The name of veteran drag racing photo-journalist Roger Gorringe will be known to most readers.  Roger makes frequent trips to the USA taking in as many of the major meetings as he can.  It is filthy work standing trackside with endless Top Fuel Dragsters and Funny Cars thundering past you but someone has to do it.  Fortunately Roger has very kindly offered to share his experiences with us in his illustrated meeting reports.


 

 

The finale of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series was held at the famed Auto Club Raceway, Pomona in early November and with fine weather together with large crowds the Countdown to the Championship having had Funny Car and Pro Stock Motorcycle sorted, it only left Top Fuel and Pro Stock to be decided.  It was a relatively clean race with no mishaps and a minimum of oiled race surfaces.  There were several surprises and some impressive track records set during the four day event.  Europe was represented in the form of TMFC Champion Jonnie Lindberg and fellow Swede Ulf Leanders, Lindberg unfortunately failed to qualify suffering shake and crossed up tries, whilst Leanders got to round one of Top Alcohol Funny Car then being defeated by Sean Bellemeur, 5.644/257 to a slightly crossed up 5.952/261.  Helping out on the NHRA Safety Safari as a working guest was Sweden’s Chief Starter - Anette Heleander.

Shawn Langdon driving the Al-Anabi Racing machine clinched his first NHRA Mello Yello Top Fuel Championship as he blazed the tyres in the last qualifying session but it was enough to seal the deal over second place and outgoing champion Antron Brown who sits 164 points behind on the final total.  A 3.750/327 put Langdon in second place behind a top qualifying Brandon Bernstein whose 3.748/325 led the pack.  Round one victim was Steve Torrence who went into instant tyre smoke and could only watch as Langdon banged out the winning 3.781/322.  A fairly close round two bout occurred when a 3.779/326 from Langdon’s machine kept ahead of the 3.802/319 from Aussie Dave Grubnic.  Another holeshot got Langdon to the finals as his 3.756/326 saw off the 4.155/199 try from Clay Millican.  The final was against Doug Kalitta whose 3.808/323 was not enough as Shawn Langdon’s 3.784/323 got the light.


Shawn Langdon Top Fuel winner and NHRA Champion

Doug Kalitta seemed on song all weekend; he came from fourth qualifier on a 3.762/326 to be runner-up.  Kaliita driving the Mac Tools car took out multi-champion Tony Schumacher who went up in smoke early allowing the 3.757/328 from Kalitta the light whilst in round two despite a backfire in the lights Kalitta ran the winning 3.797/325 defeating last year’s champ, Antron Brown who oiled the top end on his 3.825/310.  The semi final pitted Kalitta against rookie Brittany Force who qualified with a 3.784/323 for eighth place, Force went straight into smoke and got crossed up allowing Kalitta a 3.791/325 win. Kalitta became the event runner-up when he was defeated by new Champion Shawn Langdon.


Doug Kalitta Top Fuel runner-up

Brittany Force was voted the Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future NHRA Rookie of the Year at the NHRA Banquet.  The Top Fuel rookie beat a host of other names after her season debut this year.


Brittany Force NHRA Rookie of the Year

Matt Hagan driving the Magneti Marelli/Rocky Boots Dodge Charger out of the Don Schumacher Racing camp sat number two in the qualifying chase on a 4.014/320 then went on to just see-off Alexis DeJoria, a holeshot 4.059/315 win to a 4.056/314.  Round two was another close one as a better leave coupled with a 4.070/309 put Johnny Gray’s 4.086/311 back in the trailer.  A 4.057/315 was enough to see off the threat of Cruz Pedregon’s 4.134/288 in the semis whilst in the event trophy run the Charger racked up a 4.018/320 win to John Force’s 4.057/317 lose.


Matt Hagan Funny Car winner

John Force managed to wrap up the NHRA Mello Yello Funny Car Championship when he beat his daughter Courtney in the final at the Toyota Nationals in Las Vegas two weeks earlier.  The many-time champ ran up his sixteenth such title and came into this race as number one qualifier on a 3.995/319 driving the Castrol GTX Ford Mustang.  On his way to the final Force dealt out an up in smoke Bob Bode, 4.036/317 to a 5.316/132 then pedalled twice to a 5.533/183 as Jeff Arend hit smoke at the hit.  The semis saw Force beat old team mate Gary Densham with a holeshot 4.043/314 to a 4.128/297.  The money run was close but the identical leave 4.057/317 was not quite enough for Force as Hagan got the nod.


John Force Funny Car runner-up

Rickie Jones managed a number three qualifier with his 6.544/211 in the Quarter-Max/Elite/Stockseth ’13 Camaro then became a bit of a giant killer en route to his first outright win.  Matt Hartford was the first victim, a 6.532/211 beat the 6.635/209 then Greg Anderson got off the power at three-hundred feet with problems allowing Jones to a 6.546/211 win to a losing 10.800/83.  The semi final was a close run deal as the 6.548/211 stayed ahead of Buddy Perkinson’s 6.574/211.  The other big name to fall to Jones was Allen Johnson in the final where a 0.015 leave held on for the 6.584/210 win as AJ chased to a runner up 6.581/211.


Rickie Jones Pro Stock winner

Allen Johnson the outgoing champion sat in the fifth qualifying spot with a 6.550/211 in the Mopar/ExpressLane/J&J Racing ’13 Dodge Avenger then went on take wins over Rodger Brogdon, a close holeshot 6.536/211 to a losing 6.586/210, then in round two an ‘easy’ 6.566/211 as opponent and now champ Jeg Coughlin red lit.  A 0.001 light from Kurt Johnson was reeled in as AJ’s 6.548/211 nipped past the losing 6.598/210 and in the final it was a slower leave that put Johnson into second place as Rickie Jones won with a 6.584/210 to a close 6.581/211.


