NHRA Winternationals

The NHRA Winternationals (commonly called the Winternats) are an annual drag racing event held by the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona, California.

Winternationals

National Hot Rod Association
Venue	In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip
Location	Pomona, California, U.S. 34°05′42.32″N 117°46′11.15″W
Corporate sponsor	Lucas Oil
First race	1960
Circuit information
Length	1⁄4 mi (0.40 km)

History

The National Hot Rod Association first sanctioned a Winter Nationals in 1960 at Bunnell-Flagler Field (now the Flagler County Airport), the former NOLF Bunnell. The event was co-sanctioned with NASCAR (which was a member of the Automobile Competition Committee for the United States when the NHRA was not at the time) in order to gain national sanction as at the time, NASCAR, USAC, and SCCA were the three sanctioning bodies that formed the FIA-designated national governing body of motorsport. It was held the week before the 1960 Daytona 500, and was the attempt to solve problems with illegal street racing at Daytona during Speed Weeks. Wallu Parks and George Schorb worked with the South Florida Timing Association and NASCAR official Ed Otto. Schorb worked to help stop illegal street racing first in Miami.^[1] Until the 2020 season, the race was usually held in early February, often the week after the Super Bowl.

The event moved to the Los Angeles area in 1961. In 1962, under pressure from Peggy Hart (wife of track owner "Pappy" Hart) and Mickey Thompson, as well as fellow racers Shirley Shahan and Roberta Leighton, Carol Cox was the first woman allowed to race at an NHRA national event.^[2] Cox drove a 1961 Pontiac Ventura with a 348 cu in (5,700 cc) V8, which was driven (not trailered) to Pomona.^[3] Cox won the title in S/SA, making her the first woman ever to take a win at an NHRA national event; the 9 March 1962 issue of National Dragster recorded her as a "crowd favorite", with a winning pass of 13.06 seconds at 107.65 mph (173.25 km/h), but says nothing about it being a first for a woman, dismissively calling her a "'powder puff' handler".^[4] Some racers believe a class win is more difficult to achieve than a handicap (eliminator) win.^[5]

At the 1966 event, Shahan was the first woman to claim a national event eliminator crown, by taking Stock Eliminator.^[6] The win put her on the cover of National Dragster.^[7]

NHRA debuted the new Top Fuel Funny Car (TF/FC) class at the Winternationals in 1969; Funny Car Eliminator (FCE) would be won by Clare Sanders, teammate of "Jungle Jim" Liberman.^[8]

In 1970, Top Fuel Eliminator (quickset fuel car of the meet, digger or flopper) went to Larry Dixon,

The AA/FC winner was the 1970 Dodge Charger, Hawaiian, of Larry Reyes (driving for Roland Leong). Barrie Poole became the first Canadian to win an NHRA national event, taking the 1970 Super Stock title.^[9]

The Funny Car Eliminator title at the 1971 Winternats would go to Leong's Hawaiian.^[10] with Butch Maas at the wheel.^[11] Don Garlits' novel rear-engined dragster appeared at the Winternats that year, qualifying with 6.8; his best time of the meet was a 6.70, over Jim Dunn's 7.58, in the semi-final: Garlits would win, when Kenny Safford broke in the final.^[12] The last Top Gas Eliminator crown, before NHRA abolished the class, went to Walt Stevens, at the wheel of Ken Theiss' twin-engined Odd Couple TG/D.^[13] The year's award for Best Engineered Car went to Jim Busby, with a dragster powered by a pair of injected 255 cu in (4,179 cc) DOHC Ford Indy V8 engines.^[14] (Hank Westmoreland failed to qualify the car, and it never ran again.^[15]) Canadian Barrie Poole repeated his 1970 Winternats win in Super Stock, in a Sandy Elliot Mustang.^[16] Don Enriquez (in Gene Adams' A/FD) won Competition Eliminator, turning in a pass of 7.34 at 199 mph (320 km/h), quicker and faster than Steve Woods' hemi-engined BB/Gas Ford Anglia; the field also included twin-engine straight-six-cylinder-powered D/Ds, and AA/FAs.^[17]

