Race vehicles from all four NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series classes were showcased in the heart of the sprawling ESPN campus near the company’s cafeteria. Antron Brown and his Matco Tools Top Fuel dragster, Courtney Force and her Traxxas Ford Mustang Funny Car, Allen Johnson and his Mopar/J&J Racing Dodge Avenger Pro Stocker, and the Underdahl Racing Bad Boy Buggies Suzuki Pro Stock Motorcycle were featured during the afternoon. 

During lunch, the three NHRA drivers signed autographs for ESPN employees and answered questions while standing alongside the fastest, most powerful race vehicles on the planet. Immediately following lunch, the entourage of NHRA racers and their crews toured the ESPN campus and participated in media activities, including an appearance on ESPN’s SportsCenter. Joining the group from The Coca-Cola Company was Senior Sports Marketing Manager Al Rondon.

The biggest stars in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series will be competing at the Auto-Plus NHRA New England Nationals, including local favorite Funny Car driver Bob Tasca III from Hope, R.I., 15-time Funny Car world champ John Force, seven-time Top Fuel champ Tony Schumacher, Cruz Pedregon, Brown, Courtney Force, Ron Capps, Erica Enders-Stevens, Eddie Krawiec, and many more.

The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series also will be showcased during the event, featuring exciting side-by-side racing action in the Super Stock, Stock, Super Comp, and Super Gas categories, among others.

Qualifying for the Auto-Plus NHRA New England Nationals will begin Friday, June 21, with sessions at 4:45 and 6:45 p.m. The final two qualifying sessions will take place Saturday, June 22, at 12:15 and 2:15 p.m. Final eliminations will begin at 11 a.m. Sunday, June 23.

To purchase tickets, call 800-884-NHRA (6472) or log on to NHRATix.com.

The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series is in the midst of one of its most grueling stretches of the season with four races in consecutive weeks and seven races in an eight-week span.

For Top Fuel standout Shawn Langdon, who is second in the points standings, it couldn’t come at a better time. Langdon is having the most success of his still-young Top Fuel career, putting together three wins in the class in his Al-Anabi dragster.

The second stop of the four-race stretch is certainly one of the most anticipated for Langdon as well as the NHRA visits New England Dragway for the first time for the inaugural Auto-Plus NHRA New England Nationals, June 20-23.

The event, which has already drawn a massive fan response, is the 11th event of the 24-race season and will feature all four Professional categories: Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle. The event will be televised on ESPN2HD.

With his recent run in his 8,000-horsepower Top Fuel dragster, Langdon will be one to watch in Epping. But he’s not taking it for granted, knowing full well that a talented group is right on his heels as he trails seven-time world champion and points leader Tony Schumacher by just a single point.

“Being one of the top guys near the top of the points standings, it just means you’ve got a bunch of talented drivers gunning for you on race day,” Langdon said. “We just want to stick with what has gotten us to this point, and we’ll just continue to do the best we can. You definitely can’t take anybody lightly in this sport. We’re on a roll right now, and hopefully it can just continue.”

As for the busy stretch, which only includes a spare weekend here and there until a four-race-in-four-week span kicks off the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs in September, Langdon welcomes it.

“This is the perfect time and opportunity to keep riding this streak out, and hopefully we can keep it going,” Langdon said. “I definitely feel like the track is my second home, but I just love racing and going to the track.

“My life is drag racing. I wake up in the morning thinking about drag racing and go to bed thinking about it. I love racing, so this stretch is great. If we could race every weekend, I would be completely fine with that.”

That attitude has led to significant improvement in Langdon’s second year with Al-Anabi Racing. He started the 2013 NHRA season with a win and followed it with back-to-back wins in Topeka and Englishtown.

That hot stretch has him excited for the summer season that includes the NHRA’s debut at the legendary New England Dragway. Langdon, who has already produced several runs in the low to mid-3.70s this year, will make his first runs in Epping, and the Avon, Ind., resident is thrilled to introduce his 330-mph Top Fuel dragster to a new fan base.

“One of the things that I have really enjoyed the last couple of years is going to new venues. You get to meet a lot of different people and see a different style of living, and that’s always a lot of fun,” said Langdon, who has four Top Fuel wins.

“Going to New Hampshire and New England Dragway, it’s great for the sport. It expands our horizons, and hopefully the fans will enjoy it. Part of the sport growing is going to new places and showing them a good time.”

There will be plenty of work to be done in figuring out a new track in a run of four straight race weekends. The heavy workload will be a major test for Langdon and his talented team, and part of that means quickly figuring out the Epping facility during Friday’s first day of qualifying.

“As a driver, those first couple of runs on a new track are always exciting because each track has its own characteristics,” Langdon said. “You work with your team to find those out, and hopefully you can just continue to improve as the weekend goes along.”

New England Dragway first opened its legendary gates in 1966 and has been home to high-performance drag racing for more than 45 years, but the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series promises to offer fans an incredible new experience. All of the NHRA stars will look to leave a lasting impression with New England fans, including seven-time NHRA Top Fuel world champion Schumacher. Other Top Fuel standouts looking for the first victory in NHRA history at the track including defending world champion Antron Brown, Morgan Lucas, Spencer Massey, Clay Millican, Doug Kalitta, Steve Torrence, and several more.

Matt Hagan

A new track poses new challenges, but it also means plenty of excitement as the top drivers in Funny Car are poised to become the first to create a new legacy in Epping. Matt Hagan, the 2011 Funny Car world champion, has already amassed two wins and is the points leader in his terrific rebound season, but he’ll face plenty of top competition, including from defending world champ Jack Beckman, who will try to become the eighth different driver to win an event in 2013. Other stalwarts include sophomore sensation Courtney Force, Cruz Pedregon, 15-time world champ John Force, three-time 2013 event winner Johnny Gray, Ron Capps, and plenty more.

No conditions have kept Mike Edwards from dominating in Pro Stock in 2013, and the points leader hopes a new track simply means more success. Edwards has been the No. 1 qualifier at nine events and won three, and a host of talented drivers will try to keep him from extending that points lead at New England Dragway. That includes defending world champ Allen Johnson, Jeg Coughlin Jr., Jason Line, Greg Anderson, Rodger Brogdon, Erica Enders-Stevens, Vincent Nobile, and more.

Thanks to his recent hot streak, Hector Arana Jr. takes the Pro Stock Motorcycle lead into Epping, but he will have a long list of challengers, including recent event winner Michael Ray and defending world champ Eddie Krawiec. Others to watch in PSM’s debut in Epping include Scotty Pollacheck, Hector Arana Sr., John Hall, and Matt Smith.

NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing is also a celebration of automotive performance and remains one of the most fan-friendly, driver-accessible sports. When the series stops at New England Dragway, families can take advantage of a special ticket promotion: Children 12 and younger will receive free general admission with a paid adult.

Along with improvements throughout historic New England Dragway, fans will enjoy a heartwarming welcome the moment they step foot inside the facility. Only at NHRA events are fans given the opportunity to mingle with their favorite drivers and experience the interactive NHRA Nitro Alley because every ticket is a pit pass.

Qualifying for the Auto-Plus NHRA New England Nationals will begin Friday, June 21, with sessions at 4:45 and 6:45 p.m. The final two qualifying sessions will take place Saturday, June 22, at 12:15 and 2:15 p.m. Final eliminations will begin at 11 a.m. Sunday, June 23.

To purchase tickets to the Auto-Plus NHRA New England Nationals, call 800-884-NHRA (6472) or log on to NHRATix.com.

“I’m extremely proud to have a great North American railway company supporting our team,” said Lesenko. “CN and our team share the same core values: a commitment to safety and striving for excellence.”

CN transports approximately 250 billion Canadian dollars' worth of goods annually for a wide range of business sectors, ranging from resource products to manufactured products to consumer goods, across a rail network spanning Canada and mid-America, from the Atlantic and Pacific oceans to the Gulf of Mexico.

“We’ve been working really hard with everyone at Forward Sports Marketing to bring in a sponsor for our team,” said Lesenko. “CN is the perfect partner for us.”

Lesenko is driving the Worsham Racing Funny Car at a select number of events in 2013. He has competed at three NHRA races this season and advanced to the quarterfinals at the NHRA Arizona Nationals in Phoenix.

With the much-anticipated inaugural Auto-Plus NHRA New England Nationals fast approaching, New England Dragway and NHRA officials have issued a traffic-flow notice for both competitors and fans planning on attending.

Officials are encouraging competitors in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series and NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series to arrive early in the day and have their car passes in the window and visible. All competitors and vehicles with visible car passes will be directed to exit Highway 101 via Exit 8 right in front of the facility, where they will follow signs to access appropriate parking areas.

Spectator traffic flow has been developed to provide smooth ingress and egress for New England Dragway utilizing two exits off Highway 101. All spectators coming east on Highway 101 will use Exit 8 and proceed right into the facility and follow signs to parking areas. Spectators coming west on Highway 101 will be directed to take Exit 9. From there, they will turn right onto Highway 27 (Epping Road) and proceed to the track, where signs will direct them to parking locations.

For the last several months, officials at New England Dragway have worked with local law enforcement to develop a traffic-flow plan that would serve and manage the thousands of NHRA fans arriving for the first visit of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series to New England.

The biggest stars in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series will be competing at the Auto-Plus NHRA New England Nationals, including local favorite Funny Car driver Bob Tasca III, of Hope, R.I., 15-time Funny Car world champ John Force, seven-time Top Fuel champ Tony Schumacher, Cruz Pedregon, Antron Brown, Courtney Force, Ron Capps, Erica Enders-Stevens, Eddie Krawiec, and many more.

The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series also will be showcased during the event, including exciting side-by-side racing action in Super Stock, Stock, Super Comp, and Super Gas.

Qualifying for the Auto-Plus NHRA New England Nationals will begin Friday, June 21, with sessions at 4:45 and 6:45 p.m. The final two qualifying sessions will take place Saturday, June 22, at 12:15 and 2:15 p.m. Final eliminations will begin at 11 a.m. Sunday, June 23.

To purchase tickets, call 800-884-NHRA (6472) or log on to NHRATix.com.

When Bob Tasca III turned 16, he made his first lap down New England Dragway behind the wheel of a '92 Ford Mustang.

Since then, the Hope, R.I., native has raced every car he has owned at the legendary track in Epping except his 8,000-horsepower Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Shelby Mustang Funny Car.

But that will change soon enough as the long-anticipated thundering excitement of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series arrives at New England Dragway for the first time for the inaugural Auto-Plus NHRA New England Nationals, June 20-23.

The event, which has already drawn a huge fan response, is the 11th event of the 24-race season and will feature exciting side-by-side racing action in all four Professional categories: Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle. The event will be televised on ESPN2HD.

As for Tasca, the talented Funny Car standout can barely hide his anticipation for the NHRA’s New England debut, which will give him the opportunity to power his 315-mph Funny Car down the track for the first time.

“I’m excited,” Tasca said. “I think that’s the first word that comes to mind, excited. I’m excited to be so close to my hometown with so many friends and family, and I’m excited to see New England bring in a sport I love as much as I do and be able to showcase it to someone who has never seen it in person. When you see it live in person, that’s what really shows you what our sport is all about.”

The NHRA has already received incredible fanfare before the first nitro Funny Car or Top Fuel dragster has even arrived on the property.

New England Dragway recently designated additional grandstand sections as reserved-seating areas as demand for the event continues to reach remarkable levels. Tasca has plenty of fond memories at the facility, and the NHRA’s debut at his home track will certainly add another one.

“It’s going to be a great race, the first of its kind for this area and a great one for fans to be a part of,” said Tasca, who is 11th in the Funny Car points standings.

“I don’t remember the first time I went to Epping, but the most vivid memory I have is when I was 16 and I raced there for the first time,” Tasca continued. “We made a bunch of runs; I went 11 seconds, and I had slicks on the car for the first time ever. I let my foot off the clutch with slicks on it. Since then, I’ve raced every car down that racetrack except my fuel car. It’ll be a treat to be able to do that at a home track like Epping.”

Tasca has advanced to one semifinal this season and trails 15-time Funny Car world champion John Force by just six points for 10th place in the race for the final spot in the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship, NHRA’s six-race playoffs.

It’s also a nod to the outstanding competition in Funny Car in 2013, offering remarkable parity at more than 300 mph. That will be evident at New England Dragway, where Tasca will be hoping to become the sixth different winner in the class before the season has even reached its halfway point.

“It’s amazing,” Tasca said. “It’s a tribute to all the teams and all the hard work everyone has put in. We’re seeing 300-mph race cars that are basically like Pro Stock, winning by thousandths of a second. Every little detail counts, and as racers, we wouldn’t want it any other way. It’s survival of the fittest right now. We’ve seen cars at the top aren’t always at the top when the Countdown’s done, so we have to do the best we can all the time. It’s an exciting time for all of us.”

Of course, winning at New England Dragway would provide one of the biggest thrills in Tasca’s career, one that has included four wins in Funny Car.

“You want to win every race,” Tasca said. “You say every win is the same, but to win in Epping would be pretty cool. I don’t know much that could top that.”

New England Dragway first opened in 1966 and is certainly no stranger to high-performance drag racing, and all of the NHRA stars are eager to make their own history at the legendary facility. A new playing field will pose plenty of exciting challenges, and every NHRA star will be looking to leave a lasting impression with New England fans. That includes Top Fuel points leader and seven-time world champion Tony Schumacher in the U.S. Army dragster; Shawn Langdon, who has driven to three wins in his standout Al-Anabi Racing dragster; as well as defending world champion Antron Brown, who pilots the Matco Tools dragster.

In Funny Car, every driver is poised to create a new chapter in Epping, including points leader Matt Hagan, who has already won two races in a standout 2013 season. In his way to becoming the first NHRA Funny Car driver in the winner’s circle at New England Dragway are a host of talented racers, including sophomore sensation Courtney Force, Cruz Pedregon, Johnny Gray, 15-time Funny Car world champ John Force, Ron Capps, and defending world champ Jack Beckman.

Mike Edwards would like for his 2013 Pro Stock dominance to extend to New England Dragway; he enters the race as the points leader and three-time event winner this season. The likes of Allen Johnson, Jeg Coughlin Jr., Jason Line, Greg Anderson, Erica Enders-Stevens, and Vincent Nobile will provide plenty of competition to try to keep that lead from growing, giving fans plenty of thrilling 200-mph racing in the factory hot rod category.

Hector Arana Jr. will carry the Pro Stock Motorcycle lead into Epping, but he will have plenty of challenges from top PSM riders, such as defending world champ Eddie Krawiec, Scotty Pollacheck, Hector Arana Sr., Andrew Hines, Englishtown winner Michael Ray, and many others.

The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event is also a celebration of automotive performance and one of the most fan-friendly, driver-accessible events in all sports. When the series stops at New England Dragway, families can take advantage of a special ticket promotion: Children 12 and younger will receive free general admission with a paid adult.

As always, every ticket purchased for the Auto-Plus NHRA New England Nationals is an exclusive pit pass, allowing spectators to see firsthand the highly skilled mechanics service their sophisticated hot rods between rounds. Fans can also meet many of the drivers in the pits and get autographs. Fans also won’t want to miss the popular interactive NHRA Nitro Alley and the NHRA Manufacturers Midway.

Exciting competition in several classes in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series also will be showcased during the event.

Auto-Plus NHRA New England Nationals qualifying will begin Friday, June 21, with sessions at 4:45 and 6:45 p.m. The final two qualifying sessions will take place Saturday, June 22, at 12:15 and 2:15 p.m. Final eliminations will begin at 11 a.m. Sunday, June 23.

To purchase tickets to the Auto-Plus NHRA New England Nationals, call 800-884-NHRA (6472) or log on to NHRAtix.com. 
 

The long wait is finally over for NHRA fans in the New England states. From Maine to Rhode Island, hot rodding enthusiasts now have an NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event that they can call their very own. The much-anticipated high-horsepower showcase of the world’s quickest and fastest-accelerating machines finally arrives at New England Dragway for the inaugural Auto-Plus NHRA New England Nationals, June 20-23.

An NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event is a celebration of automotive performance and one of the most fan-friendly, driver-accessible events in the world of major league sporting events. When the series visits New Hampshire, families can take advantage of a special ticket promotion: Children 12 and younger will receive free general admission with a paid adult.

The Auto-Plus NHRA New England Nationals is the 11th stop in the 24-race NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series tour that crisscrosses the United States and will feature exciting racing action in its four marquee categories: Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle. The race will be televised to a nationwide audience on ESPN2HD.

To kick off the weekend’s festivities, fans will be treated to a sneak preview of the action as the stars of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, including Auto-Plus-sponsored Funny Car racer Blake Alexander; 15-time Funny Car world champ John Force; his daughter Brittany and their teammate 2009 Funny Car world champion Robert Hight; Rhode Island native Bob Tasca III; and Top Fuel driver Shawn Langdon, will participate in the Auto-Plus NHRA New England Nationals press conference and fanfest in the heart of Boston, Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Wednesday, June 19, starting at noon.

New England-area favorite Tasca, of Hope, R.I., will be one of the top Funny Car drivers to watch during the event at the controls of his Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Shelby Mustang. Tasca has quickly become a popular ambassador for the sport of NHRA Drag Racing, and prior to the Auto-Plus NHRA New England Nationals, he and Hight will throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays baseball game at Fenway Park Wednesday, June 19.

New England Dragway is no stranger to high-performance racing action. The legendary motorsports facility in Epping first opened in 1966 and is still owned by many of the racers who built it.

Along with new improvements throughout the facility, nitro fans will enjoy a heartwarming welcome as they step foot on the property of historic New England Dragway. Only at NHRA events are fans given the opportunity to interact with their favorite drivers and experience the interactive NHRA Nitro Alley because every ticket is a pit pass.

Drivers are also eager to take their first runs at the legendary dragstrip. New England Dragway will be a new playing field for each and every team in the NHRA Mello Yello Series, and all are excited to put their hot rods to the test at the new event.

In Top Fuel, U.S. Army dragster driver Tony Schumacher holds the series points lead, but his rival, two-time season winner Langdon, who pilots the Al-Anabi Racing dragster, will be one of the top challengers for victory. Others to watch include defending world champ Antron Brown, who has claimed two victories this season in his Matco Tools dragster; veteran Doug Kalitta, who drives the Mac Tools dragster; Morgan Lucas; and rookie driver Brittany Force, who pilots the Castrol Edge dragster.

Matt Hagan is leading the charge in Funny Car after racing to two victories this season in his Dodge Charger. Three-time season winner Johnny Gray, two-time world champ Cruz Pedregon, Hight, John Force, and Winternationals winner Courtney Force will be racing hard for a victory, as will defending world champ Jack Beckman, Ron Capps, local favorite Tasca, Tim Wilkerson, and Del Worsham.

Mike Edwards is having another dream season in Pro Stock; the 2009 world champ is putting up similar numbers in his Interstate Batteries/I Am Second Chevy Camaro this season to those he produced during his title year. The J&J Racing Dodge Avenger tandem of defending world champ Allen Johnson and four-time champ Jeg Coughlin Jr. are among the pre-race favorites, as are Phoenix winner Erica Enders-Stevens, New York native Vincent Nobile, four-time champ Greg Anderson, two-time champ Jason Line, and rising star Shane Gray.

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Hector Arana Jr. has won three races aboard his Lucas Oil Buell and has been battling with a large contingent of challengers in the two-wheel category, including Sovereign/Star Buell rider Scotty Pollacheck, defending world champ Eddie Krawiec on the Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson, veteran Suzuki rider Steve Johnson, past champions Matt Smith and Andrew Hines, and Connecticut-based rider John Hall.

The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series also will be showcased during the event, featuring exciting side-by-side racing action in Super Stock, Stock, Super Comp, and Super Gas, among others.

Qualifying for the Auto-Plus NHRA New England Nationals will begin Friday, June 21, with sessions at 4:45 and 6:45 p.m. The final two qualifying sessions will take place Saturday, June 22, at 12:15 and 2:15 p.m. Final eliminations will begin at 11 a.m. Sunday, June 23.

To purchase tickets, call 800-884-NHRA (6472) or log on to NHRAtix.com.

The free event is fun for the entire family, with prizes, giveaways, music, food, race cars on display, and, of course, a meet-and-greet autograph session with the NHRA stars, which begins at 1 p.m.

The pair was presented with the Mopar President’s Award as a special honor to reward the outstanding contributions by brand ambassadors that uphold the qualities and values that add to Mopar’s legacy and reputation.

Unique personalized Mopar President’s Award plaques were presented to Allen and Roy Johnson on behalf of Mopar by Pietro Gorlier, president and CEO of Chrysler Group LLC’s service, parts, and customer-care brand, in recognition of their more than 45 years of loyalty, dedication, and service and to celebrate the 2012 NHRA Mello Yello Pro Stock world championship won by their Greeneville, Tenn.-based family-run team. Allen and Roy Johnson are the first recipients of this special award.

“Allen and his father, Roy, have been loyal friends and amazing brand ambassadors and champions on and off the racetrack for Mopar over five decades, and this Mopar President’s Award is our way to thank them in front of their friends and family here at their home track in Bristol,” Gorlier said, “These gentlemen epitomize our brand’s core values, having lived and breathed the experience as true Mopar motorheads their whole lives. Their loyalty to Mopar is commendable as they have lived the ups and downs, along with our brand, with perseverance, determination, hard work, and dedication. To see them finally be acknowledged as the champions they are on the track is something we are all proud of. This award was created to recognize such individuals, and it is only fitting that they be the first to be awarded with it.”

Steve Torrence (Top Fuel) and Rodger Brogdon (Pro Stock) also were winners of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event.

Force earned his fourth victory at Bristol Dragway and the 135th title of his legendary career when he defeated arch-rival Cruz Pedregon in the final round. Force outran daughter Courtney Force, points leader Matt Hagan, and rising star Blake Alexander to advance to the final round.

John Force

“I really thought Courtney was going to take me out first round,” Force said. “Her car has been flyin’ all year. It’s all in the teamwork. We haven’t won the championship, we haven’t won the Countdown, but we have a race car. That’s what I’m excited about. It’s a great day.”

In the final, Force powered his Castrol GTX Ford Mustang to a winning performance of 4.148 seconds at 305.29 mph to take the victory as Pedregon’s Snap-on Tools Toyota Camry shut off as it approached the finish line, ultimately coasting across in 4.335 at 224.02.

“If you can’t compete, you are just mentally out of it,” said Force, 64, the seventh different Funny Car winner of the season. He celebrated the win with his wife, Laurie, and daughters Courtney and Brittany. He said he received a phone call from daughter Ashley to congratulate him and wish him a happy Father’s Day while he was in winner’s circle.

“This is great to come back here and win,” Force continued. “So many fans wanted me to win on Father’s Day. It’s just a great day for the Force family, and to do it on Father’s Day is just awesome.”

Pedregon moved up to second in the points standings with the runner-up finish, 16 behind leader Hagan. Force improved to ninth in the standings with the victory.

Steve Torrence

In Top Fuel, Torrence claimed his first win of the season and fourth of his career by defeating event top qualifier Spencer Massey in the final round. Torrence covered the distance in 3.871 at 320.13 in his Capco Contractors dragster to finish in front of Massey’s Schumacher Electric dragster, which trailed with a 3.894 at 317.19.

The victory was the first for Torrence with his new crew chief, veteran tuner Lee Beard. Prior to the Atlanta race in May, Torrence hired Beard to replace his previous tuner, Richard Hogan.

“Today’s been unbelievable,” Torrence said. “I didn’t expect the car to turn around nearly as quickly as it did. My guys worked their tails off with 14- and 15-hour days to get the car setup like we wanted it. I am happy with the way the car is running, and it’s real consistent right now. I am happy with the decision we made [to hire crew chief Lee Beard], and it is paying off now.”

Torrence, who qualified second, outran rookie Leah Pruett, points leader Shawn Langdon, and Morgan Lucas to advance to his first final round since winning last August in Seattle.

“When you go up there with a load of confidence in your car and your team, it’s such a huge difference,” Torrence said. “Lee Beard is very good, and he definitely exceeded what we expected. It means we gained some points to get into the Countdown [to the Championship, NHRA’s six-race playoffs], and we earned a spot in the Traxxas Nitro Shootout.”

Tony Schumacher reclaimed the series points lead and now leads Langdon by one. Runner-up Massey moved to third overall, and Torrence moved into the top 10 for the first time since the season-opening Winternationals in February, and now holds down the ninth spot.

Rodger Brogdon

Brogdon claimed his first Pro Stock victory by outrunning fellow Houston native Erica Enders-Stevens in the final round. Brodgon’s ProtectTheHarvest.com Chevy Camaro posted a 6.745 at 205.38 while Enders-Stevens trailed with a 6.752 at 205.66 in her Charter Communications Camaro.

Brogdon scored early round-wins over V. Gaines, points leader and top qualifier Mike Edwards, and Jason Line before driving around Enders-Stevens in the final.

“Erica is like a daughter to me,” Brogdon said. “I’ve known her dad for a long time, and we used to race against each other years ago. But when you go up against each other in the final, you have to put all that behind you.”

Brogdon, who moved to ninth in the points order with the victory, said some changes that he’s put in place in the last couple of months are finally starting to pay off. He said his decision to test at Bristol Dragway last week also proved to be critical in this outcome.

“I said that when we started this deal that it was going to take at least 10 races or so [for it to show results], and this happened to be the 10th race,” Brogdon said. “We made nine runs in two days of testing here, and it sure paid off. We were so much better at the end of our testing than we were when we got here. I have to give my guys a lot of credit to my guys for coming up here and doing such great work.”

Edwards, who saw his four-race Bristol winning streak snapped, maintained his series points lead and Jeg Coughlin Jr. and Allen Johnson are tied for second. Local favorite Johnson, from nearby Greeneville, Tenn., lost in the second round to Greg Anderson.

The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series continues June 20-23 with the Auto-Plus NHRA New England Nationals at New England Dragway.

Rickie Smith made it back-to-back wins at Bristol Dragway, beating Troy Coughlin on a holeshot in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series. The race is the fifth of 10 races in 2013 for NHRA’s popular 250-mph doorslammer touring series.

After winning at legendary Thunder Valley in 2012, the King, N.C., native held off a hard-charging Coughlin, the 2012 NHRA Pro Mod Series world champ, in the final, running a 5.991 at 240.47 mph in his IDG Chevy Camaro to claim his second straight victory in Bristol. Coughlin ran a quicker 5.984 at 246.26 in his JEGS.com Corvette, but Smith’s better .061 reaction time sent him to the win, his first in the 2013 season.

“This has been a good track to us over the years, and it’s a great deal to win here,” said Smith, whose name is listed on the Legends of Thunder Valley at the track. “We’ve been blessed here and to go out and win every now and then, it’s just a major accomplishment for us.

“We had a rough weekend, and we were just trying to save the engine each round, but we’re glad and just so happy to get this win.”

After winning his first-round matchup against Chris Juliano on Saturday, Smith, who qualified second, started Sunday with a second-round victory against Pete Farber, going 5.994 at 240.38. In the semifinals, Smith faced off against Robert Patrick and his Ford Mustang, powering to a 6.418 at 169.23 to advance to the finals.

With the victory, Smith also jumped to second in the points standings at the halfway mark of the season. By advancing to the finals, Coughlin, who knocked off Mike Janis and No. 1 qualifier Danny Rowe to reach the championship round, took over the points lead from the Summit Racing Equipment team of Kenny Lang. Lang dropped to third with a second-round exit.

The next NHRA Pro Mod Series race takes place on July 4-7 at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk.

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Friday: Massey, Worsham, Edwards lead Friday fields in Bristol
Saturday: Edwards leads Pro Stock again; Massey, Worsham also top Bristol fields
 

NHRA Pro Stock points leader Mike Edwards will go for his fifth consecutive victory at the Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals presented by Tri-Cities Area Ford Dealers Sunday at Bristol Dragway from the No. 1 qualifying position.

Spencer Massey (Top Fuel) and Del Worsham (Funny Car) also earned No. 1 qualifying positions and will lead their categories into Sunday’s noon eliminations at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event.

With warmer weather conditions for Saturday’s two qualifying sessions, no one improved on Edwards’ Friday run of 6.632 seconds at a track record speed of 208.23 mph in his Interstate Batteries/I Am Second Chevy Camaro. Edwards has dominated the Pro Stock competition at Bristol in the last four seasons. He defeated hometown favorite Allen Johnson last year in a close final round and outran finalists Erica Enders-Stevens in 2011, Rickie Jones in 2010, and Greg Anderson in 2009.

Mike Edwards

“I love coming to this track and racing here,” said Edwards, who will meet JR Carr in the opening round. “It has been good to us over the years. It’s great to be running good here again. If we could get five in a row at this place, that’s phenomenal for me. We are just going to take it like we have been doing all year long. You never know. We feel like we have as good a chance as anybody.”

The 2009 Pro Stock world champ earned his ninth No. 1 of the season, second at Bristol Dragway, and the 50th of his career.

“That’s a goal that I have been trying to reach for a long time,” Edwards said. “One of my goals starting out the year was to reach 50 No. 1s. It’s truly a blessing that we have been able to do that and an awesome feat for me.”

Hometown favorite Johnson qualified second in his Team Mopar Dodge Avenger with a 6.645 at 206.70 and will open eliminations against Lewis Worden. Enders-Stevens qualified third in her Charter Communications Camaro with a 6.651 at 207.11, and she will face Lucas Oil Ford Mustang driver Larry Morgan.

Spencer Massey

In Top Fuel, Massey earned his first No. 1 of the season and the seventh of his career with his Friday track record performance of 3.775 at 326.79 in his Schumacher Electric dragster. He’ll face veteran driver Doug Herbert in the first round.

“I definitely like that feeling of having the No. 1 spot,” Massey said. “It’s always a plus. I’ve never actually won from the No. 1 spot. It’s something that seems like it’s really tough to do. Sometimes when you qualify No. 1, it’s like there’s a target on your back. If you win out of the No. 1 spot, it would make it that much more special. I’d love to do it here.”

