The In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip hosted the World Champion Finals for Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycles over the weekend. The Southern California drag racing facility has a rich history dating back to 1952 when Bud Coons, a young police officer, convinced city officials that young people needed a place to test the top speed of their cars without endangering other drivers on Pomona’s streets.
Nicknamed the Fairplex in honor of the 1922 Los Angeles County Fair that was held in a local beet field, the facility sees more than 630,000 visitors enter through the turnstiles each year for the 17-day fair that ends on Memorial Day. The fairgrounds at Pomona is also home to the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum. In 1961, the NHRA Winternationals first raced at Pomona.
With the final Top 10 standings for the National Hot Rod Association’s 2023 Camping World Drag Racing Series on the line, drag racing teams entered qualifications on Friday in hopes of surviving or setting up to take advantage of a potentially upset-filled weekend to the Countdown to the Championship in both Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycles. Drag racing fans weren’t disappointed with a wild day of final round qualifying on Saturday.
Aaron Stanfield Wins Pro Stock; Enders Wins Championship
Greg Anderson showed up at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip ready to win his umpteenth NHRA nationals and posted a 6.492 ET at 211.69 mph in his HendricksCars.com Chevrolet Camaro for the 124th Number One qualifier. But, the all-time winningest driver in Pro Stock would need a miracle to catch points leader Erica Enders on Sunday. All hope was lost when Enders clinched the 2023 NHRA Pro Stock world championship with a round one victory over Fernando Cuadra.
Anderson would lose to Aaron Stanfield in the semi-final round on a redlight start. Stanfield had eliminated Deric Kramer, Troy Coughlin Jr. earning his spot in the Pro Stock Finals at Pomona Dragstrip. Driving the GETTRX/Total Seal Camaro, Hartford beat Dallas Glenn and Kyle Koretsky before eliminating Enders in the semis. Stanfield posted a holeshot in his Janac Bros/J3 Energy Chevrolet Camaro with a slower elapsed time to claim his eighth NHRA Pro Stock Wally.
Gaige Herrera Wins It All in Pro Stock Motorcycle at Pomona
Mr. Everything in 2023, Gaige Herrera, earned his first NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series world championship in Pro Stock Motorcycle Aboard the Mission Foods/Vance & Hines Suzuki, Herrera posted a track-record 6.661-seconds elapsed time at 203.80 mph to claim his fourteenth Number One qualifier during his rookie season of Pro Stock Motorcycle. Hector Arana Jr. would be seeded in second place for Sunday’s elimination rounds with a 6.729-seconds elapsed time.
Herrera locked up the PSM world championship after his final qualifying run at the In-N-Burger NHRA National Finals but was looking for a record-setting eleventh win at Pomona Dragstrip. Herrera eliminated Blaine Hale, LE Tonglet and Steve Johnson enroute to the final round. His Vance & Hines Suzuki teammate Eddie Krawiec defeated Chris Bostick, Marc Ingwersen and Arana Jr. for their fifth final-round match of the year. Herrera’s 6.721 ET took the Wally over Krawiec’s 6.796-seconds elapsed time.
Artwork courtesy of NHRA
UP COMING:
That’s all folks!
See all our E3 Spark Plugs drag racing fans back at the track next season for all the NHRA Nationals and the Countdown to the Championship for NHRA Pro Stock, Pro Stock Motorcycle, Top Fuel, and Funny Car as well as the NHRA Pro Mod Championship. See you at the track.
