NHRA: Auto Club Finals ( RESULTS) Champs Crowned

[a152004]

Qualifying results from the final  event of the year at Pomona
Only 2 titles still remain  undecided, Funny Car and PSM.


Top Fuel Dragster

1 Tony Schumacher      U.S. Army Dragster                     3.827  - 315.93 mph
2. Larry Dixon             U.S. Smokeless Tobacco               3.831 - 309.70
3. Hillary Will         Palm Beach Int'l Raceway Drags          3.835 - 314.31
4. J.R. Todd            Lucas Oil Dragster                          3.848 - 308.14
5. Brandon Bernstein    Budweiser/Lucas Oil Dragster        3.849 - 311.13
6. Cory McClenathan     Fram Dragster                           3.855 - 314.31
7. Morgan Lucas         Lucas Oil Speedway Dragster        3.855 - 306.46
8. Rod Fuller           Caterpillar Dragster                         3.862 - 310.34
9. Steve Torrence       Vis-Viva Dragster                       3.862 - 313.22
10. Doug Herbert         Snap-On Tools Dragster              3.877 - 307.58
11. Doug Kalitta         MAC Tools Dragster                     3.884 - 309.56
12. David Grubnic        DHL Dragster                            3.897 - 310.20
13. Urs Erbacher         Marnell Masonry Dragster            3.904 - 309.20
14. Troy Buff            Bill Miller Racing/Okuma Drags        3.904 - 302.96
15. Clay Millican        Nitrofish Dragster                       3.907 - 309.42
16. Tim Boychuk          Tim Hortons Dragster                3.925 - 305.49
 

First Round Pairings

1 Tony Schumacher
16 Tim Boychuk

8 Rod Fuller
9 Steve Torrence
 
4 J.R. Todd
13 Urs Erbacher
 
5 B Bernstein
12 David Grubnic
 
2 Larry Dixon
15 Clay Millican
 
7 Morgan Lucas
10 Doug Herbert
 
3 Hillary Will
14 Troy Buff
 
6 Cory McClenathan
11 Doug Kalitta

Tony Schumacher got the top spot in the final  qualifying session.  He was not in the field after the first two rounds of qualifying and  made it into  the field in the 3rd round of qualifying before taking number  in the last round.


Funny Car

1. Mike Neff            Old Spice Mustang                       4.079  - 305.49mph
2. Melanie Troxel       ProCare RX Charger                    4.082  - 305.01
3. Ashley Force         Castrol GTX Mustang                  4.092  - 304.87
4. John Force           Castrol GTX Mustang                   4.108  - 303.78
5. Jerry Toliver        Rockstar Energy Drinks Charger       4.110 - 303.78
6. Ron Capps            NAPA Auto Parts Charger             4.118  - 302.08
7. Gary Scelzi          Mopar Oakley Charger                  4.121  - 302.01
8. Tony Pedregon        Herzog/Q Horsepower Impala      4.122 - 301.67
9. Robert Hight         AAA of So. Cal Mustang               4.122 - 298.14
10. Jack Beckman         Valvoline/MTS Charger             4.123 - 301.67
11. Bob Tasca III        Motorcraft/Quick Lane Mustang   4.144 - 299.86
12. Cruz Pedregon        Advance Auto Parts Solara        4.150 - 300.33
13. Tim Wilkerson        Levi, Ray & Shoup Impala           4.151 - 300.33
14. Gary Densham         RaceBricks Impala                   4.164 - 294.43
15. Jim Head             Team Strange Apparel Solara       4.187 - 296.63
16. Jeff Arend           DHL Solara                               4.200 - 292.20


First Round Pairings

1 Mike Neff
16 Jeff Arend

8 Tony Pedregon
9 Robert Hight
 
4 John Force
13 Tim Wilkerson
 
5 Jerry Toliver
12 Cruz Pedregon
 
 
2 Melanie Troxel
15 Jim Head
 
7 Gary Scelzi
10 Jack Beckman
 
3 Ashley Force
14 Gary Densham
 
6 Ron Capps
11 Bob Tasca III

The top 4 Drivers in points are all in the same half of the field. Hight, Wilkerson and the  Pedregon brothers
Hopefully Wilkerson wins the title with a  Chevy body before he  runs a Ford body next year.  If Wilkerson is not able to win it I hope hight does as I don't really want to see the Pedregons win the title.