With similar weather conditions expected on Sunday, Massey says teams will need to be a bit more conservative and rely on their trusted hot-weather tune-ups to get round-wins.

“We need to go up there and race the conditions to try to get the round-win,” said Massey. “You can’t look towards the semifinals or even the second round; you have to take it one round at a time. Today, the conditions were a little tricky because it was hot. We backed it down to where it only went a 3.94, but it gave us data that we’re going to be able to use tomorrow in very similar conditions. I’m excited. I’m ready.”

Steve Torrence qualified second with a 3.779 at 324.51 in his Capco Contractors dragster and will face rookie Leah Pruett, and native Tennessean Clay Millican qualified third in his Parts Plus dragster with a 3.787 at 326.48 and will race ageless Chris Karamesines in the opening round.

Del Worsham

Worsham claimed the No. 1 qualifying position in Funny Car by virtue of his Friday track record time of 4.008 at 314.83 in his DHL Toyota Camry. It was Worsham’s first top qualifying position of the season and 13th of his career. The top spot was the first in Funny Car for Kalitta Motorsports since Scott Kalitta qualified No. 1 at Baton Rouge, La., in 1988.

“That run last night was awful special and the entire team has been going above and beyond here lately,” Worsham said. “The track was just hot today, and the chances of running that good were pretty slim. We tried some things out there today. We’ll be ready for tomorrow.”

Worsham, who is the eighth different No. 1 qualifier in the extremely competitive Funny Car category this season, will meet 2009 world champ and 2011 Bristol winner Robert Hight in the opening round.

“The first run tomorrow is going to be a great matchup,” Worsham said. “It is truly what could be a final-round match racing Robert Hight. He is a great friend of mine and a fiercely competitive guy. It will be a great race. I am looking forward to it.”

Defending world champ Jack Beckman qualified second in his Valvoline/MTS Dodge Charger with a 4.012 at 317.05 and will meet second year pro Blake Alexander in the first round, and series points leader Matt Hagan qualified third in his Rocky Footwear Charger with a 4.049 at 317.05 and will race two-time world champ Tony Pedregon.

In one of the most intriguing first round matches in any of the categories, 15-time world champ John Force will begin his Father’s Day with a race against his youngest daughter Courtney Force. John qualified sixth in his Castrol GTX Ford Mustang with a 4.071 at 301.54, and Courtney, who was quickest in both sessions on Saturday in her Traxxas Mustang, qualified 11th with a 4.129 at 306.95. 

No. 1 qualifier Danny Rowe won his first-round matchup during the opening round of the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series. The race is the fifth of 10 races in 2013 for NHRA’s popular 250-mph doorslammer touring series.

Rowe kept up his strong weekend pace in his Agave Underground Tequila Chevy Camaro, putting together a Saturday-best pass of 6.004 at 243.59 mph in his first-round win against the BAC Enterprises team of Clint Satterfield. That came on the heels of finishing as the No. 1 qualifier in his supercharger-powered entry; his 5.958 at 243.37 from Friday stood up through the one qualifying session on Saturday.
It was Rowe’s second straight No. 1 qualifier and the third in four races as the Laguna Hills, Calif., native goes after his first win of 2013 when eliminations continue on Sunday. A victory would also get Rowe, who is currently ninth in points, back in the championship mix.

“We’re really, really happy right now. Our whole crew has been working hard, and we’ve been consistent this year,” Rowe said. “We just want to continue doing a good job and finish well in the points. With the type of cars out there, it’s really been competitive, but we’ve been consistent, and that’s a good sign.
“It’s anybody’s race right now, and if we have a great weekend in Bristol and go out and win, we’re going to be right back in the [championship] hunt.”

Rowe will meet Eric Dillard in the quarterfinals on Sunday after Dillard powered his Ford Mustang to a 6.103 at 246.26 in an opening-round win against Mike Castellana.

Defending Pro Mod world champion Troy Coughlin won his first round matchup against Mike Knowles, going 6.020 at 246.08 in his JEGS.com Corvette. He will meet the most recent Pro Mod event winner after Mike Janis and his Valvoline Chevy Camaro beat Chip King with a 14.643 at 68.29.

Defending event winner Rickie Smith, who qualified No. 3 in his IDG Camaro, will meet Pete Farber, who knocked off Von Smith with a pass of 6.017 at 241.41, in the second round.

The final quarterfinal matchup will feature points leader Kenny Lang, who drove his Summit Racing Equipment Chevy Corvette to a 7.102 at 220.94 against Doug Winters and Robert Patrick, who went 6.030 at 235.35 in his Ford Mustang to beat Steve Matusek.

NHRA Pro Mod Series eliminations will continue Sunday beginning at approximately 3:30 p.m.

Related story
Friday: Massey, Worsham, Edwards lead Friday fields in Bristol

With the quickest run of his career and the quickest Funny Car run in 2013, Funny Car driver Del Worsham led a parade of track records en route to the qualifying lead Friday at the Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals presented by Tri-Cities Area Ford Dealers at Bristol Dragway.

Spencer Massey (Top Fuel) and Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) also were qualifying leaders at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Series event, where track e.t. and speed records were set in every category.

Worsham powered his 8,000-horsepower DHL Toyota Camry to a run of 4.008 seconds at 314.83 mph to move to the top of the Funny Car qualifying field at Thunder Valley. If the time holds, it will be Worsham’s first No. 1 qualifier in Funny Car since April 2010, sixth overall in Funny Car, and 13th in his career.

Del Worsham

The standout pass under the Bristol lights also put Worsham, the 2011 Top Fuel world champion, in line for his first No. 1 qualifier at legendary Bristol Dragway. Two qualifying sessions remain Saturday (12:30 and 3 p.m.) before Sunday’s eliminations at noon for the 10th of 24 races in 2013.

“It was a great run,” Worsham said. “I was kind of wowed myself. The car’s been running better at every individual race. The crew chiefs along with Jim Oberhofer and Connie Kalitta have been working together and making a lot of headway.

“I’m really excited for the guys on this team. For the last six years, they’ve been working really hard to find success, and I feel really good about where we’re going. I’m really happy for [crew chiefs] Jon Oberhofer and Nick Boninfante. They’ve stuck with this team through thick and thin, and I’m proud of them.”

Jack Beckman broke the track speed record with a pass of 317.05 in his Valvoline/MTS Charger, and his run of 4.012 put him in second. Matt Hagan and his Mopar/Rocky Footwear Dodge Charger was third with a 4.049 at 317.05, matching Beckman’s speed just moments after the defending Funny Car world champ set the track record.

Worsham, who will be chasing his first Funny Car win since 2009, was shocked at the career-best run Friday, which also gives him the chance to become the eighth Funny Car driver to claim a No. 1 qualifying spot in 2013.

“I was surprised. I thought it would run 4.04 or 4.05 out there. It went 4.07 in Englishtown and Topeka, and we just made little moves from there,” Worsham said. “When you start working on something and making a lot of runs in a row, things start happening.”

Spencer Massey

“That was a great run and obviously a great way to start,” Massey said. “I’ve never done extremely well in Bristol, never won the race or had anything spectacular happen. We wanted to do that. Phil [Shuler, crew chief] said, ‘Hey, it should go out there and run .76 or .77. If it runs anything close to that and puts us No. 2 or 3, we’ll be happy.’

“I really didn’t think it was going to stay No. 1. I figured Shawn [Langdon] or Tony [Schumacher] would have run .75 or .76, but they struggled a little bit. We stayed No. 1, which is unbelievable.”

Steve Torrence went 3.779 at 324.51 in his Capco Contractors dragster to take the No. 2 spot, and Clay Millican powered his Parts Plus dragster to third with a 3.787 at 326.48.

David Grubnic and Schumacher both dipped into the 3.70s as well, as Grubnic sits fourth in Optima Batteries dragster after going 3.792 at 321.12. Schumacher is currently fifth after a run of 3.795 at 325.77 mph in his U.S. Army dragster.

“The Battery Extender guys have been working hard all year to get to the finals,” Massey said. “We’ve been to a number of semifinals, but we have had trouble getting to the finals. We want to capitalize on it and go a step further, but first you have to qualify No. 1. We’re having fun.”

Mike Edwards

“I thought we might run a 6.62 tonight, but our run earlier today was so good that it was hard to improve on,” said Edwards, who tested in Bristol last week to prep for a stretch of four consecutive race weekends.

The impressive run followed a strong opening pass for Edwards, who already has three wins in his commanding 2013 season. Edwards broke the track speed record on his run of 6.638, going 208.23. Should Edwards’ time stand, it will mark the ninth No. 1 in his brilliant season, second in Bristol, and 50th of his career.

Edwards is also hoping to extend his run of dominance at Bristol Dragway. The Coweta, Okla., native has won the last four races at Thunder Valley in Pro Stock and appears in good position to try to make it five straight.

“I like running in the summer heat because we’ve done well in that in the past,” Edwards said. “I’m looking forward to doing more of it. It appears we have a good tune-up window for this track.”

Defending Pro Stock world champ and Greeneville, Tenn., native Allen Johnson is second in his Team Mopar/J&J Racing Dodge Avenger with a 6.645 at 206.70. Jason Line is third with a 6.661 at 206.73 in his Summit Racing Equipment Chevy Camaro.

Danny Rowe continued his strong run during qualifying in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series as he raced to the qualifying lead. The race is the fifth of 10 in 2013 for NHRA’s popular 250-mph doorslammer touring series.

Driving his Agave Underground Tequila Chevy Camaro, Rowe, who is seeking his first final-round appearance of 2013, put together one of only two five-second passes during Friday’s two qualifying rounds, running an impressive 5.958 at 242.76 mph.

Points leader Kenny Lang and his Summit Racing Equipment entry, also a supercharged Chevy Camaro, ran an identical 5.958, but Rowe’s speed topped Lang’s 242.63 mph. 

Should Rowe hang on to the top qualifying position, it would give him the No. 1 qualifier for the second straight race and third time in the past four NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series events.

Following Rowe and Lang in the third spot is defending event champion Rickie Smith, who powered his IDG nitrous-injected Chevy Camaro to a 6.007 at 241.45 mph. Mike Janis is fourth with a 6.036 at 238.85, and Steve Matusek, who is seventh with a 6.090, posted the fastest run of the day at 245.58 mph in a Ford Mustang. 

The final qualifying session for the NHRA Pro Mod Series is Saturday at 2 p.m. and will be followed by the first round of eliminations at 4 p.m. Pro Mod eliminations will continue Sunday beginning at approximately 3:30 p.m.
 

Catch all the action from this weekend’s Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals presented by Tri-Cities Area Ford Dealers on ESPN2/ESPN2HD. The qualifying show is scheduled for Saturday, June 15, at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT on ESPN2, and Sunday’s race-day coverage will be nearly live beginning at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT, with a late show scheduled to begin at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT.

Here’s what viewers can expect when they tune in this weekend:

Al-Anabi team manager and tuner Alan Johnson has figured out his Top Fuel dragsters, and Shawn Langdon is reaping the benefits. Combining his top-notch reaction times with a powerful dragster makes for a winning combination. Langdon has taken over the points lead and has his sights set on his first NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world championship. ESPN2 talks to Langdon and the team on this year’s success.

In the Pro Stock class, defending NHRA Mello Yello world champion Allen Johnson gets to celebrate Father’s Day weekend with his dad, Roy, at the track, and he and his dad appreciate the chance. ESPN2 sat down with the father-son duo and talked about their relationship and success on the track.

ESPN2 interviews popular Top Fuel driver J.R. Todd as he returns to the seat while Brandon Bernstein recovers from back surgery. Todd will take the reins of the Protect the Harvest/MavTV dragster this weekend in Bristol.

ESPN2 color commentator Mike Dunn breaks down his Power Rankings and tells you who to expect success from this weekend at Thunder Valley.

Qualifying
Saturday, June 15: 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT

Race Day
Sunday, June 16: 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT; 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT
 

Veteran racer Rickie Smith returns to Bristol Dragway Father’s Day weekend ready to savor and repeat last season’s win in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.

Smith, who is fourth in points, has yet to post a win through four races in the 250-mph doorslammer category, but he did record his best finish at the most recent race in Englishtown after advancing to the semifinals. Now, the crew chief/driver of the IDG Chevy Camaro will try to make winning a trend at his home away from home at Bristol Dragway and defend his event title as the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series makes its fifth of 10 stops at the Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals presented by Tri-Cities Area Ford Dealers, June 14-16.

“I like to stay focused on the positive and think we are winners no matter where we place,” Smith said. “We have a good chance to win and plan to go all the way for the championship this season.”

For the King, N.C., native, focus and determination are winning traits that proved to be invaluable last season.  After suffering a spectacular crash in 2011 in Bristol that caused him to take a hiatus from the sport due to a leg injury, Smith last year claimed the No. 1 qualifying position at Thunder Valley, earned his second win of the season, and closed the 2012 season with a career-best fourth-place finish in points.

“It was definitely a good year last season,” Smith said. “To come back on top after a wreck the season prior was great. I’ve had a lot of success at Bristol, and now I’m ready to do it again.”

When Smith pulls into Bristol, he’s not just any racer. He is a living legend at Thunder Valley. Smith dominated at the old Bristol Dragway in the 1980s during his IHRA Pro Stock career and in the 1990s in NHRA Pro Stock. He is a member of the Legends of Thunder Valley, the track’s Hall of Fame, which also includes such notables as Wally Parks, “Big Daddy” Don Garlits, and Larry Carrier.

True to his legendary status, Smith continues to be a major attraction for fans in the Tri-Cities region, and he looks forward to seeing friends and family at his home away from home.

“It’s a real special deal for me to be inducted alongside the biggest NHRA legends like Wally Parks and Garlits,” Smith said. “It’s a special honor. I consider Bristol my home track, and I look forward to returning every year. My entire family and friends come along since it’s so close to my home in North Carolina.”

Spending a holiday weekend at the track is not unusual for the Smith family. Rickie’s son, Matt Smith, is the 2009 NHRA Mello Yello Pro Stock Motorcycle world champion, and his daughter-in-law, Angie Smith, is also a Pro Stock Motorcycle rider. For this family, the pit area is where memories are made.

“Father’s Day weekend at Bristol Dragway is always lots of fun, and it is always special,” Smith said. “My wife and kids all come out. It was amazing to win last season with the family there, and I plan to do it again in front of them.” 

Featuring the world’s fastest and most unique doorslammer cars and an extremely diverse collection of vehicles, including ’63 Corvettes, ’68 Camaros, ’67 Mustangs, ’68 Firebirds, and a number of late-model cars, the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series offers something for every hot rodding enthusiast.

In addition to Smith, other NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series favorites include early-season winner Von Smith, of nearby Oak Ridge, Tenn., defending world champ Troy Coughlin, and points leader Canadian Kenny Lang. Veteran racers Danny Rowe, Chip King, of Semora, N.C., and Mike Castellana also will be in the hunt to win in Bristol along with Englishtown champ Mike Janis, Clint Satterfield, Steve Matusek, Pete Farber, and Mike Knowles.

• SCHEDULE: NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series qualifying sessions are scheduled for 5 and 7 p.m. Friday, June 14, and at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 15. The first round of Pro Mod eliminations will begin Saturday, June 15, at 4 p.m. Pro Mod eliminations continue Sunday, June 16.

• TICKETS: For tickets for the Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals presented by Tri-Cities Area Ford Dealers, call 423-989-6900 or log on to www.bristoldragway.com.

Funny Car driver Tim Wilkerson has done just about everything but win a race through nine events in the 2013 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.

Wilkerson, who is sixth in points, has advanced to one final and grabbed four semifinal finishes in the loaded Funny Car class, making him one of the highest-ranked drivers in the category without a victory.

The driver of the Levi, Ray & Shoup Ford Shelby Mustang hopes to change that stat and break into the win column for the first time this season at the Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals presented by Tri-Cities Area Ford Dealers, June 14-16 at legendary Bristol Dragway. Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel), Ron Capps (Funny Car), and Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) are the defending winners of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event, which will be televised nationally on ESPN2HD.

Wilkerson has continued to build momentum in his 8,000-horsepower Funny Car, qualifying fourth or better at four of the last five races. That hot stretch has also included four semifinal appearances and a trip to the final in Houston in April, allowing him to steadily move up in the points standings.

Now, the Springfield, Ill., native, looking for his first win since 2011, hopes to finish the job in Bristol.

“I guess that says something about us being good overall lately, but we haven't gotten the prize yet this year,” Wilkerson said. “As for being next in line, I never really feel that way. So many little things can trip you up out here and get in the way of a win, in any round not just the race, it's hard to look ahead and say we're next in line. I'd like to think we're always in line, and if you are, then one of these days, it might happen for you.”

In terms of picking a venue to score his first win of the season, historic Bristol Dragway would rank near the top of the list for Wilkerson. He has never won at the state-of-the-art facility, which is nestled in the rolling hills of northeast Tennessee. He lost in the 2010 final round to that season’s eventual world champion, John Force.

“It's a great place to race, more than anything else,” Wilkerson said. “A great track, great fans, and one of the more scenic places you'll ever see with a dragstrip running down the middle of it. We've had some success there, and we felt like we probably should've won in 2010, but we had a little glitch that shut the car off and put out the chutes. I'd sure like to win there, that's for sure.”

A victory in Bristol would also keep Wilkerson on the heels of Funny Car points leader Matt Hagan, giving the team a definite boost heading into a grueling stretch of four consecutive race weekends.

Defending Funny Car world champion Jack Beckman and Wilkerson are the only drivers in the top seven without a win, a nod to how competitive the class has been through nine events.

That being said, another strong finish in Wilkerson’s recent surge would ensure that he remains in the mix for the 2013 Countdown to the Championship.

“The class really is competitive, and what we've seen at some of these recent races, where we only got two qualifying runs instead of four, was that everyone stumbles from time to time, and everyone can run fast too,” Wilkerson said. “When you only have two [qualifying] sessions, you get kind of a snapshot of what everyone did that one day, instead of over two days, and we had great cars scattered from 1 to 16. With all that in mind, you better believe it's important to earn every single point you can get. After that nerve-racking 'late-inning rally' we put on last year in Indy, I'd prefer to not have to go through that again.”

Other pre-race favorites in Funny Car are two-time world champ Cruz Pedregon, multitime Bristol winner Capps, 2012 rookie of the year Courtney Force, and past Bristol winners Robert Hight and Del Worsham.

All of the stars of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series will be competing for a victory on Father’s Day weekend at the Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals.  

In Top Fuel, seven-time world champion Schumacher, who has scored five times at Bristol Dragway, broke a 32-race win drought with his victory at the storied track last year. There are plenty of championship contenders in the class, including points leader Shawn Langdon, who became the first driver in the category to pick up three wins this season. Other standouts include defending world champ Antron Brown, Spencer Massey, Bob Vandergriff Jr., and veteran driver Doug Kalitta.

In Pro Stock, red-hot points leader Mike Edwards, a four-time defending event winner in Bristol, looks to keep up his remarkable pace at the track and during his 2013 season. Edwards enters the race with three event victories and eight No. 1 qualifying positions this season at the controls of his Interstate Batteries/I Am Second Chevy Camaro. Local favorite Allen Johnson, the defending world champ who drives the Team Mopar Dodge Avenger, hopes this is the year he wins a race at Thunder Valley in front of his family and friends after losing the 2012 final to Edwards in the closest race of the NHRA season. Along with Jeg Coughlin Jr., who is second in points, others to watch include Erica Enders-Stevens, Shane Gray, Greg Anderson, Jason Line, and Vincent Nobile.

As always, every ticket purchased for the Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals is an exclusive pit pass, allowing spectators to see firsthand the highly skilled mechanics service their sophisticated hot rods between rounds. Fans can also meet many of the drivers in the pits and get autographs.

Fans also won’t want to miss the popular interactive NHRA Nitro Alley and the NHRA Manufacturers Midway. On Saturday evening following qualifying, a special Fan Fest will be held in Nitro Alley, where more than 25 of the top NHRA Mello Yello Series stars will be available to meet fans in one of the largest autograph sessions on the circuit.

Mello Yello Series qualifying begins Friday, June 14, with the first session at 5:30 p.m., followed by another session under the lights at 7:30 p.m. When 8,000-horsepower nitro machines blast off from the starting line with their header pipes full of flames during night qualifying, the scene provides one of the most sensory-filled experiences for any motorsports fan. A spectacular fireworks show is planned to finish Friday’s night racing.

The final two qualifying sessions will take place Saturday, June 15, at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. Final eliminations will begin at noon Sunday, June 16.

The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series also will be showcased during the event, featuring exciting side-by-side racing action at more than 250 mph.

To purchase tickets for the Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals Father’s Day weekend, call Bristol Dragway, 866-901-2679, or log on to www.thundervalleytix.com.
 

Top Fuel points leader Shawn Langdon is enjoying a breakthrough year in his fifth full season in the category. Langdon, who leads the points for the second time in 2013 following his third win of the year in Englishtown, took part in a recent NHRA teleconference.

Q: What has it been like this season for you, really starting to see a lot of the hard work and dedication of your team really paying off?

Langdon: It's been pretty good, just to see all the hard work starting to pay off. You know, last year was my first year with the Al-Anabi team, and I felt like we had a good season, to my standards. I finished fourth in the points, and that was the highest that I have finished as a driver. But to their standards, obviously, the team was built around winning and built around winning championships. So they were obviously looking to come into the 2013 season to improve on that fourth-place finish. You know, we felt like we came out pretty strong in Pomona, starting off with a win, and we went to a couple-race stretch where we had a couple little issues that we were dealing with the tune-up, but these last couple races, we really feel that we got a good handle back on the car, and the cars were responding very well to the changes that have been made in the last year and a half.

Q: You talked at Englishtown about what people were calling the "little" points, the bonus points that are coming from qualifying, and how you're grabbing the sheets and looking at them. You know, how important are those going to become around the U.S. Nationals time and counting those points going into the Countdown?

Langdon: Well, they are huge. Just because looking at the last couple years, just how the championship came down to the last race; last year, it came down to the final round between Tony Schumacher and Brandon Bernstein with the opportunity of Tony to win the race and win the championship. Or if he lost, Antron Brown got it. And then the year before, I believe it came down to the semifinals between Del Worsham and Spencer Massey. Like I said, it's just every "little" point counts, especially just not knowing how it's going to unfold, and with the oildown points that you have, you get oildown points if you get penalized or anything or what have you; it's those "little" points, they can really make the difference of a round-win because if you're trailing by 21 points and then you're able to pick up two or three "small" qualifying points with the bonus, you can really reel it in to make it within a round. So obviously, every point is going to count at the end of the year.

Q: Are you a strong believer in momentum, and how does that affect your team? How are those wins affecting your team right now? Can you describe that?

Langdon: Obviously, momentum is huge in the sport of drag racing. Drag racing is a very streaky sport. Just like any other sport. When you can get on a roll and you can start winning races, just build that confidence, and when you have that confidence in yourself and in your team, nothing can beat that. Going into the next race, coming off the two wins, we have a lot of confidence. We felt strongly from Day One about the direction of the team and what we have been doing and trying to accomplish. But just seeing those results, you know, it definitely pays off for me as a driver every time I roll up to the starting line. But for all these guys, all the crew guys that put in the hard work and the hard hours, especially in these summer months when it's long days and it's draining, 100 degrees outside and they are working, and they just want to give that little bit extra effort to make sure the car is done just perfectly, just knowing because nobody wants to be the weak link on the team, and everyone wants to give 110 percent to the team to accomplish something.

Q: And having three wins out of nine, did you have expectations coming into this season that you would be sitting here at this particular point?

Langdon: Well, you know, it's obviously something that when I got asked to drive, when Sheikh Khalid asked me to drive his car, it was definitely something that you can sit back, and you kind of can envision what the possibilities are of what the team can accomplish. But it's tough. It's very tough. This day and age, there's not really two or three cars that are fighting for the championship. You really do have, every time you go to a race, you've got 16 cars that are qualified for the race that are well-qualified to win it. It's just every car can run good. Basically, every car can go up and run a 3.8-second run, and even the lower-qualified cars, you're seeing some of the top five or six people in the points, they are even qualifying in the bottom half of the field. You know, it's tough. We definitely have been working hard at it, so winning three of the nine races is definitely something that we've been working towards. Obviously, we go to every race with the intention of winning, so we would love to win 24 races a year, but there are a lot of other people that have something to say about that as well. So we just do the best job we can. We are very fortunate to have gotten three wins so far this year, and hopefully we can get a couple more along the way.

Q: Your crew chief, Brian Husen, recently said he was so amazed by your driving skills and the way you're really able to dissect a run down to a tenth or a thousandth of a second and really give him strong information. How key has that been to your success, that relationship with Brian?

Langdon: Well, you know, I think it's gone both ways because me as a driver, obviously coming from bracket racing, we race for thousandths of a second week in and week out. So that's something that I have always looked at is every thousandth, every incremental, every split time; and that's something that coming on to this team, that really impressed me by the knowledge that they had of all that stuff, with [team manager] Alan Johnson, with Brian Husen, they understand all that. They get that. And they understand that in order to achieve certain split times, you have to have the early split times to achieve the later split times, and it's just getting pretty in-depth on it. But they get all that, and I think that has definitely helped build a little bit of a relationship that we both understand where each other is coming from. You know, one thing that I tried to do as a driver is try to stage shallow every single time, I try to flicker the bottom bulb to get into the shallow every time to give the team the best opportunity to keep that key every round, to keep that lane choice, to try to qualify a little better. I think we can both understand where each other is coming from in trying to achieve all these little split times and just basically dissecting the track at certain increments and not just looking at it as a whole; but when you're racing for thousandths, you have to look at every increment of the track.

Q: You talked about Lucas Oil [Series], where you won a championship; are you bringing some of that experience with you? You said you had never been in a position leading the points this late in the season; are you bringing some of that experience with you into this battle that we are going to see this summer?

Langdon: Well, you know, I would hope so. Obviously, racing in Top Fuel is quite a bit different than racing Super Comp. I've been in points battles racing before in Super Comp categories. So I kind of understand what it takes in order to keep progressing as a driver and keep progressing as a team. These guys have been in this position before with other drivers, so it's really neat to be able to see how these guys basically attack everything; how to handle the points, how to handle the cars, going to each race. It's something that, you know, I think I'm just more kind of following their lead a little bit. These guys have been in the position of winning championships as a team before. I'm fairly new at this point in the Top Fuel category. Basically, my feel is I'm just trying to do the best job that I can. Just not mess anything up as a driver. I'm just trying to give them the best opportunity that they can to have a winning car, and hopefully, yes, things will play out right in the end.

Q: With Father's Day weekend ahead at Bristol, can you talk about racing with your dad back in California and your racing relationship with your dad?

Langdon: Well, growing up, obviously my dad, he was very involved in NHRA Drag Racing, racing in the Sportsman categories and doing quite a bit of bracket racing as well. So that was really where I got my start, where I learned all the basics, from my dad. And starting out in the Jr. Dragster category, it was just a great experience. It's kind of like a father/son relationship going out back and playing catch with one another and building that special bond like when the kid is growing up playing Little League and the dad kind of gives him advice of how to hit the ball and how to field the ball. It's kind of the same thing with my dad and me. We would go out in the back shop, we would work on the Jr. Dragster together, and we kind of built that special bond where we could work together, and, you know, sometimes it goes good, sometimes it goes bad. But you learn how each other works, and you learn, just basically, he taught me all the basics in drag racing, how to be a good winner, how to be a good loser. Just building that sportsmanship that you need to have as a driver, and obviously, he just taught me a lot of things that I've been able to carry over through the years of just how to focus and how to mentally prepare yourself to drive a race car on race day.

Q: Did I hear that your grades had to be in line for you to go to the track?

Langdon: Well, that was actually something growing up. Getting back to a little bit younger, kind of a thing that my parents always did; if I had good grades, my dad and I, we would go out to Pomona Raceway, and I wanted to go out there because I wanted to get all the autographs from Kenny Bernstein and John Force and Don Prudhomme. It was always a little treat for me because I always enjoyed it. I was a big fan as a kid growing up, and I would want to get everybody’s handout cards and autographs and hang them up on my wall and keep them up until the next time I would go. My mom hated it because I was always pinning them on the wall, and she would have to patch all the paint and drywall work because I would be putting them up and tearing them back down. But I always enjoyed it, and that was definitely something that kind of went along when I started driving in the Jr. Dragster category was as long as my grades were up, we were going racing. There were a couple times that my parents had to kind of reel me back a little bit and grades started slacking off, and we couldn't go to a couple races. In the end, it got me through high school, and I passed with flying colors, and I'm still racing, so everything worked out good.

J.R. Todd knows he has big shoes to fill substituting for Brandon Bernstein behind the wheel of the ProtectTheHarvest.com/MavTV Top Fuel dragster, but he is comforted knowing that when he gets to Bristol Dragway for the Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals presented by Tri-Cities Area Ford Dealers, the "get-to-know-you" process will be short.

Most of the faces on the ProtectTheHarvest.com crew are the same from when Todd drove for Morgan Lucas Racing a few years back.

"It should be pretty smooth going this weekend," Todd said. "That will really help me on the driving part of the equation. It's good to be working with [crew chief] Joe Barlam and those guys. They're a lot of fun and make it pretty easygoing at the track."

Bernstein will be sidelined for the next couple of races recovering from back surgery. Todd has made one start this year in Houston, and he doesn't think it will take him long to get back in the zone.

"That car is one of the top-running cars on the tour right now," Todd said. "For Morgan and Brandon to call me to come drive it is a big honor. My expectations going into this weekend are pretty high.

"I know they are going to give me a good car, and I hope I'll hold up my end behind the wheel and we'll go some rounds."

The team will be on its toes this weekend because the Tennessee heat can make for tricky driving and tuning conditions.

