Rain cancels drag racing in Pomona

Persistent rain forced National Hot Rod Assn. officials to cancel Friday’s racing at the Winternationals at the Auto Club Raceway in Pomona. Qualifying will resume Saturday, weather permitting, but more rain and even snow at low altitudes are forecast. Continuous heavy rains in 2009 pushed the final day of the Winternationals from Sunday until Wednesday.

Snow interrupting the Winternationals would not be a first. Top fuel national champion Larry Dixon recalled that happening in 1978, when he was 11.

“The whole track was covered in snow,” Dixon said. “I was scared to play in it because I’m a Southern California guy. That stuff is supposed to be in the mountains, not on the racetrack. It made for a good picture, but it really wasn’t enough snow to throw snowballs or build a snowman.”