NHRA Auto Club Finals in Pomona | Dragging at the Fairplex

MMR was in sunny southern California for the NHRA Auto Club Finals at Auto Club Raceway Pomona. The famed Fairplex hosted a drama filled weekend that crowned repeat champions and first time winners. MMR followed the Russo Fuel Funny Car's team story closely but as well as a few of the Strutmasters.com sponsor teams such as Steve Graham Motorsports in Pro Stock and Cameron Ferre of Terry Haddock Racing in Top Fuel. You'll see footage of some of the qualifying and race action with interviews from lesser known drivers and teams. I love the underdogs!
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#NHRA #Pomona #DragRacing

[@johnbehneman1546]

TOTALLY AWSSOME VIDEO!!!! I LOVE MY NHRA FAMILY!!! GREAT RACING BY EVERYONE!!!

[@MondayMorningRacer]

Thanks for watching! This was my first time to the Fairplex and I enjoyed that Finals a lot.

[@TopwaterTony]

Ahhhh I wish I was there :( Very nice coverage! Looking forward to meeting you again at one of the races in 2020

[@MondayMorningRacer]

It was a great drama filled Finals! Thank you and definitely man, I hope we run across one another again. Happy fishing!

[@paulalabab8896]

Good job. Like your inner views of the underdog teams.

[@MondayMorningRacer]

Thank you! I think there are great stories with the underdog teams that the NHRA usually does a poor job of covering. So, when I'm at a national event, I try to get their stories and provide more exposure for them. You never know who might see them and pick up the tab. On the MMR Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages I provide social media for them to a degree. Hopefully that becomes a regular deal too. I appreciate your comment. Which is your favorite underdog team out there?

[@frank-xp6pj]

I like it all, I think your pit interviews are the best parts....its very hard to nail the actual runs while filming from the grandstands, it takes a very sharp camcorder with phenomenal zoom & image stabilization.....I couldn't make the finals but I will be there in February for the season opener....I have the Sony AX53 which has the best stabilization system for cameras & a 20X optical zoom....I plan to shoot several hours of video in Pomona....if you get a chance search the Sony ax53 & it will be the best camera you can buy to shoot races from the stands.

[@MondayMorningRacer]

Yes, plus, Pomona on its west side is tough to shoot from because you're close with hardly no elevation. I was over there due to just buying general admission. I get general because I'm just not in the stands that much when I'm at a national event. Certainly, new camera is on the list. If I'm back in February I'll let you know.

[@frank-xp6pj]

@@MondayMorningRacer Thanks 👍👍👍 would love to meet you there.

[@MondayMorningRacer]

@@frank-xp6pj I'll let you know.

[@waterbug85]

Real nice video MMR, thumbs-up

[@MondayMorningRacer]

Thank you sir! As I regularly do, allow me to ask what in particular you liked the most? Helps me know what to keep putting out as content.

[@waterbug85]

I liked the racing of course, but the interviews were nice to see and hear. A little bit of back-ground of who you were interviewing was nice too. Like the Jeff Arend interview, I might have heard Jeff was a Frank Hawley instructor before, but had forgotten that fact, that was nice. The team owners from Down-Under was a good interview. The Pro Stock driver, another good one. Some sponsor-wagon stuff at the end was nice too. Stuff like that made it good for me. It wasn't just a bunch of fast cars, going fast, you put some info in the video. One negative I remember was when you showed the racing there was no talking at all. Like, let us know what day and/or round were watching. Even if its just Q1, Q2, Q3 or Q4. Thanks for asking my opinion and keep up the good work.

[@waterbug85]

MMR, Do you have any opinion about the fans booing Steve Torrence on the return road with Championship trophy in-hand? I didn't like it, that's my opinion.

[@MondayMorningRacer]

I'm not much for booing personally but booing is simply a verbal way of voicing displeasure. I think it's very simple, if Torrence didn't want boos, don't take a cheap shot. It's basically an action with the reaction. The real bad deal that day with a Torrence involved his dad. Steve's team after round 1 didn't take the traditional return road but rather the back one. So, here comes Billy in that near identical car up the return road with a displeased crowd unable to recognize it as Billy. One of the biggest pops of boos I've ever heard at a drag race. That's a sad case of mistaken identity.

[@quartermilebandit5749]

Great job hombre, keep it up👍🏻

[@MondayMorningRacer]

Thank you sir! I'll definitely try to keep going and continually improve. What part in particular did you enjoy the most?

[@3rdlineplug]

I haven't been to a race in a long time. When did they change the burnouts and why?

[@MondayMorningRacer]

There's several reasons in general but there can be team specific mode of operations such as with Jim Dunn Racing. So, tires are better along with track prep. It's less heat build up in all the mechanisms, and this Pomona race had a warm track.

[@smyersfishingadventures]

How do you miss the best burnout (Hight in the finals) since force used to do half track burnouts.

[@MondayMorningRacer]

Your answer is in you comment, "used to". There hasn't been half-trackers since John and Scuza were really the last to do them. That would be late 90s I suppose. In 9 national events this year, not a single one until the last funny car final. I'm sure other would miss it too because there's an upcoming Jack Beckman burn out to try and track as well. I figured someone would comment on this point - congratulations!

[@smyersfishingadventures]

@@MondayMorningRacer Actually force did one in Pomona when Britney won the championship as well in 2017, but he was actually doing them until 2006 or so, he did one the last year the NHRA ran at national trail raceway (2006) near Columbus, Ohio. 4th round of qualifying took it out to almost 1000 feet (longest burnout I ever saw him do including side by side with Skuze from maybe 1996 or 1997).

[@MondayMorningRacer]

@dave s right, it's not the norm though. In filming you catch things by chance or knowing what's coming up. When I film my local track, I know who does what and can plan according. A one off salute isn't something you're prepared for when you're expecting the final to be ran fully. Didn't want to exclude Jack's burn out. On the flip side, I happen to be at the right spot to catch that Force, NHRA argument. You catch some and you don't catch some, it's that simple.

[@nomed3271]

Sad to see the stands are empty.... my health keeps me from going now adays

[@MondayMorningRacer]

Friday was smaller than I thought it would be, Saturday too. Sunday wasn't to bad. You had a good bit at the fence instead of in their seat. Now, here's a couple of points to this particular event; one, from discussion with merchandise trailers that are at every event, they remarked that the Finals compared to the Winter Nationals is almost always the less attended event. Two, remember, these stands are larger than what was there in the 80s or early 90s. I would imagine there's more in attendance now than then actually. There's just no data to ascertain from the NHRA to know for sure. Full stands can appear great, but if stands are full you lost a ticket sale somewhere. There's different ways to look at it is all.

[@davethemace5200]

Why do a Burn Out when your Not going to Race the Whole Coarse

[@MondayMorningRacer]

In regard to Robert Hights burnout?

[@davethemace5200]

@@MondayMorningRacer You Warm up the Tires because your Going to make a 347 mph and in 3.65 Seconds in regards...

[@MondayMorningRacer]

@@davethemace5200 again I'm not sure what you're referring to. Several burnouts in the video. If it is Hights in reference, he stated it went lean and shutoff. Maybe you're making a quarter mile argument? I'm just trying to be clear.

[@davethemace5200]

@@MondayMorningRacer I only Spent maybe 4 minutes here because I dont Surf the internet I Race threw it...

[@MondayMorningRacer]

@@davethemace5200 keep on racing then and enjoy it.