"It gets pretty warm there, but it has a habit of leveling out the playing field," Todd said. "I'm probably going to have my work cut out for me. We'll be looking to lay down a good run on Friday night to get in the show solidly, then really dial the car in on Saturday.

"Hopefully come Sunday we'll have a car that can beat anybody. In the heat, a lot of those races come down to the skill of the driver, which means I'll need to be on my game, too."

Many times, success breeds confidence, and in turn, confidence can breed future success. This is definitely the case for Tony Schumacher, driver of the U.S. Army Top Fuel dragster, and his affinity for Bristol Dragway as he enters the Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals presented by Tri-Cities Area Ford Dealers, June 14-16. The seven-time NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Top Fuel world champion has five wins at the facility (2012, 2008-10, 2004) and leads all racers with the most victories at Bristol Dragway.

“We go there feeling successful,” Schumacher said. “We go there with the attitude of success. My guys were disappointed in Englishtown [semifinal loss at the most recent event], and I said, ‘Don’t be disappointed; we are going to go into Bristol and win.’ So we might as well go and rack the points up.”

Schumacher and all the stars of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series will be in search of victory at the 10th of 24 events in the 2013 season. Schumacher (Top Fuel), Ron Capps (Funny Car), and Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) will be looking to defend their 2012 victories at the event, which will be televised nationally on ESPN2HD.

Schumacher has 71 wins in his storied 369-race career at tracks across the country. Only at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis (nine) and Auto Club Raceway at Pomona and The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (six each) does he have a better record; he also has five wins at Texas Motorplex.

“I think everybody has certain tracks that they are good at,” Schumacher continued. “It is a difficult track since it is a little bit higher altitude. I stay close to the track and show up there well rested. I love Thunder Valley; I love the place, and I go into that race in very good spirits. I remember a time before the stands were there, and people would roll down the hill during the event, back when I drove jet cars there. The fans are second to none.”

“It is great to go racing with him every weekend. It makes the better that much better, but it makes the worse the worst because it is tough, it is family,” Schumacher continued. “It is a tough sport to get into, and when you have a family that helps pave the way to get in and teaches you the ropes. There are no 600 miles to win races; it is so instant and immediate. You hear about great moments and accomplishments, and it makes it hard not to want to live up to that.”

For Schumacher to record his sixth win at the facility, he will have to top a field of championship contenders, including points leader Shawn Langdon, who became the first driver in the class to pick up three wins this season at the recent event in Englishtown. Other standouts include defending world champ Antron Brown, Spencer Massey, Bob Vandergriff Jr., and veteran driver Doug Kalitta.

In Funny Car, the most recent event winner and current points leader, Matt Hagan, a cattle rancher from nearby Christiansburg, Va., will be looking for his third event win in 2013 and first victory in Bristol. But it won’t be easy against a host of tough competitors, including the three John Force Racing Ford Mustang drivers; Johnny Gray, who has three wins on his retirement tour; Cruz Pedregon; defending event winner Capps; Del Worsham; and defending world champ Jack Beckman. 

Mike Edwards

In Pro Stock, red-hot points leader Edwards, who has won the last four events in Bristol, will try to keep his streak going at this event. He enters the race with three event victories and eight No. 1 qualifying positions this season at the controls of his Interstate Batteries/I Am Second Chevy Camaro. Local favorite Allen Johnson, the defending Pro Stock world champ who drives the Team Mopar Dodge Avenger, is hoping that this is the year he wins a Wally at Thunder Valley in front of his family and friends after losing the 2012 final in the closest final round in NHRA history. Along with Jeg Coughlin Jr., who is second in points, others to watch in Pro Stock include Erica Enders-Stevens, Shane Gray, Greg Anderson, Jason Line, and Vincent Nobile.

As always, fans will have the opportunity to interact with their favorite drivers because every ticket is an exclusive pit pass, allowing them to see firsthand the highly skilled mechanics service their hot rods between rounds. While visiting the pits, fans won’t want to miss the popular interactive NHRA Nitro Alley and the NHRA Manufacturers Midway.

The teams in several categories of the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series also will thrill the crowds during the weekend with intense side-by-side competition, and drivers in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series will compete in their fifth event of the season.

To purchase tickets for the Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals presented by Tri-Cities Area Ford Dealers Father’s Day weekend, call Bristol Dragway, 866-901-2679, or log on to www.thundervalleytix.com.

Two-time NHRA Mello Yello Funny Car world champion Cruz Pedregon, who is enjoying a resurgence with two wins, two No. 1 qualifying positions, and the third-place ranking in the Funny Car standings this season, took part in a national teleconference to discuss his year to date.

Q: You have been doing double duty this year not only as a driver, but also being deeply involved with tuning the car. How fulfilling has your success been with the current structure of your team?

Pedregon: Well, it's very fulfilling, but I must point out, I've had the same role for the last, well, since 2010 actually. I've had two different guys with the title of crew chief, and not that I want all the credit, but I know I have a lot of concern from a lot of fans and even some sponsors for that matter, that when we lose guys, whether other people hire them or whatever the case may be, that the car was going to change direction and maybe fall off performance wise, and I try to tell them, "Hey, guys, I make the decisions, I make the calls, and if nothing is going to change, we are going to keep on keeping on." So until we go out and do it, there's always that skepticism. So for me, it's very gratifying. It's a lot of work, first and foremost, a lot of work, a lot of hours, but at the end of the day, it's the position I've been in. I didn't ask for this position; it was just something that came about. I've been doing it a lot of years, so I'm actually having the best time of my life. I mean, the fact that I can do this and I can have performance on the track is the best thing that I can think of.

Q: Are you a strong believer in momentum, and how does that affect your team and the mood and that kind of thing; how important is it? Sometimes when it slips away, it becomes even more important. Can you kind of define that for us?

Pedregon: Yeah, I wouldn't say strongly, but I do believe in momentum as far as our car seems to perform well no matter what part of the country we are in, whether it's sea-level conditions or we are up in altitude or hot tracks or the cooler tracks; they all change and take a different setup. We maintain that performance throughout the process here. We are nine races into the 24-race schedule, and so I wouldn't feel we have hit our stride yet, but we've had some good races. Last week at Englishtown, I feel like that was our best performance race in three or four races, and we came away with a second-round loss. So I think that the momentum side of the original question is, the cars that are kind of already nudging their way up near the top winning races, I think those are the cars that are going to be there for the long haul, and in that case, I think the momentum is you may see one or two guys pop up from the bottom and can jump up there, but the [Matt] Hagans, the Johnny Gray car, [Jack] Beckman, certainly [Ron] Capps, and a couple others will probably be the guys that we are going to have to deal with down the stretch the rest of the way.

Q: Now that you've had two wins this season, how long did those wins last before you mentioned the work that you had to do to get right back at it?

Pedregon: Oh, man, I tell you what, it's really a confidence builder. It kind of gives you that confidence, and what that allows you to do is it allows you to not be so careful, and it allows you in your step, and the car as a result benefits from that. Each win lasts us a few days. In fact, we go into these races now knowing that we can win, and I know my guys feel pretty excited; bonus checks don't hurt, either. Wins definitely are a get-well medicine without a doubt.

Q: You talked about trying different things and making sure you're always moving forward. How has your car responded to the changes that you've made these past couple of races?

Pedregon: Actually very well. I'm pleased that we have been able to make the adjustments on the fly and not fallen off too much. In fact, if you don't know any better, I would speculate, you would sit back and go, "OK, these guys, they are just like everybody else, they fall off here and there, but then they gather back up, and then they go a couple good runs, and then they fall off." So I would say that internally, we know what's going on and the changes we've made. I would say we've had a pretty fun, uninterrupted season so far. No doubt the couple of qualifiers we were down, I think a little bit the top half of the field, those are little signs that I can see where it's hurt us a little bit. But I think when we get back to race day, we are right back on it. In fact, Topeka, here is a good example. At Topeka, our only first-round loss of the season, it was a broken piston that caused our demise. So it really was nothing that we were trying or experimenting with. It was just a broken part. I would say that we couldn't script any better; we would have a hard time doing that; really, it's been good.

Q: Bristol is so unique; how much fun is it to race at that track?

Pedregon: Well, it's always fun to race there. It's a good-looking place. They have the mountains there. You know, it's a challenge up there, though, because you have some altitude up there in the eastern Tennessee hills. I like it because we are going to get some temperature, which I think is a good equalizer. It's a great track, but again, the heat, coupled up with the altitude, it makes it a little challenging more than other places to race. So you know, we look forward to it, and I think, really, we are starting a little mini stretch here, so you're going to really see some good races and points switching up a little bit here in the next, certainly that race, and then the three after that, three in a row or four in a row. I'm looking forward to it, looking forward to getting busy here and getting this show on the road.

Q: How do you communicate that to your team? Your shop is based out in Brownsburg, Ind. Do you have a lot of your equipment set up and ready to go for the next four events? Are you working towards that, maybe even two months ago?

Pedregon: Oh, yeah. You know what the schedule is, and you try to budget wise, you try to purchase the equipment necessary, and hopefully our season thus far has been uneventful in terms of parts attrition, and knock on wood, we have not had any major issues, just routine maintenance. So I think we are in pretty good shape. I heard Allen Johnson talking about your team and fatigue and that kind of thing, and that's always something we concern ourselves with as owners. Fortunately, we have the two rigs, and we have the equipment that any of the other teams have; we have two drivers per rig, some have three. So I think other than getting out there and racing in the heat and hopefully not having any major damage when we have to go back to the shop and rebuild anything major, I think we are in pretty good shape. We have been doing this for a few years now, so my team is pretty geared up for that.

Q: Entering a stretch like this, four in a row, seven of eight, what's the key, and how do you approach that mentally and physically to not only get through it but get some positive results as well?

Pedregon: So, business as usual. I'll go in there and spend 20 minutes or so getting the setup to the guys, and they will go out there and implement it. Sometimes I don't even take off my firesuit. I leave it on and change my shirt and put my firesuit on; it's kind of funny.

Q: Can you almost view it as a good thing where you've had a chance to go out there and race every week and keep this momentum going?

Pedregon: Yeah, absolutely. You know, it's easier for me, on one hand, it's harder because when you get in the car, you have to have a not-think-so-much mind-set. Out of the car, it's all about thinking. That's the only challenge. But I think for me, I would much rather have it on my plate or have it on my shoulders than anybody else's because I know what I put into it, and I know that I can take a day off here, a day or two off here and there during the week to get my batteries charged or rested up or whatever the case may be. So I feel like I can handle it, and I feel like if it's not in my hands, then I would be wondering, in this business, hey, man, let's face it -- I would have to be worrying about A, is the guy focusing and doing the job, and B, is he planning on being recruited by somebody else to hire him away from me. So you always have those things as an owner, but when it's me, it's good and bad; I only have myself to blame, but at the same time, I can keep the focus going where I think it needs to be.

Q: The Pedregon name is one of the most famous names in drag racing, your father and your brothers. Talk about Father's Day weekend coming up in Bristol, and is there a favorite memory that you have with your dad at a track, or is it just overall being able to spend time with your family through the years and how drag racing has brought everybody together?

Pedregon: Yeah, that's a good question. The only thing I remember about my dad racing was we were real little kids, and I didn't really get to enjoy his racing. He retired at a very young age, and he had five kids to raise. And he wanted to go into business, and he just completely forgot about racing and didn't even talk about racing, and my brothers and I were stunned by that because we thought it was the greatest thing in the world. I lost my dad at 18 years old; he died in a plane crash at 41 years old. My memories of Dad are very little racing and a lot about life and being there for us and teaching us right from wrong and how to take care of ourselves and try to take care of each other. He taught us a lot of life lessons, and I always have a heavy heart when we race on Father's Days for sure because if it wouldn't have been for the tough life lessons my dad taught us, who knows where we would be -- certainly wouldn't be racing and competing for championships and racing like we are now. So I'm very, very grateful that I had my dad for a short period of time like I did.

The initial response from NHRA fans in the New England region has been so strong that officials at New England Dragway have been forced to designate additional grandstand sections as reserved-seating areas for the upcoming inaugural Auto-Plus NHRA New England Nationals.

The much-anticipated, high-horsepower showcase of the world’s quickest and fastest accelerating machines finally arrives at New England Dragway June 20-23. The NHRA New England Nationals is the 11th stop in the 24-race NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series tour that crisscrosses the United States and will feature exciting racing action in its four marquee categories: Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle. The race will be televised to a nationwide audience on ESPN2HD.

Track officials are reporting that demand for ticket sales for the event have been very high and that reserved seats are going fast for each day of the weekend. Their advice: If you haven’t purchased your tickets and you plan to attend the race, you better get busy.

“There has been such an overwhelmingly positive response from fans in this area who are excited to attend the first NHRA national event at our track, that we had to open up additional grandstand sections as reserved seating,” said Joe Lombardo, general manager of New England Dragway. “From all indications, this event is going surpass any preliminary expectations we had when we started this journey several years ago. We are very excited to bring the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series to New England, and we are looking forward to the first pair of cars rolling onto the track on Thursday, June 20.”  

An NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event is a celebration of automotive performance and one of the most fan-friendly, driver-accessible events in the world of major league sporting events.

The biggest stars in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series will be competing at the event, including local favorite Funny Car driver Bob Tasca III, of Hope, R.I.; 15-time Funny Car world champ John Force; seven-time Top Fuel champ Tony Schumacher; Cruz Pedregon; Antron Brown; Courtney Force; Ron Capps; Erica Enders-Stevens; Eddie Krawiec; and many more.

As always, every ticket purchased for the Auto-Plus NHRA New England Nationals is an exclusive pit pass, allowing spectators to see firsthand the highly skilled mechanics service their sophisticated hot rods between rounds. Fans can also meet many of the drivers in the pits and get autographs. Fans also won’t want to miss the popular interactive NHRA Nitro Alley and the NHRA Manufacturers Midway.

When the NHRA visits the state of New Hampshire, families can take advantage of a special ticket promotion: Children 12 and younger will receive free general admission with a paid adult.

To purchase tickets, call 800-884-NHRA (6472) or visit www.NHRATix.com.
 

Looking to turn around his 2013 season in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, 15-time Funny Car world champion John Force is hoping for the ultimate Father's Day present at legendary Bristol Dragway.

Force is 10th in points and has yet to make a final-round appearance through nine races in what has already been a highly competitive 2013 Funny Car season.

A three-time winner at the storied track, Force will get an opportunity to make it four at the Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals presented by Tri-Cities Area Ford Dealers, June 14-16, at Bristol Dragway. Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel), Ron Capps (Funny Car), and Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) are the defending winners of the event that will be televised on ESPN2HD.

With two of his daughters also competing at the event, Brittany in Top Fuel and Courtney in Funny Car, the Father’s Day weekend in Bristol will be extra special for the legendary Force.

But Force is also hoping the track that has provided numerous special moments in his career has room for one more.

After spending the last two seasons behind the wheel driving the Castrol GTX Ford Mustang, which included a four-win, third-place finish in 2012, Mike Neff returned solely to his crew chief role for Force’s 8,000-horsepower Castrol GTX Ford Mustang in 2013.

The duo had hoped to re-create the magic of 2010 when Forced raced to an incredible six wins and 11 final-round appearances en route to his 15th Funny Car championship. It hasn’t happened thus far, however, as Force has only advanced past the second round once in 2013.

But with a talented crew headed by Neff, Force, who was the No. 1 qualifier in Topeka last month and has shown signs of improvement, is confident that things will turn around soon.

“We’ve been struggling,” Force admitted. “You know, you can’t just go back to how it was. We’re not running the car we ran in 2010 [when he and Neff collaborated on his 15th championship]. The technology changes, and at the end of the day, you’ve gotta change with it. We’ll figure it out and get ourselves back in the hunt.”

It won’t be easy in a loaded Funny Car field that has already boasted five different event winners and 10 different finalists through nine events.

But that list doesn’t include Force, who has won an NHRA-best 134 events and is an inductee in both the Motor Sports Hall of Fame of America and International Motorsports Hall of Fame.

“Nobody’s gonna cut you any slack because you’re in the Hall of Fame — and I wouldn’t want them to. But I still believe I can win, and as long as that’s true, I’m gonna stay out here. I love it,” Force said. “I love driving my hot rod, being out here with my girls and with Robert [son-in-law Robert Hight].”

Despite his struggles, Force has still enjoyed a 2013 season that included Brittany’s debut in Top Fuel, becoming the first Force to race in the Top Fuel ranks, and Courtney’s strong start in her Traxxas Ford Mustang.

Courtney won the season-opening race in Pomona and is seventh in points, and Brittany has earned three round-wins in what has already been a successful rookie season in her Castrol Edge Top Fuel dragster.

“I always have enjoyed racing at Bristol on Father’s Day,” Force said. “I am lucky I get to be with some of my kids at the racetrack. I have even been able to spend time with my grandkids. When they were growing up, I missed a lot of Father’s Days, and now I am thankful I get to spend time with them. It has been awesome these past years. One thing I love is seeing all the families riding in the back of the Ford trucks during opening ceremonies and all the families in the grandstands. Bristol Dragway goes the extra mile to make it a fun weekend for the families.”

He says of all his victories at Thunder Valley, the one he cherishes most happened in 1999, during a unique NHRA all-star event held at the track when he “beat the dragsters.”

“My favorite memory from Bristol Dragway is when I won the Top Fuel vs. Funny Car race,” Force said. “I beat Bob Vandergriff Jr. in the final, and it was a big payday, the biggest in the history of the sport. I didn’t get to share that win with my kids, though. I just love being at Bristol when you hear the roar of the hot rods bouncing off the mountains. It is a great place to race.”

All of the stars of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series will be competing for a victory on Father’s Day weekend at the Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, including seven-time Top Fuel world champion Schumacher, who has won five times at Bristol Dragway and broke a 32-race win drought with his victory at the storied track last year. Challenging Schumacher will be a number of championship contenders, including points leader Shawn Langdon, who became the first driver in the class to pick up three wins this season. Other standouts include defending world champ Antron Brown, Spencer Massey, Vandergriff, and veteran driver Doug Kalitta.

In Funny Car, the most recent event winner and current points leader, Matt Hagan, a cattle rancher from nearby Christiansburg, Va., will be looking for his third event win in 2013 and his first victory in Bristol. But it won’t be easy against a host of top competitors, including the three John Force Racing Ford Mustang drivers; Johnny Gray, who has three wins in his 2013 retirement tour; Cruz Pedregon; defending event winner Capps; Del Worsham; and defending world champ Jack Beckman, among others. 

In Pro Stock, red-hot points leader Edwards, a four-time defending event winner in Bristol, will try to keep his streak going at this event. Edwards enters the race with three event victories and eight No. 1 qualifying positions this season at the controls of his Interstate Batteries/I Am Second Chevy Camaro. Local favorite Allen Johnson, the defending Pro Stock world champ who drives the Team Mopar Dodge Avenger, is hoping this is the year he wins a race at Thunder Valley in front of his family and friends after losing the 2012 final to Edwards in what ended up being the closest race of the NHRA season. Along with Jeg Coughlin Jr., who is second in points, others to watch in Pro Stock include Erica Enders-Stevens, Shane Gray, Greg Anderson, Jason Line, and Vincent Nobile.

As always, every ticket purchased for the Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals is an exclusive pit pass, allowing spectators to see firsthand the highly skilled mechanics service their sophisticated hot rods between rounds. Fans can also meet many of the drivers in the pits and get autographs.

Fans also won’t want to miss the popular interactive NHRA Nitro Alley and the NHRA Manufacturers Midway. On Saturday evening following qualifying, a special Fan Fest will be held in Nitro Alley, where more than 25 of the top NHRA Mello Yello Series stars will be available to meet fans in one of the largest autograph sessions on the circuit.

Mello Yello Series qualifying begins Friday, June 14, with the first session at 5:30 p.m., followed by another session under the lights at 7:30 p.m. When 8,000-horsepower nitro machines blast off from the starting line with their header pipes full of flames during night qualifying, the scene provides one of the most sensory-filled experiences for any motorsports fan. A spectacular fireworks show is planned to finish Friday’s night action.

The final two qualifying sessions will take place Saturday, June 15, at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. Final eliminations begin at noon Sunday, June 16.

The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series also will be showcased during the event, featuring exciting side-by-side racing action at more than 250 mph.

To purchase tickets for the Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals on Father’s Day weekend, call Bristol Dragway, 866-901-2679, or log on to www.thundervalleytix.com. 

Allen Johnson, the 2012 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro Stock world champion, who will be racing at his hometown track, Bristol Dragway, for the Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals presented by Tri-Cities Area Ford Dealers, June 14-16, took part in a national teleconference to discuss the upcoming race and his season to date.

Q: You raced at Bristol Dragway in the past, runner-up finish in 2012. This season overall, you have two wins, spent time atop the points standings, and are currently third in points. Starting this four-race stretch at your home track, does that give you a bit of extra boost of confidence going into the event?

Johnson: Well, we always like to come home, and it gives us an opportunity to sort of give back to all the people that let us go and do what we do all year, all our employees, friends, and family, and all that in itself lends to a little extra motivation here at Bristol.

Q: Does it lead to a busy cellphone during the course of the week, as well?

Johnson: Yeah, busy email, cellphone, everything. Everybody wants to come out and be a part of it, just one race. We try our best to not leave anyone out, and that takes a lot of our time.

Q: Could you compare what your expectations were at the beginning of the season to now after you've had this opportunity to go racing with teammates?

Johnson: Well, you know, we've had two teammates before, and one teammate the last couple of years. So you know, Jeg [Coughlin Jr.] is a very class act. His family is a class act, and him coming on more allowed us to have extra opportunities for R&D and testing time. I think our expectations were high right from the beginning, and I think we've lived up to them.

Q: And I remember taking a photo of you two guys doing a mock thing in Bradenton [Fla.] with boxing gloves on; have you done anything like that since?

Johnson: Well, we duked it out in two or three finals this year. I think we are about even-steven on that. So he and Vincent [Nobile] have both made me a better driver because they are both exceptional drivers, and if I'm going to have a chance, I'm going to have to do as good as they do. In one way, it's uplifting for me and a challenge.

Q: Earlier this year, you were recognized by the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame as your team was sports team of the year coming off your championship season last year. What was that honor like for you guys?

Johnson: Oh, that was just an awesome award. To be in the same room with a lot of those people that are not only from Tennessee, but they are national champions, too, in basketball and football, and Vince [Gill], and people like Brandt Snedeker in golf, just to be in the same room with them was awesome. It's a pretty big deal to be an athlete in Tennessee.

Q: Talk about Tennessee, Bristol Dragway, you raced to a runner-up finish there last year. What would it mean for you guys to come away victorious at that event?

Johnson: Well, you know, it would be huge for two reasons. One, you know, for your family and employees and all the people like I said that allow you to do this all year and take care of you while you're gone. Another one, it's Father's Day, and me racing with my father and close to my father, it's been an exceptional deal. Also, we were here last year in just a dead heat. We almost got it done last year, and that fueled us for the remainder of the year, and we are hoping to do the same thing this year, but come away with a win and fuel us for the championship race.

Q: We were talking about it, and it is Father's Day weekend in Bristol, and you touched upon your dad. He's been such an integral part of your racing career; you guys have done a lot of things together. Is there one memory that really sticks out that you and your dad both have as you've been racing over the years?

Johnson: It would have to be the first one in Richmond [Va.] together in 1999, and then the championship last year at the banquet when I brought him on stage, and it was pretty emotional for both of us. That's just something you'll never forget.

Q: Pro Stock has been known as an ultracompetitive category out here. What do you think we're going to see going forward the rest of the season in this category?

Johnson: Well, I think you're going to see more of the same. It's tight after the last couple of races, but Mike [Edwards] came out really strong the first of the year, but we've been able to make up a little bit of ground on him. The Summit team has been struggling a little bit, but I expect them to be back. The great teams made some strides here lately, and I'm part of the mix now, as is Erica [Enders-Stevens] and a couple others. So I think you're going to see a knock-down-drag-out just like we did last year, and the person that can be most consistent in the Countdown is going to be the man.

Q: Has your team been testing very much this season so far?

Johnson: You know, I think we have seen some good results, and we are testing.  I'm in Bristol right now, probably heard one of the guys come to the door and say we are ready for another run. So I'm going to leave this phone call and go jump in the car for another run. But we've tested a lot this year.

Q: Is there some point in the season like last season when you felt it was all starting to come together; do you feel that at all this year yet?

Johnson: At the first of the season, we brought out a new car, and we struggled with it to be honest just a little bit. And you know, the three teammates, a lot of extra work, making sure we've got motors readily available. But I think we are starting to jell right now, so our team is right there.

Q: Talk real quick about Bristol, a unique track and surroundings. What's it like to race there down in the Thunder Valley, as it has become known?

Johnson: Well, you know, this is the mountains, and this is where I live, so I'm very familiar with it. But just to be at home and all the friendly surroundings and the mountains and everything we enjoy every day just makes this place such a unique place. I won one of my first major races here in 1981 as a teenager, and it's got a lot of special memories. My dad won a lot of races here in the old Stock days, and the people here are just really good people and just love coming home.

Q: Does it present any challenges with the atmosphere and conditions you'll see next weekend?

Johnson: It can. This place can get really humid and hot, and that's probably why we do real good in humid and hot weather. We do all our engine work here. Just to have all the people and camaraderie with family and friends, it has a little bit of drama, but [I am] able to block that out and go race when the time comes.

Q: I can't imagine you've been in a closer race than the final last year; just give me your thoughts of what you remember from that race and that final and how close that was.

Johnson: Well, you know, the next few weeks of racing, we are very cautious because you can get yourself behind in a hurry, but you can also do well and come out of this thing with a big lead, too. So we've got to keep stuff healthy. We've got to race smart. Got to be good to our employees; they wear out and give them days off. We’ve got to get our stuff to race in a very safe fashion, so it can be very draining to do what we are doing. The race last year was just, how do you explain it, it was the closest race in the NHRA history, I think, and it was the final, and we were just on the wrong side of the bullet there. It was a great race, and we knew it would be, and we worked very hard, and I'm sure we're going to do that a lot more this year.
 

The problem of Funny Car bodies leaving the chassis by a supercharger explosion or other mechanical failure has been around as long as the class itself. A variety of measures have been implemented over the years, including supercharger and body burst panels, to relieve the pressure of a supercharger backfire in a more controlled manner. These panel designs will remain in effect and supplement the new system.

The NHRA Tech Department constantly strives to develop improvements to safety, with Funny Car body retention being one of those issues. After an incident in Charlotte, NHRA convened a panel of experts from a number of the top Funny Car teams and other members of the industry to work together toward a better solution.

Led by NHRA Vice President-Technical Operations Glen Gray and Director of Engineering Timothy White, members of the Don Schumacher Racing, John Force Racing, Kalitta Motorsports, and Head Racing teams, along with industry experts including chassis builder Murf McKinney and renowned composite manufacturer Aerodine, worked together to design a latching and retention system to work under the demanding conditions. The group met numerous times in person, including visits to the various teams’ fabrication departments, and participated in numerous teleconferences.

“The force behind these explosions is incredible, and what we discovered through extensive historic video reviews is that the majority of situations where the body is separating from the chassis result from the forces generated by an engine failure unlatching the front of the body from the chassis,” explained White. “The body is then caught by the onrushing wind, often at 300 or more mph. The whole idea is to prevent the body from lifting and catching that 300-mph wind. A lot of people don’t understand the forces we’re dealing with.

“The group determined that the best way to keep the body on the car begins with keeping the body’s nose latched to the chassis. Over the years, the front latches on these Funny Cars had become a dual-purpose mechanism, serving both as latch to attach the body to the chassis as well as a fuel-tank vent, and the new system improves what was used before.”

The result of these discussions was the creation of a better dual latching system that requires both a 45-degree turn as well as an outward pull to disengage the latch, as well as a system that tethers the remainder of the body via the firewall to the front latch in case the body breaks behind the nose.

The bodies will not be tethered to the chassis, per se, but rather to the body latch, with the goal of keeping the body whole.

“The process of developing this solution was a wonderful experience,” said White. “The guys who work on these cars bring a deep knowledge and hands-on perspective to the table, so their input was extremely valuable. The level of cooperation between the teams for the greater good was amazing and has led to what we think is a very good solution to a tough problem.”

Earlier this season at Atlanta Dragway, the father-son tandem of Funny Car driver Johnny Gray and Pro Stock driver Shane Gray nearly shared the stage in the NHRA winner’s circle of that event. Johnny won the Funny Car title; however, Shane ran into a tough final-round customer in series points leader Mike Edwards and just missed out on grabbing his fourth victory.

Perhaps the racing gods decided that it would be best if the pair waited to celebrate that special moment Father’s Day weekend.

They will have the opportunity to make it happen at the Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals presented by Tri-Cities Area Ford Dealers, June 14-16 at Bristol Dragway. Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel), Ron Capps (Funny Car), and Edwards (Pro Stock) are the defending winners of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event that will be televised on ESPN2HD.

If they are successful in their quest, they would become the first father-son pairing in NHRA history to hoist Wallys side by side as Mello Yello Series event winners.
 
In 2001, Kenny and Brandon Bernstein achieved the feat in Las Vegas when Brandon competed in Top Alcohol Dragster in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. Other than the Grays, the Bernsteins are the only father-son unit that has come close to making it happen in the Professional ranks. In 2007 in Brainerd, Brandon won in Top Fuel, but Kenny lost in his final-round pairing in Funny Car. John Force and his daughter Ashley Force Hood have also won the same event, the 2004 Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals in Pomona, during Force Hood’s Sportsman racing days in Top Alcohol Dragster.

While Johnny sits second in the Funny Car points standings with three victories this season at the controls of his Pitch Energy Dodge Charger, Shane has been steadily improving in Pro Stock behind the wheel of his Gray Motorsports Chevy Camaro. Shane has been to three final rounds this season and is seventh in the points order in the popular 200-mph factory hot rod division.

