Funny Car rookie Daniel Wilkerson put himself in position for his first career No. 1 qualifier on Friday, racing to the provisional top spot at the 64th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip.
Billy Torrence (Top Fuel) and Erica Enders (Pro Stock) are also the provisional No. 1 qualifiers at the second of 20 races during the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.
In a full-time ride for the first time in his career, Daniel Wilkerson made the most of his opportunity on Friday, taking the top spot with a 4.014 at 314.31 in his 11,000-horsepower Scag Power Equipment Ford Mustang. That puts Wilkerson in line for his first career top qualifier, which would be a huge moment in his career. He stepped into the driver role this year, with his father, Funny Car veteran Tim Wilkerson, calling the shots as crew chief. On Friday, it worked out wonderfully for the father-son duo.
“It was a little squirrely but I got it to the end,” said Wilkerson, who will be competing for NHRA Rookie of the Year honors this year. “It got a little loose coming out of the middle of the track and I was almost yelling at myself steering the car. But it worked out and I was happy with it. All of this, it almost hasn’t set in yet, but it’s been a lot of fun so far.”
Jeff Diehl took the second spot on Friday after going 4.050 at 306.81 and Chad Green, who won in Pomona last year to end the season, is third with a 4.110 at 302.96.
In Top Fuel, Billy Torrence powered to the top on Friday, going 3.745 at 330.47 in his 11,000-horsepower Capco Contractors dragster. If that holds, Torrence would earn his sixth career No. 1 qualifier, as both Torrence cars made strong runs during the lone qualifying session of the day. His son, Steve, is currently second after the four-time world champ went 3.750 at 328.30, giving the team plenty of momentum for the weekend. They also meet tomorrow in the opening round of the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge.
“I was very impressed with that run,” Torrence said. “I thought we could make a good run on the track. The guys have worked really hard on that setup and I really thought Steve would sneak around us and pick our pocket, but he just missed us. Performance-wise, I think the cars are really close. I think we’ve got a good set-up for a solid year.”
Former world champ Brittany Force is in the third spot thanks to a run of 3.783 at 330.30 and Gainesville winner Shawn Langdon is right behind with a 3.788 at 318.24.
A strong start continued for reigning Pro Stock world champion Erica Enders on Friday in Pomona, as she went 6.556 at 211.69 in her Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage/Melling Performance/Scag Power Equipment car. If it holds, it would give Enders her second straight No. 1 qualifier to start the season. Enders, who also won in Gainesville, is after her 50th career national event victory this weekend, which would add another incredible milestone in her stellar career. Two years ago, Enders won at the Winternationals in what was the 900th race in Pro Stock history.
“It was a little bit of a hairy ride. It made some big moves, but I’m thankful for all the runs I have in these cars,” Enders said. “We’re big on numbers and going after that 50th win is very important to us. Winning my first Winternationals two years ago for the 900th Pro Stock race was pretty spectacular and we’re glad to be back here. Coming off a win at the Gatornationals, we’re just going to try to carry that momentum, but we definitely have a good racecar right now.”
Matt Hartford is currently second with a 6.568 at 210.31 and Jeg Coughlin Jr. is third with a 6.573 at 211.20.
Qualifying continues at 11:30 a.m. ET on Saturday at the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip
Results Summary:
Top Fuel -- 1. Billy Torrence, 3.745 seconds, 330.47 mph; 2. Steve Torrence, 3.750, 328.30; 3. Brittany Force, 3.783, 330.39; 4. Shawn Langdon, 3.788, 318.24; 5. Antron Brown, 3.807, 322.11; 6. Clay Millican, 3.902, 296.05; 7. Jasmine Salinas, 4.270, 201.22; 8. Tony Schumacher, 4.829, 149.03; 9. Tony Stewart, 4.839, 148.95; 10. Krista Baldwin, 5.608, 115.44; 11. Doug Kalitta, 5.677, 120.60; 12. Josh Hart, 6.118, 107.81; 13. Terry Totten, 6.636, 91.56; 14. Shawn Reed, 6.656, 90.36; 15. Justin Ashley, 10.560, 80.23.
