POMONA >> You can forgive the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series competitors in Pro Stock if they slap the sides of their heads and say, “Hopefully, not again.”
The new season started Sunday at Auto Club Raceway in the same fashion the 2016 campaign ended, with the Ken Black Racing entries of Jason Line and Greg Anderson in the finals. But unlike last November’s season finale, it was Line who won the event, defeating Anderson in the finals.
However, all three KBR Chevrolets were in the semifinals, with Line taking out teammate Bo Butner. Anderson beat two-time world champion Erica Enders in the other semi.
“It’s a good way to start the season,” Line said. “Anytime you come to Pomona and win, it’s great. I’m very excited, very happy and a little bit relieved. Just a great day for KB Racing and the Summit cars.
“To be able to come here and qualify one and two and finish one and two and have three cars in the semis, that’s just a big deal.”
It was the fifth Winternationals title for Line, who beat Val Smeland and rookie Tanner Gray before Butner. Anderson fought his way through Elite Motorsports entries Jeg Coughlin Jr. and Enders, who have seven world titles between them.
“The race was close but I believe that’s going to be the landscape of Pro Stock this year. It’s going to be extremely tough every round,” said Coughlin. “You can already tell there’s going to be little room for error anywhere.”
Enders is optimistic her Elite Motorsports team can recover after a dismal 2016.
“I’m pleased with my driving. I’m ready to keep knocking the rust off. It’s always hard when you’re out of the car for three months,” she said. “If you’re a pro golfer, you don’t go three months without picking up a club, but that’s what we all deal with every year.
“We’ll get back in the groove. I’m just excited to be going rounds again on Sunday.”
Perfect record
After Sunday’s first round, three drivers enjoyed perfect records in their respective classes.
Troy Coughlin Jr. won his first Top Fuel dragster round by defeating Shane Reed, 3.728 at 328.46. However, he was taken out by defending class champion Antron Brown in the second round, 3.733 at 325.69 to Coughlin’s 3.727 at 327.35.
In Pro Stock, third-generation driver Tanner Gray beat veteran Chris McGaha, 6.588 at 210.73 to 6.503 at 209.88. But in the second round, the high school senior was taken out by defending champ Jason Line, 6.558 at 210.97 to 6.604 at 210.18.
“I learned a lot this weekend. The best thing to do is to try and stay calm and relaxed,” said Gray. “The more pressure you put on yourself and the more you try to get amped up, the worse you do. It’s better being calm and relaxed and just doing your deal.
“That’s exactly how it was when I was racing dirt track and asphalt stuff.”
Funny Car driver J.R. Todd, making the switch from Top Fuel, won his first round in the class, and the 150th of his career by taking out veteran Tim Wilkerson, 3.902 at 330.72 to 6.970 at 112.50. In the second round, Todd’s win streak ended as Courtney Force put him on the trailer, 3.893 at 326.08 to 3.930 at 329.02.
Quotable
• “We’re just getting everything back together again. It’s like the first day of school after a long summer break. We have a few bugs to work out.” – Funny Car driver Alexis DeJoria, who missed the final two 2016 national events due to injuries.
• “I think it’s been pretty amazing the last seven years … I’ve been able to carry the banner for Mopar and I don’t know how many national records I’ve set, but we’ve laid down a lot of cool runs like that and put on a great show for fans that have paid their hard-earned money to come out here. You know they’re going to go back and that leaves an impression on them.” – Funny Car winner Matt Hagan
• “Tough finish to an outstanding weekend for the team. I am so proud of (crew chief) Jim Oberhofer and the whole Mac Tools Toyota group. We had stellar pass after stellar pass. I am already ready for Phoenix and hopefully a little of redemption.” – Top Fuel runner-up Doug Kalitta.
• “Our clutch package isn’t very friendly right now. Our car doesn’t lock the clutch up like our other two do, so we are going to change some stuff in the clutch. We are going to do that and we are probably going to change most of the clutch to where they are more like what our other (JFR) teams are running.” – Funny Car drivert Robert Hight.
• “The field has tightened up without a doubt and you are going to have to do a good job driving this year. Luckily, we did a good enough job today, the drivers were good, and we got the job done. It was a great day but I don’t want to hear people saying that we have a huge advantage.” – Pro Stock runner-up Greg Anderson.
• “We know that the championship starts here and we wanted to go as many rounds as possible and pick up some points. We lost a qualifying round and smoked the tires there in the second round, so not what we wanted. We just have to get re-focused for Phoenix now.” – Top Fuel driver Brittany Force.
• “Not a bad first Sunday, especially after the year we had last year. I’m extremely proud of my guys this weekend, as I always am. We are still a little bit behind the top cars but they can bet their butts we’re going to catch up and if anything they definitely know we’re here again.” – Pro Stock driver Erica Enders.
• “I couldn’t get the job done. The car’s running really good. It went down the race track every run. Courtney just ran quicker. She’s my youngest daughter of four, and she lives it and loves it just like (her sister) Brittany and just like (her sister) Ashley did.” – Funny Car driver John Force.
• “It’s not what we were looking for but I saw the improvement over the weekend. I’m looking forward to getting out to Phoenix and getting our other car back. I think it’s a little bit better and it’ll get us back on track.” – Funny Car driver Jack Beckman
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