2021 NHRA WINTERNATIONALS - EVENT RESULTS
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SUNDAY - CAPPS, PRUETT, STANFIELD AND M. SMITH CLOSE WESTERN SWING WITH WINS AT POMONA
Don Schumacher Racing swept the nitro categories for the first time in the 2021 NHRA season on Sunday, as Leah Pruett and Ron Capps won in Top Fuel and Funny Car, respectively, at the 61st annual Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals presented by ProtectTheHarvest.com at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.
Aaron Stanfield (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won their respective categories at the 10th race of the 2021 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season and the final event of the famed three-race NHRA Western Swing.
Capps, who also qualified No. 1 this weekend, grabbed his first win of the year by going 4.151-seconds at 297.75 mph in the final round against J.R. Todd in his 11,000-horsepower NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat. It is the 67th career win for the former Funny Car world champ and also gave him the points lead. Capps conquered the rigorous conditions at Pomona on Sunday, knocking off Bobby Bode, Bob Tasca III, who held the points lead going into Sunday, and longtime rival John Force to reach the final round. He quickly tracked down Todd in the finals, celebrating a meaningful win at his home track.
“I was hoping a win was coming,” Capps said. “This team, time and time again, they’ve given me one of the coolest cars to drive and this (weekend) was one of the most extreme conditions we’ve ever had. To do it at Pomona in the summer, with all my friends and family here, I can’t even tell you how amazing it is. We’re going to have a blast (celebrating).”
Todd reached his third final round this season and 38th in his career thanks to round wins against Jeff Diehl, Robert Hight and Jim Campbell.
In Top Fuel, Pruett capped off the Western Swing with her first win since 2019, going 4.021 at 247.61 in the final round in her 11,000-horsepower Sparkling Ice Spiked dragster. She was set to take on Justin Ashley in the final round, but Ashley wasn’t able to make the run. After advancing to the final round in Sonoma, Pruett finished the job a week later at her home track, picking up her ninth career win in the process. Pruett qualified second and made a trio of consistent runs in qualifying before knocking off Steve Chrisman and Mike Salinas to reach the final round. It puts Pruett on an impressive path heading into the second half of the 2021 NHRA season.
“This is about the perseverance of this team,” said Pruett, who moved to fourth in Top Fuel points on Sunday. “We’ve had a lot of dedication and to do this at our home track, it’s phenomenal. Thank you to everyone who has stuck with us and we dug deep. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a Wally and today has just been incredible. We’re going to enjoy this.”
Ashley advanced to the final round for the first time this season and second in his young career, knocking off Buddy Hull, No. 1 qualifier Brittany Force and Antron Brown. Points leader and three-time defending world champ Steve Torrence saw his bid to sweep the Western Swing end in the first round when he lost to Brown.
Stanfield stayed red-hot in Pro Stock, picking up his second straight win and third in four races by knocking off points leader Greg Anderson in the final round with a run of 6.652 at 207.69 in his Janac Brothers Chevrolet Camaro. It’s the second time in this recent stretch that the young standout got the better of the veteran and four-time champ in the final round, also denying Anderson the chance to pick up his 97th career win and tie Warren Johnson for the most in Pro Stock history.
Stanfield, though, is putting together his own championship resume this season, beating Kenny Delco, Matt Hartford and Elite Motorsports teammate Erica Enders to reach the final round. He never trailed against Anderson, picking up his fourth career win and inching closer to the points lead.
“I’ve got some great guys working on my hot rod and if I can stay doing my job behind the wheel, I think we’ve got a great shot (to compete for a championship),” Stanfield said. “To win back-to-back races, I couldn’t have dreamed of this. It’s cool to race against Greg and that milestone he’s trying to accomplish, but I’m glad we got him stopped today.”
Anderson advanced to his fifth final round this season and 163rd in his career with victories against Chris McGaha and KB Racing teammate Kyle Koretsky. He’ll look to tie Johnson’s mark for all-time wins in Pro Stock in two weeks in Topeka.
