To paraphrase the Funny Car winner of the Auto Club NHRA Nationals at Pomona CA this weekend, "It is what it is!" Fast Jack Beckman came to Pomona this year in second place trailing Robert Hight. The driver of the Auto Club of Southern California Camaro would line up next to Beckman in the final round with one purpose in mind. Avoid a centerline points violation at all costs. The John Force Racing Team driver could clinch his third NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series title by coasting down the track. After all, Hight had already thrilled the stands with a convincing win over fellow title contender, Matt Hagan, to all but lock up the championship.
In a classic Don Schumacher Racing versus John Force Racing showdown, Fast Jack's Infinite Hero Dodge was rock solid and the Funny Car victory was the second of the year and the second of the countdown for the 2012 NHRA Funny Car Champion. Hight, who previously won the title in 2009 and 2017 compiled a career-best seven victories during the 2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. As a show of strength, Fast Jack Beckman made the quickest pass of the day with a .074 RT at 3.920 ET at 323.27 mph to secure the final Wally of the 2019 NHRA season with an impressive win.
When the final rounds started on Sunday, Jack Beckman needed to go two rounds further into the eliminations than Hight to win championship. Beckman easily eliminated John Hale in the first round while Robert Hight squared off with his boss John Force for the 14th time in round one of NHRA eliminations. Although Force led 7-6 in round one matchups, the tires on his Camaro broke loose soon after the start and Hight coasted to the win. Beckman eliminated 2018 Funny Car Champion J.R. Todd, who grabbed the holeshot but quickly relinquished the lead to Fast Jack. Hight had eliminated Shawn Langdon in round two before his matchup with Matt Hagan. Beckman easily eliminated Blake Alexander to meet Hight in the final Funny Car Race for NHRA for 2019.
