Automobile of Southern Calfornia NHRA Finals

Tony Schumacher needed to win the NHRA season finale at Auto Club Raceway for a chance at the Top Fuel championship. He reached the finals against Brandon Bernstein, beating Bob Vandergriff by 0.027 seconds in the semifinals.
Antron Brown, looking to become the first African-American to win the NHRA Top Fuel championship, lost in the first round and could only watch as Schmacher marched through the elimination rounds.
Jack Beckman and Ron Capps battled for the Funny Car championship. Both drivers reached the semifinals. Beckman came into the season finale with the lead in the Funny Car standings, but needed to win one more round than Capps to capture the championship.
Beckman won the championship by two points over Capps. They both lost in the semis, Capps to Courtney Force, Beckman to Cruz Pedregon.