Tue, 08 Nov 2011, 23:43 PM Ok, Here We Go

By Bob Frey Photo copyright 2011 Auto Imagery, Inc.

TYPE:STORY

It will come as no surprise when I say that I didn't get a chance to attend either of the big events this past weekend. They would be the open house at Don 'The Snake' Prudhomme's shop and the Fan Fest in beautiful downtown LaVerne, California. Being from sunny New Jersey it's a little tough to go out West on an 'off' weekend, and as much as I would have enjoyed being at either event it just wasn't possible. There are very few things that I say I would still like to do in my drag racing career and one of them is visit Don's place. From what I hear it's really cool, like 'The Snake,' and it's full of drag racing history. Plus Don is such a great guy to talk with I would enjoy some time just chatting about the old days. Sorry I missed it but I'm sure everyone in attendance had a great time...If I may digress for a minute, since I mentioned the old days, I would like to talk about an article I just read in a magazine. The publication, called 'Rodder's Journal,' is a spectacular, glossy, full color magazine that focuses on the American hot rod and hot rodder, or as they put it, 'Published for the custom car and hot rod enthusiast.' They also do some great feature stories on drag racing and the one in the summer of 2011 issue (that's how it's referred to)? is all about the 'The Old Master' Top Fuel car of Ed Pink and driver Mike Snively. Greg Sharp, from the NHRA Wally Parks Motorsports Museum, wrote the story and it is absolutely wonderful. The pictures, too, are nothing short of amazing and it is one of the best features I have seen in a long time. If you get a chance pick up a copy of the magazine and see what I mean. I had an opportunity to meet Mike's wife and daughter at Pomona and I thoroughly enjoyed spending some time with them and talking about 'the good old days.' Did you know that Mike won the Winternationals in Pomona in 1966 and that he won the Bakersfield meet's 'Outstanding Performance of the Meet' trophy in 1965 while driving 'The Old Master' Top Fuel car? Congrats to everyone at the 'Rodder's Journal' for a wonderful piece on a great Top Fuel driver....I imagine that the Fan Fest was a big hit, too, and it's nice to see a town like LaVerne get behind the race that obviously brings a lot of money to their town.

Spencer Massey Photo by NHRA

Del Worsham Photo by NHRA

Antron Brown Photo by NHRA

I'm sure that this is exactly what the folks who designed the 'Countdown' had in mind a few years ago when they decided to change the championship format. Let's face it, how much more exciting could it be' In Top Fuel we have four drivers within forty-four points, or just a little more than two rounds going into the last race of the season. Each of those four, Spencer Massey, Del Worsham, Antron Brown and Larry Dixon, have all the tools needed to win the championship, but only one of them will. In a perfect scenario we would get some head-to-head matchups between the contenders in the opening round, but if history is any indication that's not going to happen. Did you know that there has not been a single round one meeting between any of these four drivers this year? Not one! You would think, or at least I did, that somewhere along the line over the course of twenty-one races these guys would have had an occasion to race each other in the opening round. Of course the fact that they all qualify in the top half of the field more often than not eliminates any possible opening round matches. Did you know that these four drivers have qualified in the bottom half of the field a combined total of just seven times this year and that four of those were by Antron Brown? Spencer, Del and Larry have all been in the bottom half just once this year that could be a big key this weekend. Start the weekend in the top half, get lane choice and go from there. Besides getting lane choice and letting the other driver know that you have the better car, being in the top half of the field is very important at the NHRA Auto Club Finals. Did you know that since 1970 the winner in Top Fuel has come from the top half of the field at this race thirty-six times? That means that a bottom half driver has only won five times in the last forty-one years at the 'Finals.' And if you're looking for the right place to start you may want to try number two or three. Did you know that drivers who qualified second or third have won the race a total of sixteen times, eight apiece, and that's the most of any qualifying position? For the record the top qualifier has won six times but only three times in the last thirty-four years....Over the past few weeks people have asked me about who I think will win the championship and I really can't pick a favorite. I mean, how could you pick against any of the top four because they have no flaws and are wanting for nothing' Good team, crew chiefs and all the resources they need combined with great drivers makes this too tough to pick a winner....All of the four have had