1 Cruz Pedregon    2449   
2 Tim Wilkerson     2437   
3 Robert Hight      2410   
4 Tony Pedregon   2387   
5 Jack Beckman    2385 


Pro Stock Car

1. Greg Anderson        Summit Racing Equipment GXP   6.634  - 208.20 mph
2. Jason Line            Summit Racing Equipment GXP     6.637 - 208.39
3. Kurt Johnson         AC Delco Cobalt                       6.643 - 207.91
4. Allen Johnson        Mopar/J & J Racing Stratus        6.643 - 208.07
5. Mike Edwards         Young Life/Penhall GXP            6.649 - 208.36
6. Dave Connolly        Lucas Oil/Charter Cobalt           6.650 - 208.46
7. Ron Krisher          Valvoline Cobalt                        6.662 - 207.18
8. Greg Stanfield       Attitude Apparel GXP                6.665-  207.78
9. V. Gaines            Kendall Oil Stratus                     6.665 - 207.11
10. Warren Johnson       GM Performance Parts GXP    6.670 - 208.59
11. Rickie Jones         Quarter Max Stratus               6.675 - 206.51
12. Jim Yates            Wiley X Eye Wear GXP             6.678 - 206.99
13. Jeg Coughlin         Jegs.com Cobalt                    6.678 - 207.05
14. Vinnie Deceglie      Mountain View Tire Stratus     6.689 - 206.99
15. Johnny Gray          Stratus                               6.692 - 206.48
16. Richie Stevens       Nitrofish Stratus                   6.692 - 206.13


First Round Pairings

1 Greg Anderson
16 Richie Stevens
 
8 Greg Stanfield
9 V. Gaines
 
4 Allen Johnson
13 Jeg Coughlin
 
5 Mike Edwards
12 Jim Yates
 
2 Jason Line
15 Johnny Gray
 
7 Ron Krisher
10 Warren Johnson
 
3 Kurt Johnson
14 Vinnie Deceglie
 
6 Dave Connolly
11 Rickie Jones

With Jeg Coughlin qualifying  for this event he has secured the 2008  title.
Hopefully  Anderson or Line can win the race and end the year with victory.  Just come back next year boys and fire all year not for some of it.


Pro Stock Motorcycle

1. Matt Smith          NitroFish/Torco Buell                   6.962 - 188.86 mph
2. Eddie Krawiec      Screamin' Eagle/Vance & Hines      6.987 - 189.55
3. Hector Arana       Lucas Oil Buell                            6.996 - 191.29
4. Angelle Sampey    Rush Racing Products Buell           7.003 - 185.49
5. Karen Stoffer      Geico Suzuki                               7.015 - 187.39
6. Andrew Hines      Screamin' Eagle/Vance & Hines       7.027 - 188.83
7. Chip Ellis           Schumacher Electric Suzuki            7.049 - 187.31
8. Junior Pippin       Stone Mtn & Granite Mtn HD Bue     7.057-  184.75
9. Chris Rivas         Drag Specialties/S&S/G2 Buell        7.094 - 183.02
10. Steve Johnson  Snap-On Tools Suzuki                  7.107 - 186.56
11. Shawn Gann      Race Girl/Pure Power Buell           7.110 - 183.19
12. Angie McBride    Indicom Electric Buell                  7.117 - 183.12
13. Craig Treble      Albrecht's Fast Track Suzuki         7.134 - 185.84
14. Michael Phillips   Phillips Racing Suzuki                  7.135  - 189.02
15. Peggy Llewellyn   Rocklin Motorsports Buell           7.146 - 182.43
16. Mike Berry          MB Precision Machining Suzuki    7.148 - 184.14

points going into the event.

