2010 Show Header

Share Hotrodhotline with your friends
Bookmark and Share
 


NHRA 002AA

 

Fiftieth
NHRA Winternationals

Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, CA
Feb 12,13,14,’10
Story and photographs by Roger Rohrdanz

RRR_002Ab

Roger Rohrdanz

Drag racing’s past was honored as well as the present at the Kragen O’Reilly 50th Annual NHRA Winternationals from the Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, CA. The weekend weather was great with temperatures in the low to mid 80’s. Some of the Motorsports legends in attendance were, Art Chrisman, Don Garlits, Ivan Stewart, Dan Gurney, Shirley Muldowney, Dave McClellan, Bob Glidden, Joe Amato, John Force, Connie Kalitta, Bob Muravez, Hugh Tucker, Kenny Bernstein, Don Prudhomme, and Chris Karamesines. 

The third day of the Golden Anniversary Winternationals was highlighted

by autograph sessions with heroes of the sport, as well as runs by nostalgia Funny Cars, the awesome Winged Express fuel altered, and a Cacklefest of ‘60’s vintage dragsters in front of the main grandstand

With 22 more races to go in the 2010 Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, Sundays final results were as follows;

TOP FUEL – Larry Dixon, 3.808 sec @ 316.60mph beat Doug Kalitta, 3.848 sec @ 310.05mph.
FUNNY CAR – John Force, 4.124 sec @ 298.67mph beat Ron Capps, 4.123sec @ 305.08mph.
PRO STOCK – Mike Edwards, Pontiac GXP, 6.577, 210.47 def. Greg Anderson, GXP, 6.618, 209.62.
TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER – Chris Demke, 5.332, 269.67 def. Joey Severance, 5,916, 196.42.
TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR – Sean O’Bannon, 5.541, 259.96 def. Doug Gordon, 5.643, 259.16.
COMPETITION ELIMINATOR – Lou Ficco Jr., GXP, 8.624, 114.87 def. Dean Carter, Dragster, foul.
SUPER STOCK – Jeff ane, Achieva, 8.880, 153.63 def. Jimmy DeFrank, Cobalt, 8.806, 153.39.
STOCK ELIMINATOR – Brad Burton, 10.820, 119.97 def. Ryan McClanahan, 9.817, 135.43.
SUPER COMP – Kevin Wright, Dragster, 9.902, 107.96 def. Ed Olpin, Dragster, broke.
SUPER GAS – Brad Pierce, Corvette, 9.901, 146.45 def. Jimmy Lewis, Corvette, 9.905, 151.44.

Thanks for the Show!


Click on Photos to Enlarge

IMG_6089AA

Top Fuel champ Larry Dixon beat defending Winternationals champ Doug Kalitta in the final. His father Larry won the Winternationals Top Fuel title in 1970!

IMG_6095AA

 

IMG_6706AA

 

IMG_6093AA

Top Fuel runner-up Doug Kalitta.

IMG_6045AA

The Bernstein team in their new colors Copart blue. It will take a little getting used to!

IMG_6047AA

 

IMG_6128AA

Number 1 qualifier Cory McClenathan with a 3.788sec. pass.

IMG_6672AA

The awesome, 82 year old, Chris Karamesines still plays with Top Fuel cars.

IMG_6674AA

 

IMG_6675AA

 

IMG_5425AA

Robert Hight (in blue) and John Force (in blue) discuss their upcoming rounds.

IMG_6142AA

John Force finally wins and he does it in a “hole shot” over Ron Capps!

IMG_6147AA

 

IMG_6953AA

 

IMG_6155AA

Top Fuel Funny Car runner-up Ron Capps.

IMG_6162AA

ITop Fuel Funny Car driver Cruz Pedregon with new Snap-on sponsor.

IMG_6916AA

 

IMG_6171AA

Melanie Troxel returns as the driver for the returning sponsor In-N-Out Burger Top Fuel Funny Car.

IMG_6188AA

Top Fuel Funny Car pilot Tim Wilkerson.

IMG_6193AA

“Fast” Jack Beckman shows some flames from his Top Fuel Funny Car.

IMG_6583AA

Defending 2009 Full Throttle Series Pro Stock champion Mike Edwards beats Greg Anderson in final. This makes Edward’s 10th straight #1 qualifier position.

