JCM Racing Pre-Race Report: Pomona 1

NHRA Winternationals

Event 3 of 21

In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip

Pomona, Calif.

March 31 – April 2

Top Fuel:

TONY SCHUMACHER

Driver of the SCAG Power Equipment Top Fuel Dragster

NHRA Winternationals Event Highlights:

• Two-time event winner (2004, 2008)

• Four-time No. 1 qualifier (2005, 2006, 2007, 2013)

• Two-time runner-up (2013, 2018)

In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip Overall Highlights:

• Six-time event winner

• 10-time No. 1 qualifier

• Seven-time runner-up

2022 NHRA Winternationals Recap:

Qualified 12th; Quarterfinal finish (defeated Doug Kalitta in E1; defeated by Austin Prock in E2)

Last Event (Phoenix):

Qualified 10th; First round exit (defeated by Justin Ashley in E1)

Career Statistics:

536 races; 86 wins; 88 No. 1 qualifiers

Noteworthy:

• Tied with Don Garlits and Doug Kalitta for the most Top Fuel wins (six) at Pomona:

  • Spring: 2004, 2008

  • Fall: 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007

• Leads the Top Fuel class in number of No. 1 qualifiers (10) at Pomona:

  • Spring: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2013

  • Fall: 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010

• Tied with Kalitta for number of Winternationals poles (four)

• Schumacher’s father, Funny Car pioneer and minority team owner Don Schumacher, won the 1973 event

Quotable:

“I’ve won both Pomona events multiple times and have had a lot of success at that track, but that was then and this is now. The conditions look really good this weekend, and we could see a lot of fast times, and hopefully we’ll put on a good show for the fans. We had really strong crowds in Phoenix and Gainesville. NHRA has really been working hard on the marketing side to sell these events out, and it would be great to see a nice, huge crowd, and see the stands full again this weekend.”

Funny Car:

TIM WILKERSON

Driver of the SCAG Power Equipment/Levi, Ray & Shoup Ford Mustang

NHRA Winternationals Event Highlights:

• 1998 runner-up

• Two-time No. 1 qualifier: 2003, 2008

2022 NHRA Winternationals Recap:

Qualified seventh; First round exit (defeated by Tony Jurado)

Last Event (Phoenix):

Qualified 10th; Quarterfinal finish (defeated Terry Haddock in E1; defeated by Alexis DeJoria in E2)

Career Statistics:

573 races; 22 wins; 20 No. 1 qualifiers

Noteworthy:

• The last time Wilkerson visited In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip, he clocked his career-best speed (336.91 mph, Pomona 2 2022)

Quotable:

“Looking forward to this weekend. It seems like our car is starting to come around. We’re still kind of fighting the new parts, and battling the quirky track conditions that we saw at the last two events that have kind of thrown us for a loop, but hopefully, in Pomona we can start getting our car to run a little more consistent, and a little faster.”