NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Tickets are now on sale for the upcoming 62nd annual Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals presented by ProtectTheHarvest.com on Feb. 17-20 at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, as the race returns to its traditional winter spot as the opening race of the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season.

After the race took place in the summer this year for the first time in history, the NHRA will head back to the historic facility to open its 2022 campaign. The Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals presented by ProtectTheHarvest.com has been synonymous with the start of the NHRA season and fans can once again enjoy the incredible action of 11,000-horsepower nitro cars in Top Fuel and Funny Car to kick off a new drag racing year.

“It’s so exciting to have the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals presented by ProtectTheHarvest.com back in its familiar and traditional spot of opening our NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season,” said Vice President of Track Management & Operations, Kasey Coler. “There’s already so much anticipation and excitement for next year, and we know our racers, teams and fans can’t wait to return to Auto Club Raceway at Pomona in February to start the season in incredible fashion.”
 
Leah Pruett (Top Fuel), Ron Capps (Funny Car) and Aaron Stanfield (Pro Stock) were winners of the 2021 event. Returning to its traditional February spot, the historic race will feature plenty of memorable action as teams look to start their 2022 season on a strong note and fans get their first opportunity to see all the new teams and sponsors on the track.

With more than six decades of incredible racing at the facility, Auto Club Raceway at Pomona has served as the backdrop for some of drag racing's biggest moments. NHRA’s top stars have performed at a high level at the track, with Tony Schumacher, who is returning to full-time competition in 2022, tied for the most wins in Top Fuel history at the track with six.

He’ll look to add to that at the NHRA Winternationals, as will 16-time world champ John Force, who has 16 career wins at the facility. Pro Stock’s winningest driver, Greg Anderson, has also performed well at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, winning 12 times in his career at the historic facility. The race will also mark the debut of Tony Stewart Racing, as the NASCAR legend moves into the NHRA ranks as a team owner with drivers Pruett in Top Fuel and Matt Hagan in Funny Car.

Action at the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals presented by ProtectTheHarvest.com will start with one qualifying run on Friday, a pair of qualifying sessions on Saturday and eliminations on Sunday, as drivers will look to start the year with an early-season win. Additionally, the race is the first chance for competitors in Top Fuel to earn their spot in the All-Star Shootout, which takes place in March at Gainesville. 

The 2021 Top Fuel Champion will have an automatic seed in the field in the number one spot. Positions two through nine will have their points reset after this season and will earn additional points based on the final qualifying order at the 2022 NHRA Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals and NHRA Arizona Nationals to set the final seven positions. The race will also count toward the All-Star Shootout in Funny Car, which takes place at Indy later in the year.
 
All children 12 and under will be admitted free in the general admission area with a paid adult. Tickets are available now at NHRA.com.