52nd O’Reilly NHRA Winternationals - 02/12
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52nd O’Reilly NHRA Winternationals
Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, CA
Feb 9-12, ’12
Story and Photographs by Roger Rohrdanz
The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing season always begins here with the O’Reilly NHRA Winternationals from the Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, CA. Racers from all around the world arrive with hopes of performing well and at least taking home some memories. The weather played a role this year. Thursday & Friday was near perfect with blue skies and temperatures in the mid-70’s. Pesky rain caused delays Saturday and Sunday but, after moving the Sportsman classes to Monday, the Pro part of the event was completed
With 22 more races to go in the 2012 Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, Mondays final results were as follows;
TOP FUEL – Spencer Massey, 3.750 sec @ 325.77mph beat Antron Brown, 3.794 sec @ 320.43mph.
FUNNY CAR – John Force, 4.080 sec @ 315.64mph beat Mike Neff, 4.036sec @ 316.82mph.
PRO STOCK – Greg Anderson, Pontiac GXP, 6.549, 210.87 beat Jeg Coughlin, Dodge Avenger, 6.586,
209.62mph
TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER – Chris Demke, 5.281, 270.32 beat Larry Miersch, 5.503, 267.27.
TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR – Daniel Oliver, 5.531, 258.67 beat Jay Payne, 5.548, 260.36.
COMPETITION ELIMINATOR – Dan Fletcher, ’08 Cobalt, 11.902, def. Randy Jones, S-10, (foul).
SUPER STOCK – Mike Cotten, Broken Arrow OK, '70 Barracuda, 10.242, def. Jody Lang, Puyallup WA, '81 Malibu, 10.851.
STOCK ELIMINATOR – Brad Burton, Kirkland WA, 10.816, def. Don Keen, Palmdale CA, 10.750.
SUPER COMP – Kevin Wright, Longmont CO, 10.129 def. Tommy Phillips, Forney TX, (foul).
SUPER GAS – Greg Ventura, 9.926, def. Jimmy Lewis, 9.932.
Thanks for the Show!
2012 Winternationals |
Bob Frey, “simply the best orator in live motorsports”. |
Welcome NHRA’s new Chief Starter, Mark Lyle. |
Some notable drivers; Top Alcohol Dragster driver, Megan McKernan |
Super Gas, Karen “Blondie” Comstock. |
The “Flying” Dutch Fox. |
Top Fuel Dragster Champ Spencer Massey. |
Top Fuel Dragster Runnerup Antron Brown. |
Top Fuel Funny Car Champ John Force. |
Top Fuel Funny Car Runnerup Mike Neff. |
Nitro Funny Car rookie Alexis DeJoria, autographs a fan’s program. |
Nitro Funny Car rookie Alexis DeJoria. |
Nitro Funny Car rookie Courtney Force. |
Pro Stock Champ Greg Anderson. |
Pro Stock Runnerup Jeg Coughlin. |
Top Alcohol Funny Car Champ Daniel Oliver. |
Top Alcohol Funny Car Runnerup Jay Payne. |
"The Snake’s” grandstand. |
The John Force grandstand. |
John Force on his scooter. |
The Stocks and Super Stocks always put on a great show. |
Side by sides are fun. |
Friday racing ended with a light show. |