POMONA, CA – November 18, 2024 – (Motor Sports NewsWire) – Jack Beckman closed out the 2024 season NHRA season with a thrilling Funny Car victory on Sunday at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip, defeating John Force Racing teammate and world champion Austin Prock in the final round to close out the 59th annual In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals.
Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won the last of 20 races during the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season and the sixth race in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.
In the teammate versus teammate final round, Beckman went a career-best 3.812-seocnds at 327.35 mph in his 11,000-horsepower PEAK Chevrolet Camaro SS to defeat Prock and pick up his second win of the season since taking over driving duties for John Force in August. It’s been a magical ride for Beckman, a former world champion, who won his 35th career race on Sunday.
To get to the final round on Sunday, Beckman knocked off Terry Haddock, Blake Alexander and Ron Capps, ensuring Prock and Force/Beckman finished first and second in the loaded Funny Car ranks.
“It doesn’t get any higher than this,” Beckman said. “It’s just magical at your home track. It’s special when it’s the Winternationals when the Winternationals was the first race of the year, but the Finals is finals, right? Whoever wins here gets a couple months to say we were the baddest on race day.
“This season has just been just pinch-me moment after pinch-me moment. The way John went out was terrible, but he’s still with us, and I think he’s just as valuable standing on the starting line as he is strapped in the car at the starting line. Having John here doesn’t make us want to win more. We want to win every time we go out there. It just made winning that much more special. To see Brittany [Force] win after a two-year winless drought the weekend her dad comes back and then Austin double up with her, was just great (in Las Vegas). We’re right back in another final against Austin, and this time we won it.”
Prock advanced to his 12th final round in his dazzling championship season in Funny Car.
Top Fuel’s Antron Brown qualified just 12th in his 11,000-horsepower Matco Tools/Toyota dragster, but as he’s done all year, the standout was in prime form during eliminations. He knocked off Justin Ashley, who entered the weekend with the points lead, with a run of 3.696-seconds at 331.53 mph in an incredible matchup to open eliminations and then faced off with another title contender in Shawn Langdon. Both drivers ran into trouble, but Brown recovered and advanced to the semifinals against Force.
A spectacular season in Pro Stock came down to a thrilling winner-take-all final round, with Greg Anderson defeating KB Titan Racing teammate Dallas Glenn with a run of 6.501 at 211.13 to slip past Glenn’s run of 6.516. It hands Anderson a remarkable sixth world championship, tying him with Erica Enders and Warren Johnson for the second-most in Pro Stock history.
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Matt Smith ended his year with a strong statement on his Denso Auto Parts/Matt Smith Racing Buell, defeating world champion Gaige Herrera in the final round with a run of 6.702 at 202.12. It is Smith’s second win this season and the 41st in his career, enabling the six-time world champion to finish second to Herrera for the first time in his career.
Smith, who also qualified No. 1, took down Aaron Pine, Marc Ingwersen and Steve Johnson to reach the final round, setting up another marquee matchup with Herrera. This time, Smith had enough to get past the two-time defending champion,
“We came in knowing we probably couldn’t get three hats, but we knew we could get two and we did,” said Smith, getting the No. 1 qualifier and winner’s hat. “We got the low qualifier hat and the winner’s hat, just not the champion’s hat. Still, we were able to put pressure on Gaige [Herrera]. He’s a deserving champ, and we just made too many mistakes.
“I love doing this, but I’ve thought about getting off and putting some young kid on the bike. I’m 52 and it’s hard to keep up but I still love it. Actually, our sponsor, Denso told me to stop talking about retirement. I still have a job, so I plan to come back and push hard to get that seventh championship next year. “
Herrera advanced to his 12th final round of the season in just 15 races.
The 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series begins March 6-9 with the NHRA Gatornationals at legendary Gainesville Raceway.
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POMONA, CA — Final finish order (1-16) at the 59th annual In-N-Out NHRA Finals at In-N-Out Pomona Dragstrip. The race is the final of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.
