Words by Eric Lotz and Kay Burk
Photos by James Drew

The NHRA national event season got off to a rainy start, but there was some great racing among the sportsman classes.

Mike Austin put on a spectacular aerial show when the Medford, Oregon, driver went for a wild ride while racing Jim Whiteley in the first round of Top Alcohol Dragster eliminations. See the entire sequence in Agent 1320. (Mark McLaughlin photos)

Chris Demke, Sunland, Calif., and Daniel Oliver, Whittier, Calif., grabbed wins and the early points lead at the season opening O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Feb. 12. 

Three-time national event winner Demke, who finished fifth in the world last year, qualified No. 4 and recorded the quickest run of the event in the final round of Top Alcohol Dragster with a 5.281-second, 270.32-mph lap. Larry Miersch, Huntington Beach, Calif., advanced to the final round against Demke clocking in at 5.503 seconds, 267.27.