It was just the way drag racing fans loved it. A final round to determine the Top Fuel championship was won by Doug Kalitta as he beat Leah Pruett in a winner-take-all championship moment to close out the 2023 season at the NHRA In-N-Out Finals in Pomona, CA. 

Chad Green (Funny Car), Aaron Stanfield (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also scored national event titles in the last race of the Camping World Drag Racing Series era.

History has a way of making things right. It was 17 years ago that Kalitta's tuner Alan Johnson guided Tony Schumacher to a heartbreaking victory over the Mac Tools-sponsored driver. On a Sunday afternoon at In-N-Out Dragstrip, Kalitta got his championship with Johnson as his crew chief. 

Kalitta entered the event second in points, 12 behind Steve Torrence and 27 ahead of Leah Pruett. When Torrence fell in the semis to Pruett, it opened the door for the showdown. 

Kalitta secured his championship with wins over Dan Mercier, Josh Hart, and Justin Ashley to reach the final round. 

"It's hard to believe," Kalitta said following his monumental victory. "I dreamed about this opportunity, and now we're here. So, just really hat's off to Alan [Johnson], and Brian [Husen], and everybody on my team, and obviously, all the fans and support that I've gotten. We're taking this baby back to Ypsilanti with Scott's. He won this thing a couple of times, so I'll be wearing [the No. 1] proud."

For her part, Pruett scored wins over former champions Tony Schumacher, Antron Brown, and Steve Torrence. 

Green joined a select group of drag racers who have won a race alongside their children. In his 50th career race, he scored his first national event victory beating Tim Wilkerson on a holeshot. His son, Hunter Green, won the Top Alcohol Dragster title. 

Green was .059 quicker than Wilkerson out of the gate and held on for a 3.916 to 3.900 win. 

"This has been an amazing weekend," Green said. "It has been an amazing season. This has been a dream season, to be honest. I couldn't be more proud of my guys. They have really come a long way in the last few years. They stuck with me and we have been trying to get this Wally. We've been close a few times. I cannot think of a better way to end it."

Green entered eliminations as the No. 8 qualifier and scored wins over J.R. Todd and then played championship spoiler by stopping Robert Hight in the semi-finals, effectively allowing Matt Hagan to clinch the championship. He took out Blake Alexander to reach the final round. 

Stanfield faced all kinds of pressure heading into the weekend, and when it was all said and done, faced it head-on with a victory over friendly rival Matt Hartford in the final round. He and his wife Jolie are expecting their second child any day now. 

"She told me if you are going to go, you had better win," Stanfield said. "We fumbled a little bit this season and have waited for this win to come. To get this win at the last race of the season is awesome. With everything going on in my life, it is perfect timing."

The win marked his first of the season and eighth of his career in Pro Stock. 

Stanfield came from the No. 5 qualifying position to beat Deric Kramer, Troy Coughlin Jr., and Greg Anderson before facing Hartford.

Hartford, the No. 7 qualifier, stopped Dallas Glen, Kyle Koretsky and newly crowned champion Erica Enders. 

Herrera ended the 2023 season in the same fashion he started, with a dominating win. Coming from the No. 1 qualifying position, the newly christened Pro Stock Motorcycle champion extended his winning record over teammate Eddie Krawiec to 7-0 after capping a season where he qualified No. 1 a whopping 14 times and won 11 races.

Hererra, who was in a league of his own in qualifying after running a 6.661, 203.80, left on Krawiec and led him to the stripe, running a 6.721, 201.46 to easily run away with the win. 

"It's very surreal. The whole championship thing is this whole team', especially Andrew Hines.' He deserved this. He was ready to get here and win before the race was here. He's always excited about this event, though he no longer rides. I don't think it all has set in."

Herrera worked his way to the final with victories over Blaine Hale, L.E. Tonglet, and Steve Johnson.