Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

USA
Race report

Pritchett, Hagan and Line win Pomona season-opener

Leah Pritchett earned the second Top Fuel victory of her career at the 57th annual Circle K NHRA Winternationals on Sunday as Matt Hagan and Jason Line clinched Funny Car and Pro Stock, respectively.

Leah Pritchett

Leah Pritchett

Anne Proffit

Matt Hagan
Jason Line
Doug Kalitta
John Force
Greg Anderson
Doug Kalitta
Courtney Force, Brittany Force

TOP FUEL

Pritchett, who was also the No. 1 qualifier of the event held at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, piloted her Papa John’s Pizza dragster to a 3.711-second pass at 324.98 mph to defeat Doug Kalitta who smoked the tires of the Mac Tools dragster’s at the start.

“This definitely is taking delivery from the momentum from last year,” Pritchett said. “What just happened is the best thing that has ever happened for me professionally in my career. In my opinion, right now, we have the perfect group of people, partners, sponsors and a car that is reacting.”

Pritchett defeated Steve Torrence and eight-time champion Tony Schumacher en route to the finals. Kalitta, who was in his third consecutive final at Pomona, took down Terry McMillen and reigning champion Antron Brown.

FUNNY CAR

Hagan raced to his 23rd Funny Car victory with a 3.875 at 330.07 in his Mopar Express Lane Dodge Charger R/T, narrowly defeating Courtney Force’s Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro, which ran a 3.901 at 326.95. It was Hagan’s second Winternationals win.

“It’s a real special race for me,” said Hagan for whom this was a second Winternationals win. “A lot of stuff happened over the off season, with losing my brother. We came out motivated.

“My lights have been great, the car has been great and my team has been great. We just have got a real powerhouse team right now. We just have to keep some of this momentum going.”

Hagan’s victorious run began with defeats of teammates Jack Beckman and Ron Capps, the defending world champion. Force beat J.R. Todd, who was racing in his first event in a Funny Car, and father and team owner John Force.

PRO STOCK

Reigning champion Line started his title defense with a victory over teammate Greg Anderson. In another stunningly close final shootout, Line’s Chevrolet Camaro ran a 6.568sec at 211.10mph compared with Anderson’s similar car and similar time – 6.579 at 211.56.

“It’s a good way to start the season,” Line said of his 46th career win. “I’m very excited, very happy and a little bit relieved. Just a great day for KB Racing and the Summit cars. To be able to come here and qualify one and two and finish one and two and have three cars in the semis. That’s just a big deal.”

Final finish order at the 57th annual Circle K NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona 

TOP FUEL: 1.  Leah Pritchett; 2.  Doug Kalitta; 3.  Antron Brown; 4.  Tony Schumacher; 5.  Troy Coughlin Jr.; 6.  Steve Torrence; 7.  Terry McMillen; 8.  Brittany Force; 9.  Shawn Reed; 10.  Scott Palmer; 11.  Clay Millican; 12.  Steve Faria; 13.  Terry Haddock; 14.  Troy Buff; 15.  Steven Chrisman.
Final: Leah Pritchett, 3.711 seconds, 324.98 mph  def. Doug Kalitta, 7.630 seconds, 103.85 mph

FUNNY CAR: 1.  Matt Hagan; 2.  Courtney Force; 3.  John Force; 4.  Ron Capps; 5.  Jack Beckman; 6.  J.R. Todd; 7.  Tommy Johnson Jr.; 8.  Del Worsham; 9.  Alexis DeJoria; 10.  Robert Hight; 11.  Tim Wilkerson; 12.  Bob Bode; 13.  Phil Burkart; 14.  Jeff Diehl; 15.  Cruz Pedregon; 16.  Jim Campbell.
Final: Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 3.875, 330.07  def. Courtney Force, Chevy Camaro, 3.901, 326.95

PRO STOCK: 1.  Jason Line; 2.  Greg Anderson; 3.  Bo Butner; 4.  Erica Enders; 5.  Shane Gray; 6.  Jeg Coughlin; 7.  Tanner Gray; 8.  Vincent Nobile; 9.  Drew Skillman; 10.  Chris McGaha; 11.  Matt Hartford; 12.  Alan Prusiensky; 13.  Kenny Delco; 14.  Deric Kramer; 15.  Allen Johnson; 16.  Val Smeland.
Final: Jason Line, Chevy Camaro, 6.568, 211.10  def. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.579, 211.56

Point standings after 1 of 24 events in the 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series

TOP FUEL: 1.  Leah Pritchett, 122; 2.  Doug Kalitta, 105; 3.  Antron Brown, 79; 4.  Tony Schumacher, 70; 5.  Brittany Force, 57; 6.  Troy Coughlin Jr., 54; 7.  Steve Torrence, 53; 8.  Terry McMillen, 48; 9.  (tie) Scott Palmer, 32; Shawn Reed, 32.

FUNNY CAR: 1.  Matt Hagan, 119; 2.  Courtney Force, 99; 3.  John Force, 80; 4.  Ron Capps, 77; 5.  Jack Beckman, 53; 6.  (tie) Tommy Johnson Jr., 52; J.R. Todd, 52; Del Worsham, 52; 9.  Robert Hight, 36; 10.  Alexis DeJoria, 35.

PRO STOCK: 1.  Jason Line, 126; 2.  Greg Anderson, 103; 3.  Bo Butner, 77; 4.  Erica Enders, 75; 5.  Vincent Nobile, 58; 6.  (tie) Jeg Coughlin, 56; Shane Gray, 56; 8.  Tanner Gray, 52; 9.  Chris McGaha, 33; 10.  (tie) Matt Hartford, 32; Deric Kramer, 32; Drew Skillman, 32.

Be part of Motorsport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Pritchett, Hagan and Line are No. 1 qualifiers Saturday at Winternationals
Next article Force vs. Schumacher - When bad blood spills over

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

USA