Although Kirk Wolf was defeated in the first round of the Lucas Oil Series Regional race held this past weekend at The Strip in Las Vegas, the team is heading to the Pomona NHRA Finals with confidence not seen from the team all season.
Car owner and tuner Dean Dubbin was upbeat about the team’s recent success: “Well, we came here to test, and we ended up qualifying very well in a very tough field. I messed up in the first round against Jackie; the car stuck the tire, and just like at the national event, it didn’t have enough to catch her once we fell behind.”
“The car is responding exactly the way it should with the changes we are making, and we are very happy about that,” continued Dubbin. “We’ve been working hard to get the car to leave the line better. The 60’ times it’s producing right now – .928, .920, and .916 – are very encouraging because the car doesn’t seem to be in trouble when pushing it that hard.”
This weekend’s In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals is the final event for the 2026 NHRA season. Set to compete at the famed Pomona Dragstrip, the Dean Dubbin A/Fuel Dragster team is aiming for success as they build momentum toward the 2027 campaign.
“We have a consistent and fast car, and a win in Pomona would boost our momentum going into the 2027 season,” said Kirk Wolf, driver of the DMP Awnings – Kentex Roofing A/Fuel Dragster. “It has been exciting the past two races to make consistent and fast runs. The car is doing everything we ask it to do, and it’s really been quick early, laying down some fast 60ft times in the .915-.930 range.
A fast car and a skilled driver are only part of the equation at Pomona. Teams must also adapt to quickly changing atmospheric conditions and a racing surface that can present unique challenges. Unlike many facilities, Pomona hosts only a limited number of events each year.
“The Pomona track is always ‘killer’,” said Dubbin. “It may have some bumps that give it some character, but the Safety Safari always makes sure it’s ready for just about everything you can throw at it. As far as the weather, you can see big temperature and humidity swings as you go through the day, so you really have to keep up with both the track and the weather.”
Wolf is eager to get to Pomona and finish the year strong: “We are in a good position right now; the team has good chemistry, and the car is working great,” said Wolf. “We are relaxed and confident. Pomona is a lot like Indy or Gainesville – it’s just special, and you really get fired up to go win it.”
Qualifying for the Top Alcohol Dragsters begins Thursday with sessions scheduled for 12:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. The final qualifying session is set for approximately 5:00 p.m. Friday. Eliminations open Saturday with round one at 10:00 a.m., followed by round two at 4:00 p.m. The semifinals are scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Sunday, with the final round expected to take place around 3:00 p.m.
Stay tuned to the DMP Awnings and Kirk Wolf social media pages for photos and results from the weekend.
This story was originally published on November 10, 2026.
The post Kirk Wolf, Dubbin Motorsports Bring New Confidence Into the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals first appeared on Drag Illustrated.
