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    NHRA’s Winternationals finish with a bang
    • April 3, 2023

    Funny Car driver J.R. Todd explodes the engine of his hot rod during the opening round of eliminations at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Sunday, Apr. 2, 2023. Todd was not injured. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Funny Car winner Matt Hagan celebrates as he climbs out of his hot rod after winning the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Sunday, Apr. 2, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Top Fuel winner Justin Ashley celebrates with race fans after winning the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Sunday, Apr. 2, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Drag racing fans take part in the track walk prior to the opening round of eliminations at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Sunday, Apr. 2, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Funny Car drivers John Force, left, and Bob Tasca, right, gather for pre race cermonies prior to the opening round of eliminations at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Sunday, Apr. 2, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Drag racing fans take part in the track walk prior to the opening round of eliminations at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Sunday, Apr. 2, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Pieces from J.R. Todd’s Funny Car fly through the air after Todd exploded his engine and the body off his hot rod during the opening round of eliminations at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Sunday, Apr. 2, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Funny Car driver J.R. Todd explodes the body off of his hot rod as he races against Alex Laughlin during the opening round of eliminations at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Sunday, Apr. 2, 2023. Todd was not injured. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Funny Car driver J.R. Todd explodes the body off of his hot rod during the opening round of eliminations at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Sunday, Apr. 2, 2023. Todd was not injured. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Funny Car driver J.R. Todd explodes the body off of his hot rod during the opening round of eliminations at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Sunday, Apr. 2, 2023. Todd was not injured. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Pro Stock winner Dallas Glenn celebrates with race fans after winning the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Sunday, Apr. 2, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Funny Car driver Matt Hagan, left, defeats Blake Alexander, right, during the opening round of eliminations at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Sunday, Apr. 2, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Michelle McCarson, from Rancho Cucamonga, holds her daughter Maggie, 4, as they watch driver introductions prior to the opening round of eliminations at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Sunday, Apr. 2, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Top Fuel driver Justin Ashley heads down track during the opening round of eliminations at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Sunday, Apr. 2, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Pro Stock winner Dallas Glenn, left, defeats Matt Hartford, right, after winning the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Sunday, Apr. 2, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Funny Car driver J.R. Todd explodes the body off of his hot rod during the opening round of eliminations at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Sunday, Apr. 2, 2023. Todd was not injured. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Funny Car driver J.R. Todd explodes the body off of his hot rod during the opening round of eliminations at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Sunday, Apr. 2, 2023. Todd was not injured. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Funny Car driver J.R. Todd explodes the body off of his hot rod during the opening round of eliminations at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Sunday, Apr. 2, 2023. Todd was not injured. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Funny Car driver J.R. Todd explodes the body off of his hot rod as he races against Alex Laughlin during the opening round of eliminations at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Sunday, Apr. 2, 2023. Todd was not injured. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Top Fuel drivers Steve Torrence, left, and Josh Hart, right, head down track during the opening round of eliminations at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Sunday, Apr. 2, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    An NHRA Safety Safari member pauses for a moment of prayer prior to the opening round of eliminations at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Sunday, Apr. 2, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Top Fuel driver Clay Millican, right, looses his engine as he falls to Mike Salinas, left, during the opening round of eliminations at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Sunday, Apr. 2, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Top Fuel drivers Brittany Force, left, Steve Torrence, center, and Tony Schumacher, right, gather for pre race cermonies prior to the opening round of eliminations at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Sunday, Apr. 2, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Top Fuel Steve Torrence, left and Antron Brown, right, laugh with each other during pre race cermonies prior to the opening round of eliminations at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Sunday, Apr. 2, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Top Fuel drivers Clay Millican, left, Brittany Force, second from left, Steve Torrence, center, and Antron Brown, right, gather for pre race cermonies prior to the opening round of eliminations at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Sunday, Apr. 2, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Top Fuel driver Antron Brown heads down track during the opening round of eliminations at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Sunday, Apr. 2, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Funny Car driver Terry Haddock heads down track during the opening round of eliminations at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Sunday, Apr. 2, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Funny Car driver Tim Wilkerson heads down track during the opening round of eliminations at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Sunday, Apr. 2, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Funny Car driver Ron Capps prepares for the semi final round of eliminations at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Sunday, Apr. 2, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Top Fuel driver Brittany Force receives encouragement from a team member prior to the semi final round of eliminations at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Sunday, Apr. 2, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Top Fuel driver Justin Ashley heads down track during the opening round of eliminations at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Sunday, Apr. 2, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Top Fuel teammates Brittany Force, right, and Austin Prock, left, head down track in the semi final round of eliminations at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Sunday, Apr. 2, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Funny Car driver Ron Capps, near lane, and Bob Tasca, far lane, head down track during the semi final round of eliminations at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Sunday, Apr. 2, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Funny Car driver Matt Hagan, near lane, and Terry Haddock, far lane, head down track during the semi final round of eliminations at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Sunday, Apr. 2, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Top Fuel drivers Antron Brown, near lane, and Justin Ashley, far lane, head down track in the semi final round of eliminations at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Sunday, Apr. 2, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Funny Car driver Ron Capps does his burnout prior to the semi final round of eliminations at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Sunday, Apr. 2, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Top Fuel driver Austin Prock, left, defeats Leah Pruett, right, during the opening round of eliminations at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Sunday, Apr. 2, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Top Fuel teammates Brittany Force, near lane, and Austin Prock, far lane, head down track in the semi final round of eliminations at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Sunday, Apr. 2, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Top Fuel teammates Brittany Force, near lane, and Austin Prock, far lane, head down track in the semi final round of eliminations at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Sunday, Apr. 2, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Funny Car driver Terry Haddock, left, upsets Robert Hight, right, during the opening round of eliminations at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Sunday, Apr. 2, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Funny Car driver Cruz Pedregon heads down track during the opening round of eliminations at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Sunday, Apr. 2, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Funny Car driver Matt Hagan heads down track during the second round of eliminations at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Sunday, Apr. 2, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Top Fuel driver Justin Ashley, near lane heads down track against opponent Krista Baldwin during the opening round of eliminations at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Sunday, Apr. 2, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Funny Car driver Ron Capps, right, defeats Paul Lee, left, during the opening round of eliminations at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Sunday, Apr. 2, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Top Fuel driver Brittany Force prepares for the semi final round of eliminations at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Sunday, Apr. 2, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Funny Car winner Matt Hagan celebrates as he climbs out of his hot rod after winning the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Sunday, Apr. 2, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Funny Car winner Matt Hagan, right, is congratulated by opponent Ron Capps, left, after winning the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Sunday, Apr. 2, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Funny Car driver Matt Hagan heads down track during the opening round of eliminations at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Sunday, Apr. 2, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