Jim Barnard defeated Gary Beck in 1982

success at the 'Finals' and that experience should help them this week. Did you know that between the four they have been to the final round eleven times and that includes in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock Motorcycle and Top Alcohol Dragster? And did you know that Antron comes in as the defending event champion and he has won this race the past two years?...The way the points are a driver could change positions, move up or down depending on what happens during qualifying. With Spencer holding a two point lead over Del, a fourteen point edge over Antron and a forty-four point lead over Larry, those 'little points' in qualifying could be huge this week....Even though he is not in title contention for the first time in recent memory, Tony Schumacher comes in with a couple of goals. First, he hopes to qualify, and second, he wants to win the race. Did you know that Tony has qualified for 199 consecutive races and that's already the longest streak in the history of Top Fuel racing? The last time he failed to make the show was in Englishtown in 2003 and that's very impressive. He has also won at least one race every year for the past nine years and that's another streak he would like to add to this week. Did you know that is the second longest such streak in TF history? Only Doug Kalitta, who won in ten straight years, has a better record.....Every run, from Thursday through Sunday, will be important for the racers this week so good luck to all of the Top Fuel contenders and the other two dozen drivers who are entered for the Pomona race....Since there are going to be a lot of Top Fuel cars in Pomona I was wondering how many times there was a surprise winner at the NHRA Finals? Looking over the results for the past forty-six years I only saw a few drivers who I would classify as surprise winners. Jim Walther won it and the World Championship in 1972 and that was a surprise. Jim Barnard won in 1982 and Rance McDaniel won in 1993 and, other than that, I don't see any winners who I would put in that surprise category. Did you know that for each of those drivers that was their only NHRA national event win' ?And do you remember who the crew chief was for Jim Barnard? It was none other than Lee Beard.

Matt Hagan Photo by NHRA

Jack Beckman Photo by NHRA

Cruz Pedregon Photo by NHRA

The Funny Car class is pretty much the same as the dragsters, and by that I mean that every run is critical to the contenders. In Funny Car there are four strong contenders and two more with an outside shot at the title. Those two, Ron Capps and Robert Hight, are seventy-one and seventy-two points behind the leader, Matt Hagan, and that's more than three rounds. If they were in second and third place, instead of fifth and sixth, they would have a better shot at catching the leaders, but as it is they would have to leap over four other drivers to get to the top and that may be too much to ask even of a good driver and teams like theirs...I'm not a psychiatrist but I would have to think that Matt's experience last year has to help him this time around. He was in a tight title chase that went all the way to the last race in 2010 and he has to benefit from that. The mental part of the equation has to be a big factor and since he has been through it already that may give Matt an edge. I say 'may' because Jack Beckman and Cruz Pedregon have also been through tough title chases, and even though Jack's was in the sportsman ranks it has to

Sherm Gunn celebrates 1984 win with crew.

count for something. I also believe that Mike Neff, who has been involved in something like this when he was a crew chief, may be immune to the pressure. So it may come down to simply who has the best car this week and that could be any of them. I don't see any flaws that would prevent any of them from winning this and that's why it should be so much fun to watch this weekend....With eight wins at this event you would have to think that John Force would be a factor this weekend wouldn't you? The 'Champ' has struggled lately and he could really use a couple of round wins at his home track. Did you know that John has won this race eight times and that's the most in the Funny Car class? There are over two dozen Funny Cars entered for the event and that could make qualifying very interesting. While some of the cars on the entry list aren't tour regulars they are all certainly capable of making the show and acting as spoilers on race day. This race has, over the years, pretty much belonged to the favorites and there aren't a lot of surprise Funny Car winners, although I would have to put Frank Hall's 1973 win and Sherm Gunn's 1984 win in that group....While qualifying and the points that go

John Lombardo celebrates with family and crew 1983 win.

with it will be very important just being in the top half will be, too. Like the dragsters, it's almost imperative that you make the top half of the field if you want to win. Did you know that since 1970 the drivers in the top half have won this race thirty-five times? Having said that did you know that two of the drivers who are still in title contention both won this race after starting in the bottom half of the field? Mike Neff did it in 2009 after qualifying tenth and his teammate, Robert Hight, won from the fourteenth spot in 2007. I guess that old expression, 'if you're in you can win' holds true at Pomona, at least if you're driving a Ford....With all of the Dodge cars being fielded by Team Schumacher did you know that only four Dodge cars have ever won the Funny Car crown at the 'Finals'? Gene Snow did it in 1970, Phil Castronovo a year later and John Lombardo did it in 1983 and Chuck Etchells in 1992.

