After 20 race weekends and eight months of chasing Wallys, the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season comes down to this weekend’s In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals.
As early as Friday’s qualifying session at the In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona, Calif., champions can be crowned.
Here is the rundown on who is most likely to win the title in the Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle categories this weekend, and who else still has a chance.
Pro Stock Motorcycle Belongs To Herrera
The Pro Stock Motorcycle title is Gaige Herrera’s to lose.
Herrera has been an extraordinary force in Pro Stock Motorcycle this year, earning 10 wins and 13 No. 1 qualifier awards during his rookie season. He also became the eighth racer in NHRA history to sweep the Western Swing.
The Vance & Hines rider can clinch the Pro Stock Motorcycle championship with a qualifying attempt on Friday, as he is 181 points ahead of teammate Eddie Krawiec, who is ranked second.
Enders On The Cusp Of Sixth Pro Stock Title
It seemed unlikely at the beginning of the season that Erica Enders would find herself in position to fight for a sixth Pro Stock championship. After all, six races into the season, she was ranked 14th in the standings.
And yet, the Elite Motorsports powerhouse is arriving to Pomona with a 114-point lead over title rival Greg Anderson, who is also a five-time Pro Stock champion.
If Enders is able to gain seven points over Anderson during qualifying, it would be enough for the 40-year-old to secure her sixth career title. If not, all it would take is a first-round win from Enders on Sunday to seal the deal.
Should it happen, Enders would tie Warren Johnson for the second most Pro Stock championships. Bob Glidden has the most titles, with 10.
Hagan, Tasca III & Hight Prepare For War
The top three in the Funny Car standings are separated by 17 points entering Pomona.
Matt Hagan leads, with Bob Tasca III (-15) second and Robert Hight (-17) third.
When evaluating the trio’s seasons and determining who has the best shot at the title, the on-paper results lean in Hagan’s favor. The Tony Stewart Racing driver has six wins and two runner-up finishes this season.
Meanwhile, Hight has four triumphs and two runner-up efforts in 20 races. Tasca has three victories, one runner-up and seven No. 1 qualifiers — which is the most of the three.
Without a stumble from Hagan, who has proved he has race-winning speed since winning the season opener in Gainesville, it will likely be difficult for Tasca or Hight to keep the TSR driver from earning his fourth Funny Car championship.
Torrence Holds The Edge In Top Fuel
Simply put, Steve Torrence knows what it takes to get the job done at the NHRA Finals.
The four-time Top Fuel champion has faced the fire before and prevailed. While he’s been a bit of a silent player all season, winning only one national event, the Capco Contractors dragster driver shouldn’t be underestimated come Sunday.
Meanwhile, neither of the two drivers who trail him closest in the standings — Doug Kalitta (-15) and Leah Pruett (-34) — have won a Top Fuel title. Kalitta has come tantalizingly close, finishing runner-up in the standings a record six times in his career. It’s worth noting that two of those times, he lost to Torrence.
On the other hand, Pruett’s best finish in the points is fourth.
“It’s going right down to the wire,” Torrence said. “But it’s all about who executes the best this week. It doesn’t matter what’s happened the rest of the year. It’s about who can get it done in this one race.
Mathematically, Mike Salinas (-76) and Justin Ashley (-82) remain in contention.