Fire it up!

Tony Schumacher talks to the media during Wednesday's press conference for this weekend's Auto Club NHRA Finals.

So much for drag racing's version of the Super Bowl, or at least that is probably what NHRA envisioned when it came up with the Countdown to the Championship, a pseudo playoff that was supposed to make the sometimes anti-climatic Auto Club Finals at Pomona Fairplex a thrilling, nail-biting sluggfest as the top four teams in each professional category battled to with their respective class championships.
It hasn't quite worked out that way.
Tony Pedregon has all but locked up Funny Car, "Hot" Rod Fuller appears to be pretty secure in Top Fuel and Greg Anderson and Andrew Hines have comfortable leads in Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle.
But that hasn't stopped all interested parties from taking a light-hearted approach.
At least Funny Car's Gary Scelzi, who is in second iplace and needs a miracle to win his second flopper title in the past three seasons, had the comment of day during Wednesday's press conference.
"The good news is that Tony Pedregon has left the country," said Scelzi, who trails the Chino Hills driver by 91 points coming into the event. "He won't be here this weekend, because he's not up here, He missed the press conference, so he's going to be penalized 90 points. Isn't that the rule?"
No Gary, it's not, but nice try.
I also talked to Hines Wednesday. The former Whittier resident is seeking to secure his fourth consecutive Pro Stock Motorcycle title this weekend. It's an important milestone for Hines. Not only has no competitor in the PSM ever won four in a row, but it would also give Hines the most PSM titles in his family. His brother Matt won three during the late 1990s and early 2000s.
I asked Andrew Hines what's more important: His fourth consecutive title, or him winning one more than his brother?
"Winning four in a row is better, for me," HInes said. "It's more important, because its one more than my brother, and its one more in a row more than anyone else has won. That would be a great feat. It's amazing roll we've been on, and hopefully we continue it this weekend."
It all starts Thursday, and as Jan and Dean once said, "It's time to make it out to Drag City."