Funny Car winner Robert Hight (right) speaks with runner up Ron Capps (left) as he looks at his timing slip after winning at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. Justin Ashley (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car) and Erica Enders (Pro Stock) all won event titles in their respective categories in the opening race of the 2002 season. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Event winners Robert Hight (Funny Car), Erica Enders (Pro Stock) and Justin Ashley (Top Fuel) celebrate after winning their respective categories at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022 at the opening race of the 2022 season. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Top Fuel winner Justin Ashley (right) celebrates with fellow driver Antron Brown after winning at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. Justin Ashley (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car) and Erica Enders (Pro Stock) all won event titles in their respective categories in the opening race of the 2002 season. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Funny Car driver Ron Capps (far lane) pulls away from Cruz Pedregon (near lane) for the semi final round win of eliminations at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Top Fuel driver Justin Ashley (left) defeats Jim Maroney (right) during the opening round of eliminations at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Top Fuel driver Justin Ashley (near lane) pulls away from Steve Torrence (far lane) for the semi final round win during eliminations at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Top Fuel driver Steve Torrence heads down track during the opening round of eliminations at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Funny Car driver Robert Hight (near lane) pulls away from Matt Hagan (far lane) for the semi final round win of eliminations at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Funny Car driver Ron Capps (far lane) pulls away from Cruz Pedregon (left) for the semi final round win of eliminations at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Top Fuel driver Brittany Force waits for prerace introductions during the opening round of eliminations at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Top Fuel winner Justin Ashley celebrates with race fans after winning at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. Justin Ashley (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car) and Erica Enders (Pro Stock) all won event titles in their respective categories in the opening race of the 2002 season. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Top Fuel driver Justin Ashley (left) defeats Jim Maroney (right) during the opening round of eliminations at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Pro Stock winner Erica Enders celebrates with race fans as she holds a special trophy (right) and the normal event trophy (left) after winning the 900th Pro Stock event at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. Justin Ashley (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car) and Erica Enders (Pro Stock) all won event titles in their respective categories in the opening race of the 2002 season. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Funny Car drivers Robert Hight (near lane) and Jason Rupert (far lane) head down track during the opening round of eliminations at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Top Fuel winner Justin Ashley (center) celebrates with his mother Mindy and father Mike after winning at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. Justin Ashley (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car) and Erica Enders (Pro Stock) all won event titles in their respective categories in the opening race of the 2002 season. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Funny Car drivers Ron Capps (near lane) and John Force (far lane) head down track during the opening round of eliminations at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Top Fuel driver Buddy Hull looses his engine as he heads down track during the opening round of eliminations at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Top Fuel winner Justin Ashley celebrates after winning at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. Justin Ashley (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car) and Erica Enders (Pro Stock) all won event titles in their respective categories in the opening race of the 2002 season. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Top Fuel drivers Leah Pruett, Justin Ashley, Mike Salinas and Doug Kalitta wait for prerace introductions during the opening round of eliminations at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Top Fuel winner Justin Ashley (right) celebrates with fellow driver Antron Brown after winning at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. Justin Ashley (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car) and Erica Enders (Pro Stock) all won event titles in their respective categories in the opening race of the 2002 season. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Top Fuel driver Mike Salinas waits for prerace introductions during the opening round of eliminations at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Top Fuel drivers Tony Schumacher and Leah Pruett wait for prerace introductions during the opening round of eliminations at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Event winners Robert Hight (Funny Car), Erica Enders (Pro Stock) and Justin Ashley (Top Fuel) celebrate after winning their respective categories at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022 at the opening race of the 2022 season. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Funny Car driver Robert Hight (near lane) pulls away from Matt Hagan (far lane) for the semi final round win of eliminations at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Funny Car driver Robert Hight heads down track during the opening round of eliminations at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Pro Stock winner Erica Enders celebrates with a special trophy after winning the 900th Pro Stock event at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. Justin Ashley (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car) and Erica Enders (Pro Stock) all won event titles in their respective categories in the opening race of the 2002 season. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Funny Car winner Robert Hight celebrates after winning at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. Justin Ashley (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car) and Erica Enders (Pro Stock) all won event titles in their respective categories in the opening race of the 2002 season. