NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE Q1

We'd like to say it was a stark difference from last year, when qualifying kicked off at the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals, but dark clouds, even though no rain fell from them (yet - a brief break was taken halfway through due to some sprinkles), still plagued the historic dragstrip as Pro Stock Motorcycle took to the track. 

Championship hopeful Gaige Herrera came out and made a statement that set the tone for the next couple of days. He recorded a 1.01 60-foot time and a 6.673 to out-qualify the field by seven one-hundredths of a second and take the provisional No. 1 spot. He also collected the bonus points he very much needed. Herrera's job in qualifying is to keep his teammate Richard Gadson's points lead under 60.

Meanwhile, Gadson made no slouch of a run and went to provisional no. 2 with a 6.745 and grabbed three points for his efforts of 6.745 at 201.91.

Also collecting points is Joey Gladstone, who is the fill-in driver for Matt Smith Racing's Jianna Evaristo, who announced she is pregnant earlier this season and Matt Smith.

Lastly, Alex Laughlin, who became the first driver to earn a competition license in all four NHRA Pro categories, made his debut but did not record the number he was looking for - a 16.523 at 46.05 mph.

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PRO STOCK Q1

The mission for Matt Hartford is simple this weekend: to keep Dallas Glenn's lead under 90 points. However, the way Glenn is driving will prove to be a bit difficult. Glenn dropped a 6.512 to take the provisional no. 1 and four bonus points in Q1.

"The pressure is off from last year, and if we keep going up and they're ripping off runs like that, there won't be anything that anyone can do," Glenn stated confidently at the top end after his run.

Hartford landed in third with his run of 6.535 at 209.95 mph, and grabbed two points. Splitting the two championship contenders on the ladder is Matt Latino (6.532), who has come a long way during his sophomore year of driving Pro Stock.

Taking the final bonus qualifying points is Deric Kramer, who was the only other driver to dip into the 6.53s, with his 6.538.

Someone's name who is typically synonymous with a championship is Greg Anderson. But this year, Anderson isn't in contention and ran into tire shake in round one of qualifying and landed at the bottom of the qualifying sheet (No. 14). 

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FUNNY CAR Q1

With the air temperature at a performance-friendly 63 degrees but the track temperature at just 82 degrees, it was a classic example of what Funny Car legend Don "the Snake" Prudhomme once said: "The engine said go, and the tires said [bs]," as a number of the first dozen cars struggled for traction and overpowered the track.

Local hero Jeff Arend, who lives just miles from the track in La Verne, had the event's first (and so far only) three-second pass in Jim Dunn's Mooneyes Beer entry that led the field for a while, and then Mother Nature stepped in to put racing on hold for a bit. It's light rain but moisture nonetheless. The car covers go on.

Other good runs so far in the session: Julie Nataas (4.011), Jason Rupert (4.055), Jim Campbell (4.068), and Terry Haddock (4.092).

Bobby Bode shut off early in his first run in Jim Head's entry. Bode is subbing for new dad Spencer Hyde, and while he is not eligible to earn points for the reigning Rookie of the Year, he hopes to keep Cruz Pedregon and Dave Richards from displacing Hyde in the important Top 10 of the standings. Hyde is currently ninth, 17 points ahead of Chad Green, 50 up on Pedregon, and 56 in front of Richards.

After a two-hour, 20-minute delay, nitro engines cackled to life again, and Pedregon quickly stole the pole from Arend with a 3.93; with the sun finally out, there's a little more heat in the track. It only got better as Ron Capps took the No. 1 spot with a 3.89, and J.R. Todd went to No. 2 with a 3.91. Arend's run ended up fourth.

Points frontrunners Matt Hagan and Jordan Vandergriff both failed to make it down the track, so Hagan's lead remains at 39; Vandergriff would love to get it under 30 by the end of qualifying to require him to go one less round Sunday to pass Hagan.

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TOP FUEL Q1

The sun is gone, and threatening clouds are looming to the east and the south, but no imminent rain seems to be forecast according to the radar.

Probable Rookie of the Year Maddi Gordon and crew chief Rob Flynn are looking to put a capper on her inaugural season in her home state with a sizzling 3.679 at 242.11 mph, breaking the track speed record of 340.56 mph set by Doug Kalitta at the Winternationals. It's the 14th-fastest speed in Top Fuel history.

"We got a great race car, great team, but 342, 3.679. Holy smokes!" said Gordon. "I mean, you know, Rob, he's a positive guy, and he's always happy. He's been happy all year long. But after testing on Monday, he was fired up, and you know me, I'm always fired up. But it's got me more fired up."

The run did not stick as No. 1 as Doug Kalitta picked up four important points as he tries to overcome the odds and catch his points-leading teammate Shawn Langdon, who did not make it down the track under power. Langdon's lead is now 103 points.

Leah Pruett (3.698), Antron Brown (3.705), Billy Torrence (3.713), and Tony Stewart  (3.717) had the next four quickest cars in a geat session.

Will Smith is on the bump at 12.98 with Langdon No. 15 and Bernie Plourd, whose son, Brad, clinched the Top Dragster world championship earlier in the day in 14th. 

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PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE Q2

Dusk started to settle in, and clouds still threatened the track, but Pro Stock Motorcycle riders kept to business as usual to finish out Friday night.

Everyone was waiting on the final pair of Gaige Herrera and Richard Gadson, and boy did they put on a show with side-by-side 1.01 60-foot times. Herrera recorded the low e.t. of the round with a 6.675 and, in doing so, is closing the gap on Gadson's back-to-back championship dreams.

Gadson, who rode to his best 60-foot time (1.019) of his career, grabbed the three bonus points. Matt Smith followed in third and again got bonus points in this round and Clayton Howey also earned a bonus point.

This sets up the weather-delayed final round of the Mopar NHRA Las Vegas Nationals powered by Dodge for Gadson and Herrera, which will be contested during round three of qualifying and has major championship implications for both riders.

Two riders made a trip into the sand trap - Steve Johnson and Malcom Phillips Jr. Phillips Jr. was a little more dramatic as he tried to get the bike stopped but locked up the brakes and drove quite a ways into the sand while tearing up his boots.

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PRO STOCK Q2

In a Pomona Pro Stock tradition, the gamesmanship has started early. Aaron Stanfield shut off early to land at the bottom of the ladder, hoping to position himself to help his dad, Greg Stanfield, earn a championship. Erica Enders also followed suit, shutting off her Pro Stock Camaro early. It looks like it's going to come down to the tale as old as time - Elite Motorsports vs. KB Titan. 

Speaking of KB Titan, Matt Latino laid down a 6.516 to go low e.t. of the round and collect the four bonus points that the championship contenders are so desperately looking for. But don't look too far: Dallas Glenn was right behind Latino, was second low e.t. of the round, earned three bonus points for his qualifying efforts, and is still holding onto the provisional No. 1. If Glenn stays no. 1, he will earn a bye in round one and will clinch the championship.

Elite championship hopeful Greg Stanfield grabbed the two bonus points this round with a 6.523 e.t. and is currently sitting in third place on the ladder. 

Greg's Elite Motorsports teammate and longshot championship contender, Troy Coughlin Jr., nabbed the final bonus point and improved his qualifying position with a 6.537, improving to the provisional No. 5 spot.

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FUNNY CAR AND TOP FUEL Q2 UPDATE

Due to rain that moved into the area, round two of qualifying for Funny Car and Top Fuel has been moved to tomorrow, and only two rounds of qualifying for the nitro classes will be contested.