TOP FUEL:
1. Antron Brown; 2. Doug Kalitta; 3. Tony Stewart; 4. Brittany Force; 5. Clay Millican; 6. Gary Pritchett; 7. Jasmine Salinas; 8. Shawn Langdon; 9. Shawn Reed; 10. Justin Ashley; 11. Tony Schumacher; 12. Josh Hart; 13. Krista Baldwin; 14. Billy Torrence; 15. Steve Torrence; 16. Ida Zetterstrom.
FUNNY CAR:
1. Jack Beckman; 2. Austin Prock; 3. Matt Hagan; 4. Ron Capps; 5. J.R. Todd; 6. Daniel Wilkerson; 7. Blake Alexander; 8. Chad Green; 9. Jason Rupert; 10. Terry Haddock; 11. Cruz Pedregon; 12. Bob Tasca III; 13. Alexis DeJoria; 14. Paul Lee; 15. Steven Densham; 16. Jeff Diehl.
PRO STOCK:
1. Greg Anderson; 2. Dallas Glenn; 3. Aaron Stanfield; 4. Erica Enders; 5. Camrie Caruso; 6. Cristian Cuadra; 7. Cory Reed; 8. Matt Hartford; 9. Jeg Coughlin; 10. Fernando Cuadra Jr.; 11. Jerry Tucker; 12. Derrick Reese; 13. Chris McGaha; 14. Troy Coughlin Jr.; 15. Kenny Delco; 16. Eric Latino.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:
1. Matt Smith; 2. Gaige Herrera; 3. Angie Smith; 4. Steve Johnson; 5. Chase Van Sant; 6. Marc Ingwersen; 7. Richard Gadson; 8. Geno Scali; 9. John Hall; 10. Jianna Evaristo; 11. Chris Bostick; 12. Ryan Oehler; 13. Clayton Howey; 14. Lance Bonham; 15. Hector Arana Jr; 16. Aaron Pine.
POMONA, CA — Sunday’s final results from the 59th annual In-N-Out NHRA Finals at In-N-Out Pomona Dragstrip. The race is the final of 20 in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series:
Top Fuel — Antron Brown, 3.681 seconds, 330.55 mph def. Doug Kalitta, 3.710 seconds, 331.94 mph.
Funny Car — Jack Beckman, Chevy Camaro, 3.812, 327.35 def. Austin Prock, Camaro, 5.028, 165.42.
Pro Stock — Greg Anderson, Chevy Camaro, 6.501, 211.30 def. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.516, 210.50.
Pro Stock Motorcycle — Matt Smith, Buell, 6.705, 202.12 def. Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.722, 201.91.
Top Alcohol Dragster — Julie Nataas, 5.180, 275.62 def. Shawn Cowie, 13.582, 54.61.
Top Alcohol Funny Car — Shane Westerfield, Chevy Camaro, 5.423, 267.69 def. Ray Martin, Camaro, 5.973, 155.44.
Competition Eliminator — Travis Gusso, Chevy Cobalt, 10.377, 93.93 def. Jason Grima, Ford Mustang, Foul – Red Light.
Super Stock — Justin Jerome, Plymouth Duster, 10.616, 120.67 def. Shelby Williams, Chevy Camaro, 9.718, 134.66.
Stock Eliminator — John McLaughlin, Plymouth Road Runner, 10.565, 126.35 def. Michael Wann, Plymouth Barracuda, 10.794, 121.25.
Super Comp — Bob Van Popering, Dragster, 8.879, 182.08 def. Nick Alejamdre, Dragster, Foul – Red Light.
Super Gas — Val Torres, Chevy Corvette, 9.919, 154.88 def. Kris Whitfield, ’27-T Ford, 9.887, 155.27.
Top Sportsman — Joe Mellof, Pontiac GXP, 9.158, 94.33 def. Robert Strohm, Ford Mustang, Foul – Red Light.
Top Dragster — Ed Olpin, Dragster, 7.058, 187.55 def. Kevin Wright, Dragster, 6.274, 202.82.
Junior Dragster Shootout — Makenzie Higgins, Motivational, 11.249, 56.24 def. Jenna Chesleigh, Halfscale, 11.156, 57.38.
