The silence of the offseason is approaching, but nobody told the alcohol-burning monsters at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip.
The 61st annual In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals came roaring to life Thursday as the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series unleashed its horsepower on the legendary Southern California quarter-mile. With the professional nitro machines waiting until Friday to make their first qualifying runs, the Top Alcohol Dragsters and Top Alcohol Funny Cars delivered their own brand of high-horsepower entertainment.
And they weren’t wasting any time getting down to business.
In Top Alcohol Funny Car, Sean Bellemeur hammered out a 5.480-second blast at 264.96 mph to grab the provisional No. 1 qualifying position. Annie Whiteley answered with a stout 5.506 at 265.69 mph, putting the two competitors just 0.026 seconds apart at the top of the qualifying sheet.
The Top Alcohol Dragsters turned up the wick even further. Shawn Cowie ripped down the Pomona quarter-mile in 5.225 seconds at a blistering 275.51 mph, claiming the provisional top spot. Melanie Johnson wasn’t far behind, laying down a 5.239-second charge at 274.89 mph.
Just fourteen thousandths of a second separated the two quickest dragsters, providing an early indication of just how tight the competition could become as the NHRA Finals weekend unfolds.
While the alcohol machines supplied some of Thursday’s biggest horsepower, the rest of the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series brought its own arsenal of competition to the starting line.
Stock Eliminator, Super Stock, Competition Eliminator, Super Comp, Super Gas, Top Dragster and Top Sportsman filled the day’s racing program with everything from production-based muscle to purpose-built drag racing machines.
The schedule included qualifying, time trials and elimination rounds, with several categories beginning the battle for the final national event trophies of the 2026 season.
For the sportsman racers, the NHRA Finals represents one final opportunity to close out the year with a victory on one of drag racing’s most historic strips.
Mother Nature Forces NHRA to Turn Up Friday’s Pace
While Thursday’s racing delivered the horsepower, the weather forecast was already making its presence felt.
With potential inclement weather threatening Friday’s program, NHRA officials announced an earlier start for the professional qualifying sessions.
The first round of NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will now fire off at 11 a.m. Friday, beginning with Pro Stock Motorcycle and Pro Stock before the Funny Cars and Top Fuel Dragsters bring their nitro-fueled horsepower to the Pomona quarter-mile.
A second professional qualifying session is scheduled for 1:30 p.m., following the same running order.
Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series competition is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m.
With championship battles waiting to be settled, national event trophies up for grabs and the possibility of changing weather conditions, the final weekend of the 2026 NHRA season is already shaping up to be anything but routine.
Thursday belonged to the alcohol burners and the sportsman racers.
Friday, the nitro monsters join the party.
This story was originally published on November 13, 2026. 
