Pre-Race Report Event 24: Auto Club Finals Auto Club Raceway at Pomona Pomona, Calif. Nov. 11-13

Kalitta desires gain in final standings

Pomona Highlights: One win (Spring 2009); Six finals (Spring 2016, Spring 2014, Fall 2013, Spring 2010, Spring 2004, Fall 1999); Six no.1 qualifiers (Spring 2014, Fall 2006, Fall 2004, Spring 2004, Spring 2003, Spring 2001)

2016 Spring Pomona Event Recap: Qualified second; Finalist (Defeated Scott Palmer in the first round, Antron Brown in the quarter-finals, J.R. Todd in the semi-finals, lost to Steve Torrence in the final)

2015 Auto Club Finals Event Recap: Qualified 10th; Semi-Finalist (Defeated Tony Schumacher in the first round and Billy Torrence in the quarter-finals, lost to Shawn Langdon in the semi-finals)

Previous Event Recap (Las Vegas): Qualified third; Quarter-final finish (Defeated Scott Palmer in the first round, lost to Steve Torrence in the quarter-finals)

Quotable: “Although we did not get the ultimate trophy this season, the Mac Tools team still has a goal of finishing strong. We are less than one round out of second in the standings and we would like to get that spot this weekend in Pomona.”

Career Stats: 433 starts, 585 round wins (11th all-time), 41 wins (Fifth all-time in Top Fuel), 86 finals, 47 no.1 qualifiers (13th all-time)

Countdown Stats: Ninth appearance (Kalitta has appeared in every Countdown for the Championship); 53 overall Countdown starts; 2 wins; 2 No. 1 qualifiers; 47 total Countdown round wins

2016 Season Stats: Three wins (Houston, Atlanta, Topeka); Four No.1 qualifiers (Phoenix, Atlanta, Norwalk, Charlotte-II); Two finals (Pomona-I, Charlotte-II); 40 round wins

Point Standings: Third (-168); trails second-place Steve Torrence by 11 points, leads fourth-place Brittany Force by 47 points

Noteworthy: has won his first round pairing in 20 of 23 events this season; more round wins than season round win total from 2015; clinched his 19th consecutive top ten finish; only driver that has ranked among the top three in the point standings after every race this season

Todd looks for first Auto Club Finals crown

Pomona Highlights: One win (Spring 2007)

2016 Spring Pomona Event Recap: Qualified 11th; Semi-finalist (Defeated Brittany Force in the first round and Terry McMillen in the quarter-finals, lost to Doug Kalitta in the semi-finals)

2015 Auto Club Finals Event Recap: Qualified fourth; Quarter-final finish (Defeated Troy Buff in the first round, lost to Richie Crampton in the quarter-finals)

Previous Event Recap (Las Vegas): Qualified ninth; Finalist (Defeated Shawn Langdon in the first round, Clay Millican in the quarter-finals, Antron Brown in the semi-finals, lost to Steve Torrence in the final)

Quotable: “Pomona is one of my favorite tracks on the tour. There’s always a different feeling when you pull in the gates there because that’s where we start and finish the season. That place packs a lot of history. Finishing off the 2016 season with a win with this SealMaster Toyota team will for sure help the winter go by easier back here in Indy and Ypsilanti. It’s good to keep everybody’s morale up going into the offseason and what better way than to win and we definitely have a car right now that is capable.”

Career Stats: 147 starts, 146 round wins, 9 wins, 18 finals, 8 No.1 qualifiers

Countdown Stats: Fourth appearance; third consecutive appearance; 23 Countdown starts; 4 finals; 4 No. 1 qualifiers; 27 total Countdown round wins

2016 Season Stats: One win (Sonoma); Four finals (Atlanta, Norwalk, Chicago, Las Vegas-II); 34 round wins

Point Standings: Sixth (-229); trails fifth-place Shawn Langdon by 13 points, leads seventh-place Leah Pritchett by 18 points

Noteworthy: Currently has 34 round wins, which is a career-high (previous high was 25; earned 20 round wins in 2015); nine semi-finals or better in the last 12 races; five final round appearances are a career-high.

After recent Pomona success, Worsham makes plans for strong season finale

Pomona Highlights: Four wins (Fall 2015-FC, Fall 2011-TF, Fall 2003-FC, Fall 2001-FC); Four finals (Spring 2016-FC, Fall 2004-FC, Fall 2002-FC, Spring 1993-FC)

2016 Spring Pomona Event Recap: Qualified fifth; Finalist (Defeated Cruz Pedregon in the first round, Alexis DeJoria in the quarter-finals and John Force in the semi-finals, lost to Ron Capps in the final)

2015 Auto Club Finals Event Recap: Qualified third; Race Winner (Defeated Tony Pedregon in the first round, Robert Hight in the quarter-finals, Jack Beckman in the semi-finals and Tommy Johnson Jr. in the final)

Previous Event Recap (Las Vegas): Qualified seventh; Quarter-final finish (Defeated Tommy Johnson Jr. in the first round, lost to Matt Hagan in the quarter-finals)

Quotable: “Auto Club Raceway has been very good to the DHL Toyota team recently, so we are focused on finishing the season strong. It has been a solid season, but we would love to get another win to end the year.”

