Photo: Jay Wells, Words: Avery Finnivan
The NHRA Mello Yello Championship ended with all the excitement and surprises this year's thrilling season has promised. After 20 years of trying, Ron Capps won his first ever NHRA Funny Car World Championship, while his teammate Tommy Johnson, Jr. won the season's last Funny Car race. Antron Brown had already laid claim to the championship title in Top Fuel, but he was unable to take the final race win - Doug Kalitta drove to victory at Pomona. Jason Line, who had spent all season trading places with Greg Anderson for first place in Pro Stock, took the championship, though Anderson won the last race. Matt Smith rode to his first win since 2013 in Pro Stock Motorcycle, while the championship went to Jerry Savoie, the alligator farmer from LA.
Ron Capps was eliminated Sunday in the second round, racing John Force, but took it philosophically in the knowledge that he'd secured the Funny Car championship.
“We really wanted to leave Pomona with two trophies, but we’re not going to be greedy,” he said. “Yesterday took so much out of our whole team, and it shows how good Tobler and the guys are that we came out today and ran that good against Force. Losing early didn’t take anything away from what our NAPA team accomplished all season.
“I’m sure there will be some celebrating tonight and tomorrow at the NHRA awards banquet in Hollywood. I can’t wait to bring our team up on the stage and share that moment with them. And I’ll finally be standing all the way to the right when the top-10 is introduced.”
Capps' teammate, Tommy Johnson, Jr. came in second place overall but took first at Pomona.
“It’s so tough out here that if you can finish second out of all these cars, you had a really, really good year,” said Johnson. “We weren’t the best; obviously that was Capps this season; but to be right behind him and be ahead of all the others, I don’t know how you could be disappointed."
Doug Kalitta won his Pomona race through a stunning display of quick reaction time. Kalitta's teammate, J.R. Todd, ran a quicker pass, but ultimately Kalitta's ability to react speedily won the day.
“I have a heck of a group," Kalitta noted. "This entire team is awesome. The guys worked so hard, and to close the season with a win is great. This is a trophy I have been chasing for a long time, and I am so glad to earn it. I am a winner until the Winternationals and I am so excited to close the season on a high note."
Jason Line's world championship win this season was his third; he clinched it in the semifinal round, winning out over his teammate Greg Anderson.
“It’s been a great year, and thanks to all of our competitors; they kept us honest and made us work hard right to the end,” said Line. "Greg [Anderson] and I have had probably the two best cars all year. If it had ended any other way, I would have been disappointed.”
Anderson ultimately came in second in points, though he did win first in the final race of the season.
“Great day; I can’t cry,” said Anderson. “I did all I could do today; I did everything I could possibly do today. The only thing I can kick stones about is that I didn’t do a great job on qualifying on Friday. I lost three points to Jason and those three points are a big three points... We overachieved this year and we’re leaving here happy.”
Matt Smith ended the Mello Yello series sixth in points, but he won at Pomona Raceway. Meanwhile Jerry Savoie won his first career world championship, beating Eddie Krawiec and Andrew Hines, the two racers who had previously seemed most likely to take the title, in the quarterfinals.
“To only dream of winning one race, and to come out here and put a deal together with the support of Vance & Hines and my crew and to win the championship is amazing,” said Savoie. "I want to thank everybody, especially the fans. Without these guys, this would not be possible; you make our dreams come true, and those guys are my family.”
The 2017 NHRA Mello Yello season will begin Sunday, Feb. 12 at the AAA Raceway in Pomona.