KALITTA CLAIMS 2023 TOP FUEL CHAMPIONSHIP WITH POMONA VICTORY
Top Fuel veteran wins first NHRA championship in 26th season

POMONA, Calif. (November 12, 2023) – In a winner-take-all final round of the 2023 NHRA season, Doug Kalitta captured victory and his first career NHRA Top Fuel championship at Pomona. The Michigan-native entered the weekend second in points, but claimed victory in all four elimination rounds on Sunday, including defeating championship rival Leah Pruett in the finals, to be crowned the 2023 champion.

Torrence had his day ended in the semifinals, coming up just short of his fifth Top Fuel title and fifth in six years. Justin Ashley joined Torrence in the semifinals, and Billy Torrence and Antron Brown both made the second round appearances this afternoon.

In Funny Car, Ron Capps and J.R. Todd were eliminated in round one.

Toyota Post-Race Recap
|NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series
In-N-Out Pomona Dragstrip
Race 21 of 21

TOYOTA TOP FUEL FINISHING POSITIONS 

TOYOTA FUNNY CAR FINISHING POSITIONS 

TOYOTA QUOTES

DOUG KALITTA, Mac Tools Toyota Top Fuel Dragster, Kalitta Motorsports

TF Final Result: Winner

Can you take us through your emotions in winning your first NHRA championship?

“It’s hard to believe. I’ve about this opportunity. Just hats off to Alan (Johnson, crew chief), Brian (Husen, co-crew chief) and everyone on my Mac Tools Toyota team and all of the fans and all of the support I’ve received. We’re taking this baby back to Ypsilanti! Scott (Kalitta) has won this thing a couple of times and I’ll be wearing it proudly.“

STEVE TORRENCE, Capco Contractors Toyota Top Fuel Dragster, Torrence Racing

TF Final Result: Semi-finals

Take us through your day going for another championship.

“We didn’t get the championship, but I’m so proud of these Capco Contractors Toyota Dragster boys and what they were able to do this year. We’ve made big changes to our program the last two years, but we finished the season with one bad ass race car. A little disappointed, sure, but I’m excited about next season with the Mission Foods people coming on board in a big way.”

About Toyota 

Toyota (NYSE:TM), creator of the Prius hybrid and the Mirai fuel cell vehicle, is committed to building vehicles for the way people live through our Toyota and Lexus brands, and directly employs more than 63,000 people in North America (more than 49,000 in the U.S.).

Over the past 65 years, Toyota has assembled nearly 45 million cars and trucks in North America at the company’s 13 manufacturing plants. By 2025, the company’s 14th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles.

Through our more than 1,800 North American dealerships (nearly 1,500 in the U.S.), Toyota sold more than 2.4 million cars and trucks (more than 2.1 million in the U.S.) in 2022, of which, nearly one quarter were electrified vehicles (full battery, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fuel cell).

Michigan-Native Earns Toyota’s Seventh NHRA Top Fuel Driver’s Championship

POMONA, Calif. (November 12, 2023) – Toyota driver Doug Kalitta captured the 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Top Fuel Championship Sunday night with a victory in the season finale at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip. This is the first championship in Kalitta’s career after he finished second in the points standings six times over the previous 26 years he’s competed in Top Fuel. Kalitta’s triumph also marks the seventh Top Fuel title for Toyota since they joined the category in 2007.

TOYOTA FAST FACTS

Kalitta won three races, advanced to two final rounds and scored 29 round wins over 21 races to claim the Top Fuel Championship. He also claimed two No. 1 qualifying positions this season.
Kalitta’s three wins this season were at Maple Grove, Charlotte and Pomona. His victory at Maple Grove was the 50th of his career.
Kalitta is tied for fifth all-time in Top Fuel victories with 52 overall. He also sits tied for 14th in all-time NHRA victories.
This championship is the fifth for Kalitta Motorsports and their third in Top Fuel.
The 59-year-old is the fifth Toyota driver to capture a Top Fuel championship and first since 2016. He joins Larry Dixon (2010), Del Worsham (2011), Antron Brown (2012, 2015, 2016) and Shawn Langdon (2013) as NHRA Top Fuel champions for Toyota.

