Pomona Surge Lifts Antron Brown to Fourth NHRA Top Fuel Championship

As if the crash of a small plane near the top end of Pomona Dragstrip that hospitalized three just two pairings into the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals weren’t drama enough Sunday, the season-closer was wild all day long.

Three champions—Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock), and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) emerged. Austin Prock became the fastest drag racer. Tony Stewart rushed back and forth between Pomona and Phoenix, juggling his roles as husband and Top Fuel driver.

Brown Outlasts Stout Rivals

With racing on hold while investigators secured the accident scene of a small-plane wreck mere feet away from the top end of the racetrack, points leader Justin Ashley and No. 2-ranked Antron Brown waited and waited for two hours, stewing about their unlikely first-round match-up.

They had been the next pair when a single-engine plane plowed into a group of motorhomes parked beyond the left-lane grandstands in a failed attempt to land at Brackett Field airport next-door. Miraculously and thankfully, no one in the plane crash was killed. But, metaphorically speaking, Ashley’s dream his first Top Fuel crown died when racing resumed.

Brown defeated him in an ugly pedalfest. Then he had to face Shawn Langdon, the racer who had been on his heels by one point coming into this final of 20 events. “This class is unreal right now, Brown said after that round-win. And it didn’t let up in the semifinal, as he had to race two-time champion and top qualifier Brittany Force. She lost traction, and he gained a fourth championship but his first as a team owner. His three other titles—in 2012, 2015, and 2016—came with Don Schumacher Racing.

“When everybody sees that AB Motorsports logo, it's got the cross in the middle. All the glory goes to God. He gives us a strength to make it happen. I didn't have faith in myself or the team to ever do this on our own like we did. But you know what? He gave us faith, gave us the will, and here we are with all these great partners. They all make this possible for us and keep us going each and every day.

"This team has been resilient. We never quit. We never stopped. And when we lined up this weekend and we saw our matchup because we didn't qualify like we wanted to, it was like Doomsday: Justin Ashley first round. Then Shawn Langdon. And we both were trying to throw at it. And [we get] Brittany. We go, ‘We got to go down the track. We got to hit the tree, go down track. And if they run [quicker], so be it. But we got to least give ourselves a fighting chance. [We] got down through there to get this win"

In a final round featuring the new champion and the outgoing one, Brown defeated Doug Kalitta for his 80th career victory (64th in Top Fuel to go with 16 from the Pro Stock Bike class).

Results

59th annual In-N-Out NHRA Finals at In-N-Out Pomona Dragstrip.

Event Finishing Order

Final finish order (1-16) at the 59th annual In-N-Out NHRA Finals at In-N-Out Pomona Dragstrip. The race is the final of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.

TOP FUEL:

1. Antron Brown; 2. Doug Kalitta; 3. Tony Stewart; 4. Brittany Force; 5. Clay Millican; 6. Gary Pritchett; 7. Jasmine Salinas; 8. Shawn Langdon; 9. Shawn Reed; 10. Justin Ashley; 11. Tony Schumacher; 12. Josh Hart; 13. Krista Baldwin; 14. Billy Torrence; 15. Steve Torrence; 16. Ida Zetterstrom.

FUNNY CAR:

1. Jack Beckman; 2. Austin Prock; 3. Matt Hagan; 4. Ron Capps; 5. J.R. Todd; 6. Daniel Wilkerson; 7. Blake Alexander; 8. Chad Green; 9. Jason Rupert; 10. Terry Haddock; 11. Cruz Pedregon; 12. Bob Tasca III; 13. Alexis DeJoria; 14. Paul Lee; 15. Steven Densham; 16. Jeff Diehl.

PRO STOCK:

1. Greg Anderson; 2. Dallas Glenn; 3. Aaron Stanfield; 4. Erica Enders; 5. Camrie Caruso; 6. Cristian Cuadra; 7. Cory Reed; 8. Matt Hartford; 9. Jeg Coughlin; 10. Fernando Cuadra Jr.; 11. Jerry Tucker; 12. Derrick Reese; 13. Chris McGaha; 14. Troy Coughlin Jr.; 15. Kenny Delco; 16. Eric Latino.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:

1. Matt Smith; 2. Gaige Herrera; 3. Angie Smith; 4. Steve Johnson; 5. Chase Van Sant; 6. Marc Ingwersen; 7. Richard Gadson; 8. Geno Scali; 9. John Hall; 10. Jianna Evaristo; 11. Chris Bostick; 12. Ryan Oehler; 13. Clayton Howey; 14. Lance Bonham; 15. Hector Arana Jr; 16. Aaron Pine.

Final Rounds

Sunday's final results from the 59th annual In-N-Out NHRA Finals at In-N-Out Pomona Dragstrip. The race is the final of 20 in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series:

Top Fuel -- Antron Brown, 3.681 seconds, 330.55 mph def. Doug Kalitta, 3.710 seconds, 331.94 mph.

