Tuesday, March 30, 2021

NHRA Postpones Lucas Oil Winternationals at Pomona

NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series event was originally scheduled for April 9-11 weekend in California.

BY 


The traditional season-opening event of the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series was bumped out of the leadoff spot and into April because of fan restrictions at Pomona (Calif.) Raceway.

Well, the event is moving once again.

NHRA officials announced today the postponement of the 61st annual Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals presented by ProtectTheHarvest.com at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, originally scheduled for April 9-11. NHRA and track officials will continue to look to state and federal health officials for recommendations to host events in California.

A new date for the event is to be determined. Finding a date may not be as easy as it sounds, as the NHRA schedule is a crowded on from May through October. Two windows that would appear to be possibilities appear to be July 9-11, which would make the event as the kickoff to the Western Swing. The weekend of Aug. 6-8 is also currently open, and that would make Pomona the closing race of the swing.

“We are confident we will find a new date for the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals,” said Kasey Coler, NHRA vice president of Track Management & Operations. “We are working closely with California health officials to come to an agreement as to the best dates for the event.”

The NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season opened it 2021 season this past weekend to nearly packed grandstands for the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla. The season will continue racing action at the DENSO Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, April 16-18.

NHRA officials say they are determined to complete 22 national events. Currently 19 events are on the schedule, one (Gainesville) is in the rear view mirror, and now Pomona is looking for a date. Another event (Tulsa, maybe?) has yet to be announced to complete the 22-race slate for 2021.

All racing is currently on pause at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, where the track is currently serving as a COVID-19 vaccination site.

No comments: