There is plenty of Championship pressure in a number of categories at the NHRA Finals in Pomona. But, you would not have noticed it in the Top Alcohol Funny Car Qualifying.
Doug Gordon and Shane Westerfield are locked in a championship battle and both took care of business in a straight forward fashion in qualifying. Gordon qualifying in the number one spot and Westerfield slotting in at number 4. Each team had good clean and strong runs in every session.
Both teams look sharp and ready for eliminations against a very strong field of cars.
As mentioned in the race preview – The TAFC Championship boils down to this:
Westerfield can replace a 53 point race from Indy and Gordon can replace a 42 point race earned at Dallas.
With the 20 point Gordon advantage right now, Westerfield has to win the race and Gordon can’t get by the Semi-Finals for Shane Westerfield to win the Championship.
If Gordon advances to the final round, or Westerfield does not win the race, Doug Gordon is the 2022 Champion.
Based on the qualifying ladder if each team wins their first and second round match-ups, they will face each other and go head to head in the semi-finals.
As predicted all 13 cars in the TAFC field are running very well and all but one are tightly bunched between 5.41 and 5.59 seconds. Eliminations are going to be a battle and will be most likely decided by the drivers reaction time.
Two rounds of Eliminations get underway tomorrow at roughly 10am and 2pm pacific time. NHRA.TV will carry these rounds live.
Don’t miss this.
NHRA Finals – TAFC Elimination Ladder
Pro Alcohol Drag Racing Media