Mon, 15 Feb 2016, 18:40 PM

Lindberg, Cowie Take Season Opening NHRA Winternationals
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Courtesy of NHRA Field Marketing
Photo copyright 2016 Auto Imagery, Inc.
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POMONA, Calif. -- Reigning Top Alcohol Funny Car National Champion Jonnie Lindberg raced to the win while Shawn Cowie
returned to the national event winner's circle for the first time since 2013 as they each scored at
this weekend's season opening Circle K NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.

Jonnie Lindberg defeated John Lombardo Jr.
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Jonnie Lindberg and crew celebrate win.
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Four Southern California racers also took home the coveted NHRA Wally trophy and Len Darnell,
Vancouver, Wash., won the Top Fuel Harley class.
Lindberg, out of Sweden, opened the 2016 season as he did during his 2015 championship run taking
the win here at historic Auto Club Raceway edging out John Lombardo Jr., in a classic 1-2 final
round as both drivers qualified at the top of the field. Lindberg grabbed his third national event
win driving his Chevy Monte Carlo to a 5.423 second lap at 271.90 mph to nip Lombardo's 5.456,
272.31. Lombardo was looking for his eighth straight round win here in Pomona having won the 2015
season ending Auto Club NHRA Finals last November.

Shawn Cowie defeated Don St. Arnaud
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Shawn Cowie and crew celebrate win.
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Cowie, Surrey, B.C., saved his best pass of eliminations for his final round match up with fellow
Canadian and No. 1 qualifier Don St. Arnaud of Edmonton, Alb. St. Arnaud got the slight advantage
off the line but Cowie quickly took the lead and raced to a 5.314 second lap at 272.23 mph.

Robert Naber defeated Mike Wiblishouser
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Robert Naber and crew celebrate win.
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Robert Naber, Doug Lambeck, Steve Williams and Jimmy DeFrank all won out of Southern California
with Naber advancing to the final round in both Super Comp and Super Gas, looking for the exclusive
double up.

Steve Williams defeated Robert Naber
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Steve Williams and crew celebrate win.
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Naber, Ontario, Calif., meet up with Williams, Beaumont, Calif., in Super Comp with Williams
quickly ending Naber's double up hopes, taking the win on a double breakout. Williams took the
early lead with a .003 second reaction time and held on for his 10th win at the national event
level.

Doug Lambeck defeated Dan Fletcher
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Doug Lambeck and crew celebrate win.
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Naber jumped out of his dragster and quickly returned to the starting line to face off with Mike
Wiblishouser in Super Gas with his '63 Corvette. Naber had no intention of going 0-2 on the day,
posting a 9.901 second run on the 9.900 index for the win and his fourth NHRA national event
trophy.

Dan Fletcher defeated Don Little
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Dan Fletcher and crew celebrate win.
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Perennial NHRA winner Dan Fletcher was in search of his second career double up as he knocked out
Don Little in Stock Eliminator for his 95th national event win before taking on Lambeck in Comp
Eliminator. The New York racer has 16 wins in Comp but will have to wait for 17 as Lambeck,
Irvine, Calif., scored his 11th running 8.406, 158.61 to hold off Fletcher's 8.027, 167.55.
Lambeck's dad Bob won the NHRA Winternationals in Stock Eliminator back in 1983.

Jimmy DeFrank defeated Fred Moreno
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Jimmy DeFrank and crew celebrate win.
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DeFrank, Thousand Oaks, Calif., rounded out the Lucas Oil winner's list taking home the trophy in
Super Stock. The win is the second generation driver's 19th and fifth Circle K NHRA
Winternationals victory. DeFrank beat Fred Moreno, La Verne, Calif., in his Chevy Cobalt running
9.315, 119.52. Moreno left early with a red light foul start.

Len Darnell defeated Kevin Boyer
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Len Darnell and crew celebrate win.
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Darnell swept the table in the NHRA Harley-Davidson Drag Racing Series take both the number one
qualifying spot and the event win on his '14 Harley. Darnell would face off with Kevin Boyer in
the final round with Darnell clocking in at 218.16 mph as he covered the quarter mile in 6.435
seconds. Boyer had problems on his run, shutting his bike off early and crossing the centerline at
half-track.
Most of these racers will head to Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park for the next CARQUEST Auto Parts
NHRA Nationals, February 26-28.
The following are the final results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and the Circle K
Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona:
TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
Shawn Cowie, 5.314, 272.23 def. Don St. Arnaud, 5.332, 279.85.
TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR
Jonnie Lindberg, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.423, 271.90 def. John Lombardo Jr., Chevy Camaro, 5.456,
272.83.
COMP ELIMINATOR
Doug Lambeck, Pontiac Sunfire, 8.406, 158.61 def. Dan Fletcher, Chevy Cobalt, 8.027, 167.55.
SUPER STOCK
Jimmy DeFrank, Chevy Cobalt, 9.315, 119.52 def. Fred Moreno, Ford Mustang, Foul - Red Light.
STOCK ELIMINATOR
Dan Fletcher, Chevy Camaro, 10.474, 128.36 def. Don Little, Dodge Challenger, 9.899, 130.67.
SUPER COMP
Steve Williams, Dragster, 8.895, 186.25 def. Robert Naber, Dragster, 8.880, 180.91.
SUPER GAS
Robert Naber, Chevy Corvette, 9.901, 160.23 def. Mike Wiblishouser, Corvette, Foul - Red Light.
TOP FUEL HARLEY
Len Darnell, Harley, 6.435, 218.16 def. Kevin Boyer, American, Foul - Centerline.


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