TOYOTA QUOTES

DOUG KALITTA, Mac Tools Toyota Top Fuel Dragster, Kalitta Motorsports

“It’s hard to believe. I’ve dreamed about this opportunity. Just hats off to Alan (Johnson, crew chief), Brian (Husen, co-crew chief) and everyone on my Mac Tools Toyota team, as well as all the fans and all the support I’ve received over the years. We’re taking this baby back to Ypsilanti! Scott (Kalitta) has won this thing a couple of times and I’ll be wearing it proudly.“

CONNIE KALITTA, Owner, Kalitta Motorsports

“I’m so happy for Doug and his wife (Josie). I’m so happy for the crew and the work they’ve done. They’re responsible for a lot of this!“

PAUL DOLESHAL, group manager, motorsports, Toyota Motor North America

“Doug Kalitta is one of the classiest and most talented racers NHRA has ever seen and to be a part of his first championship is an incredible honor for Toyota Racing. We’ve loved every moment of working with Doug and Kalitta Motorsports and this championship is another feat we’ve accomplished together. We look forward to celebrating with the Doug, his family and the entire team, and we couldn’t be happier for them to have achieved this long-awaited title.“

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for more than 65 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.

Toyota directly employs more than 63,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 45 million cars and trucks at our 13 manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 14th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 24 electrified options.

POMONA, Calif. (Nov. 11, 2023) – Pro Stock Motorcycle’s Gaige Herrera clinched his first career NHRA world championship on Saturday at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip, wrapping up his dominant title run to close out qualifying at the 58th annual In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals.

Austin Prock (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car) and Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) also qualified No. 1 at the 21st race of the 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season, and the last of six races in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.

Herrera extended his single-season class record by earning his 14th No. 1 qualifier thanks to a track-record run of 6.661-seconds at 203.80 mph on his Mission Foods/Vance & Hines Suzuki. He will try to pick up his 11th win of the season on Sunday, which would also set a single-season record in the class, but earned the bigger prize on Saturday by picking up a world championship for the first time.

It is the finishing touch on one of the most incredible seasons in Pro Stock Motorcycle history, as Herrera dominated from start to finish. He won the first three races of the season, added another three-race winning streak during the year and then has won the last four races during the Countdown to the Championship. Add in a multitude of track records, the quickest run in class history and a sweep of the Western Swing and Herrera enjoyed a simply spectacular season.

“This is very special, it doesn’t feel real to be honest,” Herrera said. “The amount of stuff we’ve accomplished this year and then wrapping it up getting the championship and then making a run like that the last qualifier, it’s been an incredible season. I’m living the dream. Last year I was just out here trying to have a little fun and to get the opportunity to ride for the legends that I grew up watching race and looked up to, to be able to race with them and accomplish what we have, it’s very surreal.

“Wrapping up the championship here in my hometown, this is something I’ll never forget, winning the championship in my first full season. There is a lot that has been accomplished this year, but this definitely tops it all. This is something I’ll always cherish and remember. You never can take anything for granted. The bike has been flawless all year. We set a lot of records and it just goes on and on. It’s crazy.”

Funny Car title contender Robert Hight powered to a massive run to close out qualifying under the lights in Pomona, going 3.844 at 331.61 in his 11,000-horsepower Automobile Club of Southern California/Cornwell Tools Chevrolet Camaro SS. It’s the seventh No. 1 of the season for the three-time world champ and the 84th in his career, and he also moved past Bob Tasca III into second place in the process. He’s just 12 points behind leader Matt Hagan – with Tasca only 17 points out of first – heading into what will be one of the most thrilling finishes in class history on Sunday.

For Hight, he’s eager for the opportunity to compete for a world championship, knowing full well it’s going to be a monumental battle against Hagan and Tasca – one that could come down to the final run of the year in a winner-take-all scenario. Hight and Hagan, who is the No. 5 qualifier could meet in the semifinals, while Tasca, who qualified sixth, is on the other side of the bracket.

“That’s big [going around Tasca],” Hight said. “Let’s say it comes down to Tasca and I, and we lose the same round, you want to go ahead of him in qualifying, so this was big for us today. I was a little nervous yesterday after screwing up the first run and then we had to make a safe run last night. We knew what we had to do but you have to execute, too. This is a tricky place, no matter what anybody tells you, this place is tricky. Two separately different lanes and when it’s good, it’s really good and you have to be aggressive and get after it. I’m really proud of the whole Auto Club team.

“It’s exactly what we needed to do and it might have a little effect going into Sunday. We’ve got a little momentum and we’re running well but we have to race smart tomorrow. Probably not going to sleep tonight, but at least we’re qualified.”

John Force qualified second with a 3.862 at 328.14 and defending event winner Cruz Pedregon took third after a run of 3.865 at 330.15.

In Top Fuel, Austin Prock made a huge move to close out qualifying as he looks to close out the season with a win for a second straight year, taking the No. 1 spot with a run of 3.636 at 332.92 in his 11,000-horsepower Montana Brands/Rocky Mountain Twist dragster. It’s the second top qualifier this season for Prock and the third in his career as he made a career-best pass to close out the session. The run also gives him a strong opportunity to end his year on a high note – much like he did in 2022.