Smith continued to stay a step ahead of everyone in Pro Stock Motorcycle, picking up his fourth win this season on his Denso Auto Parts/Stockseth/Matt Smith Racing EBR after a pass of 6.828 at 199.52 in the final round against Angelle Sampey. Smith was the No. 1 qualifier by a wide margin and rolled through the field on Sunday, earning round wins against his wife, Angie, and teammate Scotty Pollacheck before cruising to the win against Sampey. He maintained his healthy lead in the points standings and picked up his second win on the Western Swing as well.
“It was hot out there and that was the biggest thing, just fighting the track with it being this hot," said Smith, who now has 30 career wins. “But we got it done, qualified No. 1 and were almost low every round. I knew what we had to do in the final and we laid down a great run (in the final). I can’t say enough about the people who help us. We’ve got a great team.”
Sampey advanced to her first final round of the season and 75th in her standout career by taking out Jim Underdahl, Joey Gladstone and Vance & Hines teammate Eddie Krawiec. She also moved to fourth in points.
The NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series returns to action Aug. 13-15 with the Menards NHRA Nationals presented by PetArmor at Heartland Motorsports Park in Topeka, Kan.
SATURDAY - CAPPS, B. FORCE, ANDERSON AND M. SMITH QUALIFY NO. 1 AT LUCAS OIL NHRA WINTERNATIONALS
Ron Capps powered to the top in Funny Car qualifying on Saturday, earning his second straight No. 1 qualifier during the 61st annual Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals presented by ProtectTheHarvest.com at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.
Brittany Force (Top Fuel), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also qualified No. 1 in their respective categories at the 10th race of the 2021 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season and the final event of the famed three-race NHRA Western Swing.
In the final qualifying session of the day, Capps went 3.941-seconds at 321.35 mph under the lights in Pomona in his 11,000-horsepower NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat, racing to his fourth No. 1 qualifier this season and 29th in his career. The former world champ is also after his first win of the 2021 campaign and he will open eliminations against Bobby Bode looking to grab some momentum to close out the Western Swing on a winning note.
“Tomorrow is going to be new territory for a lot of drivers and that sort of makes it exciting,” Capps said. “That run tonight was pretty fun. You really have to be on your game and race the racetrack. It would be fitting to get our first win this year and first as a team at a home track. These are the trophies you want.”
Robert Hight, who won last weekend in Sonoma, qualified second with a 3.953 at 323.27, while Friday’s provisional No. 1 qualifier, Blake Alexander, finished third thanks to his 3.961 at 318.84.
Force put on a show at her home track to close out qualifying, rocketing to a run of 3.714 at 330.72 in her 11,000-horsepower Flav-R-Pac dragster to qualify No. 1 for the third straight race and fifth time this season. It also gives Force her 25th career top spot as she now focuses on trying to get her first win of the season. To do so, Force will have to be successful in far different conditions on Sunday.
“Another No. 1 qualifier is amazing for this team,” Force said. “We want to be on top, but really our focus is raceday. That’s going to be tough coming off that run where we had great conditions and now we have to turn around and try to figure it out for raceday tomorrow. It’s going to be really hot, but we’re looking for a long day. We want to go all day and end up in that winner’s circle at my home track in Pomona.”
Leah Pruett, who was the provisional No. 1 qualifier on Friday, dropped to second with her run of 3.780 at 321.88 from Friday, while Mike Salinas qualified third with a 3.790 at 318.09. Points leader Steve Torrence, who has a chance to sweep the Western Swing with a win on Sunday, qualified fourth and will open eliminations against Antron Brown.
There is no stopping Anderson in Pro Stock qualifying this season and that continued in Pomona, as he picked up his eighth No. 1 qualifier in nine Pro Stock in 2021, going 6.586 at 208.42 in his HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro. The points leader improved on his run from Friday in the final qualifying session on Saturday, earning his 114th career No. 1 qualifier. But the real number Anderson is after is his 97th career win, which has eluded him in recent races. He has 12 career wins in Pomona and if he could add to that on Sunday, Anderson would tie Warren Johnson for the most wins in Pro Stock history.
