(Photos: Kirk Wolf Racing – SR Driven Media)
This weekend’s In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals is the final event for the 2024 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. Set to compete at the famed Pomona Dragstrip, the Dean Dubbin A/Fuel Dragster team is aiming for success as they build momentum toward the 2025 campaign.
We have a consistent and fast car and a win in Pomona would boost our momentum going into the 2025 season, said Kirk Wolf, driver of the DMP Awnings – Kentex Roofing A/Fuel Dragster.
Car owner Dean Dubbin agreed, “We aren’t in the top ten in the points standings – we haven’t run enough races, but we have a car that runs and competes like a top ten car.”
Having a fast car and a good driver isn’t always enough to leave Pomona with the “Wally” though, a team must keep up with the race track in Pomona. The Pomona surface can be tricky and it can change rapidly. With year-end championships yet to be decided in many categories, the NHRA Safety Safari will take extra steps in track preparation to ensure maximum performances from all competitors.
The Pomona track is not a facility that races extensively throughout the year. Only a few select racing events are held there each year. Although resurfacing activities have been conducted over the past few years the track still maintains a certain personality that creates headaches for crew-chiefs and drivers. The infamous bump in the right lane has haunted cars and drivers for decades – even with the track improvements, some surface imperfections just seem to hang around.
With the championships in the Mission Foods Series on the line, the Safety Safari will take extra steps to ensure the track has the “bite” that may not have been available earlier in the season at other facilities. Even though the track is situated less than 50 miles from the Pacific Ocean, the air is dryer than you would anticipate. At the same time, a stout and steady barometer creates a situation where the air is always better than you think it should be. But, you may not see the sun until noon if the fog settles in. By then all tuning calculations and track surface conditions are nullified – and all you have left is experience and instinct.
“We learned a lot racing in Pomona last year,” said Dean Dubbin. “The atmospheric conditions may equate to other tracks on paper, but this track always produces better performances than you think it should.”
Dubbin continued, “When we came here last year for the first time we learned very quickly that the racers that have experience here have an advantage. There are things about racing here that you can’t plan for unless you have the experience of running here. This time we are more knowledgeable on how the track changes from Thursday to Sunday, and the adjustments we need to make to keep up with the air and the track.”
Wolf was quick to agree, “We are in a much better position this year in Pomona. We know the racing conditions here much better, and we know this car better. We are relaxed, and confident, and are overdue for a win.”
Qualifying action for the Top Alcohol Dragsters starts on Thursday with a late afternoon qualifying session around 4 pm. On Friday there are two more qualifying sessions at 1 pm and 6 pm. The first round of eliminations is slated for 10 am on Saturday, while round two is scheduled for 4 pm. The Semi-finals will be contested on Sunday at 1 pm and the Finals will take place around 3 pm.
Stay tuned to the DMP Awnings and Kirk Wolf social media pages for photos and results from the weekend.
Dubbin Motorsports Is:
Dean Dubbin & Karen Dubbin – Team Owners and Driver (Dean)
Kenny Woods – Owner Of KENTEX Roofing Systems
Clay Copeland (with wife Lisa Copeland) – Co-Crew Chief
Chase Copeland (with wife Brittney Copeland) – Co-Crew Chief
Kirk Wolf – Driver
Trevor Jelinski
Scott Jelinski
Don Nolan
Brad Hiatt
Stay in touch with the Dean Dubbin & the DMP Awnings Team:
Facebook – @DMPAwnings
Instagram – @DMPAwnings_
Twitter – @DMPAwnings
Stay in touch with Driver Kirk Wolf:
Facebook – @KirkWolfRacing
Instagram- @KirkWolf
Team Support:
DMP Awnings | Kentex Roofing Systems | Central McGowan | Noonan | NGK Spark Plugs | Goodson | Copeland Race Cars | Wright Brothers Consulting | Aluminum Cabinet Company | Mile High Crankshafts
Motorsports Media | Dubbin Motorsports | Photos: Kirk Wolf Racing – SR Driven Media
