POMONA, Calif. — For the first time since 1982, a female has captured a NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Top Fuel world championship. Brittany Force clinched the category crown in the quarterfinals of eliminations Sunday at the Auto Club NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.
Robert Hight (Funny Car) and Bo Butner (Pro Stock) also won world championships in their respective categories at the final 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event. The race winners at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona were Force (Top Fuel), Tommy Johnson Jr. (Funny Car), Butner (Pro Stock) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle).
Force, daughter of 16-time Funny Car world champion John Force, became just the second female to win a Top Fuel world championship by piloting her Monster Energy dragster to a 3.679-second pass at 328.22 mph defeating Richie Crampton and his 3.757 pass at 323.81 in the quarterfinals. The other female to win a championship in the category was legendary racer Shirley Muldowney. Steve Torrence, who entered the race as the Top Fuel points leader, fell to 2016 world champion Antron Brown’s 3.691 pass at 323.81 to guarantee the title crown to Force.
“I can’t believe we are here, it seems like a dream,” Force said. “The reason we are here is because of that Monster team and all the support I have and all the sponsors. Everyone at JFR and that is the reason we are here. We struggled, we had our ups and downs, but we pulled it together when it mattered most. I give all of it up to my crew chiefs, Alan Johnson and Brian Husen, they are the ones that made this possible. They always had my back and they kept pushing me that is what my Monster team did, they never gave up on me, pushing and fighting and never gave up. I can’t believe we are here. I have to thank my dad, my family, they always had my back no matter what. This is a very proud moment. I can’t believe we are here. It is the support system you have around you and that is why we are here.”
Force, who was also the No. 1 qualifier, raced to victory at the season ending event by defeating Shawn Langdon with a 3.668 pass at 330.07 when he smoked the tires in the final round. She finishes the season with four race wins, the first coming at the New England Nationals in Epping, N.H. Force went on to win three events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship, the Dodge NHRA Nationals in Reading, Pa., the AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals and this weekend’s season ending event. She has two runner-up finishes and two No. 1 qualifiers.
Hight secured his second NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Funny Car world championship in the first round of eliminations Sunday.
Hight powered his Auto Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car to a 3.839-second pass at 332.51 mph to defeat Tim Wilkerson who smoked the tires at the starting line. Ron Capps, who was Hight’s nearest championship contender, smoked the tires and lost to Del Worsham ensuring Hight the world title.
“Everybody worked their tail off and was quiet and knew they had a job to do,” Hight said. “This is just huge for John Force Racing. For a couple of years, we have struggled but it is such a great group. We signed a long-term deal with Auto Club and they deserve better than what we were giving them. Jimmy Prock, Chris Cunningham (co-crew chief) they got us back in the game. It’s been a long time and you want it so bad.”
Hight’s championship season had four race victories including two wins in the famed Western Swing and two victories during the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship. He earned eight No. 1 qualifiers and had two runner-up finishes. At the event in Brainerd, Minn. Hight set the Funny Car national elapsed-time record with a 3.793 pass and in Sonoma, Calif. Hight went on to set the national speed record with a pass at 339.87. Hight closed out his 2017 season with a runner-up finish falling to Tommy Johnson Jr. in the final round.
Butner claimed his first NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro Stock world championship by winning the event.
Butner drove his Jim Butner’s Auto Chevrolet Camaro to a 6.594 pass at 210.70 mph to defeat Tanner Gray’s 6.653 run at 208.62 in the final round of the Auto Club NHRA Finals. Butner earned his first career victory at the NHRA SpringNationals in Houston earlier this year and ends the season with five event wins and six runner-up finishes.
“Just never give up. I have a great crew; it’s amazing,” Butner said. “They don’t give up on me. But the KB team, what does that say about them? Honestly, I rent a car and a motor and they put me in a championship. It’s just unbelievable. Thank the Lord for everything; He shined on me.”
Butner took fate into his own hands when he defeated teammate Greg Anderson in the semifinals with a 6.551 pass at 210.05. Had Butner lost in the finals, Anderson would have won the world championship.
In Funny Car, Johnson Jr. raced to a 3.920 pass at 329.10 in his Make-A-Wish Dodge Charger R/T while Hight had trouble off the starting line. It was Jonson Jr.’s second win of the season, 17th of his career and second consecutive at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.
“It has been a very emotional year, we’ve had a tough year with the loss of Terry Chandler,” Johnson Jr. said. “I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for her. She gave me the opportunity to drive after sitting out for five years. I was determined to get this win for Terry to close out the season. Just a great day. It wasn’t an easy win. The guys did a great job.”
Johnson Jr.’s path to victory included wins against Bob Bode, the retiring Alexis DeJoria and teammate and No. 1 qualifier Jack Beckman. Hight took out Tim Wilkerson, Matt Hagan and teammate Courtney Force and won the world championship before falling to Johnson Jr. in the finals.
Hines won the Pro Stock Motorcycle portion of the race to continue his streak of 14 consecutive seasons with at least one victory. He defeated teammate and newly crowned 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro Stock Motorcycle world champion Eddie Krawiec with a 6.856 pass at 196.02 on his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley Davidson. Krawiec rode to a 6.930 run at 177.58.
“It was a long season for my side of the team, but we found a way to get better throughout the season to get back to the level we expect ourselves to perform at,” Hines said. “There were plenty of long hours from the Vance & Hines team this year, and it’s really special to have a team of guys like I do that make sure we’re heading down the right path as we continue to push forward going into next year.”
Hines rode past Ryan Oehler, Joey Gladstone and LE Tonglet before facing his Harley-Davidson teammate. With the victory, Hines finishes the season second in points. Krawiec defeated Lance Bonham, 2016 world champ Jerry Savoie and Matt Smith before falling in the finals.
The 2018 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season will kick off with the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals presented by ProtecttheHarvest.com Feb. 8-11 at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.
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POMONA, Calif. — Final finish order (1-16) at the 53rd annual Auto Club NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. The race is the final of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.
TOP FUEL:
1. Brittany Force; 2. Shawn Langdon; 3. Antron Brown; 4. Doug Kalitta; 5. Steve Torrence; 6. Clay Millican; 7. Leah Pritchett; 8. Richie Crampton; 9. Tony Schumacher; 10. Terry McMillen; 11. Wayne Newby; 12. Mike Salinas; 13. Troy Buff; 14. Scott Palmer; 15. Terry Haddock; 16. Shawn Reed.
FUNNY CAR:
1. Tommy Johnson Jr.; 2. Robert Hight; 3. Jack Beckman; 4. Courtney Force; 5. Matt Hagan; 6. John Force; 7. Alexis DeJoria; 8. Del Worsham; 9. Ron Capps; 10. J.R. Todd; 11. Tim Wilkerson; 12. Jeff Arend; 13. Jeff Diehl; 14. Bob Bode; 15. Jim Campbell; 16. Gary Densham.
PRO STOCK:
1. Bo Butner; 2. Tanner Gray; 3. Jason Line; 4. Greg Anderson; 5. Drew Skillman; 6. Jeg Coughlin; 7. Erica Enders; 8. Brian Self; 9. Chris McGaha; 10. Alex Laughlin; 11. Matt Hartford; 12. Alan Prusiensky; 13. Shane Gray; 14. Allen Johnson; 15. Deric Kramer; 16. Kenny Delco.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:
1. Andrew Hines; 2. Eddie Krawiec; 3. Matt Smith; 4. LE Tonglet; 5. Scotty Pollacheck; 6. Chip Ellis; 7. Jerry Savoie; 8. Joey Gladstone; 9. Angie Smith; 10. Steve Johnson; 11. Katie Sullivan; 12. Ryan Oehler; 13. Lance Bonham; 14. Freddie Camarena; 15. Karen Stoffer; 16. Hector Arana Jr.
POMONA, Calif. — Sunday’s final results from the 53rd annual Auto Club NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. The race is the final of 24 in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series:
Top Fuel — Brittany Force, 3.668 seconds, 330.07 mph def. Shawn Langdon, 9.818 seconds, 89.10 mph.
Funny Car — Tommy Johnson Jr., Dodge Charger, 3.920, 329.10 def. Robert Hight, Chevy Camaro, 6.827, 103.71.
Pro Stock — Bo Butner, Chevy Camaro, 6.554, 210.70 def. Tanner Gray, Camaro, 6.653, 208.62.
Pro Stock Motorcycle — Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.856, 196.02 def. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.930, 177.58.
Top Alcohol Dragster — Shawn Cowie, 5.272, 274.72 def. Julie Nataas, 5.481, 272.50.
Top Alcohol Funny Car — John Lombardo Jr., Chevy Camaro, 5.420, 271.41 def. Annie Whiteley, Camaro, 5.417, 273.22.
Competition Eliminator — Dan Fletcher, Chevy Cobalt, 8.022, 168.11 def. Tom Mettler, Dodge Dakota, 7.399, 183.34.