“I love it anytime I come here,” Prock said. “As a kid growing up, ditching school and flying out here to come watch my dad race and race for championships and Wallys, it was always a treat to me. It’s got a special place in my heart and it just seems like we’ve a little mojo going here. If we go to the final round tomorrow that’s five consecutive final rounds for me here in Pomona, so I hope I can make that a fact.

“Our focus every weekend is ‘Go for a Wally,’ and I feel like we finally have a racecar that can do it. We’ve been picking at it slowly throughout the year and the last two or three races, the thing has really come around. The first run today, that was the first time we’ve smoked the tires in like eight runs. We just lowered the boom a little bit there and hopefully we can keep that up tomorrow. It would be huge to win the last race of the year here and get to enjoy it for a few months.”

Prock’s run bumped Torrence and his 3.641 at 335.65 to second, with Antron Brown taking third with a 3.663 at 335.82. Torrence takes the points lead into Sunday, holding a 12-point advantage over Doug Kalitta, 39 points over Leah Pruett, 76 points over Mike Salinas and 88 points over Justin Ashley. Torrence and Pruett could potentially meet in the semifinals, while Kalitta, Ashley and Salinas are all on the other side of the bracket.

Pro Stock’s Greg Anderson couldn’t have asked for a better performance in qualifying as he looks to make a last-ditch attempt for a world championship, making the quickest run in all four sessions, including a 6.492 at 211.69 in his HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro to close out the day. It’s his third No. 1 spot this season and the 124th in his standout career.

But he’ll need a near-miracle to get past Erica Enders on championship Sunday in Pomona. He trails by 104 points and Enders simply needs to win in the opening round against Fernando Cuadra to clinch her sixth world championship. Cuadra would have to knock off Enders and Anderson would have to win the race to clinch a sixth title, but he was thrilled with how his team performed during qualifying. He also has a chance to pick up his 15th career win at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip on Sunday.

“Super pumped with the job these guys have done this weekend,” Anderson said. “I love this racetrack, I love racing here. Just the atmosphere, it’s the perfect time to go down that racetrack and it’s a great feeling. The cars just love it and the drivers love it. You saw it today, a lot of great runs in the class and I had two of them. I’m extremely pleased with my racecar this weekend. It’s made four as-close-to-perfect runs you can make and you don’t get that very often. It set the table to do the best job we can do tomorrow.

“We don’t have any clue how it’ll turn out, but I’ve got a great horse, I’ve got a great racecar and if nothing else, I have a great chance to win. We’ll give it all we’ve got tomorrow and let the cards fall where they may.”

Kyle Koretsky qualified second with a 6.497 at 211.00 and Enders’ 6.500 at 210.31 puts her third heading into raceday.

Eliminations for the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals begin at 11 a.m. PT on Sunday at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip.

POMONA, Calif. — Sunday’s first-round pairings for eliminations for the 58th annual In-N-Out NHRA Finals at In-N-Out Pomona Dragstrip, the final of 21 events in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series. Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Saturday. DNQs listed below pairings.

Top Fuel — 1. Austin Prock, 3.636 seconds, 332.92 mph vs. 16. Ron August, 3.858, 312.64; 2. Steve Torrence, 3.641, 335.65 vs. 15. Spencer Hyde, 3.778, 323.27; 3. Antron Brown, 3.663, 335.82 vs. 14. Clay Millican, 3.758, 306.19; 4. Mike Salinas, 3.663, 332.26 vs. 13. Josh Hart, 3.742, 329.50; 5. Doug Kalitta, 3.666, 333.25 vs. 12. Dan Mercier, 3.716, 328.14; 6. Leah Pruett, 3.674, 336.40 vs. 11. Tony Schumacher, 3.703, 331.20; 7. Billy Torrence, 3.682, 336.74 vs. 10. Shawn Langdon, 3.693, 330.07; 8. Justin Ashley, 3.682, 334.73 vs. 9. Brittany Force, 3.682, 328.14.

Funny Car — 1. Robert Hight, Chevy Camaro, 3.844, 331.61 vs. 16. Jeff Diehl, Toyota Camry, 4.025, 306.74; 2. John Force, Camaro, 3.862, 328.14 vs. 15. Terry Haddock, Ford Mustang, 4.019, 306.95; 3. Cruz Pedregon, Dodge Charger, 3.865, 330.15 vs. 14. Bobby Bode, Mustang, 3.995, 283.25; 4. Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.869, 328.46 vs. 13. Alex Laughlin, Charger, 3.993, 320.36; 5. Paul Lee, Charger, 3.869, 327.03 vs. 12. Blake Alexander, Mustang, 3.981, 319.52; 6. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 3.880, 336.99 vs. 11. Steven Densham, Mustang, 3.949, 318.02; 7. Ron Capps, Toyota GR Supra, 3.882, 332.02 vs. 10. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.928, 328.22; 8. Chad Green, Mustang, 3.893, 325.06 vs. 9. J.R. Todd, GR Supra, 3.904, 326.08.

