TRADITION, DRAMA AND EXCITEMENT IN THE AIR
AS NHRA HOSTS AUTO CLUB FINALS IN POMONA
POMONA, Calif. -- The Auto Club NHRA Finals, the last race of the
24-event NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, is all about tradition.
And drama.
And excitement.
Each November, the world's best drag racers gather at the historic
Auto Club Raceway at Pomona to put the finishing touches on a season that
began in the same location in drag racing crazy Southern California nine
months earlier.
While NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series champions in Top Fuel, Funny
Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle will be crowned at the 45th
annual Auto Club NHRA Finals, Nov. 12-15 (ESPN2 HD), the race weekend
offers much more to the tens of thousands of fans who attend the
season-finale.
The official kick off to the race week will actually begin this weekend
at the NHRA Full Throttle Fan Fest presented by Universal Technical
Institute. It will be held Nov. 7 at the UTI campus in Rancho Cucamonga,
Calif. NHRA Funny Car driver "Fast" Jack Beckman will be on
hand to sign autographs at the event and several race cars will be on
display. The Fan Fest is open to the public and runs from 9 a.m. until 3
p.m.
The 300 mile per hour race cars take to the track for the first time on
Thursday, Nov. 12 at the historic Pomona drag strip. While the action on
the track will certainly be intense, the off-track entertainment is sure
to be a hit as well. The grounds of the facility come alive and offer
fans plenty to explore.
NHRA's longstanding open pits policy allows fans to
visit with their favorite drivers and get autographs, and watch in close
proximity while the talented race team crew members service the
high-performance hot rods. No sport's athletes are more accessible
and fan-friendly than those who compete in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag
Racing Series. From popular young drivers like Ashley Force Hood and
Morgan Lucas to diverse winners like Tony Pedregon and Antron Brown to
highly-tested veterans like NHRA icon John Force and six-time champ Tony
Schumacher.
Once the autographs are secured, fans can also visit Nitro
Alley, where many interactive displays offer a variety of exciting
challenges for young and old alike. The Manufacturers Midway features the
latest in performance parts, accessories, memorabilia and collectibles.
Don't forget to add to your souvenir collection by visiting the
NitroMall as well as many of the pro race team souvenir trailers.
While each of the four days of racing will feature its own
special attractions, final eliminations on Sunday, Nov. 15, promises to
be a day no NHRA fan will want to miss. Some of the special activities
planned for that day include:
* A Twilight Cruise car show contest and winner's parade
* The first-ever skydiving drag race
* An appearance by the famed Budweiser Clydesdales
* The famed Goodyear Blimp hovering in the airspace above the
track
* A special parade to honor the Los Angeles Fire Department
* A powerful flyover by an F-16 Air Force fighter jet
* A spectacular fireworks show Sunday night following final
eliminations
SCHEDULE: Pro qualifying sessions are scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Nov.
12-13 and at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Nov. 14. Final eliminations begin
at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 15.
TICKETS: Tickets are available for the Auto Club NHRA Finals. Call NHRA
at (800) 884-NHRA (6472) or visit nhra.com or ticketmaster.com.
* ON TV: ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise two hours of qualifying
highlights at 10:30 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, Nov. 14. ESPN2 and ESPN2HD
will televise NHRA Race Day, a 30-minute pre-race show, at 11 a.m. (ET)
on Sunday, Nov. 15. ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise three hours of
eliminations coverage beginning at 7 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, Nov. 15.
* LUCAS OIL SERIES: The Auto Club NHRA Finals also will feature
competition in six categories in the NHRA Lucas Oil Series, where the
future stars of the NHRA Full Throttle Series earn their racing stripes.
Lucas Oil Series qualifying begins at 8:15 a.m. on Nov. 12. Lucas Oil
Series eliminations begin at 8:15 a.m. on Nov. 13.
-credit: nhra