Super Stock — Robert Cruzen, Chevy Cobalt, 9.344, 142.81 def. Jimmy DeFrank, Cobalt, 8.825, 151.70.
Stock Eliminator — Austin Williams, Plymouth Duster, 11.080, 109.61 def. Chris Stephenson, Pontiac Firebird, 10.620, 122.56.
Super Comp — Bobby Dye Jr., Dragster, 8.904, 167.51 def. Tanner Theobald, Dragster, 8.884, 167.45.
Super Gas — Steve Parsons, Chevy Chevy Corvette, 9.895, 171.62 def. Mike Wiblishouser, Corvette, Foul – Red Light.
Summit Super Pro — Todd Martin, Undercover, 7.610, 174.89 def. Dale Green, American, 8.886, 173.99.
Summit Pro — Jason Patterson, Chevy Camaro, 9.598, 135.82 def. Butch Weinreich, Dodge Dart, 11.018, 120.84.
Summit Sportsman — Troy Johnston, Plymouth Duster, 12.005, 111.00 def. Jake Howard, Chevy S-10, 11.974, 108.98.
Summit Pro Bike — Riley Toth, Kawasaki, 8.605, 144.09 def. Curt Spraklin, Kawasaki, 8.614, 145.88.
POMONA, Calif. — Final round-by-round results from the 53rd annual Auto Club NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, the final of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series:
TOP FUEL:
ROUND ONE — Richie Crampton, 3.724, 328.62 def. Terry McMillen, 3.769, 324.36; Clay Millican, 4.941, 266.16 def. Shawn Reed, 10.318, 83.93; Leah Pritchett, 3.712, 329.50 def. Scott Palmer, 7.901, 104.87; Antron Brown, 3.710, 329.91 def. Mike Salinas, 3.795, 324.90; Brittany Force, 3.688, 329.75 def. Terry Haddock, 7.913, 70.79; Steve Torrence, 3.708, 325.30 def. Troy Buff, 3.818, 316.01; Shawn Langdon, 3.725, 326.16 def. Tony Schumacher, 3.724, 328.38; Doug Kalitta, 3.684, 332.59 def. Wayne Newby, 3.786, 324.05;
QUARTERFINALS — Langdon, 3.683, 321.81 def. Pritchett, 3.714, 320.20; Brown, 3.691, 328.30 def. Torrence, 3.695, 328.46; Force, 3.679, 328.22 def. Crampton, 3.757, 323.81; Kalitta, 3.687, 330.96 def. Millican, 3.698, 328.38;
SEMIFINALS — Langdon, 3.718, 318.54 def. Kalitta, 3.703, 331.04; Force, 3.674, 326.63 def. Brown, 3.677, 329.34;
FINAL — Force, 3.668, 330.07 def. Langdon, 9.818, 89.10.
FUNNY CAR:
ROUND ONE — Robert Hight, Chevy Camaro, 3.839, 332.51 def. Tim Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 9.851, 79.25; Tommy Johnson Jr., Dodge Charger, 4.047, 283.79 def. Bob Bode, Charger, 36.217, no speed; Courtney Force, Camaro, 4.157, 228.23 def. Jeff Diehl, Toyota Solara, 11.132, 84.82; Jack Beckman, Charger, 3.837, 333.74 def. Jeff Arend, Chevy Monte Carlo, 10.678, 85.73; Alexis DeJoria, Toyota Camry, 3.932, 331.45 def. Jim Campbell, Charger, Broke; Del Worsham, Camry, 4.045, 306.19 def. Ron Capps, Charger, 4.177, 316.52; Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.872, 332.59 def. Gary Densham, Mustang, Broke – No Show; John Force, Camaro, 4.178, 232.39 def. J.R. Todd, Camry, 4.203, 310.05;
QUARTERFINALS — C. Force, 3.842, 331.12 def. Worsham, Broke; Hight, 3.851, 334.32 def. Hagan, 3.875, 332.18; Beckman, 3.851, 332.51 def. J. Force, 3.932, 310.98; Johnson Jr., 3.911, 329.34 def. DeJoria, 3.944, 327.90;
SEMIFINALS — Johnson Jr., 3.890, 329.18 def. Beckman, 3.914, 327.74; Hight, 3.867, 326.48 def. C. Force, 6.229, 120.75;
FINAL — Johnson Jr., 3.920, 329.10 def. Hight, 6.827, 103.71.
