first Comp title early in the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals after his closest competitors lost in round one. Lane finished the season with 605 points after four wins in eight final rounds, including a notable victory at the Ford Performance NHRA Nationals in Las Vegas.
Top Dragster racer Cody Webber, who led the points standings, also sealed his first title on Friday despite losing in the opening round. His competitor Mark Grame’s absence from the event allowed Webber to finish with 585 points.
The championships in Top Alcohol Dragster, Super Stock, Super Gas, and Top Sportsman remain undecided. Shawn Cowie leads the battle in Top Alcohol Dragster, with Jackie Fricke attempting to close a 53-point gap.
In Super Stock, Jimmy Hidalgo Jr. and Ryan McClanahan are competing, with McClanahan needing to reach the semifinals to take the lead. Super Gas features a fierce competition among Luke Bogacki, Keith Mayers, Val Torres, and Evan Kowalski.
Sorensen, from Woodburn, Ore., enjoyed a standout 2024 season, posting three wins in six final rounds. His impressive score of 712 points was narrowly defended against Hidalgo, who ended at 711 points after falling short of the semifinals.
Fuller, based in Savannah, Ga., clinched his title with 635 points after early season victories and a decisive performance in Las Vegas. He joins Shawn Bellemeur, who previously secured the Top Alcohol Funny Car championship last month.
The remaining titles will be finalized at Pomona, where Hidalgo leads in Super Stock and Lane maintains a narrow edge in Comp. The highly contested arena promises thrilling eliminations as the season wraps up.
9 – THE GREEKETTE REPS ZURN ELKAY/MAINLINE SALES – NHRA Top Fuel racer Krista Baldwin enters the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals with new sponsorship from Zurn Elkay and Mainline Sales Inc. Zurn Elkay specializes in drinking water solutions with bottle-filling stations, while Mainline Sales serves various markets as a full-service, manufacturer’s representative.
Baldwin aims to carry the momentum from Las Vegas, where Spencer Massey recorded multiple low 3.7-second runs in the McLeod Racing Top Fuel dragster. With a fresh white and blue design on her dragster, she is optimistic about her performance this weekend.
Baldwin has benefited from a business-to-business model implemented across the McLeod Racing teams, working closely with Paul Lee’s team. Mainline Sales facilitates branding opportunities for multiple clients at the racetrack, marking a significant partnership for Baldwin.
“Mainline Sales is truly grateful for our ongoing business relationship with Zurn Elkay,” said Alicia Sylvester, marketing lead at Mainline Sales. “Their commitment to innovation, quality, and collaboration has made a lasting impact, and we look forward to many more years of shared success. Thank you, Zurn Elkay, for your trust in us!”
With a new sponsor, a competitive dragster, and a solid crew, Baldwin anticipates a strong finish to the 2024 season.
“I have always said that making a pass in a Top Fuel dragster is like a giant puzzle,” Baldwin said. “Each piece must be in its place to make a complete puzzle. With Zurn Elkay and Mainline, the funding part is here. With Massey taking the McLeod dragster for a spin last week and clocking in a 3.72, the performance is here. Now, it’s up to me as a driver to complete the puzzle to make this weekend a success. And not to mention, I get to do this at my hometown track. I’m ready for this.”
10 – REMEMBERING ONTARIO AND THE FINALS – The fact it isn’t considered one of the NHRA’s top races ever is a head-scratcher.
The 1980 NHRA World Finals was one of epic proportions in that two of the three professional divisions had their championships decided on the final run of the season, somewhat of a rarity in those days even though the season only had eight races.
To our knowledge this was the first-ever NHRA event broadcast on the new NBC Sports variety show Sportsworld and featured the legendary Paul Page. Watch a Top Fuel championship come down to multiple Top Fuel drivers.
You will also see quite possibly the greatest Pro Stock championship battle between Bob Glidden and Lee Shepherd.