“That sure would have been neat,” said Shane about the rare opportunity in Atlanta. “And we truly believe we can make that happen this year if everything lines up right again.”  

Johnny, who plans to retire from full-time driving at the end of this season, says that if the two were to meet in the winner’s circle, that would mark off a huge item on his bucket list, which has been getting quite a bit shorter lately with all of his accomplishments this season.

“I think there is a really good chance that we can do that this year,” Johnny said. “That would be the absolute best way for me to end my career, standing on the stage with my son after both of us have won a race. That would do it all for me.”

Johnny is having the best season of his 16-year career in the sport, and his Don Schumacher Racing-owned Funny Car has been one of the most consistently quick and fast cars at each and every race. He has doubled his career victories this season and was the No. 1 qualifier in Phoenix. After winning the race in Gainesville, he jointly held the No. 1 position in points with teammate Capps, but after his recent win in Topeka, Gray took sole ownership of the series lead for the first time.

“You know, [crew chiefs] Rob [Wendland] and Rip [Reynolds] are pretty phenomenal,” said Johnny, a native of Artesia, N.M. “They get a little left of center there every once in a while, but boy, it doesn’t take them long to reel it back in. When they’ve got it reeled in, that car there is a hot rod. They give me a car that’s so good, even I can’t screw it up.”

Meanwhile, Shane jumped from 10th to seventh in the Pro Stock standings when he reeled off a trio of final-round finishes in back-to-back-to-back races in Charlotte, Houston, and Atlanta. He has been as high as sixth in the points order this season, and he’s looking to go even higher with a strong run at Thunder Valley.

“We’re becoming more confident, but it doesn’t change how we approach each race,” Shane said. “We still pull through the gates just wanting to qualify. If we qualify, then we just focus on winning the first round. If we can keep going, great, but it starts with qualifying. We’re doing better than we’ve done in a long time, and that’s a great feeling, but we aren’t going to get too excited about it just yet.”

All of the stars of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series will be competing for a victory on Father’s Day weekend at the Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals presented by Tri-Cities Area Ford Dealers, including seven-time Top Fuel world champion Tony Schumacher, who has won five times at Bristol Dragway. He will be challenged by a host of strong contenders, most notably defending world champ Antron Brown, three-time season winner Shawn Langdon, and veteran driver Doug Kalitta.

In Funny Car, 15-time world champ Force and his daughter Courtney will compete alongside points leader Matt Hagan, top title contenders Cruz Pedregon, and defending world champ Jack Beckman, among others.

In Pro Stock, four-time defending event winner Edwards will try to keep his streak going at this event, and with two victories and seven No. 1 qualifying positions this season at the controls of his Interstate Batteries/I Am Second Chevy Camaro, it appears he’s in great position to accomplish the feat. Local favorite Allen Johnson, the defending Pro Stock world champ who drives the Team Mopar Dodge Avenger, desperately wants to win a race at Thunder Valley in front of his family and friends. Along with Shane Gray, others to watch in Pro Stock include Erica Enders-Stevens, Greg Anderson, Jason Line, and Vincent Nobile.

As always, every ticket purchased for the Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals presented by Tri-Cities Area Ford Dealers is an exclusive pit pass, allowing spectators to see firsthand the highly skilled mechanics service their sophisticated hot rods between rounds. Fans can also meet many of the drivers in the pits and get autographs.

Fans also won’t want to miss the popular interactive NHRA Nitro Alley and the NHRA Manufacturers Midway. On Saturday evening following qualifying, a special Fan Fest will be held in Nitro Alley, where more than 25 of the top NHRA Mello Yello Series stars will be available to meet fans in one of the largest autograph sessions on the circuit.

Mello Yello Series qualifying begins Friday, June 14, with the first session at 5:30 p.m., followed by another session under the lights at 7:30 p.m. When 8,000-horsepower nitro machines blast off from the starting line with their header pipes full of flames during night qualifying, the scene provides one of the most sensory-filled experiences for any motorsports fan. A spectacular fireworks show is planned to finish Friday’s night racing.

The final two qualifying sessions will take place Saturday, June 15, at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. Final eliminations will begin at noon Sunday, June 16.

The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series also will be showcased during the event, featuring exciting side-by-side racing action at more than 250 mph.

To purchase tickets for the Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals presented by Tri-Cities Area Ford Dealers this Father’s Day weekend, call Bristol Dragway, 866-901-2679, or log on to www.thundervalleytix.com.

The 11th annual NHRA Motorsports Museum Holley National Hot Rod Reunion presented by AAA Insurance promises to provide its annual offering of vintage show cars and high-horsepower side-by-side nostalgia racing at Beech Bend Raceway Park in Bowling Green, Ky., June 13-15. Some of the finest classic cars and custom hot rods from across the country along with thrilling nostalgia drag racing will highlight this unique family-friendly and tradition-rich event.

The National Hot Rod Reunion kicks off Thursday, June 13, with Show 'n' Shine participants filling the historic facility with their immaculate showroom-conditioned machines. Judges will have the painstaking task of awarding the winners an exclusive SoffSeal award and a chance to display at the NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis during Labor Day weekend. Admirers of these incredible machines will have acres of polished chrome and detailed paint schemes to ogle during their time at the event.

The nostalgia racing action takes to the track Thursday as well with Hot Heads Eliminator qualifying and exhibition runs taking place during the day. The day concludes at the Holiday Inn University Plaza Hotel and Sloan Convention Center parking lot for the Heacock Classic Insurance Cruise In and Kick-off party. 

Friday features legends of drag racing with grand marshal Preston Davis and all the 2013 honorees at the Dynamat Legends tent for meet and greets. Davis has long been considered one of the Southeast’s best fuel racers from the 1960s and 1970s. When Raymond Godman switched to Top Fuel racing, he hired Davis to drive his Tennessee Bo Weevil. When Funny Cars took over match race bookings, they built a Bo Weevil Funny Car as well. He won two division Top Fuel championships and a division Funny Car championship and is a member of the Division 2 Hall of Fame.

Also honored during the event will be Alan Bockla, Lynwood Dupuy, Melvin Heath, Jon Lundberg, and Tom Prock. Bockla, the original king of the Rockies, won back-to-back West Central Division Top Fuel titles and was the first of the so-called mile-high drivers to run 170, 180, 190, and 200 mph. Dupuy is one of those rare officials beloved by drag racers coast to coast. Before computer technology evolved, Dupuy’s attention to detail found him keeping official records and figuring handicaps by hand. Heath built his fuel dragster in a shed on his Oklahoma watermelon farm, and in 1956, he was the first to win two NHRA Regional Championships in a single season. At 16, Lundberg stood on an oil drum and announced his first drag race using a megaphone. By 1962, he was announcing at three Michigan tracks. He expanded to national events in 1963, including the legendary March Meet in Bakersfield. Nicknamed the “Voice of Drag Racing” and “Thunderlungs,” he appeared at more than 120 dragstrips between 1964 and 1978. Prock has been involved in drag racing since the early 1960s. He began with gassers and in the early 1970s switched to Funny Cars before retiring from the wheel in 1979 to became crew chief for Tom “the Mongoose” McEwen. After six years, he left the road to work for Venolia Pistons.

The weekend concludes Saturday with a full day of action, including Hot Heads Nostalgia Drag Racing final eliminations, awards, honoree presentation, and SoffSeal and Street Rodder parade of champions. The grand finale will feature the crowning of the 2013 Reunion of Champions, jet car exhibition runs, and an NHRA-exclusive Cacklefest featuring nitro-fueled vintage dragsters.

• SCHEDULE: The event begins at 8 a.m. each day. Racing will begin at 10 a.m. Thursday, June 13, and 8:30 a.m. Friday, June 14; the pre-finals ceremony will start at 10:45 a.m. Saturday, June 15.

• TICKETS: Single-day tickets are only $25, a three-day credential is $65, and children 15 and younger will be admitted free when accompanied by a paid adult. For tickets, call NHRA, 800-884-6472, or log on to NHRATix.com.

Gonzalez was involved in an altercation with Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Matt Smith in Hector Arana Jr.’s pit area, which involved both profanity and physical abuse. Such action is inappropriate behavior and in violation of participant conduct as outlined in Section 1, page 3, Section 1.3.1, of the 2013 NHRA Rulebook. Gonzalez also is required to formally apologize to Smith for his unacceptable sportsmanship. Any further incidents will result in additional disciplinary action up to, and including, suspension of competition privileges.

The fine must be paid in full prior to Gonzalez being eligible to participate at any future NHRA events. The fine is appealable, as outlined in Section 1, pages 16-23, of the 2013 NHRA Rulebook.

Michael Ray’s Pro Stock Motorcycle victory at the Toyota NHRA Summernationals marked the 79th NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle win for Star Racing, the team’s first since 2008. It also marked the first victory for the Sovereign-Star Racing combination that was organized last season by Star Racing’s George Bryce and his Sovereign Racing partner Jenõ Rujp.

Ray joined the list of nine other professional racers who have claimed wins for Star Racing, including John Myers and Angelle Sampey, who won a combined six NHRA championships for the team.

“There are 78 of these Wally trophies at our shop, and they were getting lonely! We needed to bring home a new buddy for them,” Star Racing owner George Bryce said. “What really put this win into perspective for me was the fact that the last race we won was in 2008 at the [Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA] Finals in Pomona with the Chris Rivas Drag Specialties team. When we came back from our three-year sabbatical of not racing during 2009, 2010, and 2011, we didn’t realize it would take us 14 months to get back to the front of the pack.”

Ray won his first Wally at the 2012 AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals in Dallas, where he became the only non-Harley-Davidson driver to win a 2012 NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle national event and broke the Harley-Davidson/Vance & Hines Screamin’ Eagle team’s streak of 13 consecutive wins.

“Last year was such a roller coaster for the Sovereign-Star team to get everything going. So, to join them this year and to see that it’s all really starting to come together is awesome. Everyone at the Star Racing shop has just been working so hard, and it has all paid off,” Ray said.

In the final round of eliminations, Ray defeated Hector Arana Sr. on a holeshot with his quick .008-second reaction time. This huge lead at the start earned Ray the win as he pulled away at the finish line to post a 6.954 to 6.952 win.

Ray’s win also broke the three-race winning streak of Arana’s son Hector Jr., who has faced fellow Sovereign-Star Racing driver Scotty Pollacheck in the past two final rounds of competition in Charlotte and Houston.

“I’m just the jockey racing the horse. We won on a true team effort because we won on two holeshots and then just went really fast the next time. It was destiny for us to come out and win one of the biggest races of the year other than Indy,” Ray said.

Following his big win, Ray has moved up to No. 4 from the No. 8 spot in the overall NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series points standings. He is now only five points behind No. 3 Hector Sr. and six points from Pollacheck’s No. 2 position.

The Pro Stock Motorcycles will compete again June 21-23 at the Auto-Plus NHRA New England Nationals at New England Dragway in Epping.
 
 

The ground-pounding excitement of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series will reverberate throughout the hills of Northeastern Tennessee once again during the 13th annual Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals presented by Tri-Cities Area Ford Dealers, June 14-16, at Bristol Dragway. A Father’s Day weekend tradition, this event is the 10th of 24 races in the 2013 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season.

Top Fuel, Funny Car, and Pro Stock drivers will battle on the legendary dragstrip all weekend to earn the most coveted trophy in all of drag racing, the Wally. Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel), Ron Capps (Funny Car), and Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) are the defending winners of the event that will be televised on ESPN2HD.

Last season fans were captivated with the excitement on the track. In the Top Fuel final round, U.S. Army dragster driver Schumacher ended a 32-race winless drought when he defeated longtime rival Doug Kalitta, and his teammate, Capps, outran rookie Alexis DeJoria to take the Funny Car victory. In Pro Stock, Edwards claimed his fourth consecutive Bristol Dragway win over hometown favorite Allen Johnson in the closest side-by-side final-round finish of the season.

Tony Schumacher

Mike Edwards

Just like last year, this season has not been short of drama or emotional wins. In Top Fuel, seven-time world champion Schumacher has two victories and two runner-up finishes. The U.S. Army dragster driver is eager to get to the famed Bristol track where he’s celebrated five times in the winner’s circle. He will be challenged by defending world champ Antron Brown, track speed record holder Spencer Massey, and recent Toyota NHRA Summernationals champ Shawn Langdon, among others.

Toyota NHRA Summernationals winner and new points leader Matt Hagan is looking for his first victory at the storied race track and has already managed to collect two wins this season. Defending event winner Capps will try to grab his fourth event win at Bristol, and defending world champ Jack Beckman is aiming for his first Thunder Valley victory. Others to watch in the 8,000-horsepower category include Winternationals winner Courtney Force, former world champ Cruz Pedregon, and 15-time world champ John Force, a three-time Bristol winner.

Four-time Bristol winner Edwards currently leads the Pro Stock points order, but trailing close behind is Greeneville, Tenn., native and defending world champion Johnson, who desperately wants to win his hometown event. Jeg Coughlin Jr. and Jason Line, who have both earned victories at Bristol during their careers, are looking to heat things up at the popular summertime event. Erica Enders-Stevens, Vincent Nobile, V. Gaines, and Shane Gray are all among the top challengers in the 200-mph factory hot rod division.

As always, every ticket purchased for the Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals is an exclusive pit pass, allowing spectators to see firsthand the highly skilled mechanics service their sophisticated hot rods between rounds. Fans can also meet many of the drivers in the pits and get autographs.

Fans also won’t want to miss the popular interactive NHRA Nitro Alley and the NHRA Manufacturers Midway. On Saturday evening following qualifying, a special Fan Fest will be held in Nitro Alley, where more than 25 of the top NHRA Mello Yello Series stars will be available to meet fans in one of the largest autograph sessions on the circuit.

Mello Yello Series qualifying begins on Friday, June 14, with the first session at 5:30 p.m., followed by another session under the lights at 7:30 p.m. When 8,000-horsepower nitro machines blast off from the starting line with their header pipes full of flames during night qualifying, the scene provides one of the most sensory-filled experiences for any race motorsports fan. A spectacular fireworks show is planned to finish off Friday’s night racing.

The final two qualifying sessions will take place Saturday, June 15, at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. Final eliminations begin at noon on Sunday, June 16.

The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series also will be showcased during the event, featuring exciting side-by-side racing action at more than 250 mph.

To purchase tickets for the Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals this Father’s Day weekend, please call Bristol Dragway at 866-415-4158 or visit www.thundervalleytix.com.  For more information about NHRA, please visit www.NHRA.com.
 

Shawn Langdon raced to his third Top Fuel victory of the season Sunday at the Toyota NHRA Summernationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.

Matt Hagan (Funny Car), Mike Edwards (Pro Stock), and Michael Ray (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also were winners at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event.

Langdon powered his Al-Anabi Racing dragster to his first Englishtown win with a performance of 3.853 seconds at 316.38 mph to hold off his Al-Anabi Racing teammate Khalid alBalooshi, who ran a 3.869 at 297.29 mph in the final round. This was the first time the two Al-Anabi drivers raced in the final round. With the victory, Langdon takes the points lead away from U.S. Army dragster driver Tony Schumacher.

Shawn Langdon

Matt Hagan

Mike Edwards

Michael Ray

“From the first round to the final, we’ve made some really strong runs,” said Langdon of his second consecutive victory. “The run wasn’t quite as fast as we were wanting it to be. But  the first Al-Anabi Racing team final between alBalooshi and me is a great way to end it.”
                                                                  
Hagan claimed his second Funny Car win of the season and seventh of his career by defeating reigning Mello Yello world champion and Don Schumacher Racing teammate Jack Beckman in the final round.

“To come back and be this strong, thrown together at the last minute, really blows me away,” Hagan said. “Even though we’re teammates out there, you still get to poke them in the chest and get bragging rights. It was such a huge round and felt like someone handed me the ball and we made a slam dunk. We’re still learning each other, and it doesn’t quite feel like an old hat, but we’re breaking her in.”

Hagan powered his Magneti Marelli/Rocky Footwear Dodge Charger to a performance of 4.112 seconds at 308.00 mph to hold off Beckman’s 4.182 second pass at 303.98 mph in his Valvoline/MTS Dodge Charger. With the win, his first in Englishtown, Hagan takes over the series points lead from DSR teammate Johnny Gray.
 
In Pro Stock, Edwards powered his Interstate Batteries/I Am Second Chevy Camaro to his third victory of the season by defeating defending world champion Allen Johnson.

“The whole weekend was phenomenal,” said Edwards of his second career win in Englishtown. “I think we’ve saved the best for last. Hats off to all my guys. It feels good to run good and win. Hopefully, we just keep it up.”

Edwards covered the distance in 6.589 seconds at 210.21 mph to defeat Johnson’s Team Mopar Dodge Avenger, which ran a 6.641 at 209.95 in the final round. With the victory, his 37th of his career, Edwards retains the series points lead.

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Ray claimed his first NHRA national event win of the season and second of his career on his Team Soverign/Star Racing Buell with a holeshot victory over Lucas Oil Buell rider Hector Arana Sr. Ray’s performance of 6.954 seconds at 193.49 mph defeated Arana’s 6.952 at 191.02 mph in the final round.

“To me the biggest thing to win was to get the [George Bryce] team back to the winner’s circle since 2008,” Ray said. “This is a dream come true. It’s a true statement to how we’re going to run in the coming months. We’re trying to get that Mello Yello championship.”

With the victory, Ray moves up to fourth in the points.
 
The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series continues June 14-16 with the Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol (Tenn.) Dragway.
 

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Friday: Millican, Hagan, Edwards, Johnson lead Friday Englishtown fields
Saturday: Millican's first No. 1 highlights Englishtown qualifying

 

Top Fuel driver Clay Millican raced to his first career No. 1 qualifying position Saturday at the Toyota NHRA Summernationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.

Matt Hagan (Funny Car), Mike Edwards (Pro Stock), and Steve Johnson (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also will lead their respective categories into Sunday’s 11 a.m. eliminations as No. 1 qualifiers at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event.

The Parts Plus Top Fuel team ran low e.t. of the event during Friday evening’s qualifying session, and the 3.792-second pass at 321.27 mph held up as the No. 1 qualifying position throughout Saturday’s two sessions, which were ran under warm weather conditions. It is Millican’s first No. 1 qualifying position in his 156-race career. Now the veteran driver will try to earn his first career victory. He has raced to five career final rounds but has yet to earn a win. His latest runner-up finish came earlier this season in Gainesville.

Clay Millican

Matt Hagan

Mike Edwards

Steve Johnson

“The No. 1 qualifying spot is incredible,” said Millican, who will race Brandon Bernstein in the opening round. “The credit goes to a combination of people that helped make this happen. The heat here I was not too worried about it. I’m so proud of this whole team. It’s really cool, but anyone can win it doesn’t matter where you qualify. Tomorrow, we got to do it one run at a time. I’m certainly going to do my best.”

No one in Funny Car was able to better Hagan’s Friday pass of 4.050 seconds at 315.64 mph. The Magneti Marelli/Rocky Footwear Dodge Charger will start from the No. 1 position for the second time this season and 12th time of his career. The 2011 world champ has yet to win in Englishtown, and he will face fellow Virginian Blake Alexander in round one.

“I’m just tickled to death that we’re sitting No. 1,” Hagan said. “Sometimes, it’s a curse to be No. 1. We’ve got to treat everyone with respect and just make sure we don’t underestimate anybody. We have to be cautious of what we’re doing. I’m super proud of my boys. They deserve a pat on the back for putting a No. 1 on the board this weekend.”

Del Worsham was second in his DHL Toyota Camry and will race Paul Lee in the opening round, and defending world champion Jack Beckman qualified third in his Valvoline/MTS Dodge Charger and will meet rookie Chad Head in the first round.

In Pro Stock, series points leader Edwards secured the No. 1 spot; no one was able to outrun the Interstate Batteries/I Am Second Chevy Camaro’s Friday evening performance of 6.545 seconds at 211.36 mph.

“It’s hot, but I like it hot,” Edwards said. “These conditions are not normal for Englishtown. But it makes it challenging when it’s hot. We hope we have all of our pieces in order to hit the Western Swing, and I think we are up to the task. We’ve been fortunate to get the top spot in eight races. I’m going to try to ride this wave as long as I can.” 

This is Edward's eighth No. 1 of the season and 49th of his career. He has one win in Englishtown (2010) and two runner-up finishes (2009, 1998). Edwards will race former Stock national champion Lee Zane in the first round.

Shane Gray powered his Gray Motorsports Chevy Camaro to the No. 2 qualifying position and will meet Mark Martino, and Erica Enders-Stevens took the third spot in her Black iGuana Chevy Camaro and will face Frank Gugliotta in the opening round. In one of the most interesting first-round pairings in Pro Stock, defending event champ Greg Anderson will take on his Summit Racing Chevy Camaro teammate Jason Line.

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, veteran rider Johnson claimed his first No. 1 qualifying position in three years and the third of his career with his Friday run of 6.931 seconds at 192.22 mph on his Steve Johnson Racing Suzuki.

“It’s nice to qualify No. 1,” said Johnson, the 2010 runner-up at this event who has five career victories in his 27-year career. “When we come to race, we look at the conditions and get an idea of where we’ve run good and apply all that. The rules did make it more competitive. But at the end of the day, it’s all good. To come to the Toyota NHRA Summernationals in Englishtown and be No. 1 qualifier and have the chance to win a race, it’s all good.”

Johnson will face No. 16 qualifier Shawn Gann in the opening round of eliminations, and second qualifier Hector Arana Jr. will face his father, Hector Arana Sr. Defending event winner and Englishtown native Eddie Krawiec will face Sreamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson teammate Andrew Hines in the opening round.

Defending Toyota NHRA Summernationals Pro Mod winner Troy Coughlin was among the drivers who earned victories in the first round of eliminations.

Coughlin powered his JEGS.com Corvette to a performance of 6.083 seconds at 242.98 mph to defeat Harold Martin in the first round of the NHRA Pro Mod Series portion of the event.

Other first round winners included Mike Janis, Pete Farber, points leader Kenny Lang, Chip King, Rickie Smith and local favorite Mike Castellana.

Event No. 1 qualifier Danny Rowe returned to Southern California late Friday to attend his youngest daughter’s high school graduation and was eliminated when he did not take the tree in the first round.

Second round pairings for Sunday’s continuation of NHRA Pro Mod Series eliminations (approximately 2:30 p.m.) include Lang vs. King, Coughlin vs. Castellana, Farber vs. Smith and Janis gets a first round bye.


Related story
Friday: Millican, Hagan, Edwards, Johnson lead Friday Englishtown fields
 

Veteran Top Fuel driver Clay Millican raced to the qualifying lead Friday at the Toyota NHRA Summernationals at historic Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.

Matt Hagan (Funny Car), Mike Edwards (Pro Stock), and Steve Johnson (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also were qualifying leaders at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event.

Millican powered his Parts Plus dragster to a leading performance of 3.792 seconds at 321.27 mph during the second of two qualifying sessions. If the effort stands, it will be Millican’s first No. 1 qualifying position in his 155-race career.

Clay Millican

Matt Hagan

Mike Edwards

Steve Johnson

“We hope this is just the initial start of good things to come,” Millican said. “We’ve had a great season, and our car has run well everywhere we’ve run. It was a huge deal for me to keep the car nice and straight. What a great run. Some of our best numbers ever.”

Khalid alBalooshi was second in his Al-Anabi Racing dragster with a 3.770 at 324.98, and series points leader Tony Schumacher was third in his U.S. Army dragster, posting a 3.777 at 317.34. New Jersey native and defending world champion Antron Brown was 12th in his Matco Tools dragster, posting a 3.888 at 302.62.

The 2011 Mello Yello Funny Car world champion Hagan made the quickest run on Friday’s second qualifying session with a performance of 4.050 at 315.64 in his Magneti Marelli/Rocky Footwear Dodge Charger. If the effort holds, this would be Hagan’s second No. 1 qualifying position of the season, first in Englishtown and the 12th of his career.

“It’s all about setting up on Friday, and we got to make a good run,” Hagan said. “[Crew chief] Dickie Venables has been knocking it out of the park. He’s been giving me a car that stays lit and is easy to drive, so all I really have to think about is my reaction time. He’s been a real leader for our team. He hasn’t had a real fair shake for the last couple years, and he’s impressed me with how motivated he is and how much he cares for this job.”

Del Worsham, a two-time Englishtown winner, was second with a 4.074 at 312.78 in his DHL Toyota Camry, and defending world champion Jack Beckman was third in his Valvoline/MTS Dodge Charger with a 4.074 at 308.35.

In Pro Stock, series points leader Edwards continues to lead in the category by posting a leading performance of 6.545 at 210.73 in his Interstate Batteries/I Am Second Chevy Camaro.

"We made two really nice runs, and once again my guys have done a tremendous job," Edwards said. "It's been an awesome season for us, and hopefully we can get better."

If Edwards’ time stands, it will be his eighth No. 1 qualifying position of the season, 49th of his career, and second in Englishtown.

Shane Gray was second in his Gray Motorsports Chevy Camaro with a 6.564 at 210.41, and Erica Enders-Stevens was third in her Black iGuana-backed Chevrolet Camaro with a 6.569 at 210.50. New York native Vincent Nobile was seventh in his Mountain View Tire Dodge Avenger, posting a 6.595 at 210.37, and defending world champion Allen Johnson was sixth with a 6.590 at 211.06 in his Team Mopar Dodge Avenger.

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Johnson raced to the qualifying lead aboard his Steve Johnson Racing Suzuki with a 6.931 at 192.22. He has not posted a No. 1 qualifying position since the Norwalk event in 2010, and if his time stays, it would be his third No. 1 qualifying position of his career.

“I don’t know if it will hold up, but it will be cool as heck if it does,” Johnson said. "There is so much attention on our series right now and so much publicity. We’re going to Epping in a couple of weeks for the inaugural race there, and this is a good tune-up for that. We have a new engine, and it was good to see what we can do in this kind of weather. The track was really hot, and we have not run on anything like that yet. We experimented a little on that second run, and that’s why it was a little slow."

Points leader Hector Arana Jr. made the quickest run in the second session of Friday’s qualifying on his Lucas Oil Buell with a 6.933 at 192.88, moving him to the second spot, and Michael Ray holds on to the third position on his Soverign-Star Racing Buell with a 6.943 at 192.60.

The final two qualifying sessions are Saturday at noon and 2:15 p.m. Sunday’s eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m.

Danny Rowe raced to the qualifying lead Friday in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series portion of the event.

Rowe, a two-time and defending Englishtown event winner, led the field with a top performance of 5.926 seconds at 247.57 mph in his supercharged Agave Underground Tequila ’68 Camaro. If his time stands, this would be his second No.1 qualifying position of the season and fifth of his career.

New York native Mike Castellana was second in his Al-Anabi Racing ’68 Camaro with a 5.935 at 244.03, and veteran driver Rickie Smith was third in his nitrous-powered late-model IDG Chevy Camaro, posting a 5.964 at 243.11.

Series points leader Kenny Lang qualified fifth in his Summit Racing ’63 Corvette with a 6.042 at 241.63, and Von Smith, who is second in the points standings, qualified fourth with a 6.022 at 241.24 in his Dr. Moon’s Rage ’68 Camaro. Defending event winner and world champ Troy Coughlin was 10th in his JEGS.com Corvette with a 6.231 at 236.59.

Saturday’s final Pro Mod qualifying session is scheduled for 1:45 p.m., followed by the first round of eliminations at 4 p.m. Pro Mod Series eliminations will continue Sunday at  2:30 p.m.

Defending NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series world champion Troy Coughlin enters the Toyota NHRA Summernationals, May 30-June 2, with much confidence since scoring his first season win in Charlotte in mid-April. The Delaware, Ohio, native was runner-up last season at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park and hopes to elevate his effort one notch this time around.

At the Dollar General NHRA Four-Wide Nationals fueled by Full Throttle, Coughlin powered his JEGS.com ’68 Corvette to his third victory, this time defeating Kenny Lang in the final round. This early-season win boosted the confidence of Coughlin and his crew to defend their Pro Mod crown.

“Lots of confidence, from last year and this year,” Coughlin said. “We finished the season strong and won the championship. We went to Gainesville and had a couple hiccups, but we figured out what those were and went to Charlotte and did well. We had a fast, consistent race car in Charlotte, so as we head to Englishtown, it definitely builds a whole bunch of confidence in me as a driver, knowing I’ve got the team and the car behind me 100 percent.”

Coughlin will have a tough time protecting his championship crown from the pool of tough contenders in the popular 250-mph doorslammer touring series. Last season, veteran driver Danny Rowe took the event win against Coughlin after he fouled with a red-light start in the money round in Englishtown.

“Danny is pretty strong,” Coughlin said. “He’s very committed as a racer and very committed as a spokesperson for the class and NHRA and very committed to trying to help this sport continue to grow. As a racer, he’s got one of the better teams out here, and he’s a good driver. That Sunday in Englishtown last season, our car seemed like it was starting to come around, and the team was jelling together stronger and stronger. I think we could’ve given him a run for his money. He’ll be there in the thick of things in Englishtown. All we can do is keep working hard and try to stay competitive.”

Coughlin enters the Toyota NHRA Summernationals in the No. 4 position in the points, and the focus of the team is to continue racing each round as hard as it can.

“I’m a believer in momentum,” Coughlin said. “I’m a believer in trying to make sure you cross your t’s and dot your i’s and learn from your mistakes and capitalize on all the good. That’s what we’re doing right now, and hopefully, we can continue to go to be strong.”

Defending Englishtown winner Rowe, current points leader Lang, and 2010 Pro Mod world champion Von Smith are some of the elite drivers who will take to the famed Englishtown track in their high-horsepower Pro Mod machines in search of victory this weekend.

Featuring the world’s fastest and most unique doorslammer cars with an extremely diverse collection of vehicles, including ’63 Corvettes, ’68 Camaros, ’67 Mustangs, and ’68 Firebirds as well as late-model cars, the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series offers something for every kind of hot rodding enthusiast.