POMONA, CA — Final round-by-round results from the 59th annual In-N-Out NHRA Finals at In-N-Out Pomona Dragstrip, the final of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series:
TOP FUEL:
ROUND ONE — Clay Millican, 3.654, 336.49 def. Tony Schumacher, 3.714, 332.02; Jasmine Salinas, 3.691, 330.07 def. Shawn Reed, 3.679, 330.96; Antron Brown, 3.966, 331.53 def. Justin Ashley, 3.704, 330.31; Doug Kalitta, 3.688, 336.23 def. Ida Zetterstrom, 8.458, 73.26; Brittany Force, 3.697, 335.65 def. Krista Baldwin, 3.822, 273.44; Gary Pritchett, 3.715, 333.91 def. Steve Torrence, 5.414, 175.09; Shawn Langdon, 3.690, 332.92 def. Josh Hart, 3.733, 327.90; Tony Stewart, 3.742, 320.74 def. Billy Torrence, 3.949, 260.16;
QUARTERFINALS — Stewart, 3.712, 334.15 def. Pritchett, 3.761, 330.39; Brown, 5.031, 184.57 def. Langdon, 21.385, 67.35; Kalitta, 3.640, 333.82 def. Salinas, 8.758, 83.26; Force, 3.698, 331.94 def. Millican, 3.689, 331.85;
SEMIFINALS — Brown, 3.693, 330.88 def. Force, 8.740, 71.38; Kalitta, 3.678, 334.90 def. Stewart, 3.738, 319.37;
FINAL — Brown, 3.681, 330.55 def. Kalitta, 3.710, 331.94.
FUNNY CAR:
ROUND ONE — Daniel Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 3.910, 333.08 def. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 5.774, 125.85; Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 3.874, 329.18 def. Steven Densham, Mustang, Foul – Red Light; Austin Prock, Chevy Camaro, 3.828, 341.68 def. Jason Rupert, Mustang, 3.913, 313.00; Ron Capps, Toyota GR Supra, 3.842, 332.18 def. Jeff Diehl, Toyota Camry, 10.993, 82.06; Jack Beckman, Camaro, 3.847, 336.23 def. Terry Haddock, Mustang, 3.981, 306.26; Blake Alexander, Mustang, 3.876, 329.18 def. Alexis DeJoria, GR Supra, 6.305, 106.16; Chad Green, Mustang, 3.998, 315.86 def. Paul Lee, Charger, 6.784, 101.85; J.R. Todd, GR Supra, 3.858, 330.07 def. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 4.794, 164.01;
QUARTERFINALS — Beckman, 3.831, 332.10 def. Alexander, 9.955, 60.34; Prock, 3.850, 332.26 def. Todd, 3.900, 332.84; Capps, No Time Recorded def. Green, Foul – Centerline; Hagan, 3.856, 333.66 def. Wilkerson, 3.926, 306.88;
SEMIFINALS — Prock, 3.812, 331.04 def. Hagan, 3.866, 324.44; Beckman, 3.845, 330.39 def. Capps, 6.885, 103.87;
FINAL — Beckman, 3.812, 327.35 def. Prock, 5.028, 165.42.
PRO STOCK:
ROUND ONE — Cory Reed, Chevy Camaro, 6.558, 209.95 def. Jerry Tucker, Camaro, 6.560, 210.24; Cristian Cuadra, Ford Mustang, 6.555, 210.60 def. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.532, 210.08; Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.523, 210.08 def. Eric Latino, Camaro, 6.628, 209.23; Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.526, 210.64 def. Fernando Cuadra Jr., Camaro, 6.542, 209.33; Camrie Caruso, Camaro, 6.522, 210.05 def. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.579, 210.14; Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.544, 210.08 def. Derrick Reese, Mustang, 6.565, 209.52; Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.492, 211.66 def. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.600, 207.98; Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.500, 210.18 def. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.591, 210.50;
QUARTERFINALS — Enders, 6.543, 211.20 def. Caruso, Foul – Red Light; Glenn, 6.533, 210.31 def. C. Cuadra, 6.548, 210.31; Stanfield, 6.513, 210.24 def. Hartford, 8.243, 132.41; Anderson, 6.492, 211.63 def. Reed, 6.564, 209.56;
SEMIFINALS — Glenn, 6.518, 209.82 def. Enders, 12.169, 75.57; Anderson, 6.488, 211.43 def. Stanfield, 6.510, 211.03;
FINAL — Anderson, 6.501, 211.30 def. Glenn, 6.516, 210.50.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:
