The NHRA, National Hot Rod Association, Camping World Series drag racing series season finale in Pomona, CA saw a veteran racer capture his first championship and some repeat champions taking home titles.

On race day in Pomona earlier this month, it came down to three drivers in Top Fuel with a shot at the title: Leah Pruett, four-time champion Steve Torrence, and Doug Kalitta. As the elimination rounds wound down Torrence found himself squaring off against Pruett in the semifinal round with the winner advancing to take on Kalitta in the final round. The victor there would take both the event trophy and the championship trophy. Pruett proved to be up for the challenge as she took out Torrence with her 3.717 @ 331 mph to Torrence’s 3.765 @ 318 mph. Pruett came to the final round with her eyes on her first championship but Kalitta also had his eye set on his first title. Kalitta picked up the victory with a 3.673 @ 334 mph run. After 25 years of heartache and tragedy Doug Kalitta captured his first career Top Fuel Championship. He had been runner up on five separate occasions; 2003, 2004, 2006, 2016, and 2019. He is the nephew of Hall of Fame Drag Racer Connie (the Bounty Hunter) Kalitta and is the first Kalitta since his late cousin Scott Kalitta to win the Top Fuel crown. Scott, who captured back-to-back Top Fuel titles in 1994 and 1995, tragically lost his life in a qualifying run in 2008 at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in New Jersey.

The Funny Car title came to a conclusion during round two of eliminations. The three drivers battling it out for the title, Matt Hagan, Robert Hight and Bob Tasca, were all within 17 points or one round win of each other. Tasca was the first of the three to make his way to the starting line against two-time series champion Cruz Pedregon. As Tasca’s Ford Mustang neared the halftrack mark his tires started to lose traction and all he could do was watch as Pedregon and his championship hopes sailed off in the distance. Hagan was the next contestant on track and he came into the round first in points. Hagan faced off with Blake Alexander and both cars started to lose traction near the halftrack marker but Alexander was able to recover slightly quicker and ended Hagan’s day. Now all Hagan could do was watch what Robert Hight and his AAA Chevy Camaro would do. Hight, much like Hagan and Tasca before him, lost traction near halftrack and watched Chad Green drive away, thus handing the championship to Hagan. This is Hagan’s fourth career title. Green went on to score his first ever event win by defeating Tim Wilkerson in the final round. Green’s son Hunter also won in Top Alcohol dragster just 30 minutes prior.

In Pro Stock, Erica Enders tied one of the legends of the sport, Warren Johnson, by capturing her sixth career championship. Only Bob Glidden has more titles than Enders and Johnson in pro stock with 10 to his credit. Aaron Stanfield scored the event win at Pomona by defeating Matt Hartford in the final round.

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Gaige Herrera flat out dominated all season long scoring 11 wins and 14 poles in 15 races. He compiled a 46-4 round record on race day and holds nine of 10 class elapse time records. Herrera won the season finale in Pomona as well.