• SCHEDULE: NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series qualifying sessions are scheduled for 3:30 and 5:45 p.m. May 31 and at 1:45 p.m. June 1. The first round of Pro Mod eliminations begins June 1 at 4 p.m. Pro Mod eliminations continue June 2.

• TICKETS: For tickets for the Toyota NHRA Summernationals, call 732-446-7800 or log on to www.racewaypark.com.

• ON THE WEB: Get live timing, scoring, multimedia, and the latest news updates from every NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series at NHRA.com. Visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter.

ProtectTheHarvest.com/MavTV Top Fuel driver Brandon Bernstein will undergo a procedure to repair a herniated disc in his back following this weekend's Toyota NHRA Summernationals and will miss the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series events in Bristol and Epping Morgan Lucas Racing announced Thursday.
 
Bernstein, who will race in Englishtown, will be replaced in the ProtectTheHarvest.com/MavTV dragster by six-time national event winner J.R. Todd.
 
"It's a real bummer to have Brandon sit out for a couple of races," Morgan Lucas Racing team owner Morgan Lucas said. "But first and foremost is his health, and his long-term health is the biggest priority to us as a team. We see everyone on our team as family, and Brandon is a key element to the family. We want to preserve his health and make sure he is capable of staying healthy for himself and his family."
 
Bernstein has been bothered by the herniated disc since the race in Atlanta, where he posted a runner-up finish. He will have an outpatient procedure performed by noted orthopedic surgeon Dr. Terry Trammell of Indianapolis sometime next week.
 
"The bottom line is when my doctors told me my right foot could completely go numb and I could not have any feeling in my foot ever, that was when a red flag was raised: 'OK, I've got to do this now,' " Bernstein said. "Honestly, I would love to drive the rest of the season like this because I can deal with the pain, but when they told me that about my foot, I thought, 'That's not just my career; that's my quality of life.'
 
"Morgan told me, 'You've got to do whatever is needed to get healthy because you've got a family.' I thought the same thing."
 
Bernstein currently sits seventh in the Top Fuel points standings and hopes to return to the race car in time for the Countdown to the Championship.
 
"It's a tough deal for me," Bernstein said. "It was a hard decision because I really feel my team is everything to me, and I let them down because of this. It's unfortunate it happened, but we've got to get it done now. Hopefully, two races don't kill us for the Countdown, and we'll be good to go."
 
Bernstein will have a final consultation with Trammell on Monday, when the decision on the date of the procedure will be made.
 
An arthroscopic incision will be made in Bernstein's back and a portion of the herniated disc will be removed. Doctors want the disc to scar over so there is no more herniation, and that recovery process usually takes three weeks.
 
"I'll be able to walk out of the facility that night and stay in my own bed," Bernstein said. "It's a pretty minimally invasive procedure, and that's why it's only three weeks of recovery."
 
Lucas and Bernstein are close friends with Todd, who is happy to fill in while Bernstein recovers.
 
"It's kind of bittersweet," Todd said. "I hate that Brandon has to miss some races because of that, but in the long run, he'll be better off. I felt honored that Morgan and Brandon called me up and I was the guy to fulfill the job. Hopefully I can live up to the expectations.
 
"That car is more than capable of winning every race it goes to. Once they called and asked me, I didn't have to think twice about climbing in there and driving it. I'm looking forward to working with [crew chief] Joe Barlam and the team. It should be a fun couple of races."
 
Putting Todd in the car was an easy decision Lucas said.
 
"Knowing how close Brandon and J.R. are as friends and how close J.R. and I are as friends, it seemed like a no-brainer," Lucas said. "He can just slide in and fit with the team. It's very gracious of Bob Vandergriff [Jr.] to allow J.R. to come over and do us a favor and help us out with this situation.
 
"It's a big deal to us to continue to keep the ProtectTheHarvest.com/MavTV brand at the racetrack and continue to promote something that is near and dear to the Lucas Oil brand. We want to make sure the team is out there performing and getting laps to continue to defend the points situation so it won't take the team out of the championship race."
 
Bernstein agreed.
 
"J.R. is an excellent driver, and he'll fit in great with the guys," Bernstein said. "It's going to be a perfect fit. We're the same size and everything. He's the man. It's going to be pretty cool because Morgan and J.R. and I are great friends, and it's like your best buddy is taking your seat for a couple of races, and we'll go from there."
 
Bernstein's goal is to return to the car for the O'Reilly Auto Parts Route 66 NHRA Nationals on June 27-30 at Route 66 Raceway in Chicago.

Reigning Pro Stock Motorcycle world champion Eddie Krawiec has had boundless success in his decade of racing in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. But it was his first win at his hometown track, Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, last season that put the icing on the cake for the three-time NHRA world champion.

“To finally win at Englishtown was a huge pressure off my back,” Krawiec said. “Back in 2009, I made it to the final there against Craig Treble, and I played it a little too safe on the Tree. I came up [with a reaction time of .061], and Treble came up [.007] and ended up taking the win by just a few [thousandths of a second]. That killed me because it would have been my first career win, and to have happened at my home track would have been huge. I thought maybe I let that win get away from me, but luckily enough in 2012, I had an awesome motorcycle going into the race. Qualifying went killer for me, and I pretty much had my way in eliminations. Hector [Arana] Sr. went red to me in the final, and I took the win. I told people, ‘Now that I’ve sealed the deal here, I can move forward in my career.’ Even to this day, it puts a smile on my face.”

Krawiec will try to claim his second win at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park May 30-June 2 at the 44th annual Toyota NHRA Summernationals. Along with Krawiec, Steve Torrence (Top Fuel), Johnny Gray (Funny Car), and Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) will be looking to defend their 2012 victories at the Toyota NHRA Summernationals, which will be televised nationally on ESPN2HD.

The Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson rider’s history with the famed track begins well before he started taking home coveted Wallys and championship titles. Krawiec grew up in Englishtown and was the track manager at Raceway Park before beginning his professional racing career as a Pro Stock Motorcycle rider in 2004.

“It’s my old stomping ground, I guess you’d say,” Krawiec said of the legendary track. “My first pass down the track was in a street car. I think I went 14.12. That was my first-ever run down the quarter-mile, and ever since that day, it’s been full steam ahead and trying to go as fast as I can every single lap.”

This season, Krawiec finds himself tied for the fourth spot with Arana in the points standings, with his best effort being a runner-up finish in Charlotte. He remains confident going into familiar turf this weekend.
 
“I’m confident we’ve got a great team behind us, great support from Harley-Davidson and Vance & Hines and all the other suppliers and vendors that help us,” said Krawiec, who holds both ends of the Pro Stock Motorcycle track record at Raceway Park (6.782, 197.48). “Being my home track, I have a lot of friends and family [there]. I have a lot of history at that track as a racer, I used to be employed there, and it goes back to when I grew up. I’m looking forward to heading home.”

Krawiec has faced new season challenges, but the Englishtown fan favorite is focused on continuing to ride like a champ.

“The way I look at it is I just need to continue to ride well, and as long as I’m riding well and we continue to make improvements on our end, it’ll continue to get better,” the 2012 Mello Yello Pro Stock Motorcycle world champion said. “Coming into the season, we had a whole new combination, and I knew there were going to be some challenges. We’ll start to turn our program around in the coming races. The key is we need to be in the top 10 coming out of Indy to have a shot for those final six [Countdown to the Championship] races.”

The Pro Stock Motorcycle season has been dominated by Hector Arana Jr., who has raced to three victories aboard his Lucas Oil Buell, but the Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson tandem of Krawiec and three-time world champ Andrew Hines are eager to put an end to that streak. Surging Scotty Pollacheck, veteran Suzuki rider Steve Johnson, Arana Sr., and John Hall are among the top contenders for the NHRA Wally in the two-wheel category at the event. 

Top Fuel will feature intense racing action, with Chesterfield, N.J., native and defending world champ Antron Brown vying for his first Top Fuel victory at the track to supplement his two Pro Stock Motorcycle wins there. Tony Schumacher, Spencer Massey, Doug Kalitta, two-time season winner Shawn Langdon, and Brandon Bernstein will also be looking for wins at the tradition-rich event.

In Funny Car, defending event winner Gray and Cruz Pedregon are the early leading championship contenders after claiming multiple wins. Matt Hagan is showing renewed success, and defending world champ Jack Beckman, Robert Hight, and Courtney Force will try to add their names to the NHRA record book as Englishtown winners. Four-time E-town winner John Force, 2006 winner Ron Capps, two-time winner Del Worsham, and 2008 winner Tim Wilkerson will all be working to get another victory at the legendary track.

Pro Stock is again proving to be one of the toughest categories in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, with winners and losers separated by only hundredths of a second during many of the eliminations rounds. Mike Edwards has the points lead on the strength of two wins, but Jeg Coughlin Jr. and Allen Johnson are breathing down his neck in second and third. Jason Line, Erica Enders-Stevens, and defending event winner Anderson, who has the most Pro Stock wins at the track (five), also will be competing for the coveted NHRA Wally Sunday.

As always, fans will have the opportunity to interact with their favorite drivers because every ticket is an exclusive pit pass, allowing them to see firsthand the highly skilled mechanics service their hot rods between rounds. While visiting the pits, fans won’t want to miss the interactive NHRA Nitro Alley and the NHRA Manufacturers Midway, two popular areas.

The race also will feature exciting side-by-side racing action in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.

• SCHEDULE: NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying sessions are scheduled for 4 and 6:15 p.m. Friday, May 31, and will continue Saturday, June 1, at noon and 2:15 p.m. Final eliminations will begin at 11 a.m. Sunday, June 2.

• TICKETS: For tickets, call Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, 732-446-7800, or log on to www.racewaypark.com.

• TELEVISION: ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise one hour of qualifying coverage at 5 p.m. ET Saturday, June 1, and two hours and 30 minutes of eliminations coverage at 4:30 p.m. ET Sunday, June 2.

Eco-Absorb will again take the spotlight with overall graphics on the Jim Dunn Racing Dodge Funny Car, at the 2013 Toyota NHRA Summernationals, and will be the title sponsor at the O’Reilly Auto Parts Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by Super Start Batteries in Chicago and the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Norwalk.

The team’s primary sponsor for the season, Grime Boss Heavy Duty Wipes, will be in an associate role in Englishtown.

“Working with Jim Dunn Racing has been a phenomenal experience,” said Michael Shannon, founder and CEO of Eco-Absorb. “The team has shown incredible support of our company and our products. NHRA racing has moved us forward by giving us recognition in the automotive industry as well as exposing us to the general public. We believe our partnership with Jim Dunn Racing has brought a greater environmental awareness to the team as well as the fans. We enjoy the races, the warm welcomes from the team, and the overall excitement of the NHRA experience. We look forward to developing our relationship and continuing to work as a team.”

“Jim Dunn Racing is looking forward to bringing the special-edition Eco-Absorb/Grime Boss Funny Car to the East Coast,” said team manager Jon Dunn. “We’ll also be running a special decal this weekend in Englishtown to help Jim Dunn Racing supporter John Odom of Murray Co. Odom was severely injured in the Boston Marathon bombing and continues his long road to recovery.”

Eco-Absorb, a lightweight, environmentally friendly, 100 percent all-natural spill-cleanup product, was the title sponsor on the Jim Dunn Dodge Funny Car in April at the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals in Las Vegas. Eco-Absorb is an annual associate sponsor of the team and takes a more active role in certain markets, such as the Northeast.

Lee Zane, a former NHRA Stock eliminator national champion, will debut his MZ Motorsports Pro Stock team at the 44th annual Toyota NHRA Summernationals at historic Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown.

Zane formed a partnership with Kevin and Mary McHugh in 2012 and began hammering out the details of making their collective vision a reality. Aiming for a limited run in 2013 in preparation for a strong future in the extremely competitive Pro Stock category, the team will make its debut at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, a racetrack where Zane grew up and grew into a life as a race car driver.

"It's really special to make our debut at Englishtown," said Zane, a resident of nearby Perry Hall, Md. "I was probably 2 years old the first time I went to a race there, and last year at Englishtown is when we picked up our Pro Stock car. It's been a solid year that we've been preparing it and getting ready for this moment, and we're all really excited.
 
"Really, we just want to go out and lay down four decent runs during qualifying. If we can do that, I think we'll be OK. Tom Martino and Bob Benza are giving us as much power as they have in their arsenal with MB Race Engines, and I truly believe that the power along with the knowledge that they have [in this class] will help us reach our goal of being able to play on Sunday. We definitely aren't cocky, but maybe we'll be able to turn some heads."
 
Zane has more on his side than a good engine program; his Pontiac GXP is a car previously owned by Pro Stock legend Warren Johnson and driven in competition by Johnson's son, Kurt Johnson. Recent test sessions have provided a surge of confidence for Zane and the team, including crew chief and brother-in-law Brian Van Poppel. In the past several weeks, MZ Motorsports tested its car at three racetracks in the New England area with pleasing results.
 
"We got our feet wet and had a chance to work out any bugs, plus it gave me the opportunity to bring myself back up to speed," said Zane, who has nine national event wins in the Sportsman series and made his Pro Stock debut in 2008 with the help of friend and fellow competitor John Gaydosh but has not had the opportunity to compete in the category since. Zane's most recent participation at a national event was last fall at the event at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading in Van Poppel's Super Stocker.
 
"After our most recent test session, I’m not as nervous as I thought I would be," said Zane. "Come Friday at 4 p.m., I might have a little bit of a leg shake going on, but we're all feeling pretty good about things right now. We're very, very pleased with how testing went, and we've already learned a lot. Now we just have to put what we've learned into play."
 
Racing at home means a full house of supporters, including Zane's wife, Lisa; Van Poppel's wife, Kati; and her father, Don Kennedy; Kevin and Mary McHugh and family; and many other family members and friends.
 
"Even being able to enter a race in Pro Stock means something, but to be able to do it at Englishtown just means that much more," said Zane. "There could be a lot of distractions with family and friends being there, sure, but I wouldn't want to do this anywhere else. We were hoping to start earlier this year, but this was the right thing to do – we've had more time to get everything ready, and being our home track, this is going to be really exciting. We have a lot of support from family and friends, but also from all of the Sportsman racers that I've raced with through the years. They're all behind us on this deal, and it means so much to us that they've been so supportive and have been wishing us the best.
 
"We've had a whole winter and spring of preparation, and, really, years of preparing for this moment. Brian and I worked really hard over the winter; we've had the assistance of Martino and Benza, and everybody on the crew is really dedicated to this. I feel comfortable in the car, and I have confidence in every one of the guys. We didn't push to make this happen – we decided that we would go when we were ready. I believe now is the time."
 
Zane and MZ Motorsports make their debut with the support of Coppermine Applicators, Maryland Performance Specialties, Philadelphia Race Products, K&N, and JRI.

Growing up in nearby Chesterfield, N.J., Antron Brown would go to Old Bridge Township Raceway Park with his dad to watch some drag racing, and he always knew that one day, he would be there racing his own high-performance machines.

His dream came true in 1998 aboard a powerful 190-mph Suzuki when he competed in NHRA’s Pro Stock Motorcycle category. Brown raced to emotional victories at Raceway Park in the two-wheel category, claiming titles in 2002 and 2005.

As his driving career has transitioned to the sport’s most powerful vehicle – the 8,000-horsepower Top Fuel dragster – Brown remains that kid at heart every time he returns to his home track. The only thing that would make his visit more enjoyable this time would be to grab a Top Fuel victory at the tradition-rich event.

Brown will certainly be one of the favorites to win the Toyota NHRA Summernationals, May 30-June 2 at Raceway Park. Steve Torrence (Top Fuel), Johnny Gray (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock), and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are the defending winners of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event, which will be televised nationally on ESPN2HD.

Brown, who earned the NHRA Top Fuel world championship last season and in the process became the first African-American to win a major auto racing championship in the United States, has emerged as one of the biggest stars in the world of NHRA racing. He has two victories this season as he works to defend his championship title.

He is focused and determined to make his hometown race the site of a third season victory.

“I’ve never won in Top Fuel at Englishtown,” Brown said. “That would be an awesome feeling to take home that Wally from Raceway Park with all my family and friends there to celebrate.”

He says there is a magical quality to Raceway Park, the multipurpose motorsports facility that has hosted NHRA national events since 1971.

“There is so much drag racing history at that place,” Brown said. “When you consider all of the records that have been set there over the years, the great night racing, and it was the place where you could always go out and see all of the greats in the sport. Today, I am that same kid at heart heading out to Raceway Park with the same love and passion for the sport.”

Brown scored his most recent victory in Atlanta. However, that win is sandwiched between two uncharacteristic first-round losses, in Houston and Topeka.

“It looks like we have an electrical problem right now,” Brown said. “We just have to figure out where and what. The motor parts looked fine, but it just wasn’t hitting on all cylinders [in Topeka], so we have to go back and find out what happened. We’re going to replace some things on the car like the ignition wires and make it all brand-new for Englishtown.”

U.S. Army dragster driver Tony Schumacher leads the points standings, and the circuit’s most recent winner, Shawn Langdon, has been hitting his stride in the Al-Anabi Racing dragster. In addition to those two, Brown has many other top challengers in the category, including Brandon Bernstein, Doug Kalitta, Spencer Massey, Morgan Lucas, Bob Vandergriff Jr., and Clay Millican to name a few.

At this point in the regular season, Brown is comfortably confident in his third-place position.

“You want to win every race and always be No. 1, but that only really matters after the last race at Pomona in November,” Brown has said. “If you settle down, focus, relax, and quit worrying about it, it comes to you.”

In Funny Car, Gray and Cruz Pedregon are the early leading championship contenders, with each claiming multiple wins. Matt Hagan is showing renewed success, and defending world champ Jack Beckman, Robert Hight, and Courtney Force will try to add their names to the NHRA history book as Englishtown winners. Four-time E-town winner John Force, 2006 winner Ron Capps, two-time winner Del Worsham, and 2008 winner Tim Wilkerson will be working to get another victory at the legendary track.

Pro Stock is again proving to be one of the toughest categories in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, with winners and losers separated by only hundredths of a second during many of the eliminations rounds. Mike Edwards has the points lead on the strength of two wins, with Jeg Coughlin Jr. and Allen Johnson breathing down his neck in second and third. Jason Line, Erica Enders-Stevens, and Anderson, who has the most Pro Stock wins at the track with five, will be competing for the coveted NHRA Wally Sunday as well.

Hector Arana Jr. has dominated the Pro Stock Motorcycle season on his Lucas Oil Buell, but the Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson tandem of Andrew Hines and Krawiec will be looking to put an end to that streak. Surging Scotty Pollacheck, Suzuki rider Steve Johnson, Hector Arana Sr., and John Hall are also among the top contenders for the NHRA Wally in the two-wheel category at the event.
 
As always, fans will have the opportunity to interact with their favorite drivers because every ticket is an exclusive pit pass, allowing them to see firsthand the highly skilled mechanics service their hot rods between rounds. While visiting the pits, fans won’t want to miss the popular interactive NHRA Nitro Alley and the NHRA Manufacturers Midway.

The race also will feature exciting side-by-side racing action in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.

• SCHEDULE: NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying sessions are scheduled for 4 and 6:15 p.m. Friday, May 31, and will continue Saturday, June 1, at noon and 2:15 p.m. Final eliminations will begin at 11 a.m. Sunday, June 2.

• TICKETS: For tickets, call Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, 732-446-7800, or log on to www.racewaypark.com.

• TELEVISION: ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise one hour of qualifying coverage at 5 p.m. ET Saturday, June 1, and two and a half hours of eliminations coverage at 4:30 p.m. ET Sunday, June 2.
 

Martino Motorsports is bringing a new global sponsor to the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. SANY America, in conjunction with BIK Hydraulics, will sponsor Mark Martino’s Pro Stock team beginning at the Toyota NHRA Summernationals in Englishtown and continuing for several seasons.

“I’m so proud to welcome SANY America and BIK to our Pro Stock team,” said Martino, whose Pontiac GXP will continue to use power from MB Race Engines. “SANY manufactures great cranes that we personally use in our family business, DeSantis Crane Service. To have their support on my race team, it’s just the perfect partnership.”

SANY is a global leader in the manufacture and sale of hoisting equipment (crawler, truck, rough-terrain, and all-terrain cranes), concrete machines (concrete pumps, placing booms, mixer trucks, and batching plants), road machinery (motor graders, rollers, pavers, and asphalt batching plants), port equipment (container reach stackers, empty-container handlers, heavy forklifts, and gantry cranes), excavators, mining equipment (rigid haul trucks, road headers, mining vehicles, longwall systems, and continuous miners), pile-driving machinery, and wind turbines.

BIK Hydraulics is a SANY crane dealer in Toronto that also specializes in building, selling, and servicing boom trucks. BIK was instrumental in finalizing the sponsor relationship with Martino Motorsports and SANY America.

The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series races to the East Coast for the Toyota NHRA Summernationals, May 30-June 2, and Pro Stock racer Vincent Nobile is thrilled to once again return to his racing roots.

Nobile, in his third full season in Pro Stock, is a resident of Melville, N.Y., and has long considered Old Bridge Township Raceway Park his home track, which is located a little more than 70 miles from his home. 

“It is a lot of fun; my whole family comes out,” Nobile said. “My dad and mom usually come to every race. My extended family, aunts, uncles, and friends all come out to support me when we race in Englishtown, so it is really fun to go there.”

Along with Nobile, all of the stars of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series will be looking to earn victories at the ninth of 24 events in the 2013 season. Steve Torrence (Top Fuel), Johnny Gray (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock), and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are the defending winners at the Toyota NHRA Summernationals, which will be televised nationally on ESPN2HD.

Nobile has raced down the historic track many times in his career as he was honing his skills before racing in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. He raced Jr. Dragsters there and amazingly won the first race he entered as an NHRA Jr. Drag Racing League competitor. He also has class wins, as well as a King of the Hill victory when he was just 8 years old. His first visit to the track in the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series was in 2011, and Nobile felt the added pressure of having so many eyes on him during the weekend.

“The first year I went there, I was pretty nervous because I had my whole family there,” he said. “I wanted to make everybody proud, but after that first year, I got that under my belt, and it’s like any other race.”

When Nobile entered the event in 2011, he had raced to two final-round appearances and was coming off his first career Pro Stock win when he defeated Rodger Brogdon in Houston. Nobile powered to his third final of the year, but a red-light start handed the win to Allen Johnson and cost the family an incredible opportunity to celebrate at a track that already holds special memories.

“If I could go back to 2011 and not red-light in the finals, I would do anything to do that,” Nobile said. “That would have meant the world to win that race in front of my whole family because that would be one pretty good winner’s circle picture to have my whole family in it. To win there would mean a lot for me and my dad because we have always wanted to win Englishtown.”

Nobile won the season-opening event in Pomona when he defeated his new teammate Jeg Coughlin Jr. in the final round. Since that win, the team has had some struggles and hasn’t raced past the quarterfinals. Nobile and his team are working diligently and are confident they will find a successful setup going into the Toyota NHRA Summernationals.

“We have been working on the car setup and kind of got behind the eight ball,” Nobile said. “We are starting to look at last year’s notes and go back a bit, so we will see what happens. If we qualify where we should, we will be good. We are like a five, six player I believe. If we qualify there, we should be happy. If we do that, we should go some rounds.”

The Pro Stock category is once again proving to be one of the toughest categories in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series with winners and losers separated by only hundredths of a second during many of the elimination rounds. Mike Edwards has the points lead in the category on the strength of two wins with Coughlin and Johnson breathing down his neck in second and third in points, respectively. Jason Line, Erica Enders-Stevens, and Anderson, who has the most Pro Stock wins at the track with five, will all be competing for the coveted NHRA Wally on Sunday.

The Top Fuel category will feature intense racing action with Chesterfield, N.J., native and defending world champ Antron Brown vying for his first Top Fuel victory at the track to go next to his two Pro Stock Motorcycle wins. Tony Schumacher, Spencer Massey, Doug Kalitta, two-time season winner Shawn Langdon, and Brandon Bernstein will also be looking for wins at the tradition-rich event.

Gray and Cruz Pedregon are the early leading championship contenders in the Funny Car category, with each claiming multiple wins early in the season. Matt Hagan is showing renewed success, and defending champ Jack Beckman, Robert Hight, and Courtney Force will try to add their names to the NHRA history book as Englishtown winners. Four-time E-town winner John Force, 2006 winner Ron Capps, two-time winner Del Worsham, and 2008 winner Tim Wilkerson will all be working to get another victory at the legendary track.

The Pro Stock Motorcycle season has been dominated by Hector Arana Jr. on his Lucas Oil Buell, but the Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson tandem of Andrew Hines and Krawiec will be looking to put an end to that streak. Surging Scotty Pollacheck, Suzuki rider Steve Johnson, Hector Arana Sr., and John Hall are all among the top contenders for the NHRA Wally in the two-wheel category at the event. 

As always, fans will have the opportunity to interact with their favorite drivers as every ticket is an exclusive pit pass, allowing them firsthand to see the highly skilled mechanics service their hot rods between rounds. While visiting the pits, interactive NHRA Nitro Alley and the NHRA Manufacturers Midway are two popular areas fans won’t want to miss.

The race also will feature exciting side-by-side racing action in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and the NHRA Pro Mod Series.

• SCHEDULE: NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying sessions are scheduled for 4 and 6:15 p.m. Friday, May 31, and will continue Saturday, June 1, at noon and 2:15 p.m. Final eliminations will begin at 11 a.m. Sunday, June 2.

• TICKETS: For tickets, call Old Bridge Township Raceway Park at 732-446-7800. Tickets also are available online at www.racewaypark.com.

• TELEVISION: ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise one hour of qualifying coverage at 5 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, June 1, and two hours and 30 minutes of eliminations coverage at 4:30 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, June 2.

The tragedy also hit close to home for Richard Freeman and the Elite Motorsports LLC/Elite Performance employees, whose Wynnewood, Okla., headquarters is just an hour from the heart of the destruction.

The Elite group – along with fellow NHRA competitors and friends Mark Stockseth, Rickie Jones, and his father, Rick Jones, of RJ Racecars – have joined forces to offer support for the victims of this terrible tragedy, and they hope to encourage members of the NHRA community to offer support as well through donations made to the American Red Cross.

"We are just heartsick," said Freeman, whose Elite Performance builds engines currently campaigned in the Pro Stock category. "Many families have lost their homes, and the death toll is rising.”

NHRA fans, racers, and supporters are encouraged to donate to the American Red Cross relief efforts. Donations can be made via text message, online, or through conventional mail. A complete list appears at the end of this article.

"We have so many friends who have been affected by this, and the magnitude of the situation just makes you feel so helpless,” added Freeman. “There is little you can do or say to bring comfort at a time like this, but we felt a duty to step up and help in any way that we could. We believe that donating to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund was the most effective way to help our friends who are suffering, and we encourage the folks in our NHRA community to do the same.

"The NHRA family is pretty big, and the great people we work with day in and day out at the racetrack and on the Mello Yello Series tour have a lot of compassion. I know that there are a lot of folks out there who want to help, but they just don't know how. This is one way that we can come together to make a difference."

“Everyone here at NHRA has been touched by the stories of heroism coming out of Oklahoma this past week, and our prayers go out to the victims of the devastating tornadoes that have plagued the region,” said Graham Light, NHRA senior vice president of racing operations. “We applaud the efforts of Elite Motorsports and fellow NHRA competitors who have led the outreach and encouraged others in our passionate racing community to provide whatever assistance they can through the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. We have many NHRA Members that reside in Moore, Okla., and we hope and pray that their community is able to rebound quickly from this dreadful tragedy.”

How to donate:
Make a $10 donation by texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 – the donation will show up on your wireless bill or be deducted from your balance if you have a prepaid phone. You must over 18 years old or have parental permission.

Donate to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund online at RedCross.org.

For large donations, mail a check to:
American Red Cross
601 NE 6th St.
Oklahoma City, OK 73104

Reigning NHRA Mello Yello Top Fuel world champion Antron Brown was the special guest of Izod IndyCar Series driver Ed Carpenter Wednesday at famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where Carpenter is the polesitter for Sunday's 97th running of the Indianapolis 500.

Brown, driver of the Matco Tools dragster for Don Schumacher Racing and winner of two NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series races this season, met with Carpenter and members of his Fuzzy's Vodka team Wednesday afternoon in the garage area at the home of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing.

Brown listened as Carpenter explained the controls of his Indy car and described what it's like to race before Brown climbed into Carpenter's machine that earned the pole for Sunday's prestigious race at an average speed of 228.762 mph.

"It was incredible just to sit in his car," Brown said. "He showed me the ins and outs of the car, and we talked about my 10,000-horsepower Matco Tools dragster. There were similarities between the two, with all of the technology and safety that goes into it.

"I did fit pretty comfortably in his car, but they wouldn't let me on track with it. Ed and I go way back to my early days racing Pro Stock Motorcycle when we both had shops over on Gasoline Alley near IMS. It was great to see Ed and his team, and I wish them all the best for Sunday's race."

Carpenter, 32, like Brown, resides in the Indianapolis area. He has two IndyCar Series wins, at Kentucky Speedway (2011) and California Speedway (2012).

Brown, 37, ranks third in the 2013 NHRA Mello Yello Top Fuel standings as the series heads to Brown's home track, Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown for the ninth of 24 races. Brown is a two-time Pro Stock Motorcycle winner at Raceway Park.

Rocky Brands will sponsor former NHRA Funny Car champion Matt Hagan’s Dodge Charger R/T for two additional races in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.

Rocky originally had agreed to sponsor Hagan's Don Schumacher Racing entry at three events this year –- in Houston, Norwalk, and Charlotte (fall event) –- and has added the Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals presented by Tri-Cities Area Ford Dealers June 14-16 at Bristol Dragway and the NHRA Nationals Oct. 24-27 at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

"Our relationship with Rocky is another reason why I'm enjoying this year so much," said Hagan, who owns a 1,000-acre farm in his hometown of Christiansburg, Va. "This year was off to a great start even before we hit the track because Rocky came aboard with us. There isn't a better sponsor in the world for me. My Rocky boots make it easier for me to work on the farm, and Rocky outdoor gear makes hunting that much more fun."