Funny Car -- 1. Daniel Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 4.014, 314.31; 2. Jeff Diehl, Toyota Camry, 4.050, 306.81; 3. Chad Green, Mustang, 4.110, 302.96; 4. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.201, 247.93; 5. Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 4.454, 195.59; 6. Dave Richards, Mustang, 4.502, 205.44; 7. J.R. Todd, Toyota GR Supra, 4.615, 272.56; 8. Terry Haddock, Mustang, 4.669, 188.31; 9. Austin Prock, Chevy Camaro, 4.758, 229.31; 10. Ron Capps, GR Supra, 5.238, 147.12; 11. Bobby Bode, Mustang, 5.361, 134.39; 12. Paul Lee, Charger, 6.049, 110.95; 13. Buddy Hull, Charger, 6.076, 121.05; 14. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 6.435, 105.62; 15. Jason Rupert, Mustang, 7.608, 90.68; 16. Steven Densham, Mustang, 11.841, 78.11. Not Qualified: 17. John Force, broke; 18. Alexis DeJoria, broke.
Pro Stock -- 1. Erica Enders, Chevy Camaro, 6.556, 211.69; 2. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.568, 210.31; 3. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.573, 211.20; 4. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.581, 209.33; 5. Brandon Foster, Camaro, 6.583, 208.81; 6. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.585, 210.83; 7. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.586, 209.01; 8. Camrie Caruso, Camaro, 6.588, 208.62; 9. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.595, 210.87; 10. Eric Latino, Camaro, 6.603, 208.68; 11. David Cuadra, Ford Mustang, 6.606, 209.88; 12. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.608, 208.39; 13. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.613, 209.56; 14. Sienna Wildgust, Camaro, 6.625, 201.91; 15. Fernando Cuadra Jr., Camaro, 6.637, 209.14; 16. Jerry Tucker, Camaro, 6.670, 209.01. Not Qualified: 17. Joey Grose, 6.718, 206.16; 18. Mason McGaha, 6.847, 207.88; 19. Cristian Cuadra, 9.401, 99.27.
Pomona - Friday Full Results
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TOP FUEL
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Psn---Num-Driver, Home Town, Car Type---------------Qual-ET--Qual-Spd-Top Spd
1 474 Billy Torrence, Kilgore TX, MLR-AJPE 3.745 330.47 330.47
2 2 Steve Torrence, Kilgore TX, MLR-TFX 3.750 328.30 328.30
3 7 Brittany Force, Yorba Linda CA, JFR-JFR 3.783 330.39 330.39
4 333 Shawn Langdon, Danville IN, PBRC-AJPE 3.788 318.24 318.24
5 6 Antron Brown, Pittsboro IN, PBRC-DSM 3.807 322.11 322.11
6 51 Clay Millican, Drummonds TN, DSR-DSR 3.902 296.05 296.05
7 7015 Jasmine Salinas, Brownsburg IN, MLR-AJPE 4.270 201.22 201.22
8 9 Tony Schumacher, Lakeway TX, DSM-DSM 4.829 149.03 149.03
9 14 Tony Stewart, Columbus IN, PBRC-DSM 4.839 148.95 148.95
10 725 Krista Baldwin, Pittsboro IN, Bounty Hunter-TFX 5.608 115.44 115.44
11 1 Doug Kalitta, Saline MI, Bounty Hunter-AJPE 5.677 120.60 120.60
12 77 Josh Hart, Ocala FL, MLR-DSM 6.118 107.81 107.81
