Pomona Winternationals 2025

[65 Goatboy]

Does JFR 299 wins include Brittany TF wins?

FC only.

https://www.autoweek.com/racing/nhra/a64300705/justin-ashley-john-force-racing-funny-cars-milestones-pomona/?source=nl&utm_source=nl_aut&utm_medium=email&date=032625&utm_campaign=nl02_032625_AUT39171654&oo=&user_email=ceb78d381583f5ed2ffeffc77fc4f3af2891997084f6e01db556807c4ed5114d&GID=ceb78d381583f5ed2ffeffc77fc4f3af2891997084f6e01db556807c4ed5114d&utm_term=AUT_Autoweek_Racing_Daily_Newsletter_HorL

 

[LoPony]

Boy, the old Pomona Fairplex was my home track when I lived in LA for 15 years, and it still surprises the heck out of me. 3.64s? Brittney‘s first run down the track with 301 miles an hour in the eighth. That’s amazing for such an old track, although the surface was redone back in the 2015-ish timeframe I think, so it’s a nice surface.

 

[You!]

And runs downhill...

Boy, the old Pomona Fairplex was my home track when I lived in LA for 15 years, and it still surprises the heck out of me. 3.64s? Brittney‘s first run down the track with 301 miles an hour in the eighth. That’s amazing for such an old track, although the surface was redone back in the 2015-ish timeframe I think, so it’s a nice surface.

 

[M Jones]

Boy, the old Pomona Fairplex was my home track when I lived in LA for 15 years, and it still surprises the heck out of me. 3.64s? Brittney‘s first run down the track with 301 miles an hour in the eighth. That’s amazing for such an old track, although the surface was redone back in the 2015-ish timeframe I think, so it’s a nice surface.

There’s just something about that California air and nitro that make it happen

 

[LoPony]

There’s just something about that California air and nitro that make it happen

Could be, and maybe a little of the downhill thing, although I don’t know what the actual downward grade is. Would be possible to calculate the force vector of the additional acceleration if anybody knows the slope angle.

Anyhow, It’s surprising, because the track is at 1100 feet. Which is comparable to some of the other tracks that are much slower in similar air, and better than some sea level tracks that have better air.

 

[NitroLuver]

Well.....Blake Alexander sure as hell didn't like Angelle's question at the top end of round two.

 

[LoPony]

Something else for this Pomona weekend, is that the majority of the top fuel cars are not running the air deflectors. I see them on Millican’s ‘s car, Torrance‘s car, and the Scrapper‘s car. I think they look naked without them, but maybe it’ll help save the tires.

Really wish they’d let the teams do some rear half aero development that makes the cars look a little bit slicker.

 

[LoPony]

Well.....Blake Alexander sure as hell didn't like Angelle's question at the top end of round two.

You are absolutely right. He did not like it. That was a pretty stupid question. Haha.

 

[T.Smith]

Ferrari F1, 248 wins.
Mclaren F1, 191 wins.

 

[M Jones]

You are absolutely right. He did not like it. That was a pretty stupid question. Haha.

What was the question

 

[NitroLuver]

What was the question

Something to the effect of........I'm curious what's running through your head to turn things around as it seems you've had a rough/slow start to the season.

 

[J. S.]

Well.....Blake Alexander sure as hell didn't like Angelle's question at the top end of round two.

That guy seems to have way too much attitude. Maybe it wasn't the best question, but he should have lightened way up and kidded around with her a bit to set the record straight. He did not come across well, in my opinion. She is not really a professional on-camera type, and still doesn't have that much experience doing this. He should have cut her some slack.

 

[Randy]

Could be, and maybe a little of the downhill thing, although I don’t know what the actual downward grade is. Would be possible to calculate the force vector of the additional acceleration if anybody knows the slope angle.

Anyhow, It’s surprising, because the track is at 1100 feet. Which is comparable to some of the other tracks that are much slower in similar air, and better than some sea level tracks that have better air.