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Top Fuel teammates Brittany Force (near lane) and Austin Prock (far lane) head down track during the semi final round of eliminations at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Top Fuel drivers Josh Hart (right) and Shawn Langdon (left) head down track during the opening round of eliminations at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Funny Car drivers Alexis DeJoria (right) and Jim Campbell (left) head down track during the opening round of eliminations at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Top Fuel driver Austin Prock heads down track during the opening round of eliminations at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Top Fuel drivers Tony Schumacher (right) and Doug Kalitta (left) head down track during the opening round of eliminations at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Top Fuel driver Brittany Force heads down track during the opening round of eliminations at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Top Fuel driver Austin Prock heads through the shutdown area during the opening round of eliminations at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Top Fuel drivers Steve Torrence, Doug Kalitta and Tony Schumacher wait for prerace introductions during the opening round of eliminations at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Top Fuel driver Clay Millican waits for prerace introductions during the opening round of eliminations at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Top Fuel drivers Tony Schumacher (right) and Doug Kalitta (left) head down track during the opening round of eliminations at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Top Fuel drivers Josh Hart (near lane) and Shawn Langdon (far lane) head down track during the opening round of eliminations at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Top Fuel drivers Tony Schumacher (near lane) and Doug Kalitta (far lane) head down track during the opening round of eliminations at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Funny Car driver Cruz Pedregon heads down track during the opening round of eliminations at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Funny Car drivers Matt Hagan (near lane) and Chad Green (far lane) head down track during the opening round of eliminations at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Funny Car drivers Alexis DeJoria (near lane) and Jim Campbell (far lane) head down track during the opening round of eliminations at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Top Fuel driver Brittany Force heads down track during the opening round of eliminations at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Top Fuel drivers Tony Schumacher (near lane) and Doug Kalitta (far lane) head down track during the opening round of eliminations at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Top Fuel drivers Tony Schumacher (near lane) and Doug Kalitta (far lane) head down track during the opening round of eliminations at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Top Fuel driver Steve Torrence heads down track during the second round of eliminations at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Funny Car drivers J.R. Todd (right) and Bobby Bode (left) head down track during the opening round of eliminations at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Funny Car drivers Alexis DeJoria (right) and Jim Campbell (left) head down track during the opening round of eliminations at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Funny Car driver Ron Capps (left) pulls away from J.R. Todd for the round win during the second round of eliminations at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Funny Car driver Ron Capps heads down track during the opening round of eliminations at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Top Fuel driver Austin Prock prepares for the the semi final round of eliminations at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A vintage hot rod drives down the return road in front of fans during the second round of eliminations at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Top Fuel driver Mike Salinas (left) defeats Buddy Hull (right), as he looses his engine, during the opening round of eliminations at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Funny Car driver Matt Hagan (near lane) pulls away from Bob Tasca (far lane) for the round win during the second round of eliminations at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Funny Car drivers J.R. Todd (right) and Bobby Bode (left) head down track during the opening round of eliminations at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Top Fuel driver Brittany Force (far lane) takes the round win over Josh Hart (near lane) during the second round of eliminations at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Funny Car driver Cruz Pedregon (left) defeats Alexis DeJoria (right) during the second round of eliminations at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Top Fuel driver Austin Prock prepares for the the semi final round of eliminations at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Top Fuel teammates Brittany Force (near lane) and Austin Prock (far lane) head down track during the semi final round of eliminations at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Funny Car driver Ron Capps pulls away from J.R. Todd (not pictured) for the round win during the second round of eliminations at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Pro Stock winner Erica Enders celebrates with a special trophy (left) after winning the 900th Pro Stock event at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. Justin Ashley (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car) and Erica Enders (Pro Stock) all won event titles in their respective categories in the opening race of the 2002 season. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Top Fuel driver Brittany Force (left) defeats Ron August Jr. (right) during the opening round of eliminations at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Top Fuel driver Justin Ashley (left) defeats Jim Maroney (right) during the opening round of eliminations at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Top Fuel driver Austin Prock (left) defeats Clay Millican (right) during the opening round of eliminations at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Top Fuel driver Justin Ashley (right) pulls away from Steve Torrence (left) for the semi final round win during eliminations at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Top Fuel teammates Brittany Force (near lane) and Austin Prock (far lane) head down track during the semi final round of eliminations at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Top Fuel driver Justin Ashley (near lane) pulls away from Steve Torrence (far lane) for the semi final round win during eliminations at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Top Fuel driver Justin Ashley pulls away from Steve Torrence (not pictured) for the semi final round win during eliminations at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Top Fuel teammates Brittany Force (near lane) and Austin Prock (far lane) head down track during the semi final round of eliminations at the 62nd annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
POMONA – The first names, Justin and Austin, tell you it was a day for the young guns to shine in the Top Fuel division on a day of clean, exciting drag racing at the NHRA Lucas Oil Winternationals Sunday at the Auto Club Raceway in Pomona.
Justin Ashley, 27, beat Austin Prock, 27, in thrilling fashion in the final to claim the Top Fuel crown. Ashley clocked 3.694 seconds over the 1,000-foot course with a top speed of 314.53 mph. Prock, who was closing at the finish, clocked 3.713 seconds at exactly 333 mph.
