At Pomona, California, home of the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series 64th annual Lucas Oil Winternationals, history was made with John Force Racing scoring its 300th Funny Car victory.
Jack Beckman was behind the wheel to capture the victory over the weekend. John Force Racing has had numerous drivers over the years, John Force himself won 157 races before being sidelined in June of 2024 due to an on-track incident. The list of team drivers who have all contributed to the team’s incredible win record includes Tony Pedregon, Gary Densham, Oakdale’s own Eric Medlen, three-time champion Robert Hight, Ashley Force Hood, Mike Neff, Courtney Force, Austin Prock and Fast Jack Beckman.
Beckman picked up where he left off in Pomona. He won the season finale there in November and his team owner won this race last March. Beckman proved to be the most consistent car all weekend qualifying in the fourth position with a string of mid- to low-3.8 second runs. On Saturday, Beckman picked up his first #2Fast2Tasty Challenge win. On Sunday he would take on Jeff Deihl in the opening round of eliminations. Beckman put up the second quickest run of the day with a 3.847 et @ 327 mph to defeat Deihl. In round two Beckman took down the season opener winner Chad Green with the quickest run of the round, a 3.859 @ 331 mph to Green’s 3.901 et @ 329 mph. In the semifinal round, he would take down four-time series champion Matt Hagan. Again, Beckman had the quickest run of the round with a 3.86 et @ 328 mph to Hagan’s 3.915 et @ 316 mph to advance to the final round. In the finals, Beckman would square off against Daniel Wilkerson in his SCAG Ford Mustang. Beckman once again left the starting line first and never looked back as Wilkerson lost traction shortly off the starting line. Beckman’s car began to lose traction around 300 feet down track, but he adjusted and cruised his way to a 4.015 et @ 302 mph to score his 36th career victory.
In Top Fuel, Clay Millican and his Mighty Fire Breaker/Parts Plus dragster captured the event win in a blaze of glory over three-time NASCAR champion turned Top Fuel pilot Tony Stewart. Millican earned his spot in the final round by eliminating a tire smoking Shawn Reed in the opening round with a 3.874 et @ 282 mph. Round two Millican took down Jasmine Salinas with a hole shot victory cutting a .058 rt to Salinas’s .082. Millican’s 3.717 et @313 mph was just enough to hold off Salinas’s quicker 3.707 et @ 331 mph run. In the semifinal round he would match up against two-time series champion and number one qualifier Brittany Force. Millican again was quick off the starting line and posted a solid 3.75 et @ 324 mph on the board as Force was slightly tardy off the starting line but had made it up before the engine went silent just past half track and her Monster Energy dragster coasted to a 3.812 et @ 263 mph. With that, Millican would face Stewart for the championship Wally Trophy. Millican once again left the starting line first and pulled away as Stewart lost traction just before 300 feet, then as Millican’s dragster went past halftrack he lost traction and then exploded the engine into a fireball, but he was able to coast across the finish line to score his eighth career victory.
In Pro Stock, six-time series champion Greg Anderson appeared to be unstoppable, especially at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip. Anderson set the track record in the opening round against Mason McGaha with a 6.477 et @ 211 mph and then again in the final round against KB Titan Racing teammate Dallas Glenn with a stellar run of 6.476 et at 210.90 in his HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro. This was Anderson’s 16th career win at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip and 106th overall.
The next stop for the NHRA Mission Foods Drag racing Series is the NHRA 4-wide Nationals in Las Vegas April 11-13.
