NHRA driver Chris Karamesines shows no signs of slowing down

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Chris Karamesines, who has been racing top fuel dragsters for 57 years, looks likely to be in the National Hot Rod Assn. top fuel finals on Sunday at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona.

Karasemines, a driver from Chicago, was the 10th-fastest qualifier on Friday. There are two more rounds of qualifying today, but his run of 308.57 mph and 3.897 seconds will most likely be good enough to get him into the field of 16 for the top fuel elimination rounds.

Karamesines, 79, has three runner-up finishes in his NHRA career, but he has never won a race. The last time he raced in the finals of an event was in 1990.

He was also the first NHRA driver to break the 200 mph barrier. He did it in 1960 at Alton Dragway in Illinois.

Go to Haddock in the Paddock for a video interview of Karasemines and more from Auto Club Raceway in Pomona.

-- Tim Haddock