    Funny Car winner Matt Hagan celebrates with race fans after winning the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the newly renamed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona on Sunday, Apr. 2, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

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    POMONA – For the second day in a row, Funny Car racer J.R. Todd played a starring role at the 63rd NHRA Winternationals at the In-N-Out Pomona Dragstrip – if you’re talking about video footage and still photos.

    In the first round of Sunday’s elimination finals, Todd’s car blew up in explosion as massive as any you will see in drag racing, or any kind of racing.

    This was one day after Todd was involved in a spectacular crash with 73-year-old John Force, requiring Todd to use a spare car on Sunday. Now that one is destroyed too.

    The day ended in spectacular fashion as well, with some of the most prominent names in drag racing squaring off in the Top Fuel and Funny Car semifinals and finals.

    In Top Fuel, John Force Racing teammates Austin Prock and Brittany Force squared off in one semifinal, with Prock winning when Force spun her tires. In the other semifinal, up-and-coming superstar Justin Ashley beat Antron Brown by .006 seconds. Ashley and Brown call each other teammates since they are in the second year of an analytical alliance.

    Ashley, currently the hottest driver in drag racing, won his second straight event when he nipped Prock by .049 seconds in the final. It made for a clean sweep Ashley, with the 29-year-old from Farmingdale, N.Y., also qualifying No. 1 and winning the new Saturday challenge event involving the four semifinalists from the previous week.

    “I have to say this was the best weekend of my career,” Ashley said.

    In Funny Car, longshot Terry Haddock’s surprisingly good day ended when he lost to Matt Hagan in the semifinals. In the other semifinal, defending national champion Ron Capps eliminated Bob Tasca III.

    Hagan, of Tony Stewart Racing, then nipped Capps by .436 seconds for the event title. Hagan had qualified 10th. “It was a tough climb back,” Hagan said.

    The Pro Stock winner was Dallas Glenn of Mooresville, N.C.

    As for Funny Car’s Todd, a veteran driver from Jupiter, Fla., he was fortunate to escape both weekend incidents uninjured.

    He was particularly lucky on Saturday. He instinctively pulled his parachutes as he approached the finish, slowing just enough to avoid getting T-boned in full force by Force’s car that had bounced around and into Todd’s lane and then got tangled up in his chutes before crashing into a concrete protective wall.

    Todd crossed the finish line in 3.935 seconds at 328.86 mph, good enough for him to qualify as the fifth-seeded driver going into Sunday’s action, which for Todd didn’t last long.

    “If you knew a weekend like this was coming, you’d rather stay home,” he said. “More than anything, I just hate all the work that’s been created for all my guys – especially right before an off weekend. They needed an off week. Now they have a ton more work to get done before we go to Las Vegas.”

    Todd’s first round opponent, 12th-seeded Alex Laughlin, was eliminated in the second round by Tasca.

    The biggest upset during the first round in Funny Car came when John Force Racing’s Robert Hight, seeded third and the defending Winternationals champion, spun his tires and allowed veteran Terry Haddock to advance. Haddock, 52, who has been racing off and on since 1998, was seeded 14th.

    Haddock, from Temple, Texas, made it to the semifinals, where he lost to Hagen.

    John Force, driving his spare car and seeded 16th, spun his tires and lost to top-seeded Cruz Pedregon in Sunday’s first round. That left Force Racing without a driver in Funny Car.

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    “Robert and I suffered the same fate,” Force said at the time. “At least we still have Brittany (Force’s daughter) and Austin Prock in Top Fuel.”

    An oddity this event was that the top executive at a sponsoring body was also a competitor. Lynsi Snyder, the owner and president of In-N-Out, raced in the top sportsman class, losing in the first round of the finals on Friday. It had been five years since the lifelong drag racing enthusiast had competed.

    “It took a long time for me to get my car,” she quipped.

    Besides being the naming sponsor of Pomona’s legendary raceway, In-N-Out is also the name sponsor for the NHRA Finals, which are annually run here in November.

    The multiyear deal was announced last November. Snyder said Denny Warnick, the company’s chief operating officer, alerted her of the possible deal with the NHRA.

    “I get a lot of messages thrown my way,” Snyder said. “But when Denny Warnick passed along one from the NHRA, I took notice.”

    ​ Orange County Register 

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