For 60 years, the Winternationals in Pomona, Ca., has provided the perfect springboard for six decades of NHRA championship drag racing.

It has been a showcase for innovation, a grand stage for the absurd and a program chock full of excitement.

Let the record reflect, Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), Jack Beckman (Funny Car) and Jeg Coughlin Jr. (Pro Stock) all left the first race of the 2020 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.

The following graphic was provided to us by track officials at Wild Horse Motorsports Park in advance of the NHRA Arizona Nationals outside of Phoenix, Arizona. 

In a salute to young drag racers, Kevin Stith, founder of Stith Printing Inc, Hot Rods by Stith, LLC and Legends of Nitro, announced today the formation of an annual sponsorship program to help support two Junior dragster racers who have shown leadership qualities on and off the racetrack.

Stith Printing, Inc. will be awarding two eligible Junior Dragster teams with $1500 towards artwork design, t-shirts, sweatshirts and crew shirts. This opportunity can help families with young racers take their racing operation and visibility to the next level and look just like the pros.  

Chris McGaha said his off-season was full of what he called “some much-needed maintenance” but said, “Our main focus was on laying the foundation of our two-car team with the addition of [son] Mason this season. He has a brand-new Chevy Camaro that will debut later this year. Mason’s main focus is to finish his senior year of high school and then come out and race several national events this summer.”

The Harlow Sammons Racing team owner from Odessa, Texas, tested in Florida before coming to California. So he literally has been from one end of the country to another to prepare for the Winternationals.

“We continue to squeeze every bit of horsepower that we can out of our engine program to gain a competitive advantage. My head is down and focused on our program with the overall goal of bringing more trophies back to Texas this season.”

NHRA Launch Motorsports Careers is a new initiative designed to connect those with a passion for working in motorsports with individuals and companies in the racing industry who have career opportunities to offer.  

Pro Stock Motorcycle legend Terry Vance and the Vance Family Foundation – donors of $1 million a year ago at the event to Doug Herbert’s B.R.A.K.E.S. teen driving program – endorsed the NHRA Launch Motorsports Careers platform with a $1 million donation Saturday just before nitro qualifying.

“I've been involved in a lot of nice things since I started my foundation, and I was thinking I wanted to do something in our sport,” Vance, co-owner of the Pro Stock Motorcycle powerhouse team Vance & Hines, said. “I owe so much to the sport I can't even begin to tell you.

After a week of often ridiculous speculation, team owner Kay Torrence confirmed Monday that the one-and-only reason the Torrence Racing Top Fuel dragsters were absent from the season-opening 60th annual Lucas Oil Winternationals at Pomona, Calif., was the NHRA’s lack of urgency in acting upon the team’s appeal of sanctions related to an incident involving two-time Mello Yello Champion Steve Torrence.

“Us not being at Pomona had nothing to do with the new Countdown rules or Steve’s health or anything else that’s been said on the internet,” she emphasized.  “It was about trying to settle the appeal we filed with the NHRA on November the 29th.  We didn’t want any unresolved issues going into the new season, but we had trouble getting them to respond to our letter of appeal.  

“By the time everything was settled, it was too late to get our equipment and crew members to Pomona in time to race,” she said.  “I just want to say to all the fans who have supported us, ‘we appreciate you and we look forward to seeing you all in Phoenix (at the Feb. 21-23 NHRA Arizona Nationals).’  We also want to give a big shout out and thank you to our sponsors and all the pipeliners across the country who support us.” 

On a Sunday evening when the Academy Awards ceremony played out down the freeway at Los Angeles, one of the best original scripts played out at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, as Top Fuel’s Doug Kalitta took honors for Best Male Performer in a Dramatic Role.

He blasted to a historic third consecutive victory at the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals with a 3.698-second elapsed time at 330.23 mph. He won both the Winternationals and Finals here last year en route to a fourth No. 2 finish in the final standings.

Just three months ago, Jack Beckman entered the season finale at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on a lifetime losing streak in nitro at one of the sports crown jewel motorsports facilities.

On Sunday, Beckman became a back-to-back Pomona champion.

Talk about kicking off your retirement tour in style.

After announcing that the 2020 season would be his last in NHRA Pro Stock competition on Saturday, Jeg Coughlin proceeded to dominate the season opener with a weekend of perfection. Coughlin had low elapsed time in every qualifying session and then proceeded to do the same on Sunday, sweeping his way to a win at the 60th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals presented by ProtectTheHarvest.com at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.

Final round-by-round results from the 60th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals presented by ProtectTheHarvest.com at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, the first of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series: