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43rd annual Auto Club Finals
Nov. 1-4
Auto Club Raceway at Pomona
Pomona, Calif.
“The bottom line is that we need to make sure to get in there and do what we have to do to make sure we get the CAT car the championship. We need to line up against the other Countdown guys and take them out and help out Hot Rod (Fuller). If we can do that and win the race for Matco, it would be an awesome weekend for the entire David Powers team.”
Baca Pomona Notebook
Last weekend in Las Vegas Baca made his 2007 NHRA debut driving the Matco Tools dragster. He qualified fifth with a pass of 4.532 seconds at 326.79 mph on his first qualifying attempt at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Baca advanced to the quarterfinals before falling to teammate Rod Fuller.
Last November, Baca qualified 15th at the Auto Club Finals with an elapsed time of 4.583 second at 312.57 mph. He fell in the opening round of eliminations to eventual race winner Tony Schumacher (4.489 to 9.882).
Last season, Baca finished 12th in the NHRA Top Fuel standings. He qualified for 22 of 23 races and clocked a career-best speed (331.69 mph) at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet , Ill. He also advanced to the final round at the season-opening Winternationals.
Baca’s best season as a pro came in 2003—his first full season in Top Fuel—where he finished seventh in the Top Fuel division. He posted a runner-up finish at Sonoma , Calif. and earned two poles ( Indianapolis and Memphis ).
Baca’s father, Dennis, won the Top Fuel title at the prestigious U.S. Nationals in 1977.
Baca On Pomona …
Pomona:
“Fairgrounds”
Pomona Raceway:
“A lot of racing history”
Favorite Pomona-area restaurant:
“Copa Cabana”
Favorite Pomona Raceway racing memory:
“So many. First A/FD to run in the 5.20s. Winning Top Fuel in 2003 as an owner with Cory Mac.”
Favorite activity while at Pomona :
“Going to the coast at Newport ”
2007 NHRA Top Fuel Standings – Countdown To 1
1. ROD FULLER (3) 3,135 - - -
2. Larry Dixon (3) 3,083 - 52
3. Brandon Bernstein (5) 3,074 - 61
4. Tony Schumacher (5) 3,068 - 67
5. Bob Vandergriff, Jr. 2,264
6. Doug Herbert (1) 2,241
7. J.R. Todd (2) 2,196
8. Whit Bazemore 2,182
David Baca’s Career Results at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona
Year Qualified Finish & Winning Driver
2002 No. 12 First round—Rhonda Hartman-Smith
2003 No. 10 First round—Doug Herbert
2003 No. 11 First round—Cory McClenathan
2004 No. 7 Second round—Tony Schumacher
2004 No. 3 Semifinals—Tony Schumacher
2005 No. 8 First round—Doug Herbert
2005 No. 3 Semifinals—Melanie Troxel
2006 No. 10 Runner-up—Melanie Troxel
2006 No. 15 First round—Tony Schumacher
Baca’s Pomona 2 Schedule
Date & Time Event and Location
Thurs., Nov. 1, 2:30 p.m. TF Qualifying 1, Auto Club Raceway at Pom.
Fri., Nov. 2 , 2:30 p.m. TF Qualifying 2, Auto Club Raceway at Pom.
Sat., Nov. 3, Noon/3:30 p.m. TF Qualifying 3/4, Auto Club Raceway at Pom.
Sun., Nov. 4, 11 a.m. Final Eliminations, Auto Club Raceway at Pom.
Baca’s Career-Best Performances
E.T.—4.485 seconds Las Vegas ( Pomona 2 2005)
MPH—331.69 mph Joliet , Ill. (Chicago 2006)
Auto Club Finals TV Schedule (ESPN2)
Date & Time (ET) Coverage
Sat., Nov. 3, 7-8 p.m. Qualifying Highlights
Sat., Nov. 3, 11 p.m.-Midnight Qualifying Highlights
Sun., Nov. 4, 11-11:30 a.m. NHRA Race Day
Sun., Nov. 4, 7-10:30 p.m. Final Eliminations Coverage
The Baca Bulletin
43rd annual Auto Club Finals
Nov. 1-4
Auto Club Raceway at Pomona
Pomona, Calif.