ROUND ONE — Marc Ingwersen, 6.821, 197.77 def. John Hall, 6.808, 199.67; Geno Scali, Suzuki, 6.810, 197.74 def. Hector Arana Jr, 7.194, 153.26; Angie Smith, Buell, 6.787, 200.47 def. Lance Bonham, Buell, 7.158, 186.56; Chase Van Sant, Suzuki, 6.769, 199.43 def. Chris Bostick, Suzuki, 6.846, 195.96; Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.803, 195.31 def. Jianna Evaristo, Buell, 6.838, 199.94; Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.839, 198.26 def. Ryan Oehler, Foul – Red Light; Matt Smith, Buell, 6.746, 201.46 def. Aaron Pine, Suzuki, 7.247, 189.23; Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.779, 200.00 def. Clayton Howey, Suzuki, 7.014, 184.04;
QUARTERFINALS — Johnson, 6.831, 195.11 def. Gadson, 6.873, 197.02; A. Smith, 6.768, 200.80 def. Scali, 6.932, 195.17; Herrera, 6.779, 200.08 def. Van Sant, 6.815, 197.77; M. Smith, 6.738, 201.46 def. Ingwersen, 6.850, 196.13;
SEMIFINALS — Herrera, 6.765, 199.85 def. A. Smith, 6.762, 201.31; M. Smith, 6.747, 201.85 def. Johnson, 6.780, 196.42;
FINAL — M. Smith, 6.705, 202.12 def. Herrera, 6.722, 201.91.
POMONA, CA — Point standings (top 10) following the 59th annual In-N-Out NHRA Finals at In-N-Out Pomona Dragstrip, the final of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series –
Top Fuel
1. Antron Brown, 2,600; 2. Doug Kalitta, 2,538; 3. Justin Ashley, 2,526; 4. Shawn Langdon, 2,513; 5. Brittany Force, 2,478; 6. Clay Millican, 2,461; 7. Steve Torrence, 2,447; 8. Tony Schumacher, 2,399; 9. Tony Stewart, 2,325; 10. Shawn Reed, 2,270.
Funny Car
1. Austin Prock, 2,817; 2. John Force, 2,651; 3. Ron Capps, 2,529; 4. Matt Hagan, 2,519; 5. Bob Tasca III, 2,435; 6. Blake Alexander, 2,394; 7. Daniel Wilkerson, 2,369; 8. J.R. Todd, 2,336; 9. Chad Green, 2,300; 10. Cruz Pedregon, 2,262.
Pro Stock
1. Greg Anderson, 2,714; 2. Dallas Glenn, 2,703; 3. Aaron Stanfield, 2,702; 4. Erica Enders, 2,570; 5. Jeg Coughlin, 2,425; 6. Matt Hartford, 2,355; 7. Cristian Cuadra, 2,339; 8. Jerry Tucker, 2,263; 9. Troy Coughlin Jr., 2,254; 10. Eric Latino, 2,238.
Pro Stock Motorcycle
1. Gaige Herrera, 2,804; 2. Matt Smith, 2,715; 3. Richard Gadson, 2,511; 4. Angie Smith, 2,481; 5. Hector Arana Jr, 2,473; 6. Chase Van Sant, 2,457; 7. John Hall, 2,341; 8. Jianna Evaristo, 2,331; 9. Steve Johnson, 2,328; 10. Chris Bostick, 2,209.
About Mission Foods
MISSION®, owned by GRUMA, S.A.B. de C.V., is the world’s leading brand for tortillas and wraps. MISSION® is also globally renowned for flatbreads, dips, salsas and Mexican food products. With presence in over 112 countries, MISSION® products are suited to the lifestyles and the local tastes of each country. With innovation and customer needs in mind, MISSION® focuses on the highest quality, authentic flavors, and providing healthy options that families and friends can enjoy together. For more information, please visit https://www.missionfoods.com/
About NHRA
NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 20 national events featuring the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series and NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, as well as the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+, NHRA Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown™, NHRA Holley EFI Factory X, Pingel Top Fuel Motorcycle and Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage NHRA Mountain Motor Pro Stock at select national events. 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 110 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 In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip 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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