In Funny Car, it was two veterans, although not quite grizzled veterans, who stood out as John Force Racing’s Robert Hight, 52, nipped new driver-team owner Ron Capps, 56, by .02 of a second to win his 54th event title. Hight came in at 3.861 seconds at 329.10 mph, Capps at 3.882 and 333.28.
Hight and Capps have now squared off 73 times and, together, they have appeared in 472 finals.
There was a brief moment before final where Hight feared he might not make it to the starting line. When his car’s frame was being lower, it hit the injector and the car jerked forward, injuring crew member Trevor Huff. Also, crew member Bobby Lane got slightly burned. Both were okay, and crew chief Jimmy Prock, the father of Austin Prock, gave Hight the go-ahead.
“We got lucky,” Hight said. “I had my foot on the brake at the time, or things could have been a lot worse.” Right after his victory, Hight dedicated his trophy to Huff.
Ashley, a well-spoken graduate of Ithaca College in New York, is the youngest driver in the NHRA and already as three event wins. He came close to winning at last year’s Winternationals, which were run in the middle of the summer as a result of a schedule scrambled by the pandemic.
What happened to Ashley here in 2021 was one of the weirdest things to ever happen in a final in NHRA history. Ashley was at the starting line for the final, getting ready to square off against Leah Pruett, when his crew pushed his dragster away.
Ashley was suffering from heat stroke, or heat exhaustion, and was dizzy, nauseous and weak. In the interest of safety for all, Ashley was pulled from the car, hustled into an air-conditioned pit vehicle and taken to a hospital. Pruett made a single-car run to claim the title.
“I know it is a story, but to me it is history,” Ashley said. “But I am not going to lie, it was sweet to win here.”
Austin Prock, of Danville, Ind., is an alum of John Force’s Next Generation program. He notched his first and only victory at Seattle in 2019 and was named NHRA rookie of the year. He raced only three times in 2020 and 2021 and was brought back into the John Force Racing fold this year.
The all-young gun final was set up when Prock knocked out Force teammate and top qualifier Brittany Force in the semifinals and Ashley beat kingpin Steve Torrence.
Amid all the stories, changes and intrigue the past few weeks, Torrence has been somewhat the forgotten superstar. This season he is attempting to win his fifth consecutive Top Fuel season title. Over the past five seasons, the Capco driver was winning at an 81.6% pace with a match-race record of 263-59. Last year, he was 60-9, the best mark in a pro class since 2008.
In Funny Car, Capps was somewhat apprehensive about his first-round opponent, John Force, the No. 16 seed. During his long career, this was the fifth time that Force started as the 16th and last qualifier, and he previously had always beaten the No. 1 seed. This time, Force burned his tires as Capps cruised to a victory with a run of 3.920 seconds at 329.75 mph.
There were no major upsets in the first of the four Funny Car elimination rounds, but in Top Fuel, Schumacher, seeded 12th, knocked out fifth-seeded Doug Kalitta. And 10th seeded Antron Brown, among the new driver-owners, pulled off a minor upset by beating seventh-seeded Leah Pruett, who now races for her husband Tony Stewart’s team.
Brown was then eliminated by Ashley. Brown and Ashley have a technical allegiance, so Brown was left routing Ashley the rest of the day.
For Schumacher, the winningest driver in Top Fuel history, this event marked his return to full-time racing. In the second round, his car went up in smoke off the starting line and he was eliminated by Austin Prock.
Related Articles
Austin Cindric wins Daytona 500 to celebrate Penske’s 85th birthday
Brittany Force earns No. 1 spot in NHRA Winternationals
NHRA megateams are losing drivers, as some go out on their own
Tony Schumacher returns full-time to NHRA at Winternationals
Supercross: Ken Roczen struggles, Jason Anderson wins at Angel Stadium
In Funny Car, form pretty much followed through as Capps, Cruz Pendregon, Hight and Matt Hagan advanced to the semifinals. Hagan had a poor showing in qualifying rounds, but rallied Sunday to make it to the semifinals. He won his quarterfinal race against Bob Tasca by .001 seconds.
Seven of the eight Funny Car entrants in the quarterfinals had runs of less than four seconds.
In Pro Stock, top qualifier Erica Enders won at Winternationals for the first time, but it was the 34th win of her 18-year career.
The lives of the teenaged Enders and her sister Courtney were the topic of the 2003 Disney Channel movie, “Right on Track.”
“For most kids who dream about a drag racing career, they think Top Fuel,” Enders said. “For me, it was always Pro Stock, where you get to use a clutch and shift gears.”