“The bottom line is that we need to make sure to get in there and do what we have to do to make sure we get the CAT car the championship. We need to line up against the other Countdown guys and take them out and help out Hot Rod (Fuller). If we can do that and win the race for Matco, it would be an awesome weekend for the entire David Powers team.”
Baca Pomona Notebook
Last weekend in Las Vegas Baca made his 2007 NHRA debut driving the Matco Tools dragster. He qualified fifth with a pass of 4.532 seconds at 326.79 mph on his first qualifying attempt at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Baca advanced to the quarterfinals before falling to teammate Rod Fuller.
Last November, Baca qualified 15th at the Auto Club Finals with an elapsed time of 4.583 second at 312.57 mph. He fell in the opening round of eliminations to eventual race winner Tony Schumacher (4.489 to 9.882).
Last season, Baca finished 12th in the NHRA Top Fuel standings. He qualified for 22 of 23 races and clocked a career-best speed (331.69 mph) at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet , Ill. He also advanced to the final round at the season-opening Winternationals.
Baca’s best season as a pro came in 2003—his first full season in Top Fuel—where he finished seventh in the Top Fuel division. He posted a runner-up finish at Sonoma , Calif. and earned two poles ( Indianapolis and Memphis ).
Baca’s father, Dennis, won the Top Fuel title at the prestigious U.S. Nationals in 1977.
Baca On Pomona …
Pomona:
“Fairgrounds”
Pomona Raceway:
“A lot of racing history”
Favorite Pomona-area restaurant:
“Copa Cabana”
Favorite Pomona Raceway racing memory:
“So many. First A/FD to run in the 5.20s. Winning Top Fuel in 2003 as an owner with Cory Mac.”
Favorite activity while at Pomona :
“Going to the coast at Newport ”
2007 NHRA Top Fuel Standings – Countdown To 1
1. ROD FULLER (3) 3,135 - - -
2. Larry Dixon (3) 3,083 - 52
3. Brandon Bernstein (5) 3,074 - 61
4. Tony Schumacher (5) 3,068 - 67
5. Bob Vandergriff, Jr. 2,264
6. Doug Herbert (1) 2,241
7. J.R. Todd (2) 2,196
8. Whit Bazemore 2,182
David Baca’s Career Results at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona
Year Qualified Finish & Winning Driver
2002 No. 12 First round—Rhonda Hartman-Smith
2003 No. 10 First round—Doug Herbert
2003 No. 11 First round—Cory McClenathan
2004 No. 7 Second round—Tony Schumacher
2004 No. 3 Semifinals—Tony Schumacher
2005 No. 8 First round—Doug Herbert
2005 No. 3 Semifinals—Melanie Troxel
2006 No. 10 Runner-up—Melanie Troxel
2006 No. 15 First round—Tony Schumacher
Baca’s Pomona 2 Schedule
Date & Time Event and Location
Thurs., Nov. 1, 2:30 p.m. TF Qualifying 1, Auto Club Raceway at Pom.
Fri., Nov. 2 , 2:30 p.m. TF Qualifying 2, Auto Club Raceway at Pom.
Sat., Nov. 3, Noon/3:30 p.m. TF Qualifying 3/4, Auto Club Raceway at Pom.
Sun., Nov. 4, 11 a.m. Final Eliminations, Auto Club Raceway at Pom.
Baca’s Career-Best Performances
E.T.—4.485 seconds Las Vegas ( Pomona 2 2005)
MPH—331.69 mph Joliet , Ill. (Chicago 2006)
Auto Club Finals TV Schedule (ESPN2)
Date & Time (ET) Coverage
Sat., Nov. 3, 7-8 p.m. Qualifying Highlights
Sat., Nov. 3, 11 p.m.-Midnight Qualifying Highlights
Sun., Nov. 4, 11-11:30 a.m. NHRA Race Day
Sun., Nov. 4, 7-10:30 p.m. Final Eliminations Coverage