Did Not Qualify: 17. Del Worsham, 4.062, 312.78; 18. Jason Rupert, 4.066, 317.42; 19. Alexis DeJoria, 5.365, 139.91.

Pro Stock — 1. Greg Anderson, Chevy Camaro, 6.492, 211.30 vs. 16. Mason McGaha, Camaro, 6.540, 210.64; 2. Kyle Koretsky, Camaro, 6.497, 211.00 vs. 15. Cristian Cuadra, Ford Mustang, 6.538, 210.67; 3. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.500, 210.31 vs. 14. Fernando Cuadra, Mustang, 6.535, 206.45; 4. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.500, 210.01 vs. 13. Fernando Cuadra Jr., Mustang, 6.525, 211.30; 5. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.501, 211.10 vs. 12. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.522, 211.49; 6. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.507, 209.20 vs. 11. Jerry Tucker, Camaro, 6.521, 210.24; 7. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.510, 211.03 vs. 10. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.519, 209.85; 8. Bo Butner, Camaro, 6.510, 210.08 vs. 9. Camrie Caruso, Camaro, 6.517, 211.33.

Did Not Qualify: 17. Eric Latino, 6.547, 209.79; 18. Kenny Delco, 6.548, 210.21; 19. Chris McGaha, 6.550, 209.62; 20. Steve Graham, 6.594, 208.59; 21. Val Smeland, 6.597, 205.54; 22. Joey Grose, 6.616, 207.24; 23. Alan Prusiensky, 6.629, 206.54.

Pro Stock Motorcycle — 1. Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.661, 203.80 vs. 16. Blaine Hale, Suzuki, 6.983, 192.17; 2. Hector Arana Jr, EBR, 6.729, 201.28 vs. 15. Katie Justice, Suzuki, 6.972, 189.90; 3. Eddie Krawiec, Suzuki, 6.734, 201.94 vs. 14. Chris Bostick, EBR, 6.952, 193.96; 4. Kelly Clontz, Suzuki, 6.751, 200.26 vs. 13. Angie Smith, Buell, 6.944, 166.91; 5. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.765, 197.59 vs. 12. Ryan Oehler, EBR, 6.929, 195.19; 6. Marc Ingwersen, EBR, 6.776, 199.55 vs. 11. John Hall, EBR, 6.825, 198.47; 7. Jianna Evaristo, Suzuki, 6.784, 197.77 vs. 10. Matt Smith, Suzuki, 6.810, 198.32; 8. LE Tonglet, Suzuki, 6.791, 199.20 vs. 9. Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 6.797, 197.25.

Did Not Qualify: 17. Lance Bonham, 7.070, 186.77.

TORRENCE QUALIFIES SECOND FOR SUNDAY’S FINALE AT POMONA
Top Fuel championship rival, Doug Kalitta, qualifies fifth. Antron Brown slots in third

POMONA, Calif. (November 11, 2023) – Going for his fifth Top Fuel championship, Steve Torrence led the Toyota Dragster charge by qualifying second for tomorrow’s NHRA season finale at Pomona. Torrence ran a blistering 3.641 elapsed time, only outdone by Austin Prock’s 3.636 time in the evening session. Torrence stayed atop the points after qualifying, now leading the standings by 12 points heading into Sunday.

One of Torrence’s championship competitors, Doug Kalitta, captured the fifth qualifying position after a solid day of runs on the California strip. Antron Brown had a solid Saturday in his Toyota Dragster, qualifying third.

In Funny Car, Ron Capps qualified seventh and J.R. Todd ended the day ninth.

Toyota Post-Qualifying Recap
RACE
In-n-Out Pomona Dragstrip
Race 21 of 21

TOYOTA TOP FUEL QUALIFYING POSITIONS 

TOYOTA FUNNY CAR QUALIFYING POSITIONS 

TOYOTA QUOTES

STEVE TORRENCE, Capco Contractors Toyota Top Fuel Dragster, Torrence Racing

TF Qualifying Result: 2nd

How was your day today and what are you looking forward to tomorrow in racing for another championship?