Allen Johnson Pro Stock runner-up

Jeg Coughlin Jr. driving the Jegs.com/Mopar ’13 Dodge Avenger tied up the NHRA Mello Yello points battle when he lost in the second round to Allen Johnson who ended up second in the point table, a -0.001 red light ended Coughlin’s day early after he saw off Vincent Nobile in round one.

Eddie Krawiec riding the Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines ’13 HD V-Rod managed number six in the qualifying table on a 6.893/192.  Going rounds, Krawiec got a good holeshot 6.930/190 win over Steve Johnson’s 6.923/193 in the first round then beat John Hall’s 7.056/186 with a 6.928/191 before a semi final win of 6.957/191 beat the 6.979/191 from Michael Ray.  The paycheque round saw a 6.918/192 take the event win as opponent Scotty Pollacheck’s 6.963/193 was not quite enough.


Eddie Krawiec Pro Stock Motorcycle winner

Scotty Pollacheck was aboard teammate Matt Hines ’10 Buell XB12R machine for this event and it almost delivered what the team were hoping for - an event win.  Pollacheck however was happy to finish as runner-up and got there by a round win over Chaz Kennedy, 6.856/194 to a slower leaving 6.875/193.  A great 6.882/194 was enough to see off the 6.905/195 from Hector Arana in round two, whilst a 6.949/191 stayed ahead of Katie Sullivan’s 7.004/185 try.  Pollacheck’s 6.963/193 got him the event runner up place after being beaten by Eddie Krawiec.


 Scotty Pollacheck Pro Stock Motorcycle runner-up

Matt Smith riding the Viper Motorcycle/MSR ’11 Buell XB9R took the NHRA Mello Yello Pro Stock Motorcycle Championship two weeks earlier at the Toyota Nationals in Las Vegas with a final round win - all he had to do was stage the bike!  A mishap at the ‘Finals occurred in round one as the bike was disqualified as weights were forgotten to be added dealing him out.


Matt Smith Pro Stock Motorcycle NHRA Champion

Johnny Ahten made it to the Top Alcohol Dragster final beating Canadian Shawn Cowie in round one, then a win over Joey Severance got him to the semi final where another consistent 5.3 beat Mark Tallaferro.  A better final round leave clinched the win with a 5.428/259 win over Jim Whiteley’s slowed up 8.590/95.


 Johnny Ahten Top Alcohol Dragster winner

Jim Whiteley wrapped up the NHRA Lucas Oil Top Alcohol Dragster Championship in his retiring year; he blazed past Bill Litton in round one, Ray Martin in two then Garrett Bateman in the semi.  The Champion added the event runner-up place to add to his impressive collection by being beaten by Johnny Ahten.


 Jim Whiteley Top Alcohol Dragster runner-up and NHRA Champion

Frank Manzo another retiring veteran is a multiple-champion.  Manzo racked up his seventeenth such award then added the event win to end a stunning career as NHRA Lucas Oil Top Alcohol Funny Car Champion.  Manzo saw off the likes of Kris Hool in round one, Von Smith in two, then, Annie Whiteley before running a 5.531/265 to beat Clint Thompson’s slowing 6.758/161


Frank Manzo Top Alcohol Funny Car winner and NHRA Champion

Clint Thompson the Oregon resident managed to get wins in round one over Tony Bartone, Mark Woznichak in two and a semi final over Cody Perkins to have the daunting task of facing Frank Manzo in the final.  Manzo took the win as Thompson slowed for runner-up.


Clint Thompson Top Alcohol Funny Car runner-up


Jonnie Lindberg representing Europe in Top Alcohol Funny Car


Ulf Leanders also representing Europe in Top Alcohol Funny Car

Jeff Lane managed to take the win in the final of Competition Eliminator in his ’10 Cobalt by beating Doug Lambeck in his ’06 Sunfire.  A 9.863/95 secured the win as Lambeck red lit away his chances.  NHRA Lucas Oil Champion turned out to be Alan Ellis and his ’27 Ford.


 Jeff Lane Competition Eliminator winner


 Doug Lambeck Competition Eliminator runner-up

Jeff Adkinson took his ’10 Cobalt all the way to the Super Stock winners circle by beating Don Keen’s ’65 Mustang, an 8.722/153 saw off the red light try.  Byron Worner wrapped up the NHRA Lucas Oil Super Stock Championship.


Jeff Adkinson Super Stock winner


Don Keen Super Stock runner-up

Bo Butner driving his’13 Mustang clinched the Stock Eliminator event win with a 9.951/133 win over Peter Biondo’s 10.393/124 from his ’69 Camaro.  The NHRA Lucas Oil Stock Eliminator Championship went to Justin Lamb and his ’70 Camaro.


Bo Butner Stock Eliminator winner


Peter Biondo Stock Eliminator runner-up

Bobby Dye Jr. took the Super Comp event win with an 8.915/169 win light as opponent, Andrew Madrid managed the runner-up place with an 8.938/166.  The NHRA Lucas Oil Super Comp Champion was Luke Bogacki.


 Bobby Dye Jr. Super Comp winner


Andrew Madrid Super Comp runner-up

Pete Zak took his ’27 Brogie Roadster to the Super Gas event win by beating Dave Kelly’s ’02 Firebird in the final, a double breakout win was awarded to the 9.881/147 as Kelly’s 9.877/153 was worse.  The NHRA Lucas Oil Super Gas Champion was declared as Rick Beckstrom.


Pete Zak (near lane) Super Gas winner


Dave Kelly Super Gas runner-up

 

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