1 Matt Smith        2393   
2 Ed Krawiec        2374   
3 Chris Rivas        2354   
4 Angelle Sampey  2275   
5 Andrew Hines     2260   


First Round Pairings

1 Matt Smith
16 Mike Berry
 
8 Junior Pippin
9 Chris Rivas
 
4 Angelle Sampey
13 Craig Treble

5 Karen Stoffer
12 Angie McBride
 
2 Eddie Krawiec
15 Peggy Llewellyn
 
7 Chip Ellis
10 Steve Johnson
 
3 Hector Arana
14 Michael Phillips

6 Andrew Hines
11 Shawn Gann


*ALL TIMES, INFO  AND MORE CAN BE FOUND AT*

http://nhra.com/

[a152004]

Forgot to put this into the original post.  Sorry

In Top Alcohol Funny Car Steve Harker qualified number one.
1. Steve Harker     OMS Graphics Monte Carlo   5.556 - 252.57mph

The First round of eliminations have been run

(W) Steve Harker (OMS Graphics Monte Carlo)       (0.119)      5.549 @ 257.24mph
(L) Don Hudson (Red Line Oil/Vasser Chevrolet C    (0.0440      5.662 @ 253.85mph

Hudson becomes the 50th different driver that Harker has faced in Alcohol Funny Car. I guess a bad light really doesn't matter much in this pairing. Harker misses his career best ET by only .009 and gets to choose the lane when he races Oliver.

Results from

http://nhra.com/

[a152004]

My brain is not in  gear today.This was meant for the original post too.  Sorry..again.

Top Fuel, Funny Car to remain at 1,000 feet to begin 2009

NHRA announced Nov. 14 that the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Season will begin with the Top Fuel and Funny Car categories racing to 1,000 feet. All other professional and sportsman classes will remain at 1,320 feet.

Over the next several months, NHRA will test various engine combinations following up on the analysis it has conducted to reduce power in the two nitromethane categories. 

Upon the conclusion of the engine combination testing program, NHRA will evaluate rule changes and determine whether to return to 1,320 feet or stay at 1,000 feet in the Top Fuel and Funny Car categories.   There is no timetable, but a change could possibly be made at any time, including during the 2009 season.

http://www.nhra.com/content/news/34059.htm

Jim Dunn Racing announces Toliver as 2009 driver

Jim Dunn Racing has announced that Funny Car veteran Jerry Toliver has been named the driver of the Canidae All Natural Pet Foods Chevrolet for the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle season.

"Jerry is a terrific competitor who races for the same reason I do, and that's because he loves it," said team owner and crew chief Jim Dunn. "He's been competing a long time and does everything he can to get the car to the end of the track in one piece. We think a lot alike when it comes to racing the car, and everyone on this team is looking forward to welcoming Jerry aboard for 2009."

Toliver is a five-time national-event winner in the NHRA Funny Car category. The California native has two top-10 finishes with his best season coming in 2000 when he won three national events, advanced to seven final-round appearances and ended the year third in the points standings. Toliver was named the Car Craft magazine "Person of the Year" in 2000 for his contributions to the sport of drag racing, and his last victory was in 2004 when he won the NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club of Southern California Raceway. Toliver's very first career victory was at this event, the Auto Club of Southern California NHRA Finals, in 1999.

"I've known Jim for a long time," Toliver said. "He is an icon of the sport and someone that is respected by everyone in the pits. Working with Jim is something I've wanted to do for a long time."

Toliver will be replacing Tony Bartone, who is leaving the team to spend more time with his family. The well-liked Bartone, who has raced nearly everything on four wheels, and was the 1996 Lucas Oil Alcohol Funny Car champion, gave the Canidae Racing team one of its 2008 season highlights when he won the Schuck's Auto Supply Nationals at Seattle on July 20.   