“I’m really confident and calm going into this situation, probably a little more than I should be. But I’ve been in this scenario a bunch and I’m very confident in the Capco Contractors Toyota Dragster. My guys have given me a great car and I feel I’m driving well. We smoked the tires on both runs today, but I know what the guys were trying to do, and we were pushing the envelope to see what we could get away with. Two great runs yesterday as well to build off for tomorrow and the conditions are going to be awesome.  To have the opportunity to compete for a championship, going up against Doug (Kalitta) and Leah (Pruett) and having to go down to the wire, it’s going to be who lives the longest tomorrow – that’s who will be the champion. I have a lot of confidence in my boys that we’ll be there tomorrow.”

DOUG KALITTA, Mac Tools Toyota Top Fuel Dragster, Kalitta Motorsports

TF Qualifying Result: 5th

What are your thoughts heading into tomorrow going for your first championship?

“Yeah, I think we’re in a great spot for tomorrow. Each time we’ve gone down the track, we’ve done a little bit better, with a 3.666 speed there at the end. That kind of surprised me there as a lot of guys were going faster during that last session. My guys gave me a good Mac Tools Toyota Dragster this weekend. We’ll line it up tomorrow and see what we can do with it!”

About Toyota 

Toyota (NYSE:TM), creator of the Prius hybrid and the Mirai fuel cell vehicle, is committed to building vehicles for the way people live through our Toyota and Lexus brands, and directly employs more than 63,000 people in North America (more than 49,000 in the U.S.).

Over the past 65 years, Toyota has assembled nearly 45 million cars and trucks in North America at the company’s 13 manufacturing plants. By 2025, the company’s 14th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles.

Through our more than 1,800 North American dealerships (nearly 1,500 in the U.S.), Toyota sold more than 2.4 million cars and trucks (more than 2.1 million in the U.S.) in 2022, of which, nearly one quarter were electrified vehicles (full battery, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fuel cell).

The GETTRX Pro Stock NHRA All-Star Callout set for Chicago, with GETTRX Pro Stock Motorcycle NHRA All-Star Callout to follow in Sonoma

INDIANAPOLIS (Nov. 11, 2023) – NHRA officials announced a multi-year agreement today that GETTRX, powered by Global Electronic Technology and the fastest name in credit card processing, has been named the title sponsor for the NHRA All-Star Callout specialty races in both Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle, starting with the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.

The exciting bonus races feature a unique callout format, pitting eight standouts against each other with big money and bragging rights on the line in both Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle.

The GETTRX NHRA Pro Stock All-Star Callout will take place on Saturday, May 18 as part of the Gerber Collision & Glass NHRA Route 66 Nationals presented by PEAK Performance at Route 66 Raceway in Chicago.

In the two-wheeled category, the GETTRX NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle All-Star Callout happens on Saturday, July 27 at Sonoma Raceway as part of the DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals. Combined, the total purse for both specialty races will be nearly $140,000.

“GETTRX is proud of our increased presence with the NHRA,” GETTRX Founder and CEO Steve Bryson said. “We see this as a natural progression. The GETTRX All-Star Callouts reward drivers for being aggressive and celebrate the teams by putting them in the spotlight and giving them a unique prize to race for. In many ways this is no different than how we reward our teammates, the companies that trust us to handle their payment processing, with exceptional service, competitive processing rates and advanced technology.”

This season, Camrie Caruso won the Pro Stock All-Star Callout in Chicago, getting past a loaded lineup that included a matchup with Aaron Stanfield in the final round. Gaige Herrera closed out his dominant double-up weekend in Sonoma with a victory in the Pro Stock Motorcycle All-Star Callout, defeating Angie Smith in the championship round of the specialty race.

In 2024, the stakes will be even higher thanks to the Callout sponsorship from GETTRX, adding even more intensity to the thrilling one-day specialty race. It makes for a thrilling highlight to the race weekends in Chicago and Sonoma, with competitors earning qualifying points throughout the year and next year to qualify for the eight-person field.

From there, the top-seeded racer will get the first selection to call out their first-round opponent, with the callouts going down the line until the first-round matchups are set. Then, the competitor who makes the quickest winning run will select their semifinal opponent, locking in the other matchup as well. With the selections taking place the previous day in front of the fans, it adds a must-see dynamic to the race weekend.

“The All-Star Callout events have added such an interesting aspect to our specialty races and it’s exciting to announce GETTRX as the title sponsor for our Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle categories,” said Brad Gerber, NHRA vice president and chief development officer. “GETTRX has shown such tremendous passion for NHRA drag racing and a willingness to be involved in the sport in different ways, and this is a great way for them to showcase their brand and also offer their support to our incredible racers in Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle.”

