In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip
"Pomona Raceway"
Auto Club Raceway, 2008
Location2780 Fairplex Drive, Pomona, California
Time zoneUMT -0800
Coordinates34°05′42.32″N 117°46′11.15″W / 34.0950889°N 117.7697639°W / 34.0950889; -117.7697639
Capacity40,000
OperatorNHRA
Opened1951 [1]
Former names
  • Pomona Raceway
  • The Fairplex
  • Ascot at Pomona
  • Los Angeles Dragstrip
  • Auto Club Raceway at Pomona
Major events
  • In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals
  • Circle K NHRA Winternationals
Websitehttp://www.autoclubracewaypomona.com
Drag Strip
SurfaceConcrete
Length0.25 miles (0.402 km)

The Pomona Raceway (currently named the In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip, previously named the Auto Club Raceway at Pomona),[2] is a racing facility located in Pomona, California that features a quarter-mile dragstrip. Since its opening in 1961, the dragstrip has hosted the NHRA's Winternationals event – the traditional season opener – and since 2021, the season's last race, the NHRA Finals. These two events have contributed to its becoming perhaps one of the most famous dragstrips in North America. The facility has a seating capacity of 40,000 spectators, and it is one of the few dragstrips in the USA that is operated directly by the NHRA. This dragstrip has also gone by the nickname of The Fairplex, in reference to its location at the Fairplex, formerly called the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds.

History

Drag Racing

In 1952, a car club known as the "Choppers of Pomona" aided by a young police officer, Sergeant Bud Coons, advocated that a safe place should be provided for local area drag racers. Coons, along with fellow hot rod enthusiast, Pomona Police Chief Ralph Parker, and the city government of Pomona asked to lease the parking lot of the LA County Fairgrounds. Coons and Parker were instrumental in convincing the county to allow the use of the fairgrounds for the race by citing statistics that indicated deaths among kids declined sharply when given a supervised place to race. The county finally agreed, as long as the hot rodders would provide their own insurance, which they were able to do with gate receipts.[3]

At the time the county made the agreement, the parking lot was nothing but a gravel lot. The coalition of hot rodders, police and community leaders raised funds through donations and paved the lot. This was the birth of the dragstrip in Pomona.

Though it was not considered a national event by today's standards, the very first NHRA event, the Southern California Championships, was held at this dragstrip on an April weekend in 1953. On Saturday, attendance was at two or three thousand and attendance was reported to be at 15,000 on Sunday. Compared to the 3.9 second numbers (at 333 yd 1 ft (304.80 m) the pros are putting on the board presently, the best ET of that day was a respectable 10.93.[4]

In 1961, NHRA held its first ever Winternationals at the Pomona Raceway. It became NHRA's second national event. The first NHRA national event was the U.S. Nationals, which was nicknamed the "Big-Go". Thus, the Winternationals got nicknamed the "Big-Go West". It has remained at this location ever since. For many years, this event was sponsored by Chief Auto Parts and later its successor AutoZone, but later was sponsored by CSK Automotive, and now its current successor, O'Reilly Auto Parts.

2008 saw Top fuel & funny car races be reduced to the present 1000 feet.

The season closer, the NHRA Finals, was brought to the facility in 1984 from the now defunct Orange County International Raceway. When the event was first brought to Pomona, the event was sponsored by Winston (after NHRA's main title sponsor at the time, RJ Reynolds' "Winston" cigarette brand). From 2010 to 2019, and again from 2021 to 2022, the event was sponsored by the Automobile Club of Southern California, which is affiliated with AAA. The 2020 event was sponsored by Stellantis and Royal Dutch Shell when it was held at Las Vegas Motor Speedway because Clark County, Nevada allowed spectators when California still banned mass gatherings because of the global pandemic. Beginning in 2023, In-N-Out Burger will become naming rights sponsor for both the circuit and the NHRA Finals.[5]

Other Racing

From 1934 to 1937 a 12 mile dirt oval was located at the facility.[6] The dirt oval was once again opened in the 1950s but closed in 1959. Pomona was also home to a 1.7 mile paved road course which operated in 1998 and 1999. From 1956 to 1961, a 2-mile temporary road course was located in the parking lot.[7]