“The important run today was in Q2 when the track was 150 degrees,” Anderson said. “It’s fun racing at night and it’s fun to go fast, but that means nothing for tomorrow. The second run today is going to tell it all. We weren’t quite where we needed to be, but we got the data we needed, so I think we’ll be good. I hope we’ll be good. I need a win and I need a win bad.”
Defending world champ Erica Enders stayed in the second spot with her run of 6.590 at 207.15 from Friday and Matt Hartford qualified third with a 6.593 at 207.82.
Smith lowered the boom to close out Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying, staying on top and qualifying No. 1 with a stellar pass of 6.760 at 201.91 on his Denso Auto Parts/Stockseth/Matt Smith Racing EBR. The run set the new track speed record at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona and gave him an even bigger separation between the next-closest competitor, as Smith qualified No. 1 for the third time in 2021 and 46th time in his career. The points leader and defending world champ will look for his second win on the Western Swing on Sunday, and his impressive run to close out qualifying certainly turned heads.
“We just have to turn on four win lights and take it one round at a time (on Sunday),” Smith said. “We have the bike to beat and we’ve had the bike to beat all year long and I just haven’t done my job on Sundays at some of these races. We’re going to do the best we can and we’ll see if we can turn on four win lights (on Sunday).”
Angelle Sampey jumped all the way to second on her final pass of the day, going 6.830 at 197.51 and teammate Eddie Krawiec is third thanks to his 6.843 at 199.70.
Eliminations for the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals presented by ProtectTheHarvest.com begin at 10 a.m. PT on Sunday.
Sunday's first-round pairings for eliminations for the 61st annual Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals presented by ProtectTheHarvest.com at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, the 10th of 20 events in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series. Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Saturday. DNQs listed below pairings.
Top Fuel -- 1. Brittany Force, 3.714 seconds, 330.72 mph vs. Bye; 2. Leah Pruett, 3.780, 321.88 vs. 13. Steven Chrisman, 5.406, 129.70; 3. Mike Salinas, 3.790, 318.09 vs. 12. Brandon Welch, 5.395, 127.85; 4. Steve Torrence, 3.808, 322.27 vs. 11. Antron Brown, 5.255, 138.84; 5. Shawn Langdon, 3.854, 292.01 vs. 10. Jim Maroney, 5.109, 141.43; 6. Doug Kalitta, 3.855, 311.41 vs. 9. Clay Millican, 4.316, 192.38; 7. Justin Ashley, 3.899, 310.27 vs. 8. Buddy Hull, 4.105, 278.69.
Funny Car -- 1. Ron Capps, Dodge Charger, 3.941, 321.35 vs. 16. Bobby Bode, Ford Mustang, 4.682, 184.75; 2. Robert Hight, Chevy Camaro, 3.953, 323.27 vs. 15. Terry Haddock, Mustang, 4.619, 205.41; 3. Blake Alexander, Mustang, 3.961, 318.84 vs. 14. Jim Campbell, Charger, 4.340, 216.90; 4. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 3.967, 317.34 vs. 13. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 4.313, 243.55; 5. Matt Hagan, Charger, 4.009, 312.13 vs. 12. John Force, Camaro, 4.287, 287.90; 6. Alexis DeJoria, Toyota Camry, 4.021, 313.73 vs. 11. Jason Rupert, Mustang, 4.269, 289.01; 7. J.R. Todd, Camry, 4.044, 322.04 vs. 10. Jeff Diehl, Camry, 4.259, 272.23; 8. Paul Lee, Charger, 4.045, 311.85 vs. 9. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.226, 225.56.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Steven Densham, 5.781, 221.85; 18. Alex Miladinovich, 6.129, 121.49.
Pro Stock -- 1. Greg Anderson, Chevy Camaro, 6.586, 208.42 vs. Bye; 2. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.590, 207.15 vs. 15. Rob Tucker, Dodge Dart, 6.882, 204.94; 3. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.593, 207.82 vs. 14. Alan Prusiensky, Dart, 6.728, 203.58; 4. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.599, 206.29 vs. 13. Val Smeland, Camaro, 6.672, 207.75; 5. Kyle Koretsky, Camaro, 6.604, 208.17 vs. 12. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.644, 208.01; 6. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.605, 206.64 vs. 11. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.636, 208.88; 7. Mason McGaha, Camaro, 6.609, 208.39 vs. 10. Aaron Strong, Camaro, 6.634, 206.86; 8. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.631, 208.42 vs. 9. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.633, 208.42.
Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 1. Matt Smith, EBR, 6.760, 201.91 vs. Bye; 2. Angelle Sampey, Suzuki, 6.830, 197.51 vs. 15. Jim Underdahl, Suzuki, 8.525, 111.62; 3. Eddie Krawiec, Buell, 6.843, 199.70 vs. 14. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 8.252, 113.02; 4. Scotty Pollacheck, EBR, 6.848, 199.55 vs. 13. Cory Reed, Suzuki, 7.032, 193.74; 5. Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 6.881, 196.70 vs. 12. Ryan Oehler, EBR, 7.017, 192.96; 6. Andrew Hines, Buell, 6.885, 199.52 vs. 11. Freddie Camarena, Suzuki, 7.015, 193.32; 7. Joey Gladstone, Suzuki, 6.886, 197.19 vs. 10. Jianna Salinas, Suzuki, 6.988, 191.62; 8. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.899, 195.34 vs. 9. Angie Smith, EBR, 6.901, 195.42.
FRIDAY - PRUETT, ALEXANDER, ANDERSON AND M. SMITH RACE TO PROVISIONAL NO. 1 SPOTS AT POMONA
A week after advancing to her first final round of the season, Leah Pruett is on track for her first No. 1 qualifier of 2021 in Top Fuel, taking the provisional top spot in qualifying on Friday during the 61st annual Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals presented by ProtectTheHarvest.com at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.
Blake Alexander (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are also provisional No. 1 qualifiers in their respective categories at the 10th race of the 2021 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season and the final event of the famed three-race NHRA Western Swing.
Pruett impressed under the lights in Pomona, going 3.780-seconds at 321.88 mph in her 11,000-horsepower Sparkling Ice Spiked dragster. It would give Pruett her first No. 1 qualifier of the season and 13th in his career if it holds, and continue the strong showing for the Don Schumacher Racing team after advancing to the final round in Sonoma last weekend. Pruett is also seeking her second win at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona following her 2017 triumph.
“We’re living up to our expectations and that is being a force to be reckoned with,” Pruett said. “This is a continuation of momentum from Sonoma. We can’t get too excited, but I knew about halfway down the track that we were on a good run. It’s those small little glimpses of success that show us we’re on the right track. This isn’t the Olympics, but we’re after our own gold.”
Mike Salinas went 3.840 at 308.35 in a great side-by-side run with Pruett to take the second position and Buddy Hull is currently third after going 4.105 at 278.69.
Alexander had the run of the evening in Funny Car, blasting to the No. 1 position with his run of 3.961 at 318.84 in his 11,000-horsepower Pronto Auto Service Center/Head Inc. Ford Mustang. Should that number hold up during the two qualifying sessions on Saturday, Alexander would clinch his first career No. 1 qualifier. Alexander, who has two Top Fuel wins, is also searching for his first win in Funny Car. Robert Hight, who won in Sonoma, is right behind Alexander, going 3.962 at 327.11, and Cruz Pedregon is third after his solid run of 3.967 at 317.34
Qualifying continues to treat Anderson very well, as the Pro Stock legend took the provisional No. 1 spot with his run of 6.588 at 209.23 in his HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro. Should it hold, Anderson, the current points leader, would qualify No. 1 for an incredible eighth time in nine Pro Stock races this season. It would also give the four-time champ his 114th career No. 1 qualifier as he chases his 13th Pomona win and 97th career victory, which would tie him with Warren Johnson for the most in Pro Stock history. Erica Enders, the reigning Pro Stock world champ, is second thanks to her 6.590 at 207.15, while Matt Hartford is right behind after his run of 6.593 at 207.82.
