Dominance can be defined as having supremacy or preeminence over another or others, exercising mastery and/or ruling power and/or controlling influence. Well, Steve “Fast” Jackson was all that and more as he rolled over some of the best drivers in the country to take the Dodge NHRA Finals event title and claim his second consecutive E-3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod season championship.
Jackson set low elapse time (5.789), top speed (246.66 mph), and best reaction time (0.050) during eliminations to claim the event prize. In the final, he took out Khalid Albalooshi, leaving first (0.050 to 0.075) and driving away to a 5.789 at 247.47 mph to 5.890 at 224.96 mph victory.
In Top Fuel Harley, Randall Andras came in as the 2020 MT Tires NHRA season champion (was also the 2019 season champion), having clinched the title during qualifying at the Dallas event two weeks earlier. Andras dominated the class as he won six of the first seven events he entered, including the season opening Winter Nationals and five in a row coming into the final event of the season. He also won at the prestigious Lucas Oil NHRA U.S. nationals in Indianapolis. He qualified fifth at the finals but broke down prior to a semi-final match up with Jay Turner. However, he did manage to take out number one qualifier Ryan Peery with a 6.401 at 207.11 mph to 6.953 at 164.95 mph effort. Turner went on to defeat Ricky House in the final round (6.390 at 214.96 mph to 6.444 at 214.79 mph) to claim his second national event win of the season. He previously won the event in Phoenix at the beginning of the season.
With the uncertainties of the COVID-19 virus, the NHRA has modified its 2021 season schedule and will have 22 total events as opposed to the original 24. Normally, the season would start in Pomona, CA with the Winter Nationals, followed by Phoenix in February. Then it would be Gainesville, Florida and Las Vegas. It now starts in Gainesville on March 11-14, then Atlanta on March 26-28. The Winter Nationals are scheduled to follow in Pomona on April 9-11, Las Vegas from April 16-18 and Phoenix April 23-25. Barring any changes, several of the events will feature qualifying on Saturdays and eliminations on Sundays, while others will feature one qualifying session on Friday, two on Saturday and eliminations on Sunday. The event at Sonoma Raceway (July 23-25) will feature three days, with one qualifying session on Friday, two on Saturday and elimination on Sunday. The 2021 season will be called the NHRA “Camping World Drag Racing Series”.
