In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Chip Ellis rode to a 6.805 pass at 196.53 to lead the field. Ellis was quickest in both of the qualifying sessions at Pomona history during qualifying at the 53rd annual Auto Club NHRA Finals. Ellis is racing to secure his first No. 1 of the season and first since 2015.
“It’s a great bike with a great tune up and I was just able to ride it well,” Ellis said. “That was only my second lap ever on that motorcycle. It’s brand new. The bike is working good. I’m glad I’m able to do this. I’m just privileged to be able to ride and fortunately, so far, we’ve done pretty good so far.”
Ellis’s Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson teammates Andrew Hines and Eddie Krawiec are qualified second and third, subsequently. Krawiec needs only to qualify for the event to clinch his fourth NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro Stock Motorcycle world championship.