Images courtesy NHRA Media
NHRA drivers got back into gear at the preseason test session at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park Jan. 30 – Feb. 2. Steve Torrence, the defending Top Fuel world champion, started things off promisingly by setting the quickest pass of the session.
Torrence's Capco Contractors/Torrence Racing dragster made a 3.689 sec. pass at 328.78 mph during Thursday’s testing. The Texas native made history last season by going entirely undefeated during the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship.
"We didn't change anything going into this test session," Torrence said. "We just needed to brush the rust off of myself and the guys to get prepared for Pomona. There's some really good cars out there that we're going to have to contend with this season. We will take this with a grain of salt, build confidence and see what we can do."
Brittany Force, the 2017 Top Fuel world champion, drove her Advance Auto Parts dragster to a run of 3.700 at 321.27 on Saturday. Billy Torrence rounds out the top three with a run of 3.731 at 325.14 on Friday.
Two-time Funny Car world champion Robert Hight led his category with a pass of 3.863 at 326.87 in his Auto Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro on Friday. Hight finished the 2018 season in second place overall and is hoping for his third championship in 2019.
Defending world champion J.R. Todd claimed the session's second-quickest pass with a 3.868 at 324.36 in his DHL Toyota Camry. 16-time world champion John Force was third with his 3.894 at 331.61 on Saturday.
The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series 2019 season starts at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona for the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals presented by ProtectTheHarvest.com Feb. 7-10.
To purchase seats, call 800-884-NHRA (6472) or visit www.NHRA.com/tickets. Kids 12 and under are free in general admission areas with a paid adult. All students can save 50 percent on general admission at the gate with a student ID. To honor the Salute to First Responders, military and first responders can save 20 percent on general admission tickets at the gate. For more info about the NHRA, visit www.NHRA.com.
TOP FUEL
Steve Torrence - 3.689, 328.78
Brittany Force – 3.7, 321.27
Billy Torrence - 3.731, 325.14
Jordan Vandergriff - 3.738, 325.85
Mike Salinas - 3.747, 296.24
Antron Brown - 3.769, 293.73
Doug Kalitta - 3.78, 289.07
Richie Crampton - 3.78, 275
Clay Millican - 3.81, 296.44
Scott Palmer - 3.921, 242.50
Greg Carrillo - 5.057, 142.94
Jim Maroney - 10.972, 46.22
FUNNY CAR
Robert Hight - 3.863, 326.87
J.R. Todd - 3.868, 324.36
John Force – 3.894, 331.61
Shawn Langdon - 3.905, 327.35
Matt Hagan - 3.959, 319.22
Bob Tasca III - 3.972, 310.20
Jonnie Lindberg – 3.99, 309.56
Chad Green - 4.090, 252.80
Cruz Pedregon - 4.377, 200.11
Tim Wilkerson - 4.469, 184.02