GETTRX was founded by Bryson nearly 30 years ago and has soared to the forefront of the FinTech space. The company has earned a strong reputation of supporting its clients and fostering a family-first attitude. GETTRX also works closely with a number of NHRA teams and has seen the benefits of working with the NHRA.

“GETTRX continues to see incredible value in drag racing,” GETTRX President Scott Byson said. “Our partnerships with U.S. Nationals winner Matt Hartford and Hector Arana, Jr. provide us a platform to show racing and automotive businesses what other industry leaders have long known: Trust GETTRX with your merchant support needs, and you’ll always have a friendly team to back you up. Winning in business is no different than winning in racing, it’s all about the team you’ve built working together. We know we’ve assembled the best team at GETTRX.”

For more information on GETTRX, visit www.GETTRX.com. For more information about the NHRA, including the 2024 schedule, visit www.NHRA.com.

About GETTRX

GETTRX, powered by Global Electronic Technology, offers state-of-the-art payment processing solutions for businesses across the United States. A company rooted in ecommerce, GETTRX was at the forefront of the online shopping boom and has relationships with some of the top ecommerce platforms in the world. With a full team of processing and technology experts based in Torrance, Calif., GETTRX has solutions to help improve any business model, with a proprietary platform suited for any business vertical. For more information, visit www.GETTRX.com.

About Mission Foods

MISSION®, owned by GRUMA, S.A.B. de C.V., is the world’s leading brand for tortillas and wraps. MISSION® is also globally renowned for flatbreads, dips, salsas and Mexican food products. With presence in over 112 countries, MISSION® products are suited to the lifestyles and the local tastes of each country. With innovation and customer needs in mind, MISSION® focuses on the highest quality, authentic flavors, and providing healthy options that families and friends can enjoy together. For more information, please visit https://www.missionfoods.com/

About Camping World Holdings, Inc.

Camping World Holdings, Inc., headquartered in Lincolnshire, IL, (together with its subsidiaries) is the World’s largest retailer of RVs and related products and services. Our vision is to build a long-term legacy business that makes RVing fun and easy. Our Camping World and Good Sam brands have been serving RV consumers since 1966. We strive to build long-term value for our customers, employees, and shareholders by combining a unique and comprehensive assortment of RV products and services with a national network of RV dealerships, service centers and customer support centers along with the industry’s most extensive online presence and a highly trained and knowledgeable team of employees serving our customers, the RV lifestyle, and the communities in which we operate. We also believe that our Good Sam organization and family of programs and services uniquely enable us to connect with our customers as stewards of the RV enthusiast community and the RV lifestyle. With RV sales and service locations in 43 states, Camping World has grown to become the prime destination for everything RV. For more information, visit www.campingworld.com.

About NHRA

Headquartered in San Dimas, Calif., NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 21 national events featuring the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series, NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, FuelTech NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Type A Motorsports, Flexjet NHRA Factory Stock Showdown™ and Top Fuel Harley Series. NHRA provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and NHRA Street Legal™. NHRA also offers the NHRA Jr. Street® program for teens and the Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League® for youth ages 5 to 17. With 120 Member Tracks, NHRA allows racers to compete at a variety of locations nationally and internationally. NHRA’s Youth and Education Services® (YES) Program reaches over 30,000 students annually to ignite their interest in automotive and racing related careers. NHRA’s streaming service, NHRA.tv®, allows fans to view all NHRA national events as well as exclusive features of the sport. In addition, NHRA owns and operates three racing facilities: Gainesville Raceway in Florida; Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park; and In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Southern California. For more information, log on to www.NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

POMONA, Calif. (Nov. 10, 2023) – Funny Car points leader Matt Hagan made a pair of strong qualifying runs to open the final race weekend of the 2023 NHRA season, powering to the provisional No. 1 position for Tony Stewart Racing on Friday at the 58th annual In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals at In-N-Out Pomona Dragstrip.

Steve Torrence (Top Fuel), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are also the provisional No. 1 qualifiers at the 21st race of the 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season, and the sixth of six races in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.

Hagan put together a run of 3.869-seconds at 328.46 mph in his 11,000-horsepower Dodge Direct Connection Charger SRT Hellcat, moving into the No. 1 spot and putting him in line for his second top qualifier of the season and 51st in his career. Hagan, Bob Tasca III and Robert Hight entered the weekend separated by just 17 points as Hagan seeks his fourth career world title and the first for Tony Stewart Racing.

“This is what I worked for all year long – to be able to do this, go down that racetrack, and have a fast racecar underneath me,” Hagan said. “That’s what excites me and keeps me coming back every year. I keep crawling back in this racecar because I get to create these moments. I truly wake up every morning going damn this is my job and I get to do this, and I’m right here in this fight.