The 1971 meet was marred by the death of "Sneaky Pete" Robinson, who wrecked his TF/D in qualifying, with a 6.77 pass.^[18]

Altereds were so popular in the 1960s and 1970s, at the 1977 Winternationals, more than 75 drivers contested for the Comp Eliminator title.^[19] Among them was Ed Prout, who brought his A/Altered from Connecticut.^[20]

NHRA introduced a significant change to the Christmas tree, LEDs instead of incandescent bulbs, at Pomona in 2003.^[21]

At Pomona in 2014, Alexis DeJoria became the first woman ever to make a sub-four second pass, with a 3.997-second e.t.^{[citation needed]}

In 2018, Top Fuel Dragster went to Doug Kalitta, Top fuel Funny Car to Matt Hagan, and Pro Stock to Bo Butner.

In 2021, the Winternationals was moved to summer because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and restrictions imposed by California. The NHRA decided to move the Gatornationals to the season opening slot. In an unusual fashion, the Top Fuel final was determined by default when one finalist was pulled out by NHRA officials over driver safety when he had heat exhaustion. The move of the Super Bowl that was made in effect for 2021, the NHRA moved the Winternationals to the spring, and the Gatornationals in Florida now start the season going forward.

Past class winners

Year (report)	Top Fuel Dragster (TF/D)	Top Fuel Funny Car (TF/FC)	Top Gas (Dragster {TG/D}, Funny Car {TG/FC}, Eliminator {TGE})	Top Alcohol (Dragster {TA/D}, Funny Car {TA/FC}, Eliminator {TAE})	Altered	Pro Stock	Pro Comp	Pro Stock Motorcycle	Super Stock (SS)	Stock
1961	Jack Chrisman (Top Eliminator)	Mickey Thompson (Middle Eliminator)								Johnny Loper (Street Eliminator)[22] "Dyno Don" Nicholson (Stock Eliminator)[23]
1962	Jim Nelson (Top Eliminator)[24]	Gary Cagle (Middle Eliminator)[25]								Dyno Don Nicholson - 62 Chev
1963	Don "Big Daddy" Garlits[26]	--none--	Bob Muravez[27]				Tony Nancy (Comp Eliminator)[28]			Al Ekstrand - 63 Dodge 426 Maxwedge
1964	Jack Williams[29]	Ronnie Sox (S/X)[30]	Danny Ongais[31]		Charlie Smith (Comp Eliminator)[32]					Tommy Grove - 64 Plymouth Maxwedge
1965	Don "The Snake" Prudhomme[33] (TFE)	--none--	Jimmy Nix[34]		Chico Breschini (Comp Eliminator)[35]					Bill Jenkins - 65 Plymouth RO1 426 Hemi
1966	Mike Snively[36]	Clare Sanders (FCE)	Gordon Collett[37]						Shirley Shahan - 65 Plymouth RO1	Wiley Cossey - 66 BelAir 427
1967	Connie Kalitta[38]	(A/FX)	Gordon Collett[39]				Chico Breschini (Comp Eliminator)[40]		Eddie Vasquez - 66 Chevy Nova	Douglas & Forys - 60 Pontiac
1968	Jim Warren[41]		Gordon Collett[42]			Gene "Snowman" Snow[43]			Al Joniec - 68 CJ Mustang	John Barkley - 57 Chev
1969	John Mulligan[44]	Clare Sanders[45]	Dave Grassi[46]						Don Grotheer - 68 Hemi Cuda	Mark Colletti - 67 Plymouth Barracuda 340
1970	Larry Dixon (TFE)		Don Hamptons[47]	Larry Reyes (AA/FC)					Barrie Poole	Richard Charbonneau (Stock Eliminator)
1971	Don "Big Daddy" Garlits	Butch Maas (FCE)	Walt Stevens (TGE)			Ronnie Sox[48]			Barrie Poole
1972	Carl Olson[49]	Ed "The Ace" McCulloch[50]				Bill "Grumpy" Jenkins[51]
1973	Don "Gig Daddy" Garlits[52]	Don Schumacher[53]				"Dyno Don" Nicholson[54]
1974	Gary Beck[55]	Dale Emery[56]				Bill "Grumpy" Jenkins[57]	Dale Armstrong[58]
1975	Don "Big Daddy" Garlits[59]	Don "The Snake" Prudhommee[60]				Bill "Grumpy" Jenkins[61]
