IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THIS: World Titles to be Crowned at Historic Auto Club NHRA Finals in Pomona

POMONA, CA – October 18, 2022 – (Motor Sports NewsWire) – A thrilling, record-breaking 2022 season in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series is set for one unbelievable final race, as world champions will be crowned at the 57th annual Auto Club NHRA Finals at legendary Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Nov. 10-13.

It is the final of 22 races during the 2022 season and the sixth race in what has been a memorable Countdown to the Championship playoffs. But championship dreams only become a reality for one driver in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle, setting the stage for one of the biggest weekends of the year.

The Auto Club NHRA Finals is also a points-and-a-half race, meaning just about anything can happen and drivers will undoubtedly leave it all on the line for a chance at championship glory. With four rounds of qualifying taking place over Friday and Saturday, and eliminations on Sunday at the famed Auto Club Raceway, fans will be treated to all the thrills and emotion of 11,000-horsepower, 330-mph action during a historic, championship-themed weekend.

Steve Torrence (Top Fuel), Bob Tasca III (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Angelle Sampey (Pro Stock Motorcycle) won last year’s race, while Torrence, Ron Capps (Funny Car), Anderson and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) all claimed world titles in Pomona as well. This season’s event will be broadcast on Fox Sports 1 (FS1), including eliminations at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 13 as a terrific 2022 campaign will end in style at Pomona.

Torrence continued his impressive late-season track record at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona a year ago, picking up the victory en route to his fourth straight world championship. The Texan is aiming for a fifth and currently trails points leader Justin Ashley, who won in Pomona earlier this year, by 96 points heading to the final stretch of the season. But the class is absolutely loaded with contenders, including Brittany Force and Mike Salinas, who each have four wins this season. Force currently sits second in points, 82 out of first, while Antron Brown, a three-time world champ, is third, trailing Ashley by 84 points.

In Funny Car, Robert Hight would like nothing more than to clinch a fourth world championship at a track that means a great deal to him. He’s won five times in Pomona and boasts a remarkable eight victories in 2022 and could earn his first-ever sweep of both races at the prestigious track. It’s been the best season in his standout career, but his lead remains a slim 10 points against defending world champion Ron Capps, who recently won in Dallas. Others to watch include Matt Hagan, who is 78 points back of Hight, 16-time world champ John Force, defending event winner Bob Tasca III, Alexis DeJoria, J.R. Todd, Tim Wilkerson, and Cruz Pedregon.

Pro Stock’s Erica Enders has delivered a dominant 2022 season, rolling to eight victories and a commanding points lead in the talent-filled class. Heading into the final three races of the year, Enders’ lead stands at more than 160 points over Elite Motorsports teammate Aaron Stanfield. But Enders will need to finish the job to earn a fifth world title, which means warding off a standout group of competitors that also includes defending world champ Greg Anderson, who earned his 100th win this year, Dallas Glenn, rookie Camrie Caruso, Kyle Koretsky, Matt Hartford, and Troy Coughlin Jr.

Matt Smith closed out his fifth world championship with a Pomona triumph, something he would love to replicate as the Pro Stock Motorcycle points leader inches toward a sixth world title. His five wins at the race are also tied for the most in class history, but competition is at an all-time high in the two-wheeled category. The points lead has changed at six of the past seven races and Smith leads Joey Gladstone by just 51 points. Others to watch include Angie Smith, as well as multi-time champ Eddie Krawiec, veteran Steve Johnson, Angelle Sampey and Jerry Savoie.

The Auto Club NHRA Finals also will feature thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, which includes some of the sport’s top drivers, and a special Jr. Dragster Shootout. After nitro qualifying on Friday and Saturday, the “Walking Tall” P.T. Cruiser Wheelstander exhibition featuring “Nitro Mike” will put on a show to close out the day. Fans can also attend Nitro School on Saturday to learn more about how the cars operate and reach their thrilling speeds, while an autograph session will take place on Friday at the Toyota Display with Toyota-sponsored drivers.

Race fans at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona can enjoy the special pre-race ceremonies that introduce and celebrate each of the drivers racing for the prestigious Wally on Sunday and includes the fan favorite SealMaster Track Walk. The final can’t-miss experience of any NHRA event is the winner’s circle celebration on Sunday after racing concludes, where fans are invited to congratulate the Auto Club NHRA Finals event winners and world champions.

As always, fans also get an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet in Pomona. This unique opportunity gives fans a unique chance to see teams in action and service their hot rods between rounds, get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers, and more. Fans can also visit NHRA’s popular Nitro Alley and Manufacturers Midway, where sponsors and race vendors create an exciting atmosphere that includes interactive displays, simulated competitions, merchandise, food, and fun for the entire family. The new Pep Boys midway display includes tire change challenges, oil change challenges, a slot car track, and much more, adding even more excitement to the midway.

NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 12:00 and 3:15 p.m. PT on Friday, Nov. 11, and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, Nov. 12 at 11:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11:00 a.m. PT on Sunday, Nov. 13. Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 2:00 p.m. ET. on Sunday, leading into eliminations at 4:00 p.m. ET.

To purchase tickets to the Auto Club NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, call 800-884-NHRA (6472) or visit www.nhra.com/tickets. Children 12 and under are admitted free in general admissions areas with a paid adult. For more information about NHRA, visit www.nhra.com.

About Camping World Holdings, Inc.

Camping World Holdings, Inc., headquartered in Lincolnshire, IL, (together with its subsidiaries) is America’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, and 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 associates 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 42 states, Camping World has grown to become the prime destinations 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 22 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 D-Wagon, Constant Aviation 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 over 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 Auto Club Raceway at Pomona in Southern California. For more information, log on to www.NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

Source: National Hot Rod Association

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