"I've truly enjoyed working with Jim Dunn and the entire Canidae Pet Foods team and wish them nothing but success next year," Bartone said. "We've had a great run here, and a lot of good times and Jerry's going to do a terrific job in the car."

http://www.nhra.com/content/news/34080.htm

[a152004]

Results from  Pomona

Starting with Top Alcohol Funny Car.
Aussie driver Steve Harker  made it into the final round but had a problem and was not able to make the run.

(W) Mick Snyder (Powersource Transportation Mus (0.143)      5.591 @ 258.71mph
(L) Steve Harker (OMS Graphics Monte Carlo)       -9.999(R) NT-Broke Before Staging

It doesn't happen all that often but #1 and #2 meet in the final. Oh ouch. Harker went to fire the car and just like that a fuel fitting breaks, and he's not going to make the run. Snyder runs the car out the back door and shows Harker that it wouldn't have been a pushover. Nice pass to close out the alky floppers.

Pro Stock Motorcycle.

Going into the first round of final  eliminations  there were 3 riders in contention for the title.
1.  Matt Smith, 2.  Eddie Krawiec, 3.  Chris Rivas.  They all made it into the second round

(W) Chris Rivas (Drag Specialties/S&S/G2 Buell)   (0.017_      7.070 @ 184.35mph
(L) Junior Pippin (Stone Mtn & Granite Mtn HD B  (0.080)      7.101 @ 182.95mph

 (W) Eddie Krawiec (Screamin' Eagle/Vance & Hine (0.055)      7.012 @ 189.20mph
 (L) Peggy Llewellyn (Rocklin Motorsports Buell)     (0.027)      7.116 @ 182.80mph

Krawiec and Llewellyn have each won 1 time against the other in prior events. Krawiec takes out Llewellyn for the win and he goes back into the points lead. Krawiec will have choice over Ellis.
 
(W) Matt Smith (NitroFish/Torco Buell)               (0.089)      6.984 @ 189.68mph
 (L) Mike Berry (MB Precision Machining Suzuki)  -0.057(R)   7.138  @ 185.69mph

Smith takes back the point lead with this round win and the battle goes on. Smith certainly has lane choice over Rivas.

Round 2 of eliminations would prove costly for one of the title  contenders

 (W) Eddie Krawiec (Screamin' Eagle/Vance & Hine  (0.019)      7.042 @ 186.46mph
 (L) Chip Ellis (Schumacher Electric Suzuki)            (0.043)      7.022 @ 187.68mph

Eddie Krawiec's MOV: 0.0043 seconds (approximately 14 inches). Krawie keeps himself in the title hunt with this win. He gets Hines in the semis.

 (W) Chris Rivas (Drag Specialties/S&S/G2 Buell) (0.002)      7.050 @ 186.23mph
 (L) Matt Smith (NitroFish/Torco Buell)              (0.060)     12.002 @ 66.59mph

Smith is done! Rivas drills him on the tree and the Smith's bike goes south on him before half track.

Round 3 of eliminations
 
(W) Chris Rivas (Drag Specialties/S&S/G2 Buell)  (0.034)      7.049 @ 184.95mph
 (L) Craig Treble (Albrecht's Fast Track Suzuki)  (0.027)      7.119 @ 181.52mph

Rivas gets around Treble to earn a trip to the title round. That will have to do since he is out of the championship race.

 (W) Eddie Krawiec (Screamin' Eagle/Vance & Hine  (0.361)      7.098 @ 183.89mph
 (L) Andrew Hines (Screamin' Eagle/Vance & Hines  (0.0070      7.609 @ 168.79mph

Hines was ahead a the hit by almost four tenths of a second but some thing happened to his bike and Krawiec takes the win...Oh, and the Motorcycle Championship. Rivas is not in position to set an ET record for bikes and I believe he's 25 points behind. Whew, like is wearing out my feeble mind! Rivas has lane choice in the final.
 
