With the final race of the 2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing season this weekend and five riders still mathematically in the fight, the POWERade Pro Stock Motorcycle world championship could very well come down to the final pass of the season at the Auto Club NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona.

Defending world champion and current points leader Matt Smith knows this scenario all too well. Last year at the same race Smith claimed his first world championship on the final pass of the season after he drove past runner-up Chip Ellis to claim his prize. Current fifth-place driver and three-time world champion Andrew Hines also remembers that pass. After posting a red-light in the second round of eliminations, Hines was left to watch as his hopes of a fourth consecutive title disappeared.

This year Hines is very, very long shot to win the world championship, but fellow Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson teammate, Eddie Krawiec appears to be the strongest contender to knock off first-place Smith. Krawiec is currently 19 points behind leader Smith and is not only looking for the first world championship of his career, but also his first win in the category.

Don’t count out third-place driver Chris Rivas, who is coming off a win in Las Vegas just a few weeks ago, and fourth-place driver Angelle Sampey, who is currently second on the all time wins list in Pro Stock Motorcycle (41) and has three world championships of her own (2000, ’01, ’02).