Winners

NHRA Winternationals

YearTop FuelFunny CarPro Stock
1961 Jack Chrisman
1962 Jim Nelson
1963 Don Garlits
1964 Jack Williams
1965 Don Prudhomme
1966 Mike Snively
1967 Connie Kalitta
1968 James Warren
1969 John Mulligan
1970 Larry DixonLarry Reyes
1971 Don GarlitsButch Maas
1972 Carl OlsonEd McCulloch
1973 Don GarlitsDon Schumacher
1974 Gary BeckDale Emery
1975 Don GarlitsDon Prudhomme
1976 Frank BradleyDon Prudhomme
1977 Jerry RuthDon Prudhomme
1978 Kelly BrownDon Prudhomme
1979 Bob NoiceTom Hoover
1980 Shirley MuldowneyDale Pulde
1981 Jeb AllenAl Segrini
1982 Dick LaHaieAl SegriniFrank Iaconio
1983 Shirley MuldowneyFrank HawleyFrank Iaconio
1984 Gary OrmsbyAl SegriniLee Shepherd
1985 Joe AmatoAl SegriniBob Glidden
1986 Darrell GwynnTim GroseFrank Iaconio
1987 Don GarlitsKenny BernsteinWarren Johnson
1988 Dick LaHaieDale PuldeButch Leal
1989 Gary OrmsbyBruce LarsonBob Glidden
1990 Lori JohnsK.C. SpurlockJerry Eckman
1991 Frank BradleyJohn ForceDarrell Alderman
1992 Kenny BernsteinJim EplerJerry Eckman
1993 Joe AmatoJohn ForceWarren Johnson
1994 Shelly AndersonK.C. SpurlockWarren Johnson
1995 Eddie HillCruz PedregonDarrell Alderman
1996 Blaine JohnsonAl HofmannJim Yates
1997 Gary ScelziJohn ForceWarren Johnson
1998 Larry DixonRonn CappsJim Yates
1999 Mike DunnTony PedregonJeg Coughlin
2000 Gary ScelziJerry ToliverJeg Coughlin Jr.
2001 Darrell RussellBruce SarverKurt Johnson
2002 Larry DixonJohn ForceGeorge Marnell
2003 Larry DixonTony PedregonWarren Johnson
2004 Tony SchumacherJerry ToliverGreg Anderson
2005 Scott KalittaTommy Johnson Jr.Dave Connolly
2006 Melanie TroxelRobert HightGreg Anderson
2007 J.R. ToddGary ScelziGreg Anderson
2008 Tony SchumacherRobert HightGreg Anderson
2009 Doug KalittaRon CappsJason Line
2010 Larry DixonJohn ForceMike Edwards
2011 Morgan LucasRobert HightJason Line
2012 Spencer MasseyJohn ForceGreg Anderson
2013 Shawn LangdonCourtney ForceVincent Nobile
2014 Khalid alBalooshiJohn ForceJason Line
2015 Shawn LangdonMatt HaganJason Line
2016 Steve TorrenceRon CappsGreg Anderson
2017 Leah PritchettMatt HaganJason Line
2018 Doug KalittaMatt HaganBo Butner
2019 Doug KalittaRobert HightBo Butner
2020 Doug KalittaJack BeckmanJeg Coughlin Jr.
2021 Leah PruettRon CappsAaron Stanfield
2022 Justin AshleyRobert HightErica Enders
2023 Justin AshleyMatt HaganDallas Glenn

Note: In 2021 The race was postponed due to COVID-19 until July 30 - August 1, 2021.