With new crew chief Dickie Venables, a two-time NHRA world champion, and a reinvigorated crew, Hagan is on the hunt for his second world title. Hagan, who sits third in points, has a win and two runner-ups in the season’s first eight events.

"One of the main objectives with this program is to increase our presence on Hagan's Funny Car and strengthen our overall brand awareness," said Seann Anderson, sponsor manager at Rocky Brands Inc. "Everyone at Rocky is ecstatic with the rapid progress we have made toward these goals this year. We couldn't be happier with Matt, his team, or the staff at DSR."

In addition to Hagan and his crew sporting the black and red colors for those five events, Rocky will have a product and retail presence on the NHRA Manufacturers Midway, where fans can meet Hagan and get an autograph. He also will appear at pre-race events at Rocky retailers in those markets.

The high-horsepower excitement of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series returns to historic Old Bridge Township Raceway Park for the 44th annual Toyota NHRA Summernationals, May 30-June 2. The race, which will be televised on ESPN2HD, is the ninth of 24 events in the 2013 season.

The family-friendly and tradition-rich event includes a special offer: Kids 12 and younger will be allowed free into general-admission areas with a paid adult.

The race will be an important one for teams that are battling to make the top 10 and qualify for the NHRA Countdown to the Championship because it is the official midpoint in the NHRA Mello Yello Series regular season.

The 2012 Toyota NHRA Summernationals winners were Steve Torrence (Top Fuel), Johnny Gray (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock), and Englishtown native Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle). All are scheduled to return to try to defend their titles.

Tony Schumacher

Johnny Gray

Vincent Nobile

Eddie Krawiec

The 2013 season has already showcased incredible racing and amazing finishes in all categories. In Top Fuel, Don Schumacher Racing has been dominating the series. The dynamic trio of Tony Schumacher, Antron Brown, and Spencer Massey has ruled the top positions so far. Schumacher won in Phoenix and Las Vegas, defending world champion and New Jersey native Brown won in Gainesville, and Massey scored a victory in Charlotte, but Al-Anabi Racing driver Shawn Langdon also has won twice, in Pomona and Topeka. Houston winner Bob Vandergriff Jr., GEICO/Lucas Oil driver Morgan Lucas, and Mac Tools driver Doug Kalitta are also among the pre-race favorites in the 8,000-horsepower category.

In Funny Car, Pitch Energy Dodge Charger driver Johnny Gray took over the points lead with his recent win in Topeka, his third of the season and second straight, forging ahead of two-time world champion Cruz Pedregon, who had held the lead at the controls of his Snap-on Tools Toyota Camry since claiming victories in Las Vegas and Houston. Sophomore sensation Courtney Force in her Traxxas Ford Mustang also has been a force to be reckoned with; she kicked off the series with a season-opening win at the Winternationals. NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger driver Ron Capps, Auto Club Ford Mustang driver Robert Hight, 15-time world champ John Force, and defending world champion Jack Beckman are also among the drivers to watch.

New Yorker Vincent Nobile is gaining speed in the NHRA Mello Yello Series. The young Pro Stock sensation has already earned his first season win at the Winternationals and has been a top-five contender all year. He is excited about driving his Mountain View Tire Dodge Avenger to the winner’s circle at his home track. Nobile joins a talented host of challengers looking for a victory, including points leader Mike Edwards, reigning world champion Allen Johnson, Erica Enders-Stevens, defending winner and five-time event champ Anderson, Houston winner Jason Line, and three-time Summernationals winner Jeg Coughlin Jr.

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, hometown favorite and three-time world champion Krawiec is hoping to get back into championship form on his Vance & Hines Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson, and Lucas Oil Buell rider Hector Arana Jr. is in the lead and has raced to three consecutive victories to open the season. Sovereign/Star Racing Buell rider Scotty Pollacheck and veteran rider Steve Johnson have advanced to final rounds this season.

The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series also will thrill the crowds during the weekend with intense side-by-side competition.

As always, fans can interact with their favorite drivers because every ticket is an exclusive pit pass, allowing them to see firsthand the highly skilled mechanics service their hot rods between rounds. Spectators also won’t want to miss the popular interactive NHRA Nitro Alley and the NHRA Manufacturers Midway.

Mello Yello Series qualifying will begin Friday, May 31, with sessions at 4 and 6:15 p.m. The final two qualifying sessions will take place Saturday, June 1, at noon and 2:15 p.m. Final eliminations will begin at 11 a.m. Sunday, June 2.

To purchase tickets for the Toyota NHRA Summernationals, call Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, 732-446-7800, or log on to www.racewaypark.com. 

Johnny Gray raced to his third victory of the season Sunday and moved back into the Funny Car points lead at the 25th annual NHRA Kansas Nationals.

Shawn Langdon (Top Fuel) and Jeg Coughlin Jr. (Pro Stock) also were winners in their respective categories at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event. All three winners were presented special-edition silver Wally trophies in honor of the event’s 25th anniversary.

Gray took his first win at Heartland Park Topeka and the sixth of his career by outrunning Robert Hight in the final round. Gray drove his Pitch Energy Dodge Charger to a final round performance of 4.067 seconds at 314.90 mph while Hight’s Auto Club Ford Mustang lost traction and slowed early in the run in his first final-round appearance in more than a year.

Johnny Gray

“Rob [Wendland, crew chief] gave me a great race car that ran real hard all day,” said Gray, who beat Alexis DeJoria, Del Worsham, and defending event winner Jack Beckman in earlier rounds. “Sometimes you can win races on an intimidation factor, and Rob had her tuned up to where she was a little intimidating today. Robert had a great race car, too, but they just missed it a little bit. They have a great team over there. Our car went right on down through there. My guys are giving me a car I can’t screw up in right now.”

For the first time in his career, Gray takes sole possession of the series lead. He holds a 10-point advantage over second place Cruz Pedregon. In his only other time at the top of the standings, Gray was tied for first with teammate Ron Capps after his win at Gainesville in March.

"It's a long way before we start running for the championship, but if the car keeps running like it's running, then we've got as good a shot as anybody out there," Gray said. "The better the car is, the better it makes the driver look."

In Top Fuel, Langdon used the quickest time of the weekend to defeat his archrival Tony Schumacher in the final round and take his second win of the season. Langdon covered the distance in 3.750 at 324.20 in his Al-Anabi Racing dragster while Schumacher’s U.S. Army machine trailed with a 3.781 at 327.27. All three of Langdon’s career victories have come with seven-time world champ Schumacher as his final-round opponent.

Shawn Langdon

“We haven’t quite been able to finish it out on Sunday,” Langdon said. “[My crew] had the fire in their eyes today. They wanted to close it out. We didn’t want to go four races in a row feeling like we had a car that can win and not getting it done.”

Top qualifier Langdon used a string of 3.7-second runs in earlier round wins against Pat Dakin, Steve Torrence, and Spencer Massey. He saved his quickest run for last against Schumacher.

“That’s [team manager/tuner] Alan Johnson, [crew chief] Brian Husen, and Al-Anabi Racing,” Langdon said. “Sheikh Khalid [bin Hamad Al Thani, owner] assembled a great team. They don’t settle for second place. They always want to have the fastest car. They really made my job easy this weekend.”

With the win, Langdon moves to second in the series standings, 34 behind leader Schumacher.

Coughlin broke a winless drought of more than two years by taking the Pro Stock victory over teammate Allen Johnson. Coughlin took the win light with a performance of 6.680 at 206.20 in his JEGS.com/Team Mopar Dodge Avenger while runner-up Johnson finished in 6.698 at 206.57 in his Team Mopar Avenger.

Jeg Coughlin Jr.

“Any day you are hoisting a Wally at the end of the day is a good thing, and it’s what you work for,” Coughlin said. “Today was extra special for several reasons. We hadn’t won in a couple of years. To finally get a Wally on Sunday is exactly what the doctor ordered. We have been working  hard and trying to work smart, and today was our day, and it felt fantastic.”

Coughlin won from the fourth qualifying position and beat Greg Stanfield, Rickie Jones, and Vincent Nobile en route to the victory, the 53rd of his career. He also joined the 500 round-wins club, earning round wins 499, 500, 501, and 502. He is only the 12th driver in NHRA history to accomplish that feat.

“I’ve been very blessed,” Coughlin said. “My family has been behind me all the way, and they are a huge part of getting this 500th round-win as well.”

Coughlin remains in second place in the series standings, but with the victory, cut leader Mike Edwards’ advantage to 76. Runner-up Johnson stayed in the third place but also trimmed Edwards’ lead by about 30 points.

“This Pro Stock race has just begun to heat up,” said Coughlin, a four-time world champ. “We are getting ready to go into a great stretch of races, and I love where we are sitting.”

The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series continues with the Toyota NHRA Summernationals, May 30-June 2, at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown.

Related stories
Friday: Schumacher, Hight, Edwards are opening-day leaders in Topeka
Saturday: Langdon, Force, Edwards lead final Topeka fields

John Force ended a 19-race No. 1 qualifying slump by racing to a track record performance in Funny Car Saturday at the 25th annual NHRA Kansas Nationals.

Shawn Langdon (Top Fuel) and Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) also will lead their categories into Sunday’s 11 a.m. eliminations at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event.
               
Force, a 15-time NHRA world champion, claimed the 141st No. 1 qualifying position of his career and his 11th at Heartland Park Topeka by clocking a track record time of 4.043 seconds at 313.22 mph in his Castrol GTX Ford Mustang. He will meet former teammate Tony Pedregon in the opening round of racing.

John Force

“I’d like to take credit, but credit goes to the people,” said Force, who has won nine of his NHRA-record 134 victories at Heartland Park Topeka. “It starts with [crew chief] Mike Neff. We’ve been struggling without a doubt. My dad always taught me that when you’re struggling, don’t change midstream and forget which way you’re going; that’s going backwards. The guys believe in me, and I believe in them. They’ve turned my car around.”

Force’s daughter Courtney was second in her Traxxas Mustang with a 4.050 at 315.56 and will race Dale Creasy Jr. in the opening round. Friday top qualifier Robert Hight dropped to third but improved on his time from yesterday posting a 4.050 at 315.12 in his Auto Club Mustang. His first-round opponent is Canadian Jeff Arend.

“We’re one, two, and three, and this means a lot that John Force still knows what he’s doing because I do,” said Force, who earned his last No. 1 qualifying position in Chicago last June. “I surround myself with good people.”

One intriguing first-round match includes current Funny Car points leader Cruz Pedregon in the Snap-on Tools Toyota facing the defending world champion and last year’s event winner here, Jack Beckman, who drives the MTS/Valvoline Dodge Charger.

Shawn Langdon

In Top Fuel, Langdon earned his third No. 1 of the season and ninth of his career with a performance of 3.767 at 322.50 in his Al-Anabi Racing dragster. He said team manager and tuning wizard Alan Johnson predicted the car would be very quick in the third session.

“We might have got that No. 1 qualifying position last night, but it kicked the rods out right before the lights,” Langdon said. “We feel like we can get a little more out of it by working on our cylinder-dropping issue on the top end. The weather held out with the cloud cover today, and we felt that the third session was the session to really go for it.”

Langdon will seek his first Topeka victory and his second win of the season with an opening-round match against veteran driver Pat Dakin.

“[Crew chief] Brian Husen does a great job making the right calls at the right time, and Alan Johnson just works magic out there,” Langdon said. “I saw Alan with his hands on his hips with his sunglasses on before the last run, so I could tell he was in his thinking mode with the track getting hotter. He made some last-minute changes to the clutch that worked out.”

Friday’s qualifying leader Tony Schumacher was second with a 3.769 at 326.08 in the U.S. Army dragster and will meet Houston winner Bob Vandergriff Jr. in the first round. Doug Kalitta qualified third in the Mac Tools dragster with a 3.770 at 324.98 and will face Morgan Lucas in the opener.

Mike Edwards

Edwards cruised to his seventh top qualifying position of the season in Pro Stock and will race Steve Kent in the opening round. Edwards took his 48th career No. 1 and fourth at HPT with his Friday run of 6.618 at 208.55 in his Interstate Batteries/I Am Second Chevy Camaro.

“The air wasn’t as good for us today with a higher water count, and that really affects the Pro Stock engines,” Edwards said. “They just don’t burn water very well. But even though it slowed us down and we had a problem with the transmission dead-heading the gears in the final session, we still ran very well against the rest of the field, and we’re looking forward to tomorrow.”

Edwards jointly holds the record for most No. 1 qualifying positions in a season (16) with Greg Anderson. After taking seven top spots in the first eight races, the Oklahoma native is on a similar roll to his magical 2009 season.

“Some people say that qualifying No. 1 is not that big of a deal, but to us, it’s really awesome," said Edwards, a two-time winner at HPT. "We’ve been able to do it from sea level to altitudes as high as 4,100 feet, and that’s a great feeling to be able to do it.”

Erica Enders-Stevens qualified second with a 6.625 at 208.30 in her BLACK iGUANA Chevy Camaro and will race fellow Houston native Rodger Brogdon in the first round, and defending event winner and world champ Allen Johnson will start third in his Team Mopar Dodge Avenger and will meet Deric Kramer in the opening round.

Related story
Friday: Schumacher, Hight, Edwards are opening-day leaders in Topeka
 

The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series heads to America’s Heartland with the NHRA Kansas Nationals at Heartland Park Topeka this weekend. Catch all the action from this weekend’s event on ESPN2/ESPN2HD. The qualifying show is scheduled for Saturday, May 18 at 5:30 p.m. (ET)/2:30 p.m. (PT) on ESPN2 with Sunday’s race day coverage in prime-time beginning at 8 p.m. (ET)/5 p.m. (PT).

The series is coming off a rain-delayed Atlanta event and, as a result, this weekend represents the fifth consecutive weekend of competition for the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series teams.
Here’s what the viewers at home can expect when they tune-in this weekend:

After an almost history making performance at Atlanta, all eyes will be on the Gray family, Johnny in Funny Car and son Shane in Pro Stock. Both made the final round in Atlanta and if they would have both won, it would have been the first time in NHRA history that a father and son shared the winner circle at the same race in different NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series categories. Johnny Gray won in Funny Car, defeating teammate Matt Hagan in the finals, but Shane could not out run event winner Mike Edwards.  These two talented drivers are expected to get another show at history before the year is up. Will Topeka be the race?

Steve Torrence won his first race in Top Alcohol Dragster at Topeka in 2005. He has parlayed that into a pretty successful Top Fuel career and comes into Topeka with a full week under his belt with recently installed crew chief Lee Beard. ESPN2 will go “all-access” with Steve and get to see his energetic personality behind the scenes.

Plus, Mike Dunn’s new Power Rankings are out. He’ll break down who is number one, why some drivers are “in” and why some top-profile teams didn’t make the list. Some of his selections will surprise you.

Qualifying
Saturday, May 18: 5:30 p.m. (ET)/2:30 p.m. (PT)

Race Day
Sunday, May 19: 8 p.m. (ET)/5 p.m. (PT)
 

Schumacher, the series points leader in the 8,000-horsepower category, posted a 3.769-second run at 326.08 mph in his U.S. Army dragster to move from the bottom of the qualifying order up to the top of the 16-car field at Heartland Park Topeka.

“The track was really smooth,” Schumacher said. “My [crew] took a good look at it and made the decision to go fast. [Crew chief] Mike Green made a great call there under the pressure after being bumped out of the top 12. It was a great run.”

Tony Schumacher

Robert Hight

Mike Edwards

If his time holds through Saturday’s final two qualifying sessions (12:15 and 2:30 p.m.), this would be Schumacher’s second No. 1 of the season, second at Heartland Park Topeka, and the 73rd of his career.

Doug Kalitta was second in his Mac Tools dragster with a 3.770 at 324.98, and Shawn Langdon was third in his Al-Anabi Racing dragster, posting a 3.777 at 317.34.

Hight set the pace in Funny Car, powering his Auto Club Ford Mustang to a leading effort of 4.067 at 302.62. If the effort holds, this would be Hight’s second No. 1 of the season, fifth at Heartland Park, and the 45th of his career.

"We've been struggling in the early part of the run lately, and we definitely got it today," Hight said. "The back half of those two runs weren't very good. If it would have finished those runs out, this thing would have run really good. This thing could've run 4.03, easily. It put cylinders out on the last run because it didn't have enough clutch to lock up. We definitely fixed what we've been looking at for almost a year. [Crew chief] Jimmy Prock just hit it right out of the box. I know it's only two runs, but we found what we're missing."

Hight’s teammate Courtney Force was second with a 4.068 at 312.86 in her Traxxas Ford Mustang, and Tim Wilkerson was third in his Levi, Ray & Shoup Mustang with a 4.071 at 310.55. DHL Toyota Camry driver Del Worsham was fourth with a 4.072 at 312.64.

In Pro Stock, series points leader Edwards continued his recent momentum in the category by posting a leading performance of 6.618 at 208.55 in his Interstate Batteries/I Am Second Chevy Camaro.

“We’re just making nice runs right now,” Edwards said. “We’re trying to keep it simple for ourselves by just adjusting to the conditions where we are racing. This car is so consistent that it is just phenomenal.”

The quick run was anything but routine for the 2009 world champ and two-time Topeka winner. After servicing the car following the first qualifying attempt, Edwards fired it up in the pits during the warm-up and said the car didn’t sound right. With 25 minutes left before the second qualifying session, his crew jumped to action to replace the engine. They barely made it.

“To me, making the engine change that quick was more impressive than qualifying No. 1,” Edwards said. “And there’s two guys on my crew who just started with me this year. Getting everything fastened and tight was really an accomplishment. I’m really proud of those guys.”

If Edwards’ time stands, it will be his seventh No. 1 of the season, fourth at HPT, and 48th of his career.

Erica Enders-Stevens was second in her Black iGuana Chevy Camaro with a 6.625 at 208.62, and defending event winner and world champ Allen Johnson was third in his Team Mopar Dodge Avenger with a 6.633 at 208.62.
 

Erica Enders-Stevens’ Pro Stock car will return to its stealth-black paint scheme when she takes to Heartland Park Topeka in her new Black iGuana-backed Chevrolet Camaro this weekend at the 25th annual NHRA Kansas Nationals.

Enders-Stevens has inked an initial two-race marketing partnership with Tomball, Texas-based DGI Beverage, creators of the innovative pouch drink. The wildly popular NHRA racer will continue her championship hunt with Cagnazzi Racing, introducing the Black iGuana brand of packaged cocktails to drag racing fans nationwide.

“We’re very excited to bring Black iGuana the national exposure and marketing horsepower it deserves. They’ve been huge supporters of ours and couldn’t be a better group of guys to work with. It’s a great product with a taste, look, and convenience that can become a major player in the industry,” said Enders-Stevens. “As they work on growth and investment as a company, we’re looking to prove our program and the loyal NHRA fans can play a huge role in achieving their corporate goals. If we do our job and the fans respond well, this is just the beginning of a very exciting marketing partnership.”

Black iGuana’s line of premium ready-to-drink margarita cocktails are packaged in fun, single-serving, pouches with four flavors: Classic Lime, Strawberry, Peach, and Pina Colada. The company started in 2005 and has been a catalyst for the fast-growing pouch beverage segment.

With its distinctive black packaging and smirking iguana logo, fans of Erica’s history-making flat black race car will be happy to see its full return as part of the Black iGuana Camaro’s new look.

With their entry into NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing, DGI Beverage looks to grow the Black iGuana brand with a national marketing program that follows the same grassroots philosophy of promotion that got them their start. The family-run company regularly sponsors and supported local festivals, music, and community events across the South.

“We came up with the idea for Black iGuana while enjoying time spent outdoors with family and friends. And that’s what going to the races is all about,” said co-founder Earl Castor. “We fell in love with Erica and how the drag racing community supports products that support NHRA teams. Its fans get an experience and level of access to their favorite drivers that’s unlike anything else in motorsports. We want to be a part of that.”

Black iGuana joins a winning combination with Enders-Stevens and Cagnazzi Racing in the competitive Pro Stock class. In the last 18 races, Enders-Stevens has been to nine finals, winning five and finishing second in this year’s K&N Horsepower Challenge. In the past eight years, Cagnazzi has accumulated 64 NHRA national event wins and two NHRA Pro Stock world championships.

Perhaps it was at Heartland Park Topeka last season when Allen Johnson first realized that winning an NHRA Pro Stock world championship title was in the realm of possibility for his Team Mopar Dodge Avenger team.

Johnson ran the table at that event, claiming the No. 1 qualifying position, earning nearly every bonus point available, and then powering through eliminations to take the victory, dusting four-time world champ Greg Anderson in the final round.

After that victory, Johnson continued to gain momentum and move up in the points standings until finally claiming the series lead for the first time following his win in Denver. During that amazing season, the Greeneville, Tenn., native won seven races in 11 final rounds, claimed 10 No. 1 qualifying positions, and finally earned that elusive first world championship ring.

When Johnson won in Topeka last season, he talked about how his team was learning how to win and be consistent every week. As he returns to the spacious multipurpose motorsports complex in Kansas’ capital city, Johnson and his team have a full year of winning and being incredibly consistent under their belts.

“Every single title we won last year was very important in our chances to become No. 1 at the start of the Countdown and take a run at the championship,” Johnson said. “The Topeka win gave us the confidence that we were headed down the right path.”

Johnson heads to Topeka this season third in the standings and will be trying to earn his third victory there as well as his third win of the season when racing begins at the NHRA Kansas Nationals, May 17-19. David Grubnic (Top Fuel) and Jack Beckman (Funny Car) join Johnson as defending winners of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event that will be televised on ESPN2HD.

Johnson has been to the final round at HPT in three of the last four seasons, posting a runner-up in 2010 to go with his two victories (2012, 2009). As a well-known high-altitude specialist in the Pro Stock ranks, Johnson says that Heartland Park’s near-1,000-foot elevation certainly plays into his team’s favor.

“Topeka is a great facility and is an altitude track at which the Hemi-powered Mopar Dodge Avenger normally does really well at, just like Vegas and Denver,” Johnson said. “The trick or key to doing well at Topeka is having the tune-up correct at altitude.”

The other key, he says, is to be mentally ready to face a talented crop of rivals who can post perfect reaction times and just basically drive the wheels off their race cars.

“The level of competition in Pro Stock, especially this year, is unequaled, and I think the best in the history,” Johnson said. “Every single point is going to be important because of how incredibly close each competitor is."

He raced to back-to-back victories in Gainesville and Las Vegas this season and is hungry for more success. As the defending world champion, he says he is getting each opponent's 110-percent effort every time he rolls to the starting line. He isn’t flying under the radar as he might have in seasons past.

“Having the No. 1 on the side of your car brings responsibility, and yes, everyone wants to beat the champ,” Johnson said. “I love it.”

Other pre-race favorites in the 200-mph factory hot rod category include Johnson’s new teammate, Jeg Coughlin Jr., also a past winner in Topeka, and series points leader Mike Edwards, who has claimed two victories this season and is a two-time Topeka winner. Last season's runner-up here, Anderson, is also a past Topeka winner and is still looking for his first win of the season. Erica Enders-Stevens, Vincent Nobile, Jason Line, and Shane Gray, a past Topeka winner who has been to the last three final rounds, will also be racing hard to grab a victory.

In Top Fuel, defending winner Grubnic will have to hold off a tough contingent of challengers, including seven-time world champ and current points leader Tony Schumacher, Atlanta winner and defending world champ Antron Brown, national speed record holder and last season’s runner-up Spencer Massey, Al-Anabi Racing’s Shawn Langdon, Mac Tools driver Doug Kalitta, GEICO driver Morgan Lucas, and Atlanta runner-up Brandon Bernstein, a two-time Topeka winner.

Defending NHRA Funny Car world champion Beckman in his Valvoline/MTS Dodge Charger will again be one of the drivers to beat in the loaded Funny Car division. Some of his toughest competition will come from teammates Ron Capps, a three-time winner in Topeka, and Charlotte winner Matt Hagan, who was the No. 1 qualifier in Atlanta. Snap-on Tools Toyota Camry veteran driver Cruz Pedregon, the current series points leader with two victories this season, has won four times in Topeka. Last season's rookie of the year, Courtney Force, who won the season opener in Pomona in her Traxxas Ford Mustang, also will be one to watch.

The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series also will thrill the crowds during the weekend with intense side-by-side competition.

As always, fans can interact with their favorite drivers because every ticket is an exclusive pit pass, allowing them to see firsthand the highly skilled mechanics service their hot rods between rounds. Spectators also won’t want to miss the popular interactive NHRA Nitro Alley and the NHRA Manufacturers Midway.

• SCHEDULE: NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying sessions are scheduled for 5 and 7 p.m. Friday, May 17, and will continue Saturday, May 18, at 12:15 and 2:30 p.m. Final eliminations will begin at 11 a.m. Sunday, May 19.

• TICKETS: For tickets, log on to NHRATix.com or call the NHRA Ticket Sales Center, 800-884-NHRA (6472).

• TELEVISION: ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 5:30 p.m. ET Saturday, May 18, and three hours of eliminations coverage at 8 p.m. ET Sunday, May 19.
 

A victory at Heartland Park Topeka one year ago ended a nearly six-year winless slump for veteran driver David Grubnic in the highly competitive Top Fuel category in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.

This season, the driver of the Candlewood Suites Top Fuel dragster will try to claim his third victory at the popular Kansas multipurpose motorsports complex as the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series pulls into the sprawling Midwest facility for the 25th annual NHRA Kansas Nationals, May 17-19.

The native Australian, who is off to a bit of a slow start this season, is eager to pick up the pace and defend his event win in Topeka and add a fourth coveted Wally to his mantel.

“Kalitta Motorsports and I have enjoyed a lot of success at Heartland Park Topeka,” said Grubnic, 10th in points with three quarterfinal appearances as his best results in 2013. “The fans in Topeka are some of the best in the country. They open their town up to us as if it were their house. We always have a great time, and the people are so friendly that it makes the event even more enjoyable. We always look forward to coming back and adding to those great memories. We still have our standing goal of winning events, which we have yet to achieve. We were fortunate last year with our win to achieve our goals, and our plan is to continue with the same this year."

Jack Beckman (Funny Car) and Allen Johnson (Pro Stock) join Grubnic as the defending winners of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event in Topeka, the eighth of 24 events in the 2013 season, which will be televised on ESPN2HD.

Along with Grubnic, the entire Kalitta Motorsports team is confident that its hard work will pay off and bring home some season wins.

"We are currently working on a new engine combination that once Connie [Kalitta, crew chief and team owner] has fine-tuned to his liking we are confident will help us to defend our Topeka title,” the  50-year-old resident of Ennis, Mont., said. “Connie Kalitta, James Riola, and the entire crew are doing a fabulous job with the Candlewood Suites race car.”

To defend his win in Topeka, Grubnic knows he will have to hold off a tough contingent of challengers, including national speed record holder and last season’s Topeka runner-up Spencer Massey, seven-time world champ and current points leader Tony Schumacher, Al-Anabi Racing’s Shawn Langdon, teammate and Mac Tools driver Doug Kalitta, GEICO driver Morgan Lucas, and rookie Brittany Force in her Castrol Edge dragster.

Defending NHRA Mello Yello Funny Car world champion Beckman in his Valvoline/MTS Dodge Charger will again be one of the drivers to beat in the loaded Funny Car division. Some of his toughest competition will come from teammate Ron Capps, a three-time winner in Topeka, and Snap-on Tools Toyota Camry veteran driver Cruz Pedregon, who has won four times in Topeka. Last season's rookie of the year, Courtney Force, who won the season opener in Pomona in her Traxxas Ford Mustang, also will be one to watch.

In Pro Stock, defending world champion Johnson is a two-time Topeka winner in his Team Mopar Dodge Avenger. His new teammate, Jeg Coughlin Jr., is also a past winner in Topeka and will be looking for more success in his JEGS.com/Mopar Dodge Avenger. Series points leader Mike Edwards, who has claimed two victories this season, and Greg Anderson are also past Topeka winners and will be trying to claim another victory there. Others to watch in the 200-mph factory hot rod class include Erica Enders-Stevens, Vincent Nobile, Jason Line, and Shane Gray, a past Topeka winner who has been to the last three final rounds.

The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series also will thrill the crowds during the weekend with intense side-by-side competition.

As always, fans can interact with their favorite drivers because every ticket is an exclusive pit pass, allowing them to see firsthand the highly skilled mechanics service their hot rods between rounds. Spectators also won’t want to miss the popular interactive NHRA Nitro Alley and the NHRA Manufacturers Midway.

NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying will begin on Friday, May 17, with sessions at 5 and 7 p.m. The final two qualifying sessions will take place Saturday, May 18, at 12:15 and 2:30 p.m. Final eliminations will begin at 11 a.m. Sunday, May 19.

To purchase tickets, call 800-884-NHRA (6472). Children 12 and younger will be admitted free into general-admission areas at the NHRA Kansas Nationals when accompanied by a paid adult. Tickets are also available online at NHRATix.com.

The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series returns to Heartland Park Topeka, May 17-19, for the NHRA Kansas Nationals, and 2011 Funny Car world champion Matt Hagan is in contention for his first career win at Heartland Park as well as another Funny Car championship. Hagan, in his Magneti Marelli/Rocky Footwear Dodge Charger, recently raced to his first win of the season in Charlotte, breaking a 23-race winless streak. Last weekend in Atlanta, when Hagan raced to the No. 1 qualifying position, he ended a 29-race drought from the top of the qualifying order.

