NHRA unveils 2013 drag racing schedule starting in Pomona

The NHRA on Wednesday unveiled its 2013 schedule, a 24-race season that once again starts and ends in Pomona.

The season opens with the Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on Feb. 14-17 and ends with the NHRA Finals there Nov. 7-10.

The Glendora-based National Hot Rod Assn. also said it would have a new race in New England, the NHRA New England Nationals in Epping, N.H., on June 20-23.

The current title sponsor of the sport’s premier series is Coca-Cola Co.’s Full Throttle beverage, but that will change to another Coke brand, Mello Yello, next year under a sponsorship extension through 2018.

The announcements came ahead of the NHRA’s U.S. Nationals this weekend in Indianapolis. The current season ends with the NHRA Finals in Pomona on Nov. 8-11.

In the sport’s two fastest divisions, Antron Brown leads the point standings in the top-fuel class and Ron Capps is the point leader in the funny car class.

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