Funny Car -- Jack Beckman, Chevy Camaro, 3.812, 327.35 def. Austin Prock, Camaro, 5.028, 165.42.

Pro Stock -- Greg Anderson, Chevy Camaro, 6.501, 211.30 def. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.516, 210.50.

Pro Stock Motorcycle -- Matt Smith, Buell, 6.705, 202.12 def. Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.722, 201.91.

Top Alcohol Dragster -- Julie Nataas, 5.180, 275.62 def. Shawn Cowie, 13.582, 54.61.

Top Alcohol Funny Car -- Shane Westerfield, Chevy Camaro, 5.423, 267.69 def. Ray Martin, Camaro, 5.973, 155.44.

Competition Eliminator -- Travis Gusso, Chevy Cobalt, 10.377, 93.93 def. Jason Grima, Ford Mustang, Foul - Red Light.

Super Stock -- Justin Jerome, Plymouth Duster, 10.616, 120.67 def. Shelby Williams, Chevy Camaro, 9.718, 134.66.

Stock Eliminator -- John McLaughlin, Plymouth Road Runner, 10.565, 126.35 def. Michael Wann, Plymouth Barracuda, 10.794, 121.25.

Super Comp -- Bob Van Popering, Dragster, 8.879, 182.08 def. Nick Alejamdre, Dragster, Foul - Red Light.

Super Gas -- Val Torres, Chevy Corvette, 9.919, 154.88 def. Kris Whitfield, '27-T Ford, 9.887, 155.27.

Top Sportsman -- Joe Mellof, Pontiac GXP, 9.158, 94.33 def. Robert Strohm, Ford Mustang, Foul - Red Light.

Top Dragster -- Ed Olpin, Dragster, 7.058, 187.55 def. Kevin Wright, Dragster, 6.274, 202.82.

Junior Dragster Shootout -- Makenzie Higgins, Motivational, 11.249, 56.24 def. Jenna Chesleigh, Halfscale, 11.156, 57.38.

Round-by-Round

Final round-by-round results from the 59th annual In-N-Out NHRA Finals at In-N-Out Pomona Dragstrip, the final of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series:

TOP FUEL:

ROUND ONE -- Clay Millican, 3.654, 336.49 def. Tony Schumacher, 3.714, 332.02; Jasmine Salinas, 3.691, 330.07 def. Shawn Reed, 3.679, 330.96; Antron Brown, 3.966, 331.53 def. Justin Ashley, 3.704, 330.31; Doug Kalitta, 3.688, 336.23 def. Ida Zetterstrom, 8.458, 73.26; Brittany Force, 3.697, 335.65 def. Krista Baldwin, 3.822, 273.44; Gary Pritchett, 3.715, 333.91 def. Steve Torrence, 5.414, 175.09; Shawn Langdon, 3.690, 332.92 def. Josh Hart, 3.733, 327.90; Tony Stewart, 3.742, 320.74 def. Billy Torrence, 3.949, 260.16;

QUARTERFINALS -- Stewart, 3.712, 334.15 def. Pritchett, 3.761, 330.39; Brown, 5.031, 184.57 def. Langdon, 21.385, 67.35; Kalitta, 3.640, 333.82 def. Salinas, 8.758, 83.26; Force, 3.698, 331.94 def. Millican, 3.689, 331.85;

SEMIFINALS -- Brown, 3.693, 330.88 def. Force, 8.740, 71.38; Kalitta, 3.678, 334.90 def. Stewart, 3.738, 319.37;

FINAL -- Brown, 3.681, 330.55 def. Kalitta, 3.710, 331.94.

FUNNY CAR:

ROUND ONE -- Daniel Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 3.910, 333.08 def. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 5.774, 125.85; Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 3.874, 329.18 def. Steven Densham, Mustang, Foul - Red Light; Austin Prock, Chevy Camaro, 3.828, 341.68 def. Jason Rupert, Mustang, 3.913, 313.00; Ron Capps, Toyota GR Supra, 3.842, 332.18 def. Jeff Diehl, Toyota Camry, 10.993, 82.06; Jack Beckman, Camaro, 3.847, 336.23 def. Terry Haddock, Mustang, 3.981, 306.26; Blake Alexander, Mustang, 3.876, 329.18 def. Alexis DeJoria, GR Supra, 6.305, 106.16; Chad Green, Mustang, 3.998, 315.86 def. Paul Lee, Charger, 6.784, 101.85; J.R. Todd, GR Supra, 3.858, 330.07 def. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 4.794, 164.01;

QUARTERFINALS -- Beckman, 3.831, 332.10 def. Alexander, 9.955, 60.34; Prock, 3.850, 332.26 def. Todd, 3.900, 332.84; Capps, No Time Recorded def. Green, Foul - Centerline; Hagan, 3.856, 333.66 def. Wilkerson, 3.926, 306.88;

SEMIFINALS -- Prock, 3.812, 331.04 def. Hagan, 3.866, 324.44; Beckman, 3.845, 330.39 def. Capps, 6.885, 103.87;

FINAL -- Beckman, 3.812, 327.35 def. Prock, 5.028, 165.42.