Years ago the rumor was that the finish line at Pomona was 10-12' lower than the starting line. Claimed elevation for the track is 1,100', but I've seen it as low as 980' and has high as about 1,180' on an aircraft altimeter.

 

[yoda]

Years ago the rumor was that the finish line at Pomona was 10-12' lower than the starting line. Claimed elevation for the track is 1,100', but I've seen it as low as 980' and has high as about 1,180' on an aircraft altimeter.

Don't the tracks have to be a 1° or less downhill grade? There are a couple on the tour that are right at the number.

I bet Reinhart would know.

 

[twostep]

Don't the tracks have to be a 1° or less downhill grade? There are a couple on the tour that are right at the number.

I bet Reinhart would know.

Vegas is right at that 1% threshold (13 feet).

 

[yoda]

Vegas is right at that 1% threshold (13 feet).

I think Bruton did that to Charlotte too

 

[LoPony]

That guy seems to have way too much attitude. Maybe it wasn't the best question, but he should have lightened way up and kidded around with her a bit to set the record straight. He did not come across well, in my opinion. She is not really a professional on-camera type, and still doesn't have that much experience doing this. He should have cut her some slack.

I agree, he has a terrible attitude. This is not the first time he’s come across as a jerk. Whenever I look at him, I think he’s a jerk, just based on how he’s answered questions in the past. This wasn’t necessarily a departure for him, although combined with the question, which was kind of silly. They haven’t had a bad season.

 

[XPilot]

Something else for this Pomona weekend, is that the majority of the top fuel cars are not running the air deflectors. I see them on Millican’s ‘s car, Torrance‘s car, and the Scrapper‘s car. I think they look naked without them, but maybe it’ll help save the tires.

Really wish they’d let the teams do some rear half aero development that makes the cars look a little bit slicker.

I remember reading an article several years ago that the idea was to put them in front of the rear wheels to create a larger low pressure area routing shrapnel/FOD down the centerline of the car, between the rear wheels rather than under them. Might have been Amato that came up with it but I'm drawing a blank. I definitely remember seeing a red car testing them in that configuration. Could have been Amato, Scelzi or Bernstein.

Then the NHRA went a different direction with it and mandated them in front of the headers. If the original aerodynamic theory is correct, those panels have been defeating at least part of the original purpose for decades.

 

[LoPony]

I’ll dig into this a little. Let’s say that a top fuel car weighs 2400 pounds.

A 1% slope over 1000 feet would be 10 feet of a drop. This would be 0.56°, which would add another 17 ish mph. Obviously, this doesn’t count for friction or wind, resistance or anything else, so…. maybe.

A 1° slope over 1000 feet would be about 17 feet. This would be about 23 mph over that distance, in agreement with the above that the Vegas finish line is about 13 feet lower than the start.

However, a 12” drop at the finish line versus the starting line would be about 0.056° which would be about 5.5 mph. Again, not weird.

If the specification is 1°, that’s quite a drop in altitude at the finish. Very interesting. This is if my math is right. Feel free to verify. .

 

[LoPony]

I remember reading an article several years ago that the idea was to put them in front of the rear wheels to create a larger low pressure area routing shrapnel/FOD down the centerline of the car, between the rear wheels rather than under them. Might have been Amato that came up with it but I'm drawing a blank. I definitely remember seeing a red car testing them in that configuration. Could have been Amato, Scelzi or Bernstein.

Then the NHRA went a different direction with it and mandated them in front of the headers. If the original aerodynamic theory is correct, those panels have been defeating at least part of the original purpose for decades.

I think you’re right,I believe it was Amato. And then they came out with those front pods and the tiny front wheels, which were really cool, but were blamed for a lot of blow overs. But then, when they got rid of those, the blow overs continued, so maybe those weren’t to blame.

I remember Garlits saying his crew chief (Herb Parks? Malone?) Said the funny cars were way more aeroynamic than the dragsters because of the front wheels, and obviously the big air dam created by the rear wheels.