1976	Frank Bradley[62]	Don "The Snake" Prudhomme[63]				Bill "Grumpy" Jenkins[64]
1977	Jerry Ruth[65]	Don "The Snake" Prudhomme[66]				Larry Lombardo[67]
1978	Kelly Brown[68]	Don "The Snake" Prudhomme[69]				Bob Glidden[70]
1979	Bob Noice[71]	Tom Hoover[72]				Bob Glidden[73]
1980	Shirley Muldowney[74]	Dale Pulde[75]	Bob Tietz (Pro Gas Eliminator)[76]			Lee Shepherd[77]	Brian Raymer (Comp Eliminator)[78]
1981	Jeb Allen[79]	Billy Meyer[80]				Bob Glidden[81]
1982	Dick LaHaie[82]	Al Segrini[83]				Frank Iaconio[84]
1983	Shirley Muldowney[85]	Frank Hawley[86]				Frank Iaconio[87]
1984	Gary Ormsby[88]	Al Segrini[89]				Lee Shepherd[90]
1985	Joe Amato[91]	Al Segrini[92]				Bob Glidden[93]
1986	Darrell Gwynn[94]	Tim Grose[95]				Frank Iaconio[96]
1987	Don "Big Daddy" Garlits[97]	Kenny Bernstein[98]				Warren Johnson[99]
1988	Dick LaHaie	Dale Pulde				Butch Leal
1989	Gary Ormsby	Bruce Larson				Bob Glidden				Abe Loewen[100]
1990	Lori Johns	K.C. Spurlock				Jerry Eckman
1991	Frank Bradley	John Force			Stan Sipos (TA/FC)[101]	Darrell Alderman
1992	Kenny Bernstein	Jim Epler				Jerry Eckman
1993	Joe Amato	John Force				Warren Johnson
1994	Shelly Anderson	K.C. Spurlock				Warren Johnson
1995	Eddie Hill	Cruz Pedregon				Darrell Alderman
1996	Blaine Johnson	Al Hofmann				Jim Yates
1997	Gary Scelzi	John Force				Warren Johnson
1998	Larry Dixon	Ron Capps				Jim Yates
1999	Mike Dunn	Tony Pedregon				Jeg Coughlin Jr.
2000	Gary Scelzi	Jerry Toliver				Jeg Coughlin Jr.
2001	Darrell Russell	Bruce Sarver				Kurt Johnson
2002	Larry Dixon	John Force				George Marnell
2003	Larry Dixon	Tony Pedregon				Warren Johnson
2004	Tony Schumacher	Jerry Toliver	Mitch Myers (TA/D)[102]			Greg Anderson				Abe Loewen[103]
2005	Scott Kalitta[104]	Tommy Johnson, Jr.[105]		Steve Federlin (TA/D)[106]		Dave Connolly[107]
2006	Melanie Troxel[108]	Robert Hight[109]		Duane Shields (TA/D)[110]		Greg Anderson[111]
2007	J. R. Todd[112]	Gary Scelzi[113]				Greg Anderson[114]
2008	Tony Schumacher[115]	Robert Hight[116]		Duane Shields (TA/D)[117]		Greg Anderson[118]
2009	Doug Kalitta[119]	Ron Capps[120]		Jim Whiteley (TA/D)[121]		Jason Line[122]			Shane Studley
2010	Larry Dixon[123]	John Force[124]		Chris Demke (TA/D)[125]		Mike Edwards[126]
2011	Morgan Lucas[127]	Robert Hight[128]				Jason Line[129]	Rob Harrison[130]
2012	Spencer Massey[131]	John Force[132]				Greg Anderson[133]			Abe Loewen[134]
2013	Shawn Langdon[135]	Courtney Force[136]				Vincent Nobile[137]
2014	Khalid al-Balooshi[138]	John Force[139]				Jason Line[140]
2015	Shawn Langdon[141]	Matt Hagan[142]				Jason Line[143]		Len Darnell (TF/Harley)[144]
2016	Steve Torrence[145]	Ron Capps[146]		Shawn Cowie (TA/D)[147]		Greg Anderson[148]		Len Darnell (TF/Harley)[149]
2017	Leah Pruett[150]	Matt Hagan[151]		Joey Severance (TA/D)[152] Shane Westerfield (TA/FC)[153]	Doug Lambeck (Comp Eliminator)[154]	Jason Line[155]		Jay Turner (TF/Harley)[156]
2018	Doug Kalitta	Matt Hagan		Shawn Cowie (TA/D)[157] Shane Westerfield (TA/FC)[158]	Dan Fletcher (Comp Eliminator)[159]	Bo Butner III[160]		Doug Vancil (TF/Harley)[161]
2019	Doug Kalitta	Robert Hight				Bo Butner
2020	Doug Kalitta	Jack Beckman				Jeg Coughlin Jr.
2021	Leah Pruett	Ron Capps				Aaron Stanfield		Matt Smith
2022	Justin Ashley	Robert Hight				Erica Enders
2023	Justin Ashley	Matt Hagan				Dallas Glenn
2024	Justin Ashley	John Force				Dallas Glenn