Final Round of Pro Stock Motorcycle

(W) Chris Rivas (Drag Specialties/S&S/G2 Buell)    (0.026)      6.929 @ 191.95mph
 (L) Eddie Krawiec (Screamin' Eagle/Vance & Hine (0.025)      7.009 @ 190.46mph

The new champ is out to face Rivas in the final. You have to believe he'd like to put the punctuation marks on this event with a win. Not going to happen. Krawiec becomes the first Pro to win a title without winning an event since Rob Bruins in 1979. Bruins did it in Top Fuel. Rivas runs the quickest pass of the weekend but falls a handful of points short of the title.

Pro Stock Car.

Jeg Coughlin sealed the title after qualifying was complete. Lucky for him his performance  on sunday did not affect his title position.  In Round 1 he lost

(W) Allen Johnson (Mopar/J & J Racing Stratus)  (0.032)      6.646 @ 207.59mph
(L) Jeg Coughlin (Jegs.com Cobalt)                  (0.006)      6.673 @ 206.76mph

Great 0.006 RT for Coughlin at the green and he is able to stay out in front to past the 1000-ft. lights. Your 2008 Champion is out in round one as AJ motors on by.

Allen Johnson's MOV: 0.0011 seconds (approximately 4 inches). Allen Johnson's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.019), 330 ft(-0.008), 660ft(-0.003), 1,000ft(-0.001).

Allen Johnson's incremental times: 60ft-0.996 sec., 330ft-2.784, 660ft-4.275/165.07 mph, 1,000ft-5.561
Jeg Coughlin's incremental times: 60ft-1.003 sec., 330ft-2.802, 660ft-4.298/164.67 mph, 1,000ft-5.586

Final Round

(W) Greg Anderson (Summit Racing Equipment GXP) (0.020)      6.615 @ 209.20MPH
(L) Kurt Johnson (AC Delco Cobalt)                      -0.004(R)    6.627 @ 209.01MPH

Anderson is 25 - 16 against Johnson in prior events and Anderson is 12 - 3 against Johnson in prior final rounds.Johnson throws it away before the green with a rare red light. It's only -0.004, but it costs him the second place points in the 2008 Championship. He would have needed a perfect run, as Anderson wins both of the Pomona races for the forth time. He has a respectable 0.020 light and proceeds to run both top speed and low ET in the easy win.

Top Fuel Dragster

Dave Grubnic lost in the first round .
"Hot" Rod Fuller has been wanting to beat Schumacher before Alan Johnson left Schumacher.  He got his chance in the second round.

(W) Rod Fuller (Caterpillar Dragster)                  ( 0.043)      3.862 @ 313.66mph
(L) Tony Schumacher (U.S. Army Dragster)        (0.062)      3.853  @ 315.56mph

The Cat of Australia dragster is off the line first and just has to stay there to get the hole shot win over the 2008 TF Champion. Rod Fuller's incremental margins: 60ft(0.014), 330 ft(0.010), 660ft(0.009), 1,000ft(0.019). MOV: 0.0105 seconds (approximately 5 feet).


I guess the good side won over the dark side.
I guess Tony wasn't able to spank Rod like a " circus monkey " this time.
Congrats Rod for beating him.  Look forward to seeing Tony being beaten like a "circus monkey" next year.

Final Round

 (W) Larry Dixon (U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Dragste (0.0390    3.833 @ 300.93mph
 (L) Rod Fuller (Caterpillar Dragster)                   (0.047)      3.839 @ 310.48mph

Dixon gets a 0.008 advantage off the line and begins to just march away down the track to take the close win. Larry Dixon's MOV: 0.0144 seconds (approximately 7 feet).

It gets spectacular after the 1000-ft. lights, when the engine and maybe the clutch blows up BIG TIME! The car is still blazing, as he stops on the track and jumps out, arms in the air.

