Winternationals hits Pomona with night qualifying
Auto Club Raceway in Pomona traditionally hosts two NHRA events, the season-opening Winternationals in February and the Auto Club Finals in November. But because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Pomona races in February were postponed and scheduled for this weekend.
The Auto Club Finals are still on the schedule in their regular spot in November.
Racing at Auto Club Raceway in the middle of summer will present some new challenges. The weather, the track conditions, the crowds and the anticipation that normally lead up to the races in Pomona are all different this weekend. One of the big changes is that qualifying for the Sunday elimination rounds will be at night. But the elimination rounds on Sunday will be during the day. The track temperatures alone will make it challenging to prepare for each run.
In Top Fuel, Steve Torrence has won six of the first nine races this season, including the last three, to take a 349-point lead in the standings.
Bob Tasca III leads the Funny Car standings after nine events. He has a slim 21-point lead over Matt Hagan.
The ageless John Force, also from Yorba Linda, is in the mix for the top spot in the Funny Car standings too, in fourth place and 52 points out of first.
Greg Anderson enters the races in Pomona as the leader in the Pro Stock standings with a 135-point lead.
NHRA WINTERNATIONALS
When: Today, 12:30 a.m. Sunday, 9 a.m. Where: Auto Club Raceway at Pomona