13 565 Terry Totten, Gretna NE, Hadman-JFR 6.636 91.56 91.56
14 716 Shawn Reed, Defiance MO, MLR-AJPE 6.656 90.36 90.36
15 4 Justin Ashley, Farmingdale NY, DSR-JFR 10.560 80.23 80.23
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FUNNY CAR
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1 348 Daniel Wilkerson, Springfield IL, '24 Mustang 4.014 314.31 314.31
2 717 Jeff Diehl, Salinas CA, '19 Camry 4.050 306.81 306.81
3 5 Chad Green, Midland TX, '24 Mustang 4.110 302.96 302.96
4 3 Bob Tasca III, Cranston RI, '23 Mustang 4.201 247.93 247.93
5 14 Matt Hagan, Christiansburg VA, '24 Charger 4.454 195.59 195.59
6 139 Dave Richards, Wellington FL, '18 Mustang 4.502 205.44 205.44
7 8 J.R. Todd, Jupiter FL, '22 GR Supra 4.615 272.56 272.56
8 121 Terry Haddock, Temple TX, '19 Mustang 4.669 188.31 188.31
9 374 Austin Prock, Brownsburg IN, '23 Camaro 4.758 229.31 229.31
10 4 Ron Capps, Carlsbad CA, '22 GR Supra 5.238 147.12 147.12
11 3095 Bobby Bode, Deer Park IL, '18 Mustang 5.361 134.39 134.39
12 116 Paul Lee, Anaheim CA, '20 Charger 6.049 110.95 110.95
13 10 Buddy Hull, Dallas TX, '24 Charger 6.076 121.05 121.05
14 71 Cruz Pedregon, Brownsburg IN, '22 Charger 6.435 105.62 105.62
15 766 Jason Rupert, Anaheim Hills CA, '17 Mustang 7.608 90.68 90.68
16 700 Steven Densham, Oceanside CA, '18 Mustang 11.841 78.11 78.11
------------ Not Qualified ------------
17 7 John Force, Yorba Linda CA, '23 Camaro DQ
18 771 Alexis DeJoria, Austin TX, '24 GR Supra DQ
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PRO STOCK
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1 1 Erica Enders, Houston TX, '24 Camaro 6.556 211.69 211.69
2 3 Matt Hartford, Phoenix AZ, '16 Camaro 6.568 210.31 210.31
3 25 Jeg Coughlin, Delaware OH, '23 Camaro 6.573 211.20 211.20
4 4 Aaron Stanfield, Bossier City LA, '23 Camaro 6.581 209.33 209.33
5 23 Brandon Foster, Owasso OK, '22 Camaro 6.583 208.81 208.81
6 4264 Chris McGaha, Odessa TX, '22 Camaro 6.585 210.83 210.83
7 2 Greg Anderson, Mooresville NC, '22 Camaro 6.586 209.01 209.01
8 14 Camrie Caruso, Denver NC, '22 Camaro 6.588 208.62 208.62
9 5 Troy Coughlin Jr., Delaware OH, '22 Camaro 6.595 210.87 210.87
10 193 Eric Latino, Cornelius NC, '22 Camaro 6.603 208.68 208.68
11 411M David Cuadra, Leon MX, '20 Mustang 6.606 209.88 209.88
12 6 Dallas Glenn, Mooresville NC, '22 Camaro 6.608 208.39 208.39
13 150 Kenny Delco, E. Setauket NY, '20 Camaro 6.613 209.56 209.56
14 68 Sienna Wildgust, Sebringville ON, '13 Camaro 6.625 201.91 201.91
15 406M Fernando Cuadra Jr., Leon MX, '21 Camaro 6.637 209.14 209.14
16 494 Jerry Tucker, Lindsay OK, '22 Camaro 6.670 209.01 209.01
------------ Not Qualified ------------
17 703 Joey Grose, Lodi CA, '23 Camaro 6.718 206.16 206.16
18 400 Mason McGaha, Odessa TX, '22 Camaro 6.847 207.88 207.88
19 10 Cristian Cuadra, Leon MX, '23 Mustang 9.401 99.27 99.27
w/ NHRA Communications