“You never doubt yourself; you always put that first foot forward and know it could be your weekend at any time,” Hagan said. “It really just helped our team come together. We have a new deal, a new outlook, and I think as far as having a new leader here with [crew chief] Dickie [Venables] tuning this car, it didn’t take as long as I thought it would with a change like that. I’m very excited about that. I’m excited that we ended our drought. I think that we kind of created our own drought, so it was nice to come out of something that I think we created ourselves.”

When the 2011 Funny Car season came to a close, Hagan was on top of the world. He won the season-ending event in Pomona, was crowned the Funny Car world champion for the first time in his career, and his focus was set on 2012 and the defense of his championship. But four first-round losses and one failure to qualify in the first six races of 2012 derailed championship hopes, and the team was never higher than 11th in points.

This season is turning out to be a complete opposite for the team with one win, two runner-up finishes, and one No. 1 qualifying position. They have also led the points and are currently second, only 13 behind leader Cruz Pedregon. Not only is Hagan’s confidence high following the win but also that of his entire crew.

“It was phenomenal,” Hagan said. “To watch [the crew] light up; we had a new kid on the car that had never won before. It was very exciting. You’re making memories that they won’t ever forget for the rest of their life. That’s something that they’ll take with them even when they are done with the sport. It’s just cool to be a part of that. I was very excited for them, just knowing that they worked so hard to get there. I’m just excited in our second final of the year we were able to seal the deal.”

Hagan has found success this year with the addition of veteran tuner Venables as crew chief of the 8,000-horsepower Funny Car. Venables, a two-time Funny Car champion crew chief with Pedregon Racing in 2007 and John Force Racing in 2003, brings decades of experience and success to the car.

“Tommy DeLago [former crew chief] and I had a lot of success. He’s a brilliant tuner and a great crew chief, but the chemistry and communication between Dickie and I surpass what I’ve had in the past,” Hagan said. “Dickie is just a great guy, and he’s easy to get along with. We hang out outside the racetrack and at the track. When you have that kind of chemistry, it definitely helps out on the racetrack, and I think it shows.”

The NHRA Kansas Nationals is the eighth race of the 24-race NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season, and numerous rounds of racing remain before a champion is crowned in Pomona. Hagan knows what it takes to win a championship and hopes the momentum continues during the remainder of the season.

“I’ve never felt this excited about a team, a car, or a crew,” Hagan said. “We’ve won a championship, we’ve been runner-up, set world records, but I’ve just never had this kind of chemistry with a team up until this point. For me, it is very, very exciting, and I just want to grow that and continue to build on that chemistry that we have. These kids working on the car are very, very positive; they are learning fast and are dedicated to their job. It makes me want to be more dedicated and step up and make sure that I’m getting us a couple hundredths on the Tree; they get us a couple hundredths on the racetrack, and that’s a tough combination to beat.” 

When Hagan isn’t behind the wheel of his Funny Car, he can often be found on a tractor at his 1,000-acre cattle ranch he owns and operates in Southwestern Virginia. As he interacts with the fans at the event, he shares a common bond with many of them. 

“I can relate to a lot of folks in Topeka and Kansas because it’s a farming community,” he said. “I sit at the ropes and talk more about farming than racing. It’s always nice to get out there and see how everyone’s doing and what the farming community is into and maybe do a little bench racing, too, at the ropes.”  

Along with Hagan, many drivers in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series will be vying for wins at the crown jewel of the Midwest. David Grubnic (Top Fuel), Jack Beckman (Funny Car), and Allen Johnson (Pro Stock) will try to defend their 2012 event victories. The event will be televised on EPN2HD with five hours of event coverage.

Hagan has shared the points lead this season with teammates Ron Capps and Johnny Gray as well as Courtney Force and Pedregon, all leading the standings early in the season. Alexis DeJoria, Tim Wilkerson, Robert Hight, and veteran Del Worsham will all be looking to grab their first win of the season at the NHRA Kansas Nationals.  

In Top Fuel, defending winner Grubnic will have to hold off a tough contingent of challengers, including seven-time world champ and current points leader Tony Schumacher, Atlanta winner and defending world champ Antron Brown, national speed record holder and last season’s runner-up Spencer Massey, Al-Anabi Racing’s Shawn Langdon, Mac Tools driver Doug Kalitta, and Atlanta runner-up Brandon Bernstein.

Allen Johnson

In Pro Stock, defending world champion Johnson is a two-time Topeka winner in his Team Mopar Dodge Avenger. His new teammate, Jeg Coughlin Jr., is also a past winner in Topeka and will be looking for more success in his JEGS.com/Mopar Dodge Avenger. Series points leader Mike Edwards, who has claimed two victories this season and set the national record for elapsed time twice, and Greg Anderson are also past Topeka winners and will be trying to claim another victory there. Others to watch in the 200-mph factory hot rod class include Erica Enders-Stevens, Vincent Nobile, Jason Line, and Shane Gray, a past Topeka winner who has been to the last three final rounds.

The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series also will thrill the crowds during the weekend with intense side-by-side competition.

As always, fans can interact with their favorite drivers because every ticket is an exclusive pit pass, allowing them to see firsthand the highly skilled mechanics service their hot rods between rounds. Spectators also won’t want to miss the popular interactive NHRA Nitro Alley and the NHRA Manufacturers Midway.

To kick off the Kansas Nationals, fans will get a sneak preview of the event at the annual Speed Fest on Thursday, May 16, noon to 7 p.m. in the heart of Topeka, on 8th Avenue and Kansas Avenue. This free event provides fans the opportunity to see some amazing cars on display and meet some of the biggest NHRA stars for autographs, including Robert Hight, Bernstein, Langdon, Morgan Lucas, Johnson, and Enders-Stevens to name a few. There will be two driver autograph sessions, one at 2 p.m. and another at 6 p.m.

• SCHEDULE: NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying sessions are scheduled for 5 and 7 p.m. Friday, May 17, and will continue Saturday, May 18, at 12:15 and 2:30 p.m. Final eliminations will begin at 11 a.m. Sunday, May 19.

• TICKETS: For tickets, log on to www.NHRATix.com or call the NHRA Ticket Sales Center at 800-884-NHRA (6472).

• TELEVISION: ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 5:30 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, May 18, and three hours of eliminations coverage at 8 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, May 19.
 
 

Spencer Massey has gathered special memories throughout the years at Heartland Park Topeka, a racetrack that he considers his home away from home.

The driver of the Schumacher Electric Top Fuel dragster for Don Schumacher Racing has been to the last two finals at the popular Midwestern dragstrip, but his history there begins well before the 2011 season.

“I ran my first national event in an alcohol car there,” said Massey, a Fort Worth, Texas, native. “It has always been a track that has been special to me. I’ve won there and tuned a lot of cars there. I won my first race for DSR at that track. I am very familiar there. It’s like my second home track, behind the Texas Motorplex.”

Massey will try to make it three finals in a row and claim his second win at Heartland Park May 17-19 at the NHRA Kansas Nationals. David Grubnic (Top Fuel), Jack Beckman (Funny Car), and Allen Johnson (Pro Stock) are the defending winners of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event that will be televised on ESPN2HD.

Massey says that everyone in the area rolls out the red carpet when the circuit comes to town.

“The city of Topeka is really a racer-friendly town,” Massey said. “It’s fun to go there because everyone really supports the race, and it’s something everyone there looks forward to each and every year. As racers, we enjoy the atmosphere of that event, and we always look forward to getting back out there.”

Massey holds the Top Fuel track speed record at 329.10 mph, which he set last season. The track has become known as a high-performance showplace, and that also puts Massey in a great mood to go racing there.

“As a driver, you get really pumped anytime you get to go to a track that has a reputation for producing great performance numbers,” Massey said. “We want to win races and championships, but we also like to make these cars go as quick and fast as possible. For years, Topeka has been a track that’s been known as a record-breaking place.”

While the potential for records will be a part of the mix at Heartland Park, the focus for all Top Fuel drivers will be dealing with the incredible level of talent in the category at the moment. Five different winners have emerged with Wallys in the first seven races. Massey, who won the Dollar General NHRA Four-Wide Nationals fueled by Full Throttle in Charlotte in mid-April, says he expects more of the same throughout the season.

“There are just a lot of really great cars right now,” Massey said. “It’s like bracket racing at 300 miles per hour. That puts quite a bit of pressure on us as drivers, so it can be nerve-racking when everybody has great reaction times. At the same time, it is a lot of fun too, knowing that every race is going to be really close.”

Last year, Massey left this event first in the points standings. He enters the race this year fourth overall and is looking to improve on that position. He believes that his team is making great progress.

“We’re just starting to get on a roll,” Massey said. “The team is jelling together with the new canopy, new tune-up, and the new crewmembers. We didn’t come out of the gates as strong as we did last year, but we are getting better and having fun.”

To score a second win in Topeka, Massey knows he will have to hold off a tough contingent of challengers, including seven-time world champ and current points leader Tony Schumacher, Atlanta winner and defending world champ Antron Brown, Al-Anabi Racing’s Shawn Langdon, Mac Tools driver Doug Kalitta, GEICO driver Morgan Lucas, and Atlanta runner-up Brandon Bernstein.

Defending NHRA Funny Car world champion Beckman, in his Valvoline/MTS Dodge Charger, will again be one of the drivers to beat in the loaded Funny Car division. Some of his toughest competition will come from teammates Ron Capps, a three-time winner in Topeka, and Charlotte winner Matt Hagan, who was the No. 1 qualifier in Atlanta. Snap-on Tools Toyota Camry veteran driver Cruz Pedregon, the current series points leader with two victories this season, has won four times in Topeka. Last season's rookie of the year, Courtney Force, who won the season opener in Pomona in her Traxxas Ford Mustang, also will be one to watch.

In Pro Stock, defending world champion Johnson is a two-time Topeka winner in his Team Mopar Dodge Avenger. His new teammate, Jeg Coughlin Jr., is also a past winner in Topeka and will be looking for more success in his JEGS.com/Mopar Dodge Avenger. Series points leader Mike Edwards, who has claimed two victories this season, and Greg Anderson are also past Topeka winners and will be trying to score again there. Others to watch in the 200-mph factory hot rod class include Erica Enders-Stevens, Vincent Nobile, Jason Line, and Shane Gray, a past Topeka winner who has been to the last three final rounds.

The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series also will thrill the crowds during the weekend with intense side-by-side competition.

As always, fans can interact with their favorite drivers because every ticket is an exclusive pit pass, allowing them to see firsthand the highly skilled mechanics service their hot rods between rounds. Spectators also won’t want to miss the popular interactive NHRA Nitro Alley and the NHRA Manufacturers Midway.

To kick off the NHRA Kansas Nationals, fans will get a sneak preview of the event at the annual Speedfest Thursday, May 16, from noon to 7 p.m. in the heart of Topeka, on 8th Avenue and Kansas Avenue. This free event provides fans the opportunity to see amazing cars on display and meet some of the biggest NHRA stars for autographs, including Robert Hight, Bernstein, Langdon, Lucas, Johnson, and Enders-Stevens, to name a few.  Fans can collect driver autographs at two sessions, at 2 and 6 p.m.

• SCHEDULE: NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying sessions are scheduled for 5 and 7 p.m. Friday, May 17, and will continue Saturday, May 18, at 12:15 and 2:30 p.m. Final eliminations will begin at 11 a.m. Sunday, May 19.

• TICKETS: For tickets, log on to NHRATix.com or call the NHRA Ticket Sales Center, 800-884-NHRA (6472).

• TELEVISION: ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 5:30 p.m. ET Saturday, May 18, and three hours of eliminations coverage at 8 p.m. ET Sunday, May 19.

After winning a spectacular battle for the 2012 NHRA Funny Car season title against Don Schumacher Racing teammate Ron Capps at the season finale in Pomona last November, Jack Beckman is eager to return to the place where his world championship journey began: Heartland Park Topeka.

As he prepares to return to the scenic track in Kansas’ capital city with a reputation for producing great performances for the 25th annual NHRA Kansas Nationals, May 17-19, Beckman and the MTS Mail for Wounded Warriors/Valvoline Funny Car team are optimistic they’ll get back to their championship form in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season.

“When we get out there on the track, we remind ourselves we’re good,” Beckman said. “Topeka is what helped adjust our attitudes last year. Much like the stock market, there’s no guarantee you’re going to win in drag racing. It’s always a fresh start when you roll in, but it’s nice to go back to a track like Topeka, where I have stood in the winner’s circle before.”

Beckman will join fellow defending event winners David Grubnic (Top Fuel) and Allen Johnson (Pro Stock) at the eighth event in the 24-race season. The race will be televised on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD and will feature competition in the Top Fuel, Funny Car, and Pro Stock categories.

With the great parity that exists in the Funny Car category this season, Beckman has been challenged by many championship contenders in the field, but he remains focused on his end goal.

“Right now, I would like to get the first trophy out of the way,” Beckman said. “We have not been performing at the consistent level as we expect. We’ve got to figure out quickness and consistency. It’s been tough in our lane the last few races, but we feel incredibly fortunate for our team. We have high expectations and know we are not far from those goals and returning to the winner’s circle this season.”

Prior to Topeka last season, Beckman faced some major hurdles, including switching cars and teams with teammate Capps and posting one DNQ. He rallied during the Countdown to the Championship playoffs and ended his title campaign with three victories in four final rounds and four No. 1 qualifying positions. This season, Beckman has only made it to one semifinal round and is seventh in the points standings.

“Last season heading to Topeka, we faced a lot of challenges,” Beckman said. “It was the third race with a new car and a new crew. Our overall attitude was not incredibly optimistic. It felt like we were bringing a pistol to a machine gun race. We were able to prevail in the final round to win with a holeshot. Topeka set the tone for our championship run, and I’m very optimistic about contending for another championship this new Mello Yello season.”   
  
The former U.S. Air Force sergeant will have to bring out all of his troops to face a tough lineup of competitors, including current points leader Cruz Pedregon, a four-time winner at Heartland Park Topeka. Two-time Topeka winner Robert Hight, sophomore-sensation Courtney Force, and NAPA Dodge driver Capps, a three-time Topeka winner, are also among the pre-race favorites. 

In Top Fuel, defending champ Grubnic will try to score a third victory at the Topeka event. He will be challenged by series points leader Tony Schumacher, defending world champ Antron Brown, last season’s runner-up Spencer Massey, Morgan Lucas, Doug Kalitta, and Brandon Bernstein, among others.

Reigning Pro Stock world champion Johnson, in his Team Mopar Dodge Avenger, is building steam with two early season wins and is eager to get back to Topeka to try to defend his victory from a year ago. Johnson will have to battle with some stout contenders in the 200-mph factory hot rod category, including Summit Racing Chevy Camaro driver Greg Anderson, a four-time Topeka winner, and Erica Enders-Stevens, who has some early season momentum following a win in Phoennix and runner-up finishes in Las Vegas and Charlotte.

The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series also will thrill the crowds during the weekend with intense side-by-side competition.

As always, fans can interact with their favorite drivers because every ticket is an exclusive pit pass, allowing them to see firsthand the highly skilled mechanics service their hot rods between rounds. Spectators also won’t want to miss the popular interactive NHRA Nitro Alley and the NHRA Manufacturers Midway.

NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying will begin on Friday, May 17, with sessions at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. The final two qualifying sessions will take place Saturday, May 18, at 12:15 and 2:30 p.m. Final eliminations will begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday, May 19.

To purchase tickets, call 800-884-NHRA (6472). Children 12 and younger will be admitted free into general admission areas at the NHRA Kansas Nationals when accompanied by a paid adult. Tickets are also available online at www.NHRAtix.com.

NHRA Pro Stock driver Greg Anderson was fined $5,000 and penalized 10 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series championship points for removal of safety equipment (lifting of helmet shield), which is prohibited from the time the vehicle leaves the starting line until the vehicle is on the return road as outlined in the 2013 NHRA Rulebook, Section 2, page 1.
 
The Elite Motorsports Pro Stock team was fined $10,000 and its driver Rickie Jones penalized 25 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series championship points for improper modification of the Electrimotion Pro Stock Shutoff Controller Kit, required in all Pro Stock vehicles. The Electrimotion Pro Stock Shutoff Controller Kit is a safety element installed on Pro Stock vehicles to assist an impaired driver in stopping the race vehicle beyond the finish line. Modification or tampering with the Electrimotion Pro Stock Shutoff Controller Kit is strictly prohibited, as outlined in Section 16, page 10 of the 2013 NHRA Rulebook.

Both fines must be paid in full prior to the driver or team being allowed to participate at any future NHRA events. Both fines are appealable, as outlined in Section 1, pages 16-23 of the 2013 NHRA Rulebook.

NHRA racers and fans will kick off the NHRA Kansas Nationals weekend Thursday in Topeka at Speedfest, a free autograph session and car display in downtown Topeka.

Speedfest will run from noon to 7 p.m. on 8th Avenue between Kansas Avenue and Quincy Avenue. Race fans can enjoy music, car displays, food, and fun all day, and a pair of NHRA driver autograph sessions are scheduled for 2 and 6 p.m.

Drivers expected to attend include Brandon Bernstein, Morgan Lucas, Terry McMillen, David Grubnic, Matt Hagan, Jack Beckman, Shawn Langdon, Khalid alBalooshi, Erica Enders-Stephens, Allen Johnson, and more.

Speedfest is free to the public.
 

The spectacular high-speed racing excitement of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series thunders into Heartland Park Topeka for the 25th annual NHRA Kansas Nationals May 17-19. The eighth event of the 24-race season will feature competition in the Top Fuel, Funny Car, and Pro Stock categories.

NHRA is providing a great opportunity for Kansas families to get up close and personal with the NHRA's personable drivers and experience the amazing sensory adventure of watching their favorite race cars on the track with a special ticket offer: Children 12 and younger will be admitted free into general-admission areas at the NHRA Kansas Nationals when accompanied by a paid adult.

All of the biggest stars in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series will be revved up to compete at the site of many record-breaking performances throughout NHRA history. The 2012 winners of this event were David Grubnic (Top Fuel), Jack Beckman (Funny Car), and Allen Johnson (Pro Stock). The thrilling race action will again be televised on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD.

Native Australian Grubnic, who last season hoisted his first Wally trophy since 2006 in Topeka, will try to add a third victory at the event to his résumé. He will be challenged by series leader Tony Schumacher, defending world champ Antron Brown, last season’s runner-up Spencer Massey, Morgan Lucas, Doug Kalitta, and Brandon Bernstein, among others.

In Funny Car, Beckman is in the hunt to defend his event win and his world championship crown and will face a tough lineup of competitors, including two-time Topeka winner Robert Hight, sophomore sensation Courtney Force, and NAPA Dodge driver Ron Capps, who is a three-time Topeka winner, working hard to claim the victory. 

Reigning Pro Stock world champion Johnson, in his Team Mopar Dodge Avenger, is building steam with two early-season wins and is eager to get back to Topeka to try to defend his victory from last year. Johnson will have to battle with some tough contenders in the 200-mph factory hot rod category, including Summit Racing Chevy Camaro driver Greg Anderson, a four-time Topeka winner, and Erica Enders-Stevens, who has some early-season momentum following a victory in Arizona and runner-up finishes in Las Vegas and Charlotte.

To kick off the NHRA Kansas Nationals, fans will also be treated to a sneak preview of the action during the annual Speedfest on Thursday, May 16, from noon to 7 p.m. in the heart of downtown Topeka, at 8th Avenue and Kansas Avenue. This free event will provide fans the opportunity to see amazing cars on display and meet some of the biggest NHRA stars for autographs, including Hight, Bernstein, Shawn Langdon, Lucas, Johnson, and Enders-Stevens  to name a few. Autograph sessions will be at 2 and 6 p.m.

As always, fans will have the opportunity to interact with their favorite drivers as they’re granted an exclusive pit pass to the most accessible motorsports attraction on the planet.

NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying will begin Friday, May 17, with sessions at 5 and 7 p.m. The final two qualifying sessions will take place Saturday, May 18, at 12:15 and 2:30 p.m. Final eliminations will begin at 11 a.m. Sunday, May 19.

To purchase tickets, call 800-884-NHRA (6472) or log on to NHRAtix.com.

Antron Brown raced to the Top Fuel victory Saturday at the weather-delayed Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway.

Johnny Gray (Funny Car) and Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) also were winners at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event, which was delayed for a week due to persistent rain showers.

Brown claimed his second victory of the season and his fifth win at the Georgia dragstrip, powering past Brandon Bernstein in the final round. Brown covered the distance in 3.801 seconds at 321.25 mph in his Matco Tools dragster while Bernstein’s ProtectTheHarvest.com dragster lost traction at the start and finished in 7.105 at 90.64.

Antron Brown

“It’s big to win down here at the Southern Nationals,” said defending world champion Brown, who also defeated Pat Dakin, Spencer Massey, and Doug Kalitta in earlier rounds to secure his 39th career victory.

“This track’s been real special to me,” Brown continued. “It reminds me of going to a racetrack in my hometown. It’s been around forever, and it has that special atmosphere with great fans that pump you up. You get that aura of the passion for the sport that they have. Everybody was running so strong this weekend that it was monumental for us to get the job done.”

With the win, Brown moved to second place in the points order, within five points of series leader Tony Schumacher.

"Every team gets in a groove, and our car can run what the track will hold when we’re in our groove,” Brown said. “People probably know that, if they want to take that win from us, they’re going to have to step up because we’re not going to leave any scraps on the table. We threw some good numbers out there.”

In Funny Car, Gray earned his second win of the season by defeating event No. 1 qualifier Matt Hagan in the final round. Gray’s Pitch Energy Dodge Charger led the entire way down the track with a performance of 4.077 at 314.17, and Hagan trailed in his Magneti Marelli/Rocky Footwear Charger with a 4.160 at 309.49.

Johnny Gray

“We got overcenter here for a couple of races and struggled pretty good,” said Gray, who moved up from fifth to third in the series standings with the win. “The car was getting really inconsistent, and the boys made the election just to back the thing way down, get way over on the soft side, and start picking their way back up. I didn’t know they’d pick it up quite that quick, but they picked on it pretty good today. The thing came back real strong.”

Gray outran Robert Hight, Ron Capps, and points leader Cruz Pedregon in earlier rounds to claim his fifth career victory and first ever at Atlanta Dragway.

“We’re tickled to death,” Gray said. “[Crew chiefs] Rob [Wendland] and Rip [Reynolds] are pretty phenomenal over there. They get a little left of center there every now and again, but, boy, it doesn’t take them long to reel it back in, and when they’ve got it reeled in, man that’s a hot rod. They give me a car good enough even I can’t screw it up.”

Mike Edwards

“All things considered, it was a great day in the office,” said Edwards, who beat Warren Johnson, V. Gaines, and Greg Anderson in the first three rounds. “Man, it just seemed like we were a little bit faster than a few of them. We’re making good runs, just need to make better runs. We just tried all day long and couldn’t make it go any faster, but hey, it just feels good to come out with a win. It was a great win for me and my guys.”

The younger Gray posted a 6.643 at 208.17 in his Gray Motorsports Camaro in the runner-up effort in his third consecutive final round appearance. He barely missed joining his father in the Mello Yello Series winner’s circle, which would have been a first in the sport. The only other time a father-son tandem advanced to final rounds in different Mello Yello Series categories at the same event was in 2007 in Brainerd, where Brandon Bernstein won in Top Fuel and Kenny Bernstein was runner-up in Funny Car.

“Shane was on today,” said Edwards, who with the win increased his series points lead to 126 over second-place Jeg Coughlin Jr. “I asked him down there at the other end what he had this morning, and he said a big ol’ box of Wheaties, so that’s what I’m having in Kansas. He did a phenomenal job. I think that’s three finals in a row for that team, so they’re definitely catching fire, and they’re running good.”

Gray rattled off several amazing reaction times to advance to the final round, including back-to-back .002 and .001 starts in the semi's and final. Edwards, the 2009 world champ, says winning an NHRA Pro Stock race just keeps getting tougher and tougher.

“The competition is amazing,” Edwards said. “Pro Stock is just a great class. It’s fun to be a part of, but I’ll tell you what, the older I get, my nerves are getting shot. It’s tough. Them guys are so good. They pull up there and just pop them .00s on you. Man, we made a real nice run in the final. I was a little worried because that was the first time we were going to be the first pair out, but it made a sweet run. It’s all good when you win.”

The NHRA Mello Yello Series continues with the NHRA Kansas Nationals, May 17-19, at Heartland Park Topeka.

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Friday: Langdon, Hagan, Edwards lead Atlanta qualifying fields

Matt Hagan ended a 29-race drought from the top of Funny Car’s qualifying order by racing to the No. 1 position Friday at the rain-delayed Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway.

Shawn Langdon (Top Fuel) and Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) also will lead their categories into Saturday’s 11 a.m. eliminations as the No. 1 qualifiers in their categories at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event.

The 2011 Funny Car world champ powered his Magneti Marelli/Rocky Footwear Dodge Charger to a track record time of 4.067 seconds at 312.86 mph to claim his first No. 1 qualifying position since November 2011 and the 11th of his career. Hagan will open eliminations against No. 16 qualifier Tony Pedregon, a two-time world champ.

Matt Hagan

“I guess this is my first pole since my championship year, but I just look at [last year] as just a wash,” said Hagan, who finished 11th in points last season, missing the Countdown to the Championship playoffs. “I don’t even think about it anymore; it’s behind me. We’re looking ahead to bigger and brighter things with [crew chief] Dickie Venables and this car and this crew. My lights [reaction times] are great, and the car’s running great, and that’s a hard combination to beat when you put two and two together. The confidence just keeps building, but, like I said, without my guys busting their butts, it’s not happening. It’s a great feeling to be back up at the top, No. 1.”

Ron Capps qualified second with a 4.073 at 313.15 in his NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger and will race second-year driver and recent Charlotte runner-up Blake Alexander in the first round. Meanwhile, series points leader Cruz Pedregon qualified third in his Snap-on Tools Toyota Camry with a 4.086 at 303.37 and will begin his quest to earn his third win of the season by facing Jeff Arend in the first round.

Shawn Langdon

In Top Fuel, Langdon took his second No. 1 qualifying position of the season and eighth of his career, powering his Al-Anabi Racing dragster to both ends of the track record with a performance of 3.791 at 324.36. Langdon will race GEICO/Lucas Oil dragster driver Morgan Lucas in the first round.

“With only having two runs today, we were a little conservative on the first run to try to get down the racetrack," Langdon said. "We accomplished that and found a lot of areas that we could improve on, and I think that showed a little bit on the second run.”

Langdon has advanced to the last two final rounds and hopes to claim his second win of the season and improve on his third-place points position with a strong showing this weekend.

“The crew chiefs have been doing a great job of working hard to basically finish up what we were trying to accomplish with these cars last year,” Langdon said. “We got behind the eight-ball a little bit last year trying to test some new stuff. They’re getting it figured out now."

Defending Top Fuel world champ Antron Brown qualified second in his Matco Tools dragster with a 3.826 at 321.35 and will race veteran driver Pat Dakin, and Doug Kalitta was third in the Mac Tools dragster with the same time as Brown’s at a speed of 320.36 and will race rookie Leah Pruett in the opening round.

Points leader and seven-time world champ Tony Schumacher, who has never won at Atlanta Dragway, will open in a tough first-round pairing against local favorite Bob Vandergriff Jr., who resides in nearby Alpharetta, Ga., who is still riding the momentum from scoring his first win of the season two weeks ago in Houston.

Mike Edwards

In Pro Stock, Edwards claimed his sixth No. 1 qualifying position of the season with a performance of 6.583 at 210.57 in his Interstate Batteries/I Am Second Chevy Camaro. He will face six-time champ and longtime Buford, Ga., resident Warren Johnson in the opening round of eliminations.

“We were being conservative because we only get two sessions, so you’ve got to get down the racetrack to get qualified, so we feel real good about how we ran,” said Edwards, the current series points leader and a two-time winner at Atlanta Dragway. “We feel like we can run a little bit better, so that makes us feel even better. Hat’s off to all my guys. The Interstate Battery/I Am Second Camaro is just running flawlessly, and I’m just hoping we can run good tomorrow and have a long day.”

Jeg Coughlin Jr. qualified second with a 6.590 at 209.75 in his JEGS.com/Mopar Dodge Avenger and will face fellow Ohio driver Larry Morgan, who pilots the Lucas Oil Ford Mustang, and Rickie Jones will start third with a 6.596 at 210.11 in his Elite Motorsports Camaro and face veteran driver Kurt Johnson in the opening round.

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Heavy rains force NHRA officials to postpone Southern Nationals

Allen Johnson, the 2012 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro Stock champion, has been kept busy accepting numerous awards and recognition for his accomplishments on and off the dragstrip.

On Thursday, May 9, Johnson accepted an award at the Junior Achievement gala, not just for his on-track accomplishments, but also for his contributions to society and specifically young members of his community through his race team and business, Greeneville Oil & Petroleum. Among those attending in support of Johnson were representatives of primary sponsor Mopar, NHRA President Tom Compton, and fellow Pro Stock racer Erica Enders-Stevens.

Junior Achievement is the world’s largest organization dedicated to educating young people about work force readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy through experiential, hands-on programs that in turn help students put these lessons into action and learn the value of contributing to their communities.

“The prestigious Junior Achievement award is a personal award that recognizes what you have done for the juniors and others in your area.” Johnson said. “It really is a humbling award because they go back to birth and recognize your life and what you have done. To be able to include my daughters, my parents, my in-laws and certainly my wife to share in this award is really humbling.”

Johnson’s Greeneville, Tenn.-based team was presented with “Team of the Year” honors by the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame at their annual banquet May 4 for representing their state with excellence in winning a career best seven national titles and the 2012 NHRA Pro Stock world championship. Part of the ceremony celebrated the induction of a great class that included basketball coach Rick Byrd, basketball player Penny Hardaway, and country music’s Vince Gill.
 

The 2012 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series champions were the guests of honor at Atlanta’s World of Coca-Cola just prior to the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals at nearby Atlanta Dragway for the annual NHRA Mello Yello Partnership Dinner, which celebrated 12 years of Coca-Cola’s partnership with the sport.