Funny Car

Going into the first round of eliminations there were 5 drivers in contention for the title.
Cruz Pedregon, Tim Wilkerson,  Robert Hight, Tony Pedregon and Jack Beckman.
Cruz was the first title contender  to run

(W) Cruz Pedregon (Advance Auto Parts Solara)   (0.110)      4.142 @ 301.47mph
 (L) Jerry Toliver (Rockstar Energy Drinks Charg   (0.057)      5.380 @ 144.63mph

With that win, Pedregon reduced the number of drivers  who could win the title from 5 to 3,  Tony Pedregon and Jack Beckman were out of the running now.  Then next up to the line was another title  contender in Tim Wilkerson.

(W) John Force (Castrol GTX Mustang)             -0.024     4.226 @  258.27mph
 (L) Tim Wilkerson (Levi, Ray & Shoup Impala)    -0.026(R)  4.161 @ 304.19mph

Force is racing this round for Hight to give his teammate a chance in the title fight.  Oh my...this was a double redlight and the worst one went to Wilkerson. He outran Force but Force went red .002 seconds later than he did.

Then Robert Hight had to win  to keep his title hopes alive.
 
(W) Tony Pedregon (Herzog/Q Horsepower Impala)  (0.074)      4.252 @ 272.61mph
(L) Robert Hight (AAA of So. Cal Mustang)             (0.043)      4.443 @ 251.34mph

Pedregon is 10 - 6 against Hight in prior events but few rounds have been bigger.  If Pedregon wins he clinches the championship for his brother. Tire smoke was involved in both lanes but Hight was the first to lose traction at about 150ft. He fell back just in time to see T.Ped strike the tyres. Pedregon crosses the stripe first

Cruz wins his second title 16 years after his first title.

Final Round

(W) Cruz Pedregon (Advance Auto Parts Solara)   (0.058)      4.087 @ 303.30mph
(L) Ron Capps (NAPA Auto Parts Charger)            (0.109)      4.078 @ 304.53mph

 C.Ped has the season title in the bag and now looks to close it out in style. Capps was late...no other way to say it. Pedregon wins the event title on a holeshot to close out a great season for both he and his team. His Third win  in a row.

Congrats to all the champs for the 08 season.
Tony Schumacher- Top Fuel Dragster
Cruz Pedregon- Funny Car
Jeg Coughlin - Pro Stock Car
Eddie Krawiec- Pro Stock Motorcycle

On a side note. I Feel for Tim Wilkerson .  If  the "playoff" system was not in use Tim would have won the Funny Car title after qualifying for this event.  Oh well.  Come back next year ( even though you will be in a ford body) and kick some butt.

*ALL TIMES, TEAMS, RACE INFO AND MORE CAN BE FOUND AT*

http://nhra.com/
 

[a152004]

Final Points  Standings ( top 22 only)
Top Fuel                                           Funny Car

1 Tony Schumacher 2703                1 Cruz Pedregon  2561   
2 Larry Dixon          2445                2 Tim Wilkerson   2468 
3 Cory McClenathan 2406               3 Jack Beckman  2457 
4 Hillary Will           2405                4 Robert Hight    2442
5 Antron Brown      2370                5 Tony Pedregon 2440 
6 Rod Fuller          2368                 6 Ashley Force    2385   
7 Brandon Bernstein 2327              7 John Force       2303 
8 Doug Herbert     2307                 8 Ron Capps      2302   
9 Doug Kalitta     2209                  9 Mike Neff        2284 
10 Dave Grubnic 2194                  10 Gary Densham 2217   
11 J.R. Todd 983                         11 Melanie Troxel 932   
12 Morgan Lucas 966                   12 Bob Tasca III 893 
13 Bob Vandergriff Jr. 842             13 Del Worsham 862 
14 Troy Buff 478                         14 Gary Scelzi 817   
15 Steve Torrence 372                 15 Jerry Toliver 734 
16 Clay Millican 332                     16 Tony Bartone 615   
17 Alan Bradshaw 311                  17 Jim Head 606   
18 Urs Erbacher 190                   18 Tommy Johnson Jr. 578   
19 Steven Chrisman 185               19 Scott Kalitta 311   
20 Doug Foley 164                      20 Frank Hawley 235 
21 Luigi Novelli 123                     21 Bob Bode 200   
 T.J. Zizzo 123                          22 Jeff Arend 188 