“I truly love pulling the helmet on and having an opponent that makes me rise to the occasion. I don’t care if it’s on me. For me, it’s turning it into something that’s exciting energy instead of nervous energy. It’s taken me a long time to learn how to do that as a competitor.”

Paul Lee took the second spot with a run of 3.875 at 322.58 and Tasca is currently third thanks to his run of 3.880 at 336.99. Hight is fourth with a 3.898.

In Top Fuel, Steve Torrence opened up what he hopes is a championship-winning weekend with a spectacular start, going 3.641 at 335.65 in his 11,000-horsepower Capco Contractors/Toyota dragster. Should that hold, the four-time world champion would earn his fourth No. 1 qualifier of the season and the 38th in his career. More importantly, it’s a great way to kick off the weekend in what could be an incredible finish in the category. Torrence, Doug Kalitta and Leah Pruett are all within striking distance of each other heading into the weekend and each delivered standout runs during the second qualifying session under the lights. But it was Torrence who delivered the biggest, something he hopes is the sign for the rest of the weekend.

“That’s a huge boost for us,” Torrence said. “The last four, five, six races, the car has been really good and getting better. We took a year and developed what we’re doing, maybe a year and a half. We were always the car that ran well in mediocre, hot conditions and tricky racetracks but not powerful or strong enough to go .64, .65, .63. It took a lot of time and effort to get there and I feel very confident that when conditions are like they are now, we’ve got one of the strongest cars if not the strongest.

“That’s big for me. Not that it boosts your head up, but it definitely gives you a mental confidence and somewhat of an advantage going into a round where, hey we’ve got to throw down and we can throw down more than they can. I would dare to say that I have the best racecar I’ve had in a long time, probably the quickest and fastest I’ve ever had. If not the best at the racetrack, one of the best.”

Kalitta is currently in second with a 3.671 at 336.99 and Pruett’s 3.676 at 332.84 puts her third.

Looking to stay alive in the championship hunt, Pro Stock’s Greg Anderson made a stellar run to close out Friday, going 6.495 at 211.69 in his HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro. He entered the weekend trailing Erica Enders by 114 points, but closed the gap a little with two strong runs to open qualifying. Enders can still clinch the title on Saturday if she gains seven or more qualifying points than Anderson. If not, the championship would be decided the next day and Anderson hopes he can stay in the mix for at least a couple more days as both standouts race for their sixth world championship.

“The points deal is not exactly playing in my favor right now, but it’s like the old line from ‘Dumb and Dumber, ‘So you’re saying there’s a chance,’” Anderson said. “Until they tell me there’s not a chance, I’m not leaving. I’m going to give it everything I’ve got. I need to find a way to have a great run in qualifying and score bonus points and not lose bonus points to Erica. That would put her another round ahead and make it to where it’s locked up.

“That’s No. 1 goal, qualify ahead of her and not lose bonus points. Day one in the books, mission accomplished. We did great today, we did all we could do today. I’ve got all the confidence in the world that this team will do all we can possibly do. You just never know what’s going to happen. It’s not over until it’s over. We’re going to keep swinging until they tell us it’s over.”

Troy Coughlin’s 6.500 at 210.01 puts him in the second spot, while Enders moved to third in the final session after going 6.500 at 210.31.

Gaige Herrera will clinch his first Pro Stock Motorcycle world championship on Saturday and enjoyed a strong Friday as well in Pomona, going to the provisional No. 1 spot on his Mission Foods/Vance & Hines Suzuki with a run of 6.721 at 200.59. Should that hold, Herrera would extend his PSM single-season record with his 14th top spot in 15 races, one of the many examples of his dominance in 2023. Herrera will wrap up his world title at the conclusion of qualifying on Saturday on the strength of 10 wins during his record-setting season.

“It’s really starting to set in, what all has been accomplished,” Herrera said. “We’re basically wrapping up the championship tomorrow, and it’s a lot to take in. I was talking to a good friend of mine and he was like a year ago at this time, did you think you’d be in the position you’re in? That’s a definite no. Even though I joined one of the best teams out here, you can’t expect to have a season like this. It’s just, it’s remarkable. It’s incredible. I’m literally living the dream I had as a little kid and I’m just having fun with it. I don’t think it can get any better than this.

“I’m definitely thinking about the championship, but I’m not even nervous about this, I’m more worried about the banquet on Monday.”

Hector Arana Jr. is currently in the second spot after going 6.729 at 201.28 and Eddie Krawiec, who is seeking his 50th career win, is third thanks to a 6.742 at 201.52.

