POMONA, Calif. – Reigning Top Alcohol Funny Car National Champion Jonnie Lindberg raced to the win while Shawn Cowie returned to the national event winner’s circle for the first time since 2013 as they each scored at this weekend’s season opening Circle K NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.
Four Southern California racers also took home the coveted NHRA Wally trophy and Len Darnell, Vancouver, Wash., won the Top Fuel Harley class.
Lindberg, out of Sweden, opened the 2016 season as he did during his 2015 championship run taking the win here at historic Auto Club Raceway edging out John Lombardo Jr., in a classic 1-2 final round as both drivers qualified at the top of the field. Lindberg grabbed his third national event win driving his Chevy Monte Carlo to a 5.423 second lap at 271.90 mph to nip Lombardo’s 5.456, 272.31. Lombardo was looking for his eighth straight round win here in Pomona having won the 2015 season ending Auto Club NHRA Finals last November.
Cowie, Surrey, B.C., saved his best pass of eliminations for his final round match up with fellow Canadian and No. 1 qualifier Don St. Arnaud of Edmonton, Alb. St. Arnaud got the slight advantage off the line but Cowie quickly took the lead and raced to a 5.314 second lap at 272.23 mph.
Robert Naber, Doug Lambeck, Steve Williams and Jimmy DeFrank all won out of Southern California with Naber advancing to the final round in both Super Comp and Super Gas, looking for the exclusive double up.
Naber, Ontario, Calif., meet up with Williams, Beaumont, Calif., in Super Comp with Williams quickly ending Naber’s double up hopes, taking the win on a double breakout. Williams took the early lead with a .003 second reaction time and held on for his 10th win at the national event level.
Naber jumped out of his dragster and quickly returned to the starting line to face off with Mike Wiblishouser in Super Gas with his ’63 Corvette. Naber had no intention of going 0-2 on the day, posting a 9.901 second run on the 9.900 index for the win and his fourth NHRA national event trophy.
Perennial NHRA winner Dan Fletcher was in search of his second career double up as he knocked out Don Little in Stock Eliminator for his 95th national event win before taking on Lambeck in Comp Eliminator. The New York racer has 16 wins in Comp but will have to wait for 17 as Lambeck, Irvine, Calif., scored his 11th running 8.406, 158.61 to hold off Fletcher’s 8.027, 167.55. Lambeck’s dad Bob won the NHRA Winternationals in Stock Eliminator back in 1983.
DeFrank, Thousand Oaks, Calif., rounded out the Lucas Oil winner’s list taking home the trophy in Super Stock. The win is the second generation driver’s 19th and fifth Circle K NHRA Winternationals victory. DeFrank beat Fred Moreno, La Verne, Calif., in his Chevy Cobalt running 9.315, 119.52. Moreno left early with a red light foul start.
Darnell swept the table in the NHRA Harley-Davidson Drag Racing Series take both the number one qualifying spot and the event win on his ’14 Harley. Darnell would face off with Kevin Boyer in the final round with Darnell clocking in at 218.16 mph as he covered the quarter mile in 6.435 seconds. Boyer had problems on his run, shutting his bike off early and crossing the centerline at half-track.
Most of these racers will head to Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park for the next CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals, February 26-28.
The following are the final results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and the Circle K Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona:
TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
Shawn Cowie, 5.314, 272.23 def. Don St. Arnaud, 5.332, 279.85.
TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR
Jonnie Lindberg, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.423, 271.90 def. John Lombardo Jr., Chevy Camaro, 5.456, 272.83.
COMP ELIMINATOR
Doug Lambeck, Pontiac Sunfire, 8.406, 158.61 def. Dan Fletcher, Chevy Cobalt, 8.027, 167.55.
SUPER STOCK
Jimmy DeFrank, Chevy Cobalt, 9.315, 119.52 def. Fred Moreno, Ford Mustang, Foul – Red Light.
STOCK ELIMINATOR
Dan Fletcher, Chevy Camaro, 10.474, 128.36 def. Don Little, Dodge Challenger, 9.899, 130.67.
SUPER COMP
Steve Williams, Dragster, 8.895, 186.25 def. Robert Naber, Dragster, 8.880, 180.91.
SUPER GAS
Robert Naber, Chevy Corvette, 9.901, 160.23 def. Mike Wiblishouser, Corvette, Foul – Red Light.
TOP FUEL HARLEY
Len Darnell, Harley, 6.435, 218.16 def. Kevin Boyer, American, Foul – Centerline.
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