Pro Stock Car                          Pro Stock Motorcycle

1 Jeg Coughlin    2523                1 Eddie Krawiec 2471
2 Greg Anderson 2487              2 Chris Rivas       2466
3 Kurt Johnson   2450                3 Matt Smith     2451
 4 Mike Edwards 2388               4 Andrew Hines   2334
5 Jason Line      2388               5 Angelle Sampey 2310
6 Dave Connolly 2383               6 Chip Ellis          2284
7 Allen Johnson 2363                7 Steve Johnson  2283
8 Greg Stanfield 2329               8 Craig Treble     2270
9 V. Gaines      2234                9 Karen Stoffer   2167
10 Ron Krisher 2158                 10 Matt Guidera   2156
11 Warren Johnson 970            11 Hector Arana   743
12 Justin Humphreys 937          12 Mike Berry     514
13 Jim Yates  811                   13 Angie McBride 477
14 Larry Morgan 790               14 Junior Pippin 468
15 Johnny Gray 722                 15 Shawn Gann 366
16 Rickie Jones 625                 16 Wesley Wells 290
17 Vinnie Deceglie 300             17 Joe DeSantis 281
18 Max Naylor 289                   18 Michael Phillips 218
19 John Nobile 285                  19 Peggy Llewellyn 205
20 Steve Spiess 246               20 David Hope 183
21 Richie Stevens Jr. 234         21 Ryan Schnitz 132
22 Matthew Hartford 227         22 Paul Gast 94

*MORE  AT *
http://www.nhra.com/content/news/34135.htm


NHRA POWERade Series champs are crowned; Neff is named top rookie

Tony Schumacher, who became the first Top Fuel driver in NHRA history to win five consecutive POWERade Series world championships with a record-setting season, headlined the four world-championship winning drivers crowned Monday evening during the 2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series awards ceremony at the Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City.

Three other NHRA POWERade Series world champions – Cruz Pedregon, Jeg Coughlin and Eddie Krawiec -- also were presented checks and trophies for their achievements during the 2008 POWERade Countdown to the Championship.

Schumacher received a check for $500,000 from NHRA and POWERade for winning the Top Fuel world championship. It was Schumacher's fifth consecutive crown and his sixth title overall. Schumacher drove his Alan Johnson-tuned U.S. Army dragster to a category record 15 victories during the season and dominated competition in the 7,000 horsepower category from start to finish.

Pedregon earned his second Funny Car series crown, and first since the 1992 season, by winning the final three races of the season in the Countdown to 1 playoffs behind the wheel of his Rahn Tobler-tuned Advance Auto Parts Toyota Solara. He earned $500,000 from NHRA and POWERade for the title. 

Coughlin took his second consecutive and fourth overall Pro Stock world championship title with a solid Countdown to 1 effort, driving his Jegs.com Chevy Cobalt to three victories during the year, including a critical win at the penultimate race in Las Vegas in October. The Delaware, Ohio driver was presented a $250,000 check from NHRA and POWERade.

Krawiec earned his first NHRA POWERade Series world championship in Pro Stock Motorcycle and became the second driver in NHRA history to win a series title without winning a race during the season, joining 1979 Top Fuel champ Rob Bruins. Krawiec rode his Screamin' Eagle Vance & Hines Harley Davidson to four runner-up finishes – all during the Countdown to 1 playoffs -- to take home the $75,000 payday from NHRA and POWERade.