PRO STOCK:
ROUND ONE — Brian Self, Chevy Camaro, 6.607, 209.36 def. Chris McGaha, Camaro, Foul – Red Light; Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.554, 209.82 def. Allen Johnson, Dodge Dart, 6.979, 153.25; Tanner Gray, Camaro, 6.555, 210.70 def. Alex Laughlin, Camaro, 6.599, 208.42; Bo Butner, Camaro, 6.581, 210.57 def. Shane Gray, Camaro, 6.808, 207.53; Drew Skillman, Camaro, 6.542, 211.26 def. Kenny Delco, Camaro, Foul – Red Light; Jason Line, Camaro, 6.550, 210.97 def. Deric Kramer, Dart, 9.378, 99.57; Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.567, 209.36 def. Alan Prusiensky, Dart, 6.639, 207.72; Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.612, 208.23 def. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.600, 210.67;
QUARTERFINALS — Butner, 6.567, 210.08 def. Coughlin, 6.630, 209.59; Anderson, 6.567, 209.75 def. Self, 11.832, 76.23; Line, 6.561, 210.44 def. Enders, 8.367, 116.80; T. Gray, 6.559, 210.37 def. Skillman, 6.554, 211.53;
SEMIFINALS — Butner, 6.551, 210.05 def. Anderson, 6.564, 209.92; T. Gray, 6.555, 210.87 def. Line, Foul – Red Light;
FINAL — Butner, 6.554, 210.70 def. T. Gray, 6.653, 208.62.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:
ROUND ONE — Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 6.902, 191.81 def. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.912, 192.99; Joey Gladstone, Suzuki, 6.926, 192.71 def. Angie Smith, Buell, Foul – Red Light; LE Tonglet, Suzuki, 6.867, 195.22 def. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 7.962, 123.62; Matt Smith, 6.996, 192.85 def. Hector Arana Jr, Buell, Broke; Scotty Pollacheck, Suzuki, 6.831, 196.07 def. Freddie Camarena, Suzuki, 7.197, 184.88; Chip Ellis, Harley-Davidson, 6.830, 197.02 def. Katie Sullivan, Suzuki, 6.962, 191.78; Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.871, 197.25 def. Lance Bonham, Buell, 7.163, 182.28; Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.820, 197.42 def. Ryan Oehler, Buell, 7.065, 190.30;
QUARTERFINALS — Krawiec, 6.828, 196.42 def. Savoie, 6.921, 188.62; M. Smith, 6.858, 193.74 def. Pollacheck, 6.841, 194.21; Tonglet, 6.893, 195.31 def. Ellis, 6.867, 194.41; Hines, 6.824, 196.47 def. Gladstone, 6.991, 192.33;
SEMIFINALS — Krawiec, 6.803, 196.56 def. M. Smith, 6.855, 195.36; Hines, 6.817, 196.02 def. Tonglet, 6.886, 195.39;
FINAL — Hines, 6.856, 196.02 def. Krawiec, 6.930, 177.58.
POMONA, Calif. — Point standings (top 10) following the 53rd annual Auto Club NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, the final of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series –
Top Fuel
1. Brittany Force, 2,690; 2. Steve Torrence, 2,609; 3. Doug Kalitta, 2,553; 4. Antron Brown, 2,508; 5. Leah Pritchett, 2,452; 6. Clay Millican, 2,419; 7. Shawn Langdon, 2,406; 8. Tony Schumacher, 2,395; 9. Terry McMillen, 2,310; 10. Scott Palmer, 2,218.
Funny Car
1. Robert Hight, 2,686; 2. Ron Capps, 2,588; 3. Courtney Force, 2,543; 4. Jack Beckman, 2,519; 5. Matt Hagan, 2,470; 6. Tommy Johnson Jr., 2,452; 7. John Force, 2,388; 8. Tim Wilkerson, 2,296; 9. J.R. Todd, 2,282; 10. Cruz Pedregon, 2,178.
Pro Stock
1. Bo Butner, 2,731; 2. Greg Anderson, 2,724; 3. Jason Line, 2,644; 4. Tanner Gray, 2,558; 5. Drew Skillman, 2,476; 6. Erica Enders, 2,367; 7. Jeg Coughlin, 2,318; 8. Allen Johnson, 2,284; 9. Chris McGaha, 2,257; 10. Vincent Nobile, 2,052.
Pro Stock Motorcycle
1. Eddie Krawiec, 2,783; 2. Andrew Hines, 2,614; 3. LE Tonglet, 2,591; 4. Scotty Pollacheck, 2,492; 5. Jerry Savoie, 2,472; 6. Matt Smith, 2,454; 7. Hector Arana Jr, 2,453; 8. Karen Stoffer, 2,301; 9. Joey Gladstone, 2,280; 10. Angie Smith, 2,258.