Qualifying continues at 12:00 p.m. PT on Saturday at the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip.

POMONA, Calif. — Friday’s results after the first two of four rounds of qualifying for the 58th annual In-N-Out NHRA Finals at In-N-Out Pomona Dragstrip, final of 21 events in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday’s final eliminations.

Top Fuel — 1. Steve Torrence, 3.641 seconds, 335.65 mph; 2. Doug Kalitta, 3.671, 336.99; 3. Leah Pruett, 3.676, 332.84; 4. Billy Torrence, 3.682, 336.74; 5. Justin Ashley, 3.682, 334.73; 6. Brittany Force, 3.682, 328.14; 7. Antron Brown, 3.689, 332.02; 8. Austin Prock, 3.696, 329.34; 9. Tony Schumacher, 3.703, 331.20; 10. Shawn Langdon, 3.713, 325.37; 11. Dan Mercier, 3.716, 328.14; 12. Clay Millican, 3.758, 306.19; 13. Spencer Hyde, 3.921, 254.18; 14. Ron August, 3.964, 298.73; 15. Mike Salinas, 4.825, 148.30; 16. Josh Hart, 4.873, 150.58.

Funny Car — 1. Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 3.869, 328.46; 2. Paul Lee, Charger, 3.875, 322.88; 3. Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 3.880, 336.99; 4. Robert Hight, Chevy Camaro, 3.898, 332.02; 5. J.R. Todd, Toyota GR Supra, 3.904, 326.08; 6. Ron Capps, GR Supra, 3.908, 332.43; 7. Steven Densham, Mustang, 3.949, 318.02; 8. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 3.961, 317.64; 9. John Force, Camaro, 3.967, 323.66; 10. Blake Alexander, Mustang, 3.981, 319.52; 11. Bobby Bode, Mustang, 3.995, 283.25; 12. Terry Haddock, Mustang, 4.019, 306.95; 13. Jeff Diehl, Toyota Camry, 4.025, 306.74; 14. Jason Rupert, Mustang,

4.066, 317.42; 15. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 4.148, 316.82; 16. Del Worsham, Toyota Supra, 5.090, 147.28.

Not Qualified: 17. Alexis DeJoria, 5.365, 139.91; 18. Alex Laughlin, 6.537, 99.91; 19. Chad

Green, 7.669, 84.38.

Pro Stock — 1. Greg Anderson, Chevy Camaro, 6.495, 211.69; 2. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.500, 210.31; 3. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.500, 210.01; 4. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.501, 211.10; 5. Bo Butner, Camaro, 6.510, 210.08; 6. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.511, 209.69; 7. Kyle Koretsky, Camaro, 6.515, 210.11; 8. Camrie Caruso, Camaro, 6.518, 210.54; 9. Jerry Tucker, Camaro, 6.521, 210.24; 10. Fernando Cuadra Jr., Ford Mustang, 6.526, 209.49; 11. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.528, 210.21; 12. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.532, 209.82; 13. Fernando Cuadra, Mustang, 6.535, 206.45; 14. Cristian Cuadra, Mustang, 6.538, 210.67; 15. Mason McGaha, Camaro, 6.540, 210.64; 16. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.546, 209.98.

Not Qualified: 17. Chris McGaha, 6.550, 209.56; 18. Eric Latino, 6.557, 208.17; 19. Kenny Delco, 6.569, 209.88; 20. Steve Graham, 6.594, 208.59; 21. Val Smeland, 6.597, 205.54; 22. Alan Prusiensky, 6.629, 206.35; 23. Joey Grose, 6.630, 205.51.

Pro Stock Motorcycle — 1. Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.721, 200.59; 2. Hector Arana Jr, EBR, 6.729, 201.28; 3. Eddie Krawiec, Suzuki, 6.742, 201.52; 4. Kelly Clontz, Suzuki, 6.751, 200.26; 5. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.765, 197.59; 6. Jianna Evaristo, Suzuki, 6.784, 197.77; 7. Marc Ingwersen, EBR, 6.793, 197.28; 8. Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 6.797, 197.25; 9. John Hall, EBR, 6.825, 196.87; 10. Matt Smith, Suzuki, 6.828, 198.38; 11. LE Tonglet, Suzuki, 6.832, 198.82; 12. Ryan Oehler, EBR, 6.941, 194.38; 13. Chris Bostick, EBR, 6.952, 193.96; 14. Katie Justice, Suzuki, 6.972, 189.90; 15. Blaine Hale, Suzuki, 7.007, 191.40; 16. Angie Smith, Buell, 7.027, 156.52.

Not Qualified: 17. Lance Bonham, 7.070, 186.77.