Bruce Litton may not have had a shot at winning the championship on Sunday, but he did the next best thing.

With Del Cox Jr. locking up the 2009 IHRA Top Fuel World Championship on Saturday, Litton went out and made the best of his situation and took something into the offseason to build upon by winning the IHRA World Finals at Rockingham Dragway on Sunday.

Litton eliminated Cox in the semifinals and then took down top qualifier Todd Paton in the final to pick up his third win of the season and the 16th victory of his career.

“We didn’t win the war, but we won the battle here today,” Litton said. “We came here with the idea of doing the best we could, winning the race and maybe having a chance at the championship. That didn’t work out the way we had hoped, but we are pleased to be able to get the win here tonight.”

Litton ran a 3.327 elapsed time at 259.66 miles per hour to get around Paton who ran a 5.739 E.T. at 85.87 mph in the eighth mile final.

Del Cox

“I have won an eighth mile race before so that is a positive, but I also remember that the car that Del Cox drives had won an eighth mile event as well so that weighed on me a little bit,” Litton said. “But we were able to get it done and this gives us a lot of momentum going into next year.”

Litton defeated Paton, Cox and Dom Lagana to reach his sixth final of the season.

“Your last race is always one that sticks with you. Ending a season with a win will stick with you for a while,” Litton said. “You always want to end on a positive note and being such a short offseason we look forward to coming back and doing this again next year.

“I am just so grateful for Lucas Oil, Riley Children’s Hospital, United Trailers and all of the people who help make this operation what it is.”

While Litton took home the win, Cox picked up the championship in his first year on tour by winning four consecutive races starting at midseason. Thanks to that streak Cox was able to overcome a nearly triple digit deficit in early July and will now walk away from The Rock with a convincing championship victory.

“It is unreal. This has been a dream of mine since I was eight years old and now to be here now is just incredible,” Cox said. “I have to give it up for all these guys who have been working their butts off and for all of our sponsors. RG Industries, Bexar Waste, Lucas Oil, Setco – everyone has helped make this possible.

“And for Spencer and my entire family to be here and be a part of this is just incredible.”

Rockingham Final: Bruce Litton (near) vs. Todd Paton

All Cox needed to do to lock up the championship was get in the show and he did just that on Saturday with the No. 2 qualifying spot. He then dispatched of teammate Rhonda Hartman-Smith in the first round to officially secure the title.

“It is just like anything, you put your boxing gloves on and you put your faith in your team and that is how we were able to overcome where we were earlier this year,” Cox said.

Cox went into the weekend hoping to make it five wins in a row on top of picking up the championship, but he went red against Bruce Litton in the semis.

“It is kind of hard for me because we are here to win and I had the car to win the day, but I messed it up,” Cox said. “But if you don’t go red every once in a while you aren’t trying.”

While Cox picked up his first title, team owner Mitch King wrapped up his second consecutive team championship after winning the title last year with another rookie – Spencer Massey. Between Cox and Massey the Bexar Waste dragster has visited victory lane nine times in the past two years including five times this season.

Del Cox

“We were talking that my car alone has been to 11 finals in 20 races over the past two years. That shows how good this crew really is,” Cox said. “You have to give it up for Paul Smith, he is the brains behind the whole operation. And Mitch King owning the deal, I can’t say enough good things about him. Everyone here does an incredible job.”

Litton moved to the final with a victory over Del Cox Jr. as Cox left early and lit the red bulb. Despite the distraction Litton had a tremendous run in the semis with a 3.210 at 265.01 miles per hour. Paton moved to the final with a victory over Bobby Lagana Jr.

In the opening round of Top Fuel wins by Cox and Litton set up a semifinal matchup between the two best dragsters in IHRA.

After going head-to-head all season long it was only fitting the top two drivers in points meet on Sunday. Cox reached the semis with a win over Rhonda Hartman-Smith while Litton drove around Dom Lagana.

In the other semifinal matchup Lagana advanced when Mitch King failed to show and Todd Paton survived a scare against Smax Smith. While Paton made a very solid run, Smith ran into trouble at the eighth mile mark and darted across the centerline into Paton’s lane.

Neither car made contact, but Smith went up in flames moments after passing Paton.