The latest update as of November 14, 2024

59th annual In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals - In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip - Pomona, CA

The first qualifying session for Top Alcohol Dragster and Funny Car is in the books. Only 19 of the 21 dragsters that attempted to make a pass got down the track, as two were shut off after their burnouts. There were some tire smokers (Nick Spiegel, Casey Grisel, and Hunter Green), a centerline teasing pass (Joey Severance), and a big wheelstand (Kim Parker). But there were some quick runs, one of which was a career best, as Madison Payne blasted out a 5.161 - 277.37 to put an exclamation mark on the "Muscle Milk" team's late season surge.

Other notable passes in the first session was the first car down the track, Aaron Oliveraz in a McPhillips car at 5.240, to set the early pole position, then Mitch Myers with his best pass of the season at 5.288 - 270.27, and the consistently quick blown alky car of Jon Bradford at 5.278 - 273.00. Near the end of the session, Julie Nataas joined the 5.20 club with a solid 5.290 - 273.00, that broke up the batch of 5.30-ish paases; five in all. The round closed with the presumptive world champion, Shawn Cowie, laying down a "safe" 5.254 - 277.32 to slot into the #3 spot on the ladder. It should be noted that the only car to run faster than Cowie, and only by .05 of a mph, was Payne's top qualifying effort in her A/Fuel car.

Only 11 of the 13 Funny Cars entered appeared for their first session, and like the dragsters, it was a mix of hits and misses. Until the last two pairs of the session ran, low e.t. was held by Shane Westerfield at 5.500, while Ulf Leanders sat in the #2 spot at 5.544. Both were very good, but hardly earthshaking efforts. Then Annie Whiteley at 5.473, and Brian Hough with an even better 5.466 set the high marks for the round. Until Sean Bellemeur trumped them both with a #1 qualifying 5.455, while his running mate, Maddi Gordon, fell to early tire shake and coasted to a 6-second clocking.

With two more sessions on tap tomorrow, and the final rounds of the Winternationals and Las Vegas second race on the line as part of the second and third qualifying sessions, Friday will be a very interesting day with some serious drama as qualifying wraps up. We'll be back tomorrow with as many updates as we have time for, so stay tuned.