Career Stats: 506 starts, 558 round wins, 39 wins (31 in Funny Car, 8 in Top Fuel), 66 finals (55 in Funny Car, 11 in Top Fuel), 20 No.1 qualifiers (13 in Funny Car, 7 in Top Fuel)

Countdown Stats: Seventh appearance (6 in Funny Car, 1 in Top Fuel); Fourth consecutive appearance; 41 overall Countdown starts; eight wins (6 FC, 2 TF); 3 No.1 qualifiers (1 FC, 2 TF); 62 total Countdown round wins (49 FC, 13 TF)

2016 Season Stats: One win (Brainerd); Four finals (Pomona-I, Las Vegas-I, Seattle, Indianapolis); Three No. 1 qualifiers (Norwalk, Sonoma, Seattle); 36 round wins

Point Standings: Sixth (-173); trails fifth-place John Force by 14 points, leads seventh-place Courtney Force by 39 points

Noteworthy: Seven semi-finals or better in the last ten events; 2015 Funny Car Champion, 2011 Top Fuel Champion; one of three drivers with championships in both nitro classes; second in the Funny Car class with 19 first round wins this season; Owns a Top Fuel and Funny Car win at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona

Arend Pomona pre-race notes

2015 Auto Club Finals Event Recap: Qualified 16th; First round defeat (Lost to Ron Capps in the first round)

Previous Event Recap (Las Vegas): Qualified 16th; First round defeat (Lost to Jack Beckman in the first round)

Career Stats: 215 starts, 95 round wins, 4 wins, 9 finals, 2 No.1 qualifiers

Note: Jeff Arend will be substituting for regular Team Patrón driver Alexis DeJoria who is recovering from a racing-related concussion suffered at the NHRA’s most recent event in Las Vegas.

Lee Pomona pre-race notes

2015 Auto Club Finals Event Recap: Qualified 13th; First round defeat (Lost to Matt Hagan in the first round)

Previous Event Recap (Las Vegas): Qualified 13th; First round defeat (Lost to Ron Capps in the first round)

Career Stats: 54 starts, 13 round wins

Noteworthy: Lee reset his career-best elapsed time (3.965) and MPH (329.34) in Las Vegas.

About Kalitta Motorsports:

Based in Ypsilanti, Mich., Kalitta Motorsports is a Top Fuel and Funny Car drag racing team in the NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. The team was founded and is owned by drag racing icon Connie “the Bounty Hunter” Kalitta. For more than 50 years, Connie has been involved in the sport as a driver, tuner, and an owner. Kalitta Motorsports is one of the most successful teams in the history of auto racing with six world championships and over 100 national event titles in five different professional drag racing sanctioning bodies since it was established by Connie in 1959.

Team Kalitta is the home of the 2015 NHRA Mello Yello Funny Car World Champion, Del Worsham. He drives the DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car. Alexis DeJoria pilots the Tequila Patrón Toyota Camry Funny Car. J.R. Todd drives the SealMaster Top Fuel dragster while Connie’s nephew, Doug Kalitta, pilots the Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster. Team Kalitta also manages the McLeod Racing Toyota Camry Funny Car driven by Paul Lee. Kalitta Motorsports will expand to a sixth entry in 2017 with AAA Road to the Future candidate, Troy Coughlin, Jr. Connie serves as head tuner for all Team Kalitta entries. He is assisted by co-crew chiefs Jon Oberhofer and Nick Boninfante on the DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car, Tommy DeLago and Glen Huszar on the Tequila Patrón Toyota Camry Funny Car, Todd Smith on the McLeod Racing Toyota Camry Funny Car, Rob Flynn on the SealMaster Top Fuel dragster and Jim Oberhofer on the Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster.

Associate sponsors on Kalitta Motorsports’ race cars include ARP, AutoDesk CAM, Champion, Cogistics, Darton Sleeves, DHL, Justice Brothers, Kalitta Air, Mac Tools, Optima Batteries, Phoenix Fuel Converter, Racing Electronics, Red Line Oil, SealMaster, Summit Racing Equipment, Technicoat Companies, Tequila Patrón, TMS Titanium, Toyota and Ziebart.