Smith’s bid to end the Western Swing on a strong note started in impressive fashion on Friday, as the points leader and defending world champ went 6.806 at 199.20 on his Denso Auto Parts/Stockseth/Matt Smith Racing EBR. If it holds, it would give Smith his third No. 1 qualifier this season and the 46th in his standout career. After winning in Denver to open the Western Swing, Smith will try to close it out with his fourth Pomona win. Teammate Scotty Pollacheck is currently in the second position after his run of 6.865 at 196.64 and Joey Gladstone’s 6.889 at 195.73 rounds out the top three.
Qualifying continues at 3:30 p.m. PT on Saturday at the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals presented by ProtectTheHarvest.com.
Friday's results after the first one of three rounds of qualifying for the 61st annual Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals presented by ProtectTheHarvest.com at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, 10th of 20 events in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday's final eliminations.
Top Fuel -- 1. Leah Pruett, 3.780 seconds, 321.88 mph; 2. Mike Salinas, 3.840, 308.35; 3. Buddy Hull, 4.105, 278.69; 4. Shawn Langdon, 5.158, 132.46; 5. Steven Chrisman, 5.406, 129.70; 6. Brittany Force, 5.429, 120.68; 7. Antron Brown, 5.792, 116.59; 8. Doug Kalitta, 6.343, 109.52; 9. Jim Maroney, 6.807, 88.33; 10. Justin Ashley, 6.857, 84.46; 11. Clay Millican, 6.951, 82.60; 12. Steve Torrence, 6.956, 81.68; 13. Brandon Welch, broke.
Funny Car -- 1. Blake Alexander, Ford Mustang, 3.961, 318.84; 2. Robert Hight, Chevy Camaro, 3.962, 327.11; 3. Cruz Pedregon, Dodge Charger, 3.967, 317.34; 4. Ron Capps, Charger, 3.971, 318.69; 5. Matt Hagan, Charger, 4.009, 312.13; 6. J.R. Todd, Toyota Camry, 4.044, 322.04; 7. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.226, 225.56; 8. Jeff Diehl, Camry, 4.259, 272.23; 9. Jim Campbell, Charger, 4.340, 216.90; 10. John Force, Camaro, 4.552, 283.67; 11. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 6.149, 107.49; 12. Bobby Bode, Mustang, 6.589, 102.63; 13. Paul Lee, Charger, 6.748, 100.40; 14. Jason Rupert, Mustang, 6.751, 96.05; 15. Alexis DeJoria, Camry, 7.277, 87.52; 16. Terry Haddock, Mustang, 11.265, 81.39.
Not Qualified: 17. Steven Densham, 13.921, 72.75.
Pro Stock -- 1. Greg Anderson, Chevy Camaro, 6.588, 209.23; 2. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.590, 207.15; 3. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.593, 207.82; 4. Kyle Koretsky, Camaro, 6.604, 208.17; 5. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.605, 206.64; 6. Mason McGaha, Camaro, 6.609, 208.39; 7. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.626, 206.45; 8. Aaron Strong, Camaro, 6.634, 206.86; 9. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.636, 208.88; 10. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.644, 208.01; 11. Alan Prusiensky, Dodge Dart, 6.728, 203.58; 12. Rob Tucker, Dart, 8.527, 111.40; 13. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 12.446, 71.31.
Not Qualified: 14. Chris McGaha, broke.
Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 1. Matt Smith, EBR, 6.806, 199.20; 2. Scotty Pollacheck, EBR, 6.865, 196.64; 3. Joey Gladstone, Suzuki, 6.889, 195.73; 4. Andrew Hines, Buell, 6.893, 197.39; 5. Angie Smith, EBR, 6.901, 195.42; 6. Eddie Krawiec, Buell, 6.903, 198.44; 7. Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 6.945, 187.39; 8. Jianna Salinas, Suzuki, 7.056, 187.89; 9. Freddie Camarena, Suzuki, 7.147, 190.19; 10. Cory Reed, Suzuki, 7.160, 182.23; 11. Jim Underdahl, Suzuki, 8.525, 111.62; 12. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 9.916, 83.63; 13. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, broke.
