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The latest update as of November 19, 2019
The following statement was released by NHRA late yesterday afternoon.
The NHRA is disappointed in the situation that occurred between Steve Torrence and Cameron Ferre after the first round of Top Fuel competition at the Auto Club NHRA Finals. We are evaluating the matter and any potential penalties will be assessed after a thorough review.
The latest update as of November 18, 2019
In the end, the points leaders going into the event in all four categories emerged victorious on the season, but none of them, doubled up with the Auto Club Finals event victory and the World Championship. Robert Hight came close to taking both in Funny Car, and might have grabbed the win in the final against Jack Beckman until his car mysteriously shut off at the end of his tire melting half-track burnout.
In Top Fuel, Steve Torrence cut a sleepy (.183) light in the semi-final and lost on a holeshot to Richie Crampton, but still hung on to win the championship by just THREE points over Doug Kalitta. Pro Stock saw Erica Enders lose in the semi-final to Francisco Cuadra, but she had already clinched the championship a round earlier by defeating Chris McGaha. Her third world championship wasn't exactly a runaway though as closest pursuer, Jeg Coughlin Jr. took the event win and fell just 21 points short of catching Enders.
The most dramatic season title battle of the weekend occurred in Pro Stock Motorcycle. Against all odds, the points leader - and an almost certain lock to take the championship again - Andrew Hines - redlighted away a sure win in the opening round of eliminations against the #13 qualifier Jianna Salinas. That opened the door to the two racers closest to him, albeit only slightly, as they were both more than 100 points in arrears going into eliminations.
Hines then had to sit through a long, agonizing afternoon, only able to watch helplessy as two racers that had only a mathematical chance to take the championship chewed away at his seemingly insurmountable points lead. Going into the semi-finals, Matt Smith was closest, just 46 points behind, and facing a major underdog in Salinas. He'd been trailing smoke on the top end for several passes, and the engine came completely undone at half track in the semi, ending his championship hopes and advancing Salinas to her first ever final round.
Still in the hunt at that point was Jerry Savoie and all he had to do was get past Salinas to take the event title and the world championship for the second time (first in 2016). It all went sideways for Savoie as his "White Alligator" bike lost fire on the burnout and when they refired it, sounded very "unhappy". He walked the bike up to the line, but could only watch Salinas run away to win the race and watch his championship aspirations evaporate in the late afternoon sun. Andrew Hines on the other hand, must have come close to fainting at the turn of luck that gave him his sixth world championship, and first since 2015.
The final points standings are listed just below at the conclusion of yesterday's reports.