Notes

1. Burgess, Phil. "Florida's first NHRA 'national event' was the Winter Nationals? Yep (sorta)". NHRA.COM. National Hot Rod Association. Retrieved 2024-03-03.
2. Burgess, Phil, National Dragster editor. "Carol Cox: NHRA's first class winner", written 4 May 2018, at NHRA.com (retrieved 16 September 2018)
3. Burgess, Phil, National Dragster editor. "Carol Cox: NHRA's first class winner", written 4 May 2018, at NHRA.com (retrieved 16 September 2018)
4. Burgess, Phil, National Dragster editor. "Carol Cox: NHRA's first class winner", written 4 May 2018, at NHRA.com (retrieved 16 September 2018): text and photo.
5. Burgess, Phil, National Dragster editor. "Carol Cox: NHRA's first class winner", written 4 May 2018, at NHRA.com (retrieved 16 September 2018)
6. Burgess, Phil, National Dragster editor. "Carol Cox: NHRA's first class winner", written 4 May 2018, at NHRA.com (retrieved 16 September 2018)
7. Burgess, Phil, National Dragster editor. "Carol Cox: NHRA's first class winner", written 4 May 2018, at NHRA.com (retrieved 16 September 2018)
8. McClurg, Bob. "50 Years of Funny Cars: Part 2" in Drag Racer, November 2016, pp.42 and p.44 caption.
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10. McClurg, p.46 caption.
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19. Kommel, Dave. "Gallery: The Best of 1970s Drag Racing", written 25 April 2017, at Hot Rod Network (retrieved 22 May 2017)
20. McClurg, Bob. "Pure Heaven: The Life and Fast Times of Fuel Altered Pioneer Leon Fitzgerald", written 14 March 2017, at Hot Rod Network (retrieved 22 May 2017)
21. Burgess, Phil, National Dragster editor. "A Christmas (Tree) Story", at NHRA.com (retrieved 22 September 2018)
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23. Jodauga, John. "Greatest Races: 1961 Winternationals", at NHRA.net (retrieved 24 September 2018)
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