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POMONA, Calif. - Jim Yates knew he had a tough assignment on the opening round of Sunday's Auto Club Finals at Pomona Raceway . . . and he was right.
Yates got his SeaRay Boats Pontiac GTO off the starting line first (.030-second to .051) but new Pro Stock champion and eventual race runner-up Jason Line outran him to the finish line, winning with a 6.634-second time at 208.68 mph to Yates' 6.725 at 206.83.
Yates did clinch seventh place in NHRA POWERade Series points with 1114 and completes a season that included a victory at Columbus, Ohio, and a runner-up at Houston.
"That was a tough first round," said Yates. "He has been running well all year and we were able to beat him a couple of times, just not today. He's on top of his game. We struggled in the right lane at this track in February (Winternationals) and at the Finals. That was one of the best runs we've made in low gear but the tires got loose in second gear and spun.
"This has been a good year. We are happy to finish seventh although we were hoping to go as high as fifth. We ran really well earlier in the year but struggled in the middle and that cost us in the end. Pro Stock racing isn't easy, but that's why we do it. We are thankful we did as well as we did.
"We'll regroup over the winter and get ready for 2007."
The season begins with the Winternationals, Feb. 8-11.
Yates Finishes Seventh in Pro Stock Points
POMONA, Calif. - Jim Yates knew he had a tough assignment on the opening round of Sunday's Auto Club Finals at Pomona Raceway . . . and he was right.
Yates got his SeaRay Boats Pontiac GTO off the starting line first (.030-second to .051) but new Pro Stock champion and eventual race runner-up Jason Line outran him to the finish line, winning with a 6.634-second time at 208.68 mph to Yates' 6.725 at 206.83.
Yates did clinch seventh place in NHRA POWERade Series points with 1114 and completes a season that included a victory at Columbus, Ohio, and a runner-up at Houston.
"That was a tough first round," said Yates. "He has been running well all year and we were able to beat him a couple of times, just not today. He's on top of his game. We struggled in the right lane at this track in February (Winternationals) and at the Finals. That was one of the best runs we've made in low gear but the tires got loose in second gear and spun.
"This has been a good year. We are happy to finish seventh although we were hoping to go as high as fifth. We ran really well earlier in the year but struggled in the middle and that cost us in the end. Pro Stock racing isn't easy, but that's why we do it. We are thankful we did as well as we did.
"We'll regroup over the winter and get ready for 2007."
The season begins with the Winternationals, Feb. 8-11.
