TOP FUEL

On Saturday, Pomona fans got to see some of the quickest runs of the season including a blistering 3.643 by low qualifier Brittany Force and her Monster Energy team. Force was one of eight drivers to venture into the 3.6s and the bump spot is a very respectable 3.801 by Krista Baldwin.

Today, the focus shifts to the championship battle, where several drivers are still in the hunt. Heading into Sunday’s final eliminatoins, Justin Ashley leads Shawn Langdon by 42 points and Antron Brown by 46. Reigning champ Doug Kalitta is still alive but facing a 78 point deficit while Steve Torrence, Clay Millican, and Brittany Force are mathematically in the hunt, but would need an extraordinary sequence of events in order to win the title.

It won’t take long for the title hunt to shake out as Ashley and Brown are paired in round one while Ashley will face Josh Hart. Steve Torrence will be paired with his longtime former crew member, Gary Pritchett, who is making his Top Fuel debut with a very respectable 3.75 best.

FUNNY CAR

Last night, Austin Prock was officially crowned the Mission Foods NHRA Funny Car champ, and he celebrated with a track record 3.804 pass in his Auto Club of Southern California Camaro. Prock is the low qualifier for the 15th time in 20 races and he’s got a chance to win his ninth event of the year today. Prock will open with a race against Jason Rupert.

While Prock made perhaps the most impressive Funny Car run of the season, his advantage over the rest of the field is slim. Ron Capps is second with a 3.821 and the three-time champ is looking to avoid his first winless season since 2008.

Jack Beckman is also looking to score a second win for team owner John Force, who has cheered on his three team cars from the starting line all weekend.

PRO STOCK

The battle for the Pro Stock title will be wild as Aaron Stanfield, Dallas Glenn, and Greg Anderson are still in the hunt and all three are in complete control of their own destinies. Put simply, if any of the three wins the race, they will also be crowned the champion.

Stanfield leads Glenn by less than one round of competition and Anderson is two rounds back. However, Anderson and Stanfield could race in the semifinals so in Anderson were to win, he could win the title by also winning the final round.

Anderson, the low qualifier with a 6.505, will begin his day with a race against Kenny Delco, Pro Stock’s longest tenured driver. Stanfield will be paired against teammate Troy Coughlin Jr., while Glenn is racing rookie Derrick Reese.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE

It’s not official yet, but barring something miraculous, Gaige Herrera will win his second consecutive Mission Food Pro Stock Motorcycle title. Herrera only needs to put his RevZilla/Mission Foods Suzuki into the second round in order to clinch the title. Herrera will begin with a race against rookie Clayton Howey, who qualified No. 14.

Should Herrera fall victim to an upset, Matt Smith can win the title by winning the race. Smith, the low qualifier with a 6.721 on his Denso Buell, race Aaron Pine in round one.

The points battle aside, Richard Gadson is looking to finish his rookie season with the Vance & Hines team on a positive not as he chases the Rookie of the Year title. Angie Smith is also close to a victory and she’s qualified No. 2 with a 6.758.

2023 EVENT WINNERS
Doug Kalitta, Top Fuel; Chad Green, Funny Car; Aaron Stanfield, Pro Stock; Gaige Herrera, Pro Stock Motorcycle.

TRACK RECORDS
Top Fuel - 3.628 seconds by Clay Millican, Feb. '18; 338.94 mph by Brittany Force, Nov., ‘22.
Funny Car - 3.804 seconds by Austin Prock, Nov. '24; 337.33 mph by Ron Capps, Nov. '22.
Pro Stock - 6.480 seconds by Erica Enders, Nov. '14; 213.84 mph by Drew Skillman, Nov. '15.
Pro Stock Motorcycle – 6.661 seconds by Gaige Herrera, Nov. ’23; 203.80 by Herrera, Nov. ‘23.

NATIONAL RECORDS
Top Fuel - 3.623 sec. by Brittany Force, Sept. ‘19, Reading; 338.94 mph by Force, Nov. ‘22, Pomona
Funny Car - 3.793 sec. by Robert Hight, Aug. '17, Brainerd; 339.87 mph by Hight, July ’17, Sonoma
Pro Stock - 6.450 sec. by Erica Enders, Mar. ’22, Gainesville; 215.55 mph by Enders, May ’14, Englishtown
Pro Stock Motorcycle – 6.627 by Gaige Herrera, October ’23, Dallas; 205.04 by Matt Smith, July ’21, Sonoma

SCHEDULE

SUNDAY, November 17 - Pre-race ceremonies, 10:00 a.m.
MISSION FOODS SERIES eliminations begin at 11:00 a.m.

TELEVISION
SUNDAY, Nov. 17, FS1 will televise two hours of qualifying highlights at 10 a.m. (ET)
SUNDAY, Nov.17, FS1 will televise three hours of finals coverage at 4 p.m. (ET).