Funny Car driver Mike Neff won the $20,000 Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future Award, which recognizes NHRA's rookie of the year.  A panel of the nation's most prominent motorsports journalists selected Neff, who traded in his crew chief wrench for a pair of driving gloves in 2008. He was the only rookie candidate who qualified for the Countdown to 1. His season highlights included three runner-up finishes and two No. 1 qualifying awards behind the wheel of his Old Spice Ford Mustang. It is the third time in the last four years that a driver from John Force Racing has won the Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future Award, as Neff joins '07 winner Ashley Force and '05 winner Hight. Other nominees for the prestigious award included Bob Tasca in Funny Car, Steve Torrence in Top Fuel, Rickie Jones in Pro Stock and Junior Pippin in Pro Stock Motorcycle.

NHRA Full Throttle Pit Crew Challenge season awards, recognizing the most consistently quick teams during qualifying throughout the year, were presented to Schumacher's U.S. Army Top Fuel team ($25,000) led by crew chief Johnson; Ashley Force's Castrol GTX Ford Mustang Funny Car team ($25,000) led by Dean Antonelli; Kurt Johnson's ACDelco Chevy Cobalt Pro Stock team ($15,000); and Andrew Hines' Screamin' Eagle Vance & Hines Pro Stock Motorcycle team ($5,000) led by Byron and Matt Hines.

Chevrolet won the NHRA Manufacturers Cup for the 17th time, an NHRA record.  NHRA Pro Owner's Cups were presented to Don Schumacher (Top Fuel); Cruz Pedregon (Funny Car); and Victor Cagnazzi (Pro Stock). Also as part of the evening, the late Scott Kalitta was honored with a moving video tribute.

*MORE AT*

http://www.nhra.com/content/news/34196.htm

and

http://nhra.com/

[the chad]

well thats the end of the NHRA season... I was really into earlier this year. But when the move came to 1000ft i simply lost interest..

I JUST CANNOT RELATE TO 3.8 SECOND TIMES!!!! 

a mate of mine was at the NHRA round in Seattle and the Sarge ran a stout 3.7 and Al Johnson was interviewed and told the crowd it would have been a low 4.4!!! ahhhhhhh that would drive you insane haha the entire crowd sighed haha

anyway, a turbulent year it was... a few sad deaths. Engell in pro mod, and recently a TA/FC driver, whos name escapes me. but none more so that Scott Kalitta, that rocked the sport deeply.

great seeing Hillary Will do so well, cannot wait to see her on Dec 26 at WSID!!!

finally it was great seeing the success of the Aussie Harker family. what a great job they did!

bring on 2009... Al Johnson and Schumacher split up and hopefully a return to the QTR mile... (but i wont hold my breath)

a152004 thanks again for the great updates mate  top job... the NHRA is an amazing form of motorsport and its good that it gets a run on this forum

[a152004]

well thats the end of the NHRA season... I was really into earlier this year. But when the move came to 1000ft i simply lost interest..
I JUST CANNOT RELATE TO 3.8 SECOND TIMES!!!! 

Was watching the NHRA  Race Day show before the final eliminations on ESPN on wednesday and going by the reaction of the crowd most of them would rather go back to  1320ft.  Hopefully they do go back soon.

great seeing Hillary Will do so well, cannot wait to see her on Dec 26 at WSID!!!

was reading that she may not be back next year if her team can not find a major sponsor.
Seriously thinking of making a trip to Sydney to see her run . 

finally it was great seeing the success of the Aussie Harker family. what a great job they did! 
bring on 2009... Al Johnson and Schumacher split up
a152004 thanks again for the great updates mate  top job... the NHRA is an amazing form of motorsport and its good that it gets a run on this forum

No worries Chad. Hopefully they updates have been of a reasonable standard for the non NHRA fans to get interested in it.
Hopefully the Harkers do even better next year.
Would love to see Schumacher really struggle next year and see how he and his father react to that.  Hopefully the kalitta camp can bounce back after all that they went through  this year and fight for race wins and  titles.

Bring on 09...........

[Mothers Worry]

Great set of posts on the Pomona final.

I agree with Chad. The 1000 foot rule is bogus racing.