Patience was truly tested on Saturday as the teams, drivers and fans endured a prolonged wait at the In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip.

After persistent rain showers intermittently disrupted the afternoon and evening hours, the drivers of the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series finally took to the track a few hours behind schedule, with some utilizing the delay to their advantage.

Amid the weather-induced turmoil, Brittany Force was one of a handful of drivers to improve on their times from Friday. After sitting out the rain, Force stormed to the top of the time charts behind the wheel of her Mark Christopher Auto Center/Monster Energy Top Fuel dragster to earn her first No. 1 qualifier of the season and the 47th of her career at the 64th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals.

Brittany Force has been about the wow factor for much of her Top Fuel drag racing career. But this season, the second-generation driver, who is driving under the Mark Christopher Auto Center banner this weekend, has a new focus. 

Top runs are incredible attention-getters, but it’s the consistent ones that win races. 

Force was quick and consistent on a rainy day in Southern California when the rains held qualifying at the NHRA Winternationals to just one session. None of Friday’s best runs held up as Force was joined atop the leaderboard by Matt Hagan (Funny Car) and Dallas Glenn (Pro Stock).

Like father, like son.

The dynamic duo of Billy and Steve Torrence continued to showcase their prowess at the onset of the 2024 NHRA season Friday at the iconic In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip. Commanding the opening round of qualifying at the 64th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals, the Torrences claimed the top spots on the track.

Friday’s successes continued what has already been a tremendous start for the Capco Contractors team, as both drivers qualified in the top half of the field and met in a thrilling semifinal just two weeks ago in Gainesville, Fla. In Pomona, the pair again surged to the front of the pack, with the seasoned veteran pulling ahead and securing the provisional pole position.

What a difference a few months can bring.

Back in November, Daniel Wilkerson stood as the trusted crew chief for Funny Car pilot Chad Green during his maiden victory in the nitro-powered category at iconic In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip. Fast forward four months, and Wilkerson finds himself in an entirely new role, now positioned atop the provisional pole in that very same class -- this time as a driver.

It has been a whirlwind journey, but one that Wilkerson embraces with enthusiasm and gratitude.

Sportsman qualifying was completed Thursday at the NHRA Winternationals at the In-N-Out Dragstrip in Pomona, CA. 

Steve Graham (Competition), Fred Moreno (Super Stock), and Richie Pauley (Stock) headlined the top divisions after three sessions. 

Graham drove his B/Altered Camaro to the top spot, running a 6.920 elapsed time that was -.730 under the index. Coming in a distant second was the E/Super Mod Automatic Cavalier, which was -.656 under with an 8.284. Ryan Priddy was third with a -.626 hit against the A/Altered Automatic index. 

Keith Haney earns a living with multiple auto dealerships by giving clients a deal they cannot refuse. Coming later this season, Haney’s got one for the Pro Modified community that he knows they logically cannot refuse. 

Haney isn’t into flexing muscles in competition with other promoters, but he believes the facts will speak for themselves. He plans to deliver the richest payday for any Pro Modified or doorslammer event in existence, period. 

Haney said he’s got 253,000 reasons why Pro Modified teams want to be at Flying H Drag Strip on the weekend of September 19 - 21, 2024, for the Mid-West Drag Racing Series’ inaugural Fall Smackdown. The winner of the event can pocket a hefty $150,000 prize while finishing runner-up can net a $25,000 prize. The Main Event is sponsored by Stroud Safety and presented by M&M Transmission and Proline Racing Engines.

The three-peat is quite an accomplishment. It's such a prestigious accomplishment that legendary NBA basketball coach Pat Riley trademarked the phrase to recognize his accomplishments with the Chicago Bulls and, later, the Miami Heat franchises. 

One drag racer has a franchise of his own, heading into this weekend's Big Go West drag race, the NHRA Winternationals.

Justin Ashley, the second-generation drag racer from New York's Long Island, who drives the SCAG Power Equipment Top Fuel dragster, is going for a third consecutive NHRA Winternationals title. He's raced to the finals of the last three races of what used to be the season-opening event. 

If you're looking for a passive drag racing documentary on a legendary drag racer, then Shirley isn't the one you want to watch.

The Shirley Muldowney documentary, scheduled to air tonight on FS1 at 7 PM EST., is presented in the nature of what was needed for a drag racer, who just happened to be a female, to survive. She speaks softly and carries a big stick to needle the boys, almost as entertaining of a pastime for the four-time Top Fuel champion as winning rounds.

One knows exactly where the show is going when it opens with, "From day one, that fire was there. It was personal; no one was going to stop me."