Two NHRA champions crowned, two more to come

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Robert Hight won the National Hot Rod Assn. funny car championship during qualifying at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona on Saturday. Mike Edwards won the pro stock championship earlier in the day.

Hector Arana has all but wrapped up the pro stock motorcycle championship by capturing the top qualifying spot.

That leaves the top fuel championship up for grabs. Tony Schumacher has a two-point lead in the top fuel standings. Larry Dixon is in second place. Schumacher set a track record in elapsed time in qualifying at 3.772 seconds. Dixon set a national speed record in qualifying at 321.58 mph.

Yeah, it’s that close.

Ashley Force Hood was the top qualifier in funny cars. She was also the driver chasing Hight for most of the NHRA Countdown to One playoffs. She talked about seeing her John Force Racing teammate go from 10th to first in the funny car standings and win his first NHRA championship.

Go to Haddock in the Paddock for more video interviews of the drivers from Auto Club Raceway in Pomona.

-- Tim Haddock