IMG_6908AA

 

IMG_6904AA

Pro Stock runner-up Greg Anderson

IMG_6565AA

Pro Stock driver Jeg Coughlin.

IMG_6903AA

 

IMG_6573AA

Pro Stockers Rodger Brogdon (near lane) and Greg Stanfield (far lane) launch. Yes, Brogdon’s Pro Stock “Pistonator” has a mascot.

IMG_6534AA

 

IMG_6537AA

 

IMG_5971AA

The Top Alcohol Funny Car class was won by Sean O’Bannon as he beat Doug Gordon.

IMG_5974AA

 

IMG_6822AA

Chris Demke drove his blown Top Alcohol Dragster to a class win.

IMG_6805AA

Shawn Cowie carries the wheels of his Top Alcohol Dragster.

IMG_6806AA

 

IMG_5857AA

The Competition Eliminator class was won by Lou Ficco Jr.

IMG_5858AA

 

IMG_6338AA

Brad Pierce won the Super Gas Final.

IMG_6463AA

Super Comp racer Charlotte Lucas being crewed by her son (standing) Morgan Lucas.

IMG_5811AA

More Sportsman racers

IMG_5868AA

 

IMG_5690AA

 

IMG_6426AA

 

IMG_6488AA

 

IMG_6408AA

 

IMG_5726AA

Over the entrance to “The Golden 50 Corral” hangs this banner, which is a replica of the original Winternationals banner that hung over the starting line in the early ‘60’s.

IMG_5708AA

The center piece of “The Golden 50 Corral” was Don Prudhomme’s awesome “Snake Hot Wheels” Barracuda & Hauler a 1967 Dodge c-700.

IMG_5725AA

 

IMG_5705AA

Originally driven by Don Prudhomme, this is the “Shelby Super Snake” circa ’68.

IMG_5710AA

“The Golden 50 Corral” had over 85 fantastic race cars from the early ‘60’s.

IMG_5711AA

 

IMG_5713AA

 

IMG_5716AA

 

IMG_5717AA

 

IMG_5720AA

 

IMG_5721AA

 

IMG_5709AA

The legendary “Big Daddy” Don Garlits and two of his “Swamp Rat” dragsters # 3 & #5.

IMG_5718AA

 

IMG_5719AA

 

IMG_5454AA

The restored “Chizler” being pushed on the return road.

IMG_6054AA

The beautifully restored “Warren, Coburn & Miller” dragster. Being driven by Warren.

IMG_6497AA

A 60 foot high banner depicting the “5 most memorable moments” in the history of the Winternationals.

IMG_6735BA

This is the original ’47 Studebaker Champion built and raced by JR Thompson.

IMG_6786AA

40 or so vintage race cars were staged in front of the spectators and then fired-up. As the cars “Cackled”, the fans showed their appreciation.

IMG_6797AA

 

IMG_6842AA

 

IMG_6846AA

 

IMG_6768AA

 

IMG_6850AA

 

IMG_6851AA

 

IMG_6852AA

 

IMG_6854AA

 

IMG_6855BA

 

IMG_6859AA

 

IMG_6864AA

 

IMG_6722AA

At the same time as the “static fire-up”, several pairs of Nostalgia
 Funny Cars raced down the track just like the ‘60’s!

IMG_6738AA

 

IMG_6742AA

 

IMG_6752AA

 

IMG_6764AA

 

IMG_6521AA

The awesome Winged Express fuel altered, with Mike Boyd at the wheel, made an exciting pass down the track.

 

 

 

 

[Home Page] [2010 Show Coverage] [Classifieds] [Press Releases] [Vendor Directory]
[Buyers Guide] [New Products] [Barn & Field Cars] [Blast to the Past] [Book Reviews]
[Build Articles] [Club Directory] [Event Listings] [From our Friends] [Garage Shots]
[Guest Columnists] [www.hotrodhotline.com/md] [Newsletter Archive] [Our Heroes]
[Order a Catalog] [Rodders Forum] [Rodders Row] [Shop Tours]
[Young Rodders] [Advertising Information] [Modern Rods]

Copyright 1999 - 2010 Hot Rod Hot Line All Rights Reserved
No Portion May Be Used Without Our Written Permission
Contact Us Toll Free (877) 700-2468 (US) or (208) 562-0470 (Outside US)
230 S. Cole Rd, Boise, ID 83709

mailbox