PRO STOCK:

ROUND ONE -- Cory Reed, Chevy Camaro, 6.558, 209.95 def. Jerry Tucker, Camaro, 6.560, 210.24; Cristian Cuadra, Ford Mustang, 6.555, 210.60 def. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.532, 210.08; Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.523, 210.08 def. Eric Latino, Camaro, 6.628, 209.23; Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.526, 210.64 def. Fernando Cuadra Jr., Camaro, 6.542, 209.33; Camrie Caruso, Camaro, 6.522, 210.05 def. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.579, 210.14; Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.544, 210.08 def. Derrick Reese, Mustang, 6.565, 209.52; Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.492, 211.66 def. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.600, 207.98; Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.500, 210.18 def. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.591, 210.50;

QUARTERFINALS -- Enders, 6.543, 211.20 def. Caruso, Foul - Red Light; Glenn, 6.533, 210.31 def. C. Cuadra, 6.548, 210.31; Stanfield, 6.513, 210.24 def. Hartford, 8.243, 132.41; Anderson, 6.492, 211.63 def. Reed, 6.564, 209.56;

SEMIFINALS -- Glenn, 6.518, 209.82 def. Enders, 12.169, 75.57; Anderson, 6.488, 211.43 def. Stanfield, 6.510, 211.03;

FINAL -- Anderson, 6.501, 211.30 def. Glenn, 6.516, 210.50.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:

ROUND ONE -- Marc Ingwersen, 6.821, 197.77 def. John Hall, 6.808, 199.67; Geno Scali, Suzuki, 6.810, 197.74 def. Hector Arana Jr, 7.194, 153.26; Angie Smith, Buell, 6.787, 200.47 def. Lance Bonham, Buell, 7.158, 186.56; Chase Van Sant, Suzuki, 6.769, 199.43 def. Chris Bostick, Suzuki, 6.846, 195.96; Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.803, 195.31 def. Jianna Evaristo, Buell, 6.838, 199.94; Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.839, 198.26 def. Ryan Oehler, Foul - Red Light; Matt Smith, Buell, 6.746, 201.46 def. Aaron Pine, Suzuki, 7.247, 189.23; Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.779, 200.00 def. Clayton Howey, Suzuki, 7.014, 184.04;

QUARTERFINALS -- Johnson, 6.831, 195.11 def. Gadson, 6.873, 197.02; A. Smith, 6.768, 200.80 def. Scali, 6.932, 195.17; Herrera, 6.779, 200.08 def. Van Sant, 6.815, 197.77; M. Smith, 6.738, 201.46 def. Ingwersen, 6.850, 196.13;

SEMIFINALS -- Herrera, 6.765, 199.85 def. A. Smith, 6.762, 201.31; M. Smith, 6.747, 201.85 def. Johnson, 6.780, 196.42;

FINAL -- M. Smith, 6.705, 202.12 def. Herrera, 6.722, 201.91.

FINAL POINTS STANDINGS

Point standings (top 10) following the 59th annual In-N-Out NHRA Finals at In-N-Out Pomona Dragstrip, the final of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series -

Top Fuel

1. Antron Brown, 2,600; 2. Doug Kalitta, 2,538; 3. Justin Ashley, 2,526; 4. Shawn Langdon, 2,513; 5. Brittany Force, 2,478; 6. Clay Millican, 2,461; 7. Steve Torrence, 2,447; 8. Tony Schumacher, 2,399; 9. Tony Stewart, 2,325; 10. Shawn Reed, 2,270.

Funny Car

1. Austin Prock, 2,817; 2. John Force, 2,651; 3. Ron Capps, 2,529; 4. Matt Hagan, 2,519; 5. Bob Tasca III, 2,435; 6. Blake Alexander, 2,394; 7. Daniel Wilkerson, 2,369; 8. J.R. Todd, 2,336; 9. Chad Green, 2,300; 10. Cruz Pedregon, 2,262.

Pro Stock

1. Greg Anderson, 2,714; 2. Dallas Glenn, 2,703; 3. Aaron Stanfield, 2,702; 4. Erica Enders, 2,570; 5. Jeg Coughlin, 2,425; 6. Matt Hartford, 2,355; 7. Cristian Cuadra, 2,339; 8. Jerry Tucker, 2,263; 9. Troy Coughlin Jr., 2,254; 10. Eric Latino, 2,238.

Pro Stock Motorcycle

1. Gaige Herrera, 2,804; 2. Matt Smith, 2,715; 3. Richard Gadson, 2,511; 4. Angie Smith, 2,481; 5. Hector Arana Jr, 2,473; 6. Chase Van Sant, 2,457; 7. John Hall, 2,341; 8. Jianna Evaristo, 2,331; 9. Steve Johnson, 2,328; 10. Chris Bostick, 2,209.