NHRA's 2004 season-opening event is marred by bad weather. After completing about a day and a half on the original scheduled weekend persistent rainstorms force officials to postpone things until the following weekend.

Jerry Toliver produces a truly memorable win in Funny Car eliminator. In his first race back after an almost 2-year absence from the circuit the California-based driver makes history when he takes his all new Schick Quattro Racing Toyota Celica to victory lane. The win marks the first time in NHRA Funny Car racing history that an Import-bodied machine has won in the eliminator. Toliver in fact struggles during qualifying and just gets in the program #15 on a last ditch effort during the final session. But his talented team has some good fortune and also finds it's stride on raceday. That includes a sensational 4.738 secs at 328.22 mph in the semi-final round which is not only a career best for Toliver but is also low ET and top speed. Toliver falls behind to opponent Gary Densham in the final round however when Densham is forced to peddle the AAA Auto Club Mustang, Toliver scoots by to take the title.

Eric Medlen shows well in his first Pro start driving for John Force as he holds the pole in Funny Car eliminator until the very last session when his boss takes it away from him. Medlen runs a stout 4.783 secs at 320.58 mph in the Castrol Syntec Mustang which ends up 2nd only to Force's 4.746 secs during qualifying. Medlen's machine however strikes the tires in round one and he loses out to eventual winner Toliver.

Don Prudhomme Racing introduces the first two Chevy Monte Carlo bodied Funny Cars at Pomona for drivers Tommy Johnson Jr and Ron Capps. Both cars get in despite some fireworks during qualifying but then loose out in consecutive match-ups when FC eliminations open. Look for the Chevy Monte Carlo body to become commonplace in NHRA FC racing this season. Del Worsham, Phil Burkart, Tim Wilkerson, Tony Bartone and both Tony and Cruz Pedregon will all take delivery -- reportedly by Gainesville.

Tony Schumacher wins in Top Fuel in a rather titanic fashion unloading a flurry of "four forties" driving the powerful US Army team dragster, tuned by Allan Johnson. Schumacher and Doug Kalitta are scheduled to trade blows in the final however that much-anticipated head-to-head match never materializes when Kalitta is shut off on the starting line with a fuel leak.

Schumacher's 12th win of his career comes from the pole (4.484 secs) and includes both low ET and top speed of the meet 4.451 secs and 332.18 mph.

Top Fuel racing includes a rather impressive first outing for Australia's David Grubnic who is running his first race driving team owner Connie Kalitta's third car. Grubnic goes to the "final four" and along the way hits a career best 4.492 secs at 321.35 mph. But in the semis Grubnic's motor goes away and he loses out to team-mate Doug Kalitta.

Greg Anderson answers any lingering doubt about the effects of the recent off season as he one again decimates the field in Pro Stock. Driving Ken Black's all new '04 Pontiac Grand-Am, Anderson is the class of the field again, qualifying low and racking up both low ET and top speed. His 6.706 secs at 206.13 mph are new Pomona Raceway track records. Anderson easily takes the measure of his former boss/mentor Warren Johnson in the final round winning decisively -- 6.713 secs to 6.761 secs.

Pro Stock class car racing includes an impressive and unexpected debut by Sports Compact circuit racer Shawn Carlson who was called to duty on short notice to drive for Team Mopar. Carlson subbed for Darrell Alderman who is forced to withdraw from the Pomona event due to medical reasons. Despite earning his Pro Stock license only days before, Carlson qualifies his Dodge Stratus #14 and out runs Jason Line in round one at 6.794 secs 203.40 mph. Carlson gives "WJ" a battle in the second frame when he gets out first but his 6.812 secs cannot ultimately hold back Johnson's 6.758 secs.

TAFC racing produced a rather odd win for California's Dennis Taylor driving his Chevy Camaro. Taylor ran an easy and unopposed single for the title following a rare double DQ in the semi final round. In that scheduled race between Mark White and Doug Gordon both cars broke before staging up thus making Taylor's final round win academic.

TAFC class racing was paced by Mark White who flew Randy Goodwin's Pontiac Firebird to a 5.567 secs for the pole. White ran a quicker 5.553 secs in round one to earn low ET of the meet.

The TAD title went to Northwest-based racer Mitch Myers who rolled the EPHA-sponsored injected nitro car to victory. Myers's win came on a single too after his scheduled opponent Darryl Hitchman put his car on it's side in the top end catch net during the semi final round and could not return.

The quickest marks in TAD were by the B/AD of Steve Federlin at 5.341 secs while Duane Shields set top speed in his A/FD at 267.43 mph.

TAD class racing also included the highly-anticipated class debut of John Force's daughter Ashley. Driving a Mattel Toy-sponsored car, Ashley qualified #5 for the program at 5.442 secs and 266.69 mph. She ran an even quicker 5.423 secs in round one to win over Dennis Swearingen before being beaten by Federlin.

Super Stock qualifying was dominated by SS/AA cars with the first four qualifiers all being '68 Hemi Barracudas. Engine-builder Harry Holton led the way with a (-1.340) 8.660 secs which is reportedly close to the quickest run off all time for a SS/AA car. Michael Ogburn, David Raybourn and Jerry Jenkins followed close behind. The Hemi onslaught was however short-lived because and in the end it was Canada's Abe Loewen winning the eliminator driving his familiar and ultra reliable SS/DM Pontiac Grand-Am.