(Ron Lewis photo)

Nobile was stellar off the starting line at Pomona, recording a perfect .000 reaction time in his first-round defeat of Mopar/JEGS.com Dodge Avenger driver Jeg Coughlin Jr. (Coughlin finished ninth in the final NHRA Pro Stock standings). Nobile nearly matched that in the quarterfinals with a .002 reaction time, scoring a stunning holeshot victory over Jason Line, who posted the quickest run of the round with a 6.495/213.13 but still fell to Nobile’s 6.546/211.79. Nobile was quickest again against Erica Enders in the semis, scoring yet another holeshot win thanks to a .015 reaction time and 6.543/211.49 run to Enders’ .023 mark and 6.542/211.86 pass.

With sunset upon Auto Club Raceway, Johnson and Nobile lined up for the final race of the 2012 Pro Stock season. The veteran was quicker off the tree (.024 to Nobile’s .026) and also had the better run, a 6.528/212.76 to his opponent’s 6.533/211.66. The victory was the tenth of the season out of 23 events for a Mopar-powered NHRA Pro Stock racer.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE

Hines (far lane) got the event win and Harley-Davidson teammate Krawiec got the championship.  (Ron Lewis photo)

Andrew Hines defeated newly crowned Pro Stock Motorcycle world champ Eddie Krawiec in the final round and took his sixth victory of the season and 31st of his career. Hines rode his Screamin' Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson to a track record performance of 6.766 at 198.29 mph to finish in front of teammate Krawiec, who trailed with a 6.805 at 197.54.