NHRA Finals

YearVenueTop FuelFunny CarPro Stock
1965 TulsaMaynard Rupp
1966 TulsaPete Robinson
1967 TulsaConnie KalittaDon Nicholson
1968 TulsaDon PrudhommeEd Schartman
1969 LewisvilleL. GoldsteinDick Harrell
1970 LewisvilleRon MartinGene Snow
1971 AmarilloGerry GlennP. Castronovo
1972 AmarilloJim WaltherL. Fullerton
1973 AmarilloJerry RuthFrank Hall
1974 OntarioDon GarlitsDave Condit
1975 OntarioDon GarlitsDon Prudhomme
1976 OntarioShirley MuldowneyDon Prudhomme
1977 OntarioDennis BacaGordie Bonin
1978 OntarioRob BruinsRaymond Beadle
1979 OntarioDon GarlitsGordie Bonin
1980 OntarioShirley MuldowneyRon Colson
1981 East IrvineGary BeckJim Dunn
1982 East IrvineJim BarnardTrip Shumake
1983 East IrvineShirley MuldowneyJohn Lombardo
1984 PomonaDon GarlitsSherm GunnBob Glidden
1985 PomonaGary BeckKenny BernsteinJoe Lepone
1986 PomonaDarrell GwynnKenny BernsteinBob Glidden
1987 PomonaDarrell GwynnBilly MeyerBob Glidden
1988 PomonaDarrell GwynnJohn ForceWarren Johnson
1989 PomonaGary OrmsbyBruce LarsonBob Glidden
1990 PomonaJoe AmatoEd McCullochBob Glidden
1991 PomonaPat AustinAl HofmannDarrell Alderman
1992 PomonaCory McClenathanChuck EtchellsWarren Johnson
1993 PomonaRance McDanielJim EplerWarren Johnson
1994 PomonaKenny BernsteinJohn ForceDarrell Alderman
1995 PomonaBlaine JohnsonAl HofmannWarren Johnson
1996 PomonaJoe AmatoJohn ForceMike Edwards
1997 PomonaJoe AmatoTony PedregonKurt Johnson
1998 PomonaKenny BernsteinChuck EtchellsRichie Stevens
1999 PomonaMike DunnJerry ToliverJeg Coughlin Jr
2000 PomonaGary ScelziJohn ForceKurt Johnson
2001 PomonaKenny BernsteinDel WorshamBruce Allen
2002 PomonaCory McClenathanJohn ForceKurt Johnson
2003 PomonaKenny BernsteinDel WorshamGreg Anderson
2004 PomonaTony SchumacherJohn ForceGreg Anderson
2005 PomonaTony SchumacherTony PedregonJeg Coughlin Jr
2006 PomonaTony SchumacherJohn ForceGreg Anderson
2007 PomonaTony SchumacherRobert HightJeg Coughlin Jr
2008 PomonaLarry DixonCruz PedregonGreg Anderson
2009 PomonaAntron BrownMike NeffGreg Anderson
2010 PomonaAntron BrownJohn ForceShane Gray
2011 PomonaDel WorshamMatt HaganGreg Stanfield
2012 PomonaBrandon BernsteinCruz PedregonAllen Johnson
2013 PomonaShawn LangdonMatt HaganRickie Jones
2014 PomonaMorgan LucasMatt HaganErica Enders-Stevens
2015 PomonaShawn LangdonDel WorshamAllen Johnson
2016 PomonaDoug KalittaTommy Johnson Jr.Greg Anderson
2017 PomonaBrittany ForceTommy Johnson Jr.Bo Butner
2018 PomonaSteve TorrenceJ.R. ToddTanner Gray
2019 PomonaDoug KalittaJack BeckmanJeg Coughlin Jr.
2020 Las VegasAntron BrownMatt HaganErica Enders
2021 PomonaSteve TorrenceBob Tasca IIIGreg Anderson
2022 PomonaAustin ProckCruz PedregonGreg Anderson
2023 PomonaDoug KalittaChad GreenAaron Stanfield

NOTE: The Finals has been held in the Southwest area from 1965 to 1973, the Los Angeles metropolitan area from 1974 to 2019, and again since 2021, and Las Vegas in 2020.

References

  1. "Na-Motorsports Track Entry". NA Motorsports. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
  2. Festival tickets for In-N-Out's 75th anniversary event sold out, 2023, retrieved 20 October 2023
  3. "Need for a safe place to speed: Pomona's hot rod history began with police". Inland Valley Daily Bulletin. Archived from the original on 2011-07-22. Retrieved 2008-12-03.
  4. "In-N-Out Burger named title sponsor of In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip and In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals". NHRA.com. NHRA. Retrieved 2022-11-01.
  5. "Na-Motorsports Track Entry". NA Motorsports. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
  6. "Na-Motorsports Track Entry". NA Motorsports. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.