Two Drivers Find a Fast Track, Set Records in Pomona Qualifying

Pro stock champion Warren Johnson of Duluth, Ga., and former funny-car champion Cruz Pedregon of Moorpark found the weather and track conditions at the Pomona Raceway to their liking Thursday and set track and event records in qualifying for their events.

Pedregon, who won the NHRA title last year only to lose it to Force this season, drove Larry Minor’s Olds Cutlass to an elapsed-time record of 5.079 seconds. That broke the record of 5.108 Pedregon set last year.

Johnson ran 194.30 m.p.h. in his pro stock Cutlass to better his own record of 194.04 set last February in the Winternationals. Johnson’s son, Kurt, was second fastest at 192.47.

Ed McCulloch, making his last ride in Minor’s top-fuel dragster, became the first driver to run 300 m.p.h. at the Winston Finals when he reached 300.40 to take the No. 2 spot in qualifying behind Scott Kalitta, whose 4.855 elapsed time nipped McCulloch’s 4.860.

Third was the surprising Shelly Anderson of Ontario, whose 4.873 run left a lineup of top-fuel veterans in her wake. Failing to make the 16-car field after one round were newly crowned champion Eddie Hill, former champion Joe Amato and Don Prudhomme.