“Able Abe” Owns Pomona!  

Prolific Western Canadian Sportsman racer Abe Loewen really likes coming to Pomona.  He proved again exactly why during last weekend’s season finale AAA Auto Club NHRA Finals…. 

The owner and operator of Western Canadian signature Speedshop facility Queen City Performance (Regina,SK) won yet again at Pomona’s Auto Club Raceway.   Abe wheeled his SS/EM classed ’98 Pontiac Grand-Am to victory in Super Stock besting newly crowned 2012 NHRA World Champion Jimmy DeFrank in the championship final.

Regina’s Abe Loewen won Super Stock at NHRA’s AAA Auto Club Finals. It was Abe’s 4th career win at Pomona.

Abe ran a winning 9.698 secs at 139.91 mph to take the title while DeFrank’s Chevy Cobalt unexpectedly slowed at about half track.

The win was Abe’s 8th NHRA national event title in his 13th career NHRA final round and was the 4th time he won at the Pomona fairgrounds.

“That’s four wins and one runner-up here at Pomona,” Loewen confirmed.  “For some reason when I race here it feels like home.  I won my very first national event here back in 1989 during the Winternationals.” 

The victory also provided some solace for the veteran racer who had uncharacteristically been an early round victim two weeks in a row during the previous NHRA national and regional races held at Las Vegas.  

“This win helps make up for all that,” he laughed.  “But I was also really lucky here.  A couple of my opponents had better lights then I did – but I was able to do a better job at the finish line.   I also battled some oil pressure problems all weekend here – I really can’t believe I outlasted that.  But when I got a bye run into the final round – that really helped my cause.”  

Abe and his wife came to Pomona and conquered again!

Abe’s latest major win came from the #57 qualified position and included seven round wins over some of the most formidable racers within NHRA’s ferocious Super Stock category. 

Editor’s Note:  To connect to our running historical list of Canadian winners of NHRA national events click:  HERE

Posting and Photos by:  Bruce Biegler