Hector Arana Jr. Photo by NHRA

Eddie Krawiec Photo by NHRA

Since Jason Line has already wrapped up the Pro Stock Car title most of the focus for the gasoline-burning vehicles will be on the Pro Stock Motorcycles. Even so, Eddie Krawiec has a commanding lead of sixty-nine points in the class with Hector Arana Jr. being the only one who could catch him. That's more than three rounds and, realistically, it will be tough if not impossible for Jr. to make up ten points in qualifying, something he would need to do to get the deficit under three rounds. And any hopes that Jr. may have for Eddie losing early may just be that...hopes. Did you know that Eddie has only lost once this year in the first round and that was back at the Atlanta race? Add to that the fact that he has been to at least the semi-finals nine times this year and you can see that Hector Jr. has his work cut out for him this week. Eddie has made no bones about the fact that he thinks he has the best bike out there and that he is riding well and it's that kind of confidence that breeds success. Ok, so having the Vance & Hines operation behind you doesn't hurt, either. When we talk about

Terry Vance won the 1988 race.

all of the great teams in our sport, the Team Force, Team Schumacher, Ken Black's Pro Stock teams and others you have to include the Vance & Hines teams in any discussion about the best in history. Every bike they field, every rider they choose and any combination they elect to run all do the same thing, they win. Byron Hines once won on a Yamaha for goodness sakes and that should prove something.....Bikes have been a big part of the season-ending affair and names such as T.C. Christensen, Jim Bernard (not to be confused with Jim Barnard) and Russ Collins have all had their share of success on two wheels at the last race of the year.? Did you know that Pro Stock Motorcycles first ran at the 'Finals' in 1979 and that Bob Carpenter beat Terry Vance in the final round?? Hey, I said that the Vance & Hines team was great but I didn't say they were unbeatable!!...Eddie won the championship in 2008 without the benefit of a national event win so I would have to think that this title, if he does hang on and win, would be a little bit sweeter. Did you know that he is tied with L.E. Tonglet for the most wins in the class this year? Eddie has won this race the past two years and he is one of only two active riders who have been in the Pomona winner's circle, with Matt Smith being the other....You know what surprised me, the fact that Andrew Hines has never won this race. He went to the finals one year but he has never won four rounds at Pomona on Sunday. Coming off his runner-up performance in Las Vegas maybe this is the year....Since I mentioned Terry Vance did you know that he was involved in one of the closest Pro Stock Motorcycle point's battles ever?? In 1988 Terry came into the Finals trailing Dave Schultz, and when Dave lost in the second round Terry had to win the race and set the record to win the championship. He won the race (beating Russ Olmstead), but his 8.02 was just short of the 7.98 national record and that meant that Dave Schultz won the title.

Joe Santangelo Photo by Bob Johnson Photography

There were some great finishes at the Division 7 points race in Las Vegas this past weekend and a few of the results really scrambled the battles for the Lucas Oil World Championships. The way I see it Lou Ficco Jr., who won in Vegas, could pass Sal Biondo for the Competition Eliminator title if he makes it to the fourth round this week. David Bogner still has a shot at the Super Stock title and, according to what I see (and verified by Brad Littlefield who is the guru of points) Joe Santangelo clinched the Stock championship with his win at the D-7 event. And Mike Sawyer could complete one of the great come-from-behind charges if he could win in Super Gas this week. At least that's the way I see it. Joey Severance also has a shot at the Top Alcohol Dragster title but he has to win this week in Pomona. If he doesn't win Duane Shields will be the 2011 champion.

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