(Photos by Mike Burghardt) – Leah Pritchett, who grew up in nearby Redlands, California grabbed the second Top Fuel Wally of her career at the 57th annual Circle K NHRA Winternationals on Sunday at Pomona Raceway, a track she first raced down as a rookie in her family’s Jr Dragster.

 

A beaming Leah Pritchett said of her Pomona win. “What just happen is the best thing that has ever happened for me professionally in my career. In my opinion, right now, we have the perfect group of people, partners, sponsors, a car that is reacting. This thing is ‘A+’, Grade A, perfect kid in school type of situation and we’re taking advantage of it right now.”

With only 15 Top Fuelers in the pits at Pomona, Pritchett received a first round bye running a3.707 at 325.14 miles per hour. She also defeated Steve Torrence and eight-time champion Tony Schumacher en route to the finals. Doug Kalitta, who was in his third consecutive Pomona Raceway final bettered Terry McMillen and three-time and reigning world champion Antron Brown.

In the final round Kalitta had the starting line advantage, but was immediately up in smoke as Leah Pritchett made another strong performance running a 3.711 ET at 324.98 mph.

 

Matt Hagan in Funny Car and Jason Line in Pro Stock also had wins in their respective categories at the first event of 24 on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season.

Hagan raced to his 23rd career Funny Car victory with a 3.875 at 330.07 in his Mopar Express Lane Dodge Charger R/T defeating Courtney Force who ran a 3.901 at 326.95 in the final. This was his second Winternationals win also winning at Pomona in 2015.

 

“It’s a real special race for me, a lot of stuff happened over the off-season, with losing my brother,” said Hagan, who also came into eliminations as the No. 1 qualifier. “We came out motivated. My lights have been great, the car has been great and my team has been great. We just have got a real powerhouse team right now. We just have to keep some of this momentum going.”

Hagen’s Funny Car Crew Chief Dickie Venables and team owner Don Schumacher.

 

On his way to the finals Hagan powered past teammates Jack Beckman and Ron Capps, the defending world champion. Force took out J.R. Todd, who was racing in his first event in a Funny Car, and father and team owner John Force.

In Pro Stock, Jason Line started his championship defense with a victory over Summit Racing teammate Greg Anderson. Line ran a 6.568 at 211.10 in a KB Racing Camaro for his 46th career victory and 14th consecutive season with at least one win. Anderson ran a 6.579 at 211.56 in his Summit Racing Equipment Chevy Camaro.

“It’s a good way to start the season,” Line said. “Anytime you come to Pomona and win it’s great. I’m very excited, very happy and a little bit relieved. Just a great day for KB Racing and the Summit Cars. To be able to come here and qualify one and two and finish one and two and have three cars in the semis. That’s just a big deal.”

On his way to victory, Line, who has five victories at the Circle K NHRA Winternationals, took out rookie Tanner Gray and KB Racing teammate Bo Butner while Anderson faced veteran Jeg Coughlin Jr. (above) and two-time world champion Erica Enders, both back with Elite Motorsports Chevrolet power.

 

With Leah Pritchett in Top Fuel, Summit Racing’s Jason Line in Pro Stock and Matt Hagen in Funny Car – all won their Professional classes from the #1 qualifying position. This is the first time that has happened, at historic Pomona Raceway since the 1970 Winternationals when Larry Dixon Sr. defeated Tony Nancy in Top Fuel, Larry Reyes drove the Hawaiian to victory over Gene Snow in Funny Car and in Pro Stock Bill Jenkins beat Ronnie Sox in the final.

 

The Winternationals marked the first of eight events for Top Fuel Harleys, a great addition to NHRA drag racing, but won’t appear in conjunction with any Pro Stock Bike events this season. North Carolina’s Jay Turner led the pack of nitro Harleys from the #1 qualifying position with a 6.446, wtih Turner’s Dixie-chassied bike went on to the final defeating a red-lighting Rickey House from Humble, Texas as Turner ran a solid 6.276 ET at 218.23 mph.

In the quick Top Dragster class final, Mike Coughlin’s 6.093 ET at 212.73 mph beat Andy Spiegel’s dragster running 6.662 ET at 199.85 mph. Coughlin’s 270-inch wheel base Dan Page Race Cars-built dragster sports a 526 cubic inch Pro Line Racing Engine utilizing a Procharger F-3R-136 with a Components Drive System gear drive from Chris Alston and a Hughes Performance Racing Powerglide. If you get a chance to check out Coughlin’s awesome dragster, soak it in, this racecar is one tough package!

Out of all the Lucas Oil Sportsman winners at Pomona, Ed Olpin, from Pleasant Grove, Utah, had the most successful weekend by taking home a pair of NHRA Wally trophies. In the Super Gas final round, Olpin left the starting line with a near perfect .009 light, taking home the win at 9.886, 168.98 to Robert Naber’s 9.882, 163.06. Oplin then returned to the starting line to beat out Jeff Gillette, Benicia, Calif., and win his second Wally of the weekend, in Top Sportsman race in a close 6.978, 298.26 to 6.939, 193.24.

Defending 2016 NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster Lucas Oil National Champion, Joey Severance from Woodburn, Ore., opened the 2017 season with a perfect start facing off with Garrett Bateman A/Fuel Dragster from Albany Ore., in a race for Oregon bragging rights in the final round. Severance took the starting line advantage and stayed out in front of Bateman posting the low elapsed time of the event at 5.214 seconds, 275.51 mph to Bateman’s runner up pass of 5.486 seconds, 263.10 mph.

2016 Lucas Oil Top Alcohol Funny Car National Champion, Jonnie Lindberg, Brownsburg, Ind., returned to the final round but came up short as he fouled at the starting line. Shane Westerfield, Anaheim, Calif., took the win after advancing to the final with wins over Brian Hough and No. 1 qualifier D.J. Cox.

In the Comp Eliminator final round, Irvine, California’s Doug Lambeck nailed a perfect light and took full advantage of it, running 8.638, 153.23 beating out Clint Neft’s ’32 Bantam from Arvada, Colo., who stopped the clocks at 7.655, 156.48

Southern California racer Steve Williams knocked off Dave Alves, Princeton, Calif., in Super Comp running 8.903 on the 8.90 dial and Justin Lamb led from the start to defeat second generation driver Timothy Fletcher in Super Stock.  Jerry Emmons made his trip from Pasadena, Texas payoff, winning tin Stock Eliminator over Justin Jerome, Fullerton, Calif.

 

SUPER STOCK

Justin Lamb, Chevy Cobalt, 8.638, 153.23  def. Timothy Fletcher, Chevy Camaro, 10.375, 120.43.

STOCK ELIMINATOR

Jerry Emmons, Chevy Camaro, 10.170, 119.87  def. Justin Jerome, Plymouth Duster, 10.985, 119.38.

 

Doubling up in Super Gas and Top Sportsman it was Ed Olpin’s Chevrolet Corvette, 9.886, 168.98  defeating Robert Naber’s Corvette, 9.882, 163.06.

 

The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season continues February 24-26 at the NHRA Arizona Nationals being held at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park in Chandler, Ariz.