Reigning NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world champions Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Jack Beckman (Funny Car), Allen Johnson (Pro Stock), and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were among the evening’s honorees at the event hosted by Mello Yello and The Coca-Cola Company, which included executives from NHRA, The Coca-Cola Company, Red Moon Marketing, and broadcast partner ESPN as well as past champions, their guests, and team owners.

In all, 12 current or former world champions attended. The past world champions in attendance were Larry Dixon, Cruz Pedregon, Matt Hagan, Greg Anderson, Jason Line, Jeg Coughlin Jr., Andrew Hines, and Matt Smith, as well as championship team owners Don Schumacher, Alan Johnson, and Roy Johnson.

Among those in attendance from Coca-Cola were Al Rondon, Sr. Marketing Manager, Sports and Entertainment Marketing; Nancy Hunter, Executive Assistant to the President of Coca-Cola Americas; Sharon Byers, Sr. Vice President, Sports and Entertainment Marketing; Racquel Mason, Assistant Vice President, Flavor Brands; Alison Lewis, Sr. Vice President, Strategic Marketing; Mark Rahiya, Chief Region Sales Officer; Ray Faust, Sr. Vice President, Portfolio Commercialization; Ben Reiling, Director, Sports and Entertainment Marketing; and Gary Azar, Executive Sponsor for Mello Yello.

NHRA was represented by President Tom Compton; Vice Presidents Gary Darcy, Graham Light, Glen Cromwell, Glen Gray, and Jerry Archambeault; as well as John Siragusa and Kristen Wentzell.

Phoenix-based bluemedia, one of the nation’s leading signage companies, has entered into a multiyear agreement with NHRA to become its official signage and graphics provider.

As an official sponsor, bluemedia will have signage rights at NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series events as well as a presence on NHRA’s multiple media platforms, including NHRA.com, National Dragster, and NHRA’s social-media channels. The sponsorship makes available business-to-business opportunities within the NHRA member-track network as well as with race teams.

“We’re very excited about our relationship with NHRA, and we’re looking forward to continuing our support of the sport,” said Jared Smith, bluemedia president.

bluemedia’s clients include professional and collegiate sports teams, sports facilities, and sporting events.

Ernie Schorb, a South Florida pioneering drag racing organizer and promoter who became NHRA’s first Southeast Division director, died May 7.

Schorb began his involvement in drag racing in the 1950s, racing his '34 flathead-powered Ford as a Miami-area member of the Ramblers car club. In 1954, he became regional advisor to NHRA and moved to California in 1958 as NHRA’s business manager at the original NHRA headquarters in Los Angeles. He returned to Miami in 1959 when he was named NHRA’s first Southeast Division director. During that time, he and first NHRA Southeast Tech Director Bill Smith traveled across the Southeast, spreading the NHRA word on drag racing safety.

In 1960, Schorb spearheaded the joint venture between NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. and NHRA founder Wally Parks to host the inaugural Winternationals. Schorb actually coined the name “Winternationals,” which remains one of NHRA’s largest racing events. The seven-day, mid-February races were held at night during NASCAR’s Speedweek races in Daytona Beach, Fla., in nearby Bunnell, Fla.

In February 2000, during the 40th Anniversary NHRA Winternationals, Schorb was presented with NHRA’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Parks presented the award on the starting line before Sunday’s final eliminations. In 2002, at the NHRA Gatornationals, Schorb received the Pioneers Award from NHRA. He also was inducted into the NHRA Southeast Division Hall of Fame in 1982.

Schorb continued to remain active in the drag racing world as a volunteer member of the board of directors of the East Coast Drag Racing Hall of Fame Museum in Henderson, N.C., and was one of the 2006 ECDR Hall of Fame inductees.

NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series teams will return to Atlanta Dragway this weekend for the completion of the rain-delayed Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals. The seventh round of the 2013 season was put on hold one week ago after heavy rains forced NHRA officials to postpone the race until this weekend, May 10-11.

The two-day race weekend will resume with two qualifying sessions Friday, May 10, at 2 and 4 p.m. Eliminations will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 11. Steve Torrence (Top Fuel), Ron Capps (Funny Car), and Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) are the defending winners of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event that will be televised on ESPN2HD.

John Force

John Force, the 15-time NHRA world champ who has won at Atlanta Dragway seven times, is really pumped up to give a spectacular show to fans in the area who have waited patiently for two weeks.

“Having rain postpone us really hurts because we want to race,” said Force, driver of the Castrol GTX Ford Mustang Funny Car. “It is what we do. We want to hear the roar of the crowd. I hope all the fans come back Friday for qualifying and then the race on Saturday. We will put on a great show, and I am looking to go rounds.”

Top Fuel driver Morgan Lucas, pilot of the GEICO/Lucas Oil dragster who earned his first victory at Atlanta Dragway in 2009, says a win Saturday would become a very special present on the following day.

“It’s going to be a unique opportunity for all of us to try and win a Wally as a Mother’s Day gift,” said Lucas, whose mother, Charlotte, often competes in NHRA’s Super Comp category. “We’ll come back with the same positive attitude and try to win some rounds.”

With only two qualifying sessions available to get into the 16-car fields, most drivers know they will need to be on their toes for Friday’s action. Veteran Funny Car driver Tim Wilkerson says a premium will be placed on making a solid run down the track on the first qualifying attempt so that his Levi, Ray & Shoup Ford Mustang team doesn’t enter the final session on the bubble, frantically trying to get into the starting lineup for Saturday’s eliminations.

“Only getting the two qualifying runs is always tough, but that’s the way it’s been at the last two races, and we’ve done OK, so I’m not complaining,” Wilkerson said. “We’re all in the same boat on that deal.”

Tony Schumacher

The extremely competitive Funny Car category is led by two-time season winner Cruz Pedregon and his “No-Name” crew.  Courtney Force also has proven to be a tough challenger on the strength of two final-round appearances and one win in Pomona. Others to watch in the 8,000-horsepower category are Four-Wide Nationals winner Matt Hagan, defending event winner Capps, and defending world champion Jack Beckman.

The Pro Stock category is again shaping up to be a tight battle with two-time Atlanta winner Mike Edwards holding the series lead over defending world champ Allen Johnson. Jeg Coughlin Jr., Vincent Nobile, Shane Gray, and Erica Enders-Stevens are also among the pre-race favorites in the 200-mph factory hot rod category.

The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series also will thrill the crowds during the weekend with intense side-by-side competition.

As always, fans can interact with their favorite drivers because every ticket is an exclusive pit pass, allowing them to see firsthand the highly skilled mechanics service their hot rods between rounds. Spectators also won’t want to miss the popular interactive NHRA Nitro Alley and the NHRA Manufacturers Midway.

• SCHEDULE: NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying sessions are scheduled for 2 and 4 p.m. Friday, May 10. Final eliminations will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 11.

• TICKETS: For tickets, log on to www.NHRATix.com or call the NHRA Ticket Sales Center, 800-884-NHRA (6472).

• TELEVISION: ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise one hour of qualifying coverage at 10 a.m. ET Saturday, May 11, and three hours of eliminations coverage at 8 p.m. ET, also on Saturday, May 11.

Two sessions of qualifying for the seventh of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series will take place Friday, May 10, at 2 and 4 p.m. Eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 11.

NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series competitors in Super Stock, Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas, and Super Street will begin racing at 8 a.m. on Friday, May 10, with one time run and then go straight into the first round of eliminations on a random pairing. Top Dragster and Top Sportsman racers will get one qualifying session, and then their fields will be set for first-round eliminations.

All Saturday, May 4, tickets will be honored on May 10. Tickets for Friday, May 3, can be used as a voucher valid for either day of the rescheduled weekend.

The race will be televised on ESPN2HD with one hour of qualifying coverage on Saturday, May 11, at 10 a.m. (ET). Eliminations coverage will be presented in a three-hour show starting at 8 p.m. (ET) also on Saturday, May 11.

Fans who want to purchase tickets for next weekend can call 800-884-NHRA (6472) or visit NHRATix.com.

Eight Pro Stock cars were able to get down the track before consistent showers returned to the track located northeast of Atlanta. Rickie Jones in his ’13 Camaro led those drivers who made qualifying runs with a time of 6.596 seconds at 210.11 mph. Results

Qualifying resumes on Saturday with two qualifying sessions scheduled for 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. Eliminations will take place on Sunday at 11 a.m.
 

Mike Edwards says the first quarter of the 2013 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series brings back a really vivid memory. The veteran driver from Coweta, Okla., says the way his Interstate Batteries/I Am Second Chevy Camaro has been performing so far this season draws many comparisons to his 2009 campaign. And we all know what happened that season. Edwards raced to five victories in 10 final rounds, earned 16 No. 1 qualifying positions, and took ownership of his first NHRA Pro Stock world championship trophy.

With one victory in two final rounds and a season-opening streak of five consecutive No. 1 qualifying positions through the first six races of 2013, Edwards is extremely proud of his team’s progress and on-track performance.

“It has been an amazing start to the 2013 Pro Stock season,” Edwards said. “I never thought that this Interstate Batteries/I Am Second/Penhall/K&N team would have enjoyed this much success in qualifying. Pro Stock is such a competitive field, and nearly every car that pulls to the starting line each qualifying session is capable of going to the pole.”

Edwards hopes to keep moving in that direction and add more vital stats to his season scorecard at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals, May 3-5 at Atlanta Dragway. Steve Torrence (Top Fuel), Ron Capps (Funny Car), and Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) are the defending winners of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event that will be televised on ESPN2HD.

Edwards, who is a two-time winner at Atlanta Dragway, said he was relieved to finally get his first victory of the season at the Four-Wide Nationals in Charlotte and put a few disappointing semifinal and runner-up finishes behind him. 

“After the first four races having a really fast car and not getting a win, it was beginning to make you think that it might not be in the cards for a victory this year,” Edwards said. “But the win builds the morale of the team, which a few of the guys had never reached, and it gives you that taste, and it makes you work harder to get back for some more.”

With 35 victories, Edwards is hungrier than ever to add more marks to his win column.

“A victory gives you the confidence that you know you are doing things right and moving in the right direction,” Edwards said. “At the same time, you do not want to rest on your past and think you can just show up and win races. I have been around this sport way too long to know that you are only as good as your last run down the racetrack.”

He has not only been earning points during eliminations. Edwards leads all drivers in qualifying bonus points with 46. He has also added 40 points to his series lead by setting the national elapsed time record twice, in Gainesville (6.473 seconds) and in Charlotte (6.471). NHRA awards drivers a 20-point bonus for setting a national e.t. record.

“Setting the NHRA Pro Stock e.t. record for a second time this season is just a reward to all the long hours and hard work every single member of this team puts in,” Edwards said. “It is the culmination of everyone doing what they are supposed to and the right moment. I can’t tell you how proud it made me to get that time slip and be able to enjoy the moment with my team.”

If Edwards is going to capture his second win of the season and further increase his series lead, he’ll have to hold off the Summit Racing Chevy tandem of defending winner Anderson and recent Houston winner Jason Line. Anderson and Line seem to rise to the occasion whenever their team sponsor puts its name and logo on an NHRA event. Defending world champ Allen Johnson, four-time champ Jeg Coughlin Jr., Phoenix winner Erica Enders-Stevens, V. Gaines, Vincent Nobile, and Shane Gray are also among the drivers to watch in the 200-mph factory hot rod category.

In Top Fuel, Tony Schumacher is again a championship contender after securing victories in Phoenix and Las Vegas behind the controls of his U.S. Army dragster. Antron Brown and Spencer Massey have had success this year as well and will be aiming to top their Don Schumacher Racing teammate in the standings. Al-Anabi Racing’s Shawn Langdon, Doug Kalitta, Houston winner and local favorite Bob Vandergriff Jr., Clay Millican, and Morgan Lucas will challenge for the Atlanta win as well.

The extremely competitive Funny Car category is led by two-time season winner Cruz Pedregon and his "No Name" crew. Courtney Force also has proven to be a tough challenger on the strength of two final-round appearances and one win in Pomona. Others to watch in the wildly unpredictable 8,000-horsepower category are Four-Wide Nationals winner Matt Hagan, 15-time world champ John Force, defending event winner Capps, and defending world champion Jack Beckman.

The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series also will thrill the crowds during the weekend with intense side-by-side competition.

As always, fans can interact with their favorite drivers because every ticket is an exclusive pit pass, allowing them to see firsthand the highly skilled mechanics service their hot rods between rounds. Spectators also won’t want to miss the popular interactive NHRA Nitro Alley and the NHRA Manufacturers Midway.

For the second consecutive year, fans can take advantage of an exciting ticket offer: NHRA is offering a special NHRA Fan Pack that includes two Tier 2 reserved adult tickets and a preferred parking pass. This allows the easiest access into Atlanta Dragway via a separate gate entrance and provides parking in the nearest lot next to the main ticket office. Other Fan Pack benefits include two hot dogs and Cokes, one NHRA Fan Guide, and a waived service fee on each transaction. Limited quantities are available for each race day. Friday’s NHRA Fan Pack is only $80, and the Saturday or Sunday Pack is just $112.
 
• SCHEDULE: NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying sessions are scheduled for 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 3, and will continue Saturday, May 4, at 1 and 2:30 p.m. Final eliminations will begin at 11 a.m. Sunday, May 5.

• TICKETS: For tickets, log on to NHRATix.com or call the NHRA Ticket Sales Center, 800-884-NHRA (6472).

• TELEVISION: ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 8 p.m. ET Saturday, May 4, and three hours of eliminations coverage at 6:30 p.m. ET Sunday, May 5.

Schumacher, 68, is the 11th NHRA inductee into the prestigious Hall, which features among its members a distinguished roster of deserving drivers from all segments of motorsports, including Mario Andretti, Dale Earnhardt, Richard Petty, and A.J. Foyt. The other NHRA inductees are Wally Parks (1992), Don Garlits (1997), Don Prudhomme (2000), Shirley Muldowney (2004), Joe Amato (2005), Bob Glidden (2005), Warren Johnson (2007), Bill Jenkins (2008), Kenny Bernstein (2012), and John Force (2012).

As a driver, Schumacher won five NHRA event titles, including at the 1970 NHRA U.S. Nationals; however, his greatest achievements in the sport have come as a team owner. Schumacher walked away from the sport in 1974 and focused on building his battery business, Schumacher Electric. The Chicago native returned to drag racing in 1998 with son Tony as driver of a Top Fuel dragster, and since then, Schumacher's win total has soared to more than 200 victories. He has built one of the biggest teams in NHRA competition and currently fields three Top Fuel dragsters and four Funny Cars in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.

He was a first-ballot selection by an international panel of motorsports journalists and historians. His son, Tony, who has won 71 event titles and claimed seven NHRA Top Fuel world championships at the controls of the U.S. Army dragster, introduced his father for induction into the prestigious Hall.

"This is such a great honor," Schumacher said. "I was overwhelmed just to be nominated. This is really overwhelming."

Schumacher's legacy in the sport will be remembered as bringing a business approach to drag racing and helping to develop many safety innovations. A fierce match racer in the late 1960s and early '70s, he was one of the first drivers to secure sponsorship for his race teams. His Stardust and Wonder Bread Funny Cars are still among the most recognizable machines in NHRA history. In the pit area, he developed many engine, clutch, and aerodynamic enhancements. Perhaps his most significant contribution to safety was his roof-mounted escape hatch, which has long been a mandatory requirement for every Funny Car.

Schumacher is the only team owner in NHRA history to win both nitro championships in the same season. He has accomplished that feat twice, in 2005 with son Tony (Top Fuel) and Gary Scelzi (Funny Car) and in 2012 with Antron Brown (Top Fuel) and Jack Beckman (Funny Car). In all, Schumacher owns 203 NHRA victories and 11 world championship titles.

Universal Technical Institute has signed on again as a national partner of the NHRA Youth & Education Services program presented by U.S. Army. UTI has been involved in this one-of-a-kind youth education program since 2006. As a national partner of the NHRA YES program, UTI will participate at seven events in 2013 and have the opportunity to invite schools and youth groups to participate.

“The popularity and growth of the motorsports industry are providing our grads with new opportunities as skilled technicians,” said Kim McWaters, CEO of UTI. “Continuing our partnership with NHRA and the U.S. Army will guide more high school students to promising careers and help to supply a skilled workforce to our motorsports partners for years to come.”

NHRA’s YES program presented by U.S. Army is the first program of its kind in the world of motorsports that inspires and provides career guidance to thousands of high school students across the United States. Created in 1989 as a way to connect education and drag racing, the YES program is a one-day event held at NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series events each season. NHRA is able to provide more than 23,000 youth around the country the opportunity to participate in the YES program each year.

In addition, UTI will be the presenting sponsor of the U.S. Army High School Automotive Challenge in November at the UTI-Rancho Cucamonga (Calif.) campus. The U.S. Army High School Automotive Challenge features 25 schools competing in automotive-maintenance challenges. The top eight teams advance to compete at the Career Opportunities Fair at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. The fair is held on the eve of the start of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series’ final event of the season, the Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals.

For more information on Universal Technical Institute’s automotive technology programs, log on to www.uti.edu.

NHRA Now is a weekly Web series that gives fans an inside look at the lives of the drivers and teams of the NHRA and keeps everyone up to date on the latest happenings on and off the track, all season long. NHRA Now also is shared on NHRA's Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube pages each week.

Brandon Bernstein hosts this week’s episode, which includes interviews with drivers who visited Houston's Johnson Space Center plus a preview of the 33rd annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals ... and outtakes!
 

The 2012 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season was a breakout year for Top Fuel driver Steve Torrence and his Capco Racing/Torrence Motorsports dragster. In the highlight of that campaign, he raced to his first final-round appearance and defeated Tony Schumacher for his first victory at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals.

At the time, Schumacher was mired in a win drought that stretched back to the end of the 2010 season. En route to the final to meet the seven-time NHRA Mello Yello world champion, Torrence defeated J.R. Todd, Bob Vandergriff Jr., and Brandon Bernstein.

“Tony Schumacher is always tough to beat,” Torrence said. “He is an accomplished driver, and you always expect perfection. But I had confidence in my race car. We had lane choice; I thought we could do it. It was tough racing all day. I had a really competitive car, and I thought we had the car to beat. We had a handle on the track conditions, and we were making quick runs.”

Torrence will be looking to defend his victory when the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals returns to Atlanta Dragway May 3-5. The seventh of 24 events in the 2013 season will feature competition in Top Fuel, Funny Car, and Pro Stock and be televised on ESPN2HD. Ron Capps (Funny Car) and Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) are also defending event winners.

For Torrence, racing is a family affair. He got started in the sport as a teenager in the Super Comp ranks with his father at his side, so the presence of his dad at the 2012 event sweetened his win.

“It was unbelievable,” Torrence said. “All of the hard work we put into putting the team together all paid off that day. And it was made more special because my dad was with me.”

Torrence and his team won two more events last year (in Seattle and Englishtown) and qualified for the Countdown to the Championship for the first time. Though the victories didn’t come easier following his first triumph, they did raise the spirits of the team.

“Nothing is ever easy because every driver wants to win,” Torrence said. “I have gained confidence because this team proved that we can win races. I had to pedal the car on almost every run in Seattle to get the win, and I had two holeshot wins in Englishtown.”

This season, Torrence finds himself just outside the top 10 in the points standings with his best efforts being a pair of quarterfinal finishes. He hopes a season turnaround might happen in Atlanta.

“We need to get our car running like it was last year at this time,” Torrence said.
  
The Top Fuel category has featured incredible racing this season, and Tony Schumacher holds the series lead over his Don Schumacher Racing teammate Antron Brown. Houston winner and local favorite Vandergriff will have plenty of family and friends cheering him on. Others to watch in the Top Fuel category include Spencer Massey, Doug Kalitta, Brandon Bernstein, Shawn Langdon, Morgan Lucas, David Grubnic, and Khalid alBalooshi.

In Funny Car, Courtney Force, in her sophomore season, has raced to two final-round appearances and won the season-opening event in Pomona. Two-time season winner Cruz Pedregon, Del Worsham, Robert Hight, and defending event winner Capps are all looking for another Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals victory.

The Pro Stock category is again shaping up to be a tight battle, with Mike Edwards holding the series lead over defending world champ Allen Johnson. Jeg Coughlin Jr., Vincent Nobile, Shane Gray, and Erica Enders-Stevens are among the pre-race favorites in the 200-mph factory hot rod category.

The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series also will thrill the crowds during the weekend with intense side-by-side competition.

As always, fans can interact with their favorite drivers because every ticket is an exclusive pit pass, allowing them to see firsthand the highly skilled mechanics service their hot rods between rounds. Spectators also won’t want to miss the popular interactive NHRA Nitro Alley and the NHRA Manufacturers Midway.

For the second consecutive year, fans can take advantage of an exciting ticket offer: NHRA is offering a special NHRA Fan Pack that includes two Tier 2 reserved adult tickets and a preferred parking pass. This allows the easiest access into Atlanta Dragway via a separate gate entrance and provides parking in the nearest lot next to the main ticket office. Other Fan Pack benefits include two hot dogs and Cokes, one NHRA Fan Guide, and a waived service fee on each transaction. Limited quantities are available for each race day. Friday’s NHRA Fan Pack is only $80, and the Saturday or Sunday Pack is just $112.
 
• SCHEDULE: NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying sessions are scheduled for 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 3, and will continue Saturday, May 4, at 1 and 2:30 p.m. Final eliminations will begin at 11 a.m. Sunday, May 5.

• TICKETS: For tickets, log on to NHRATix.com or call the NHRA Ticket Sales Center, 800-884-NHRA (6472).

• TELEVISION: ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 6 p.m. ET Saturday, May 4, and three hours of eliminations coverage at 8 p.m. ET Sunday, May 5.

With five different winners in six races and several more drivers showing they have the potential to win races, to say the NHRA Funny Car category has been competitively balanced would be an understatement.

Perhaps brutally tough would be a more fitting description.

If there has been a driver who has stood out so far among the pack, it would be two-time world champ Cruz Pedregon. The veteran driver who is pulling double duty as both driver and crew chief this season for his Snap-on Tools Toyota Camry has raced to victories in Las Vegas and Houston and has been the No. 1 qualifier two times.

For his efforts Pedregon has ascended to the No. 1 position in the points standings in the early goings. It is the first time since his brother Tony held the lead in Sept. 2009 that a driver who is not a part of John Force Racing or Don Schumacher Racing has led the points standings. If you’re counting, that’s a span of 78 events.

Pedregon hopes to keep the momentum going at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals, May 3-5, at Atlanta Dragway. Steve Torrence (Top Fuel), Ron Capps (Funny Car), and Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) are the defending winners of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event.
 
The last time Cruz held the series lead was at the end of the 2008 season, when he won the second of his two world championship crowns (also 1992). He’s very proud to be back on top once again, especially since he’s doing it with his well-publicized “No Name” crew.

“It’s a by-product of what we’re doing, and it’s an honor and a nice feather in the cap,” said Pedregon, whose only win at Atlanta Dragway came in 1998. “It’s still early, and there are some guys grouped together pretty tightly [in the points], but we’ll take it. It’s a credit to the team and what we’ve been able to accomplish. We have a little momentum going and that’s important.”

Tim Wilkerson

With back-to-back final-round appearances, another driver in the 8,000-horsepower category with some momentum is also one who makes the tuning decisions and drives the car. Tim Wilkerson posted a runner-up finish to Pedregon in Houston and feels certain that he’s a win waiting to happen in his Levi, Ray & Shoup Ford Mustang.

“As good as it’s been, being in contention to win the last two races, I’m about tired of wearing my bridesmaid’s dress,” said Wilkerson, who last hoisted a Wally in Seattle in 2011. “It’s worn out, over the last year or so, and now we’re working on a streak of being in four straight final rounds without getting the win. Believe me, we all want to take that next step and get back in the winner’s circle.”

The talent level runs very deep in Funny Car. Sophomore driver Alexis DeJoria has pushed her way into the top 10 at the controls of her Tequila Patron Toyota Camry by posting a pair of semifinal finishes and two eighth-place qualifying efforts. She is one of several young drivers — including Charlotte runner-up Blake Alexander and Charlotte No. 1 qualifier Chad Head — who have been making great progress in the Funny Car category.

Alexis DeJoria

DeJoria, who has defeated John Force, Robert Hight, defending world champ Jack Beckman, and last season’s top rookie Courtney Force in recent head-to-head elimination pairings, is confident that more success is coming her way.

“I’m proud of my team,” said DeJoria, currently ninth in the standings. “We’re going rounds and gaining points with every round, and that’s what’s important right now. I’m looking forward to getting right back out there in a few days in Atlanta.”

Speaking of veteran driver Hight, the two-time winner at Atlanta Dragway says the incredible level of competition in Funny Car could force many teams to start counting points a lot earlier than they would have in previous seasons.

“The points are tightening up, and we are only six races into the season,” said Hight, who was the runner-up and No. 1 qualifier last season at Atlanta. “I am not really looking at the points, but you do want to qualify well and go rounds so you get data for the Countdown. We want to be peaking in the Countdown, and there is no doubt we want to get one of the guaranteed spots in the Traxxas Shootout. There have been five different winners in Funny Car, so there are only two guaranteed spots left.”

Others to watch in Funny Car include defending event winner Capps, 15-time world champ John Force, who is a seven-time winner at Atlanta Dragway, Johnny Gray, and Matt Hagan, the 2011 world champ who won the recent Dollar General NHRA Four-Wide Nationals fueled by Full Throttle in North Carolina.

In Top Fuel, Tony Schumacher is again a championship contender early in the season after securing two early-season wins, in Phoenix and Las Vegas, at the controls of his U.S. Army dragster. Antron Brown and Spencer Massey have had success this year as well and will be aiming to top their Don Schumacher Racing teammate in the standings. Al-Anabi Racing's Shawn Langdon, Doug Kalitta, Houston winner and local favorite Bob Vandergriff Jr., Clay Millican, and Morgan Lucas will challenge for the win as well.

The Pro Stock category is once again shaping up to be a tight battle with Mike Edwards holding the series lead over defending world champ Allen Johnson. Jeg Coughlin Jr., Vincent Nobile, Shane Gray, and Erica Enders-Stevens are also among the pre-race favorites in the 200-mph factory hot rod category.

The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series also will thrill the crowds during the weekend with intense side-by-side competition.

As always, fans can interact with their favorite drivers because every ticket is an exclusive pit pass, allowing them to see firsthand the highly skilled mechanics service their hot rods between rounds. Spectators also won’t want to miss the popular interactive NHRA Nitro Alley and the NHRA Manufacturers Midway.

For the second consecutive year, fans can take advantage of an exciting ticket offer: NHRA is offering a special NHRA Fan Pack that includes two Tier 2 reserved adult tickets and a preferred parking pass. This allows the easiest access into Atlanta Dragway via a separate gate entrance and provides parking in the nearest lot next to the main ticket office. Other Fan Pack benefits include two hot dogs and Cokes, one NHRA Fan Guide, and a waived service fee on each transaction. Limited quantities are available for each race day. Friday’s NHRA Fan Pack is only $80, and the Saturday or Sunday Pack is just $112. 

• SCHEDULE: NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying sessions are scheduled for 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 3, and will continue Saturday, May 4, at 1 and 2:30 p.m. Final eliminations will begin at 11 a.m. Sunday, May 5.

• TICKETS: For tickets, log on to www.NHRATix.com or call the NHRA Ticket Sales Center at 800-884-NHRA (6472).

• TELEVISION: ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 6 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, May 4, and three hours of eliminations coverage at 8 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, May 5.

When Pro Stock racer Greg Anderson pulls into Atlanta Dragway for the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals May 3-5, he will not only be entering the event as the defending champion, but he will also be racing at a track where he has enjoyed tremendous success during his storied career.

Atlanta Dragway is one of eight tracks on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series circuit where the four-time world champ has scored four or more wins. In addition to his four victories as a driver at the storied venue (2004, 2005, 2007, 2012), he has had many opportunities to learn the nuances of the track.

"I have a lot of experience at that racetrack," Anderson said. "I worked for 12 years with [six-time world champ] Warren Johnson, and that's where we tested all the time. He may have been inside the car, but I was right outside,” said the Summit Racing driver. "I think that's one of the main reasons we've been able to run well there ever since we first formed this KB Racing team. Even though it's not our home track, it was mine for 12 years. It's another one of our favorites, and another one with Summit Racing on the billboards.”

Along with Anderson, Steve Torrence (Top Fuel) and Ron Capps (Funny Car) will be looking to defend their 2012 victories at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals, the seventh of 24 events in the 2013 season. The event, which will feature competition in Top Fuel, Funny Car, and Pro Stock, will be televised on ESPN2HD.
 
If Anderson adds a fifth Atlanta Dragway victory to his resume, he will tie Johnson for the most Pro Stock wins at the track. Putting his name next to Johnson’s in the record books would be an honor, but it isn’t what drives him to succeed.

“When I finally can't get in one of these things anymore and I no longer have a chance to win, then I guess I'll probably look at stats and records here and there," Anderson said. "But right now, I'm too deep into it. I'm living in the moment and trying to win every race I go to. I'll worry about the stats and records down the road, but someday to be able to tell people that you won the most races there, more than an icon in our sport like Warren Johnson, that would be pretty doggone cool."

In addition to the zealous Georgia fans, Anderson will be racing in front of many Summit Racing Equipment employees at his team sponsor’s event.

“There is a little extra incentive, a little bit more pressure, but that's what we like,” Anderson continued. “We like it when there is more on the line. That's when we seem to be able to give that extra 10 percent and get the job done."

Before the event, though, Anderson will be able to relax a bit with fellow NHRA Mello Yello world champions at the yearly dinner held to honor current and past world champions at nearby World of Coca-Cola.

“We have a big shindig at Coca-Cola, a champions’ dinner, and it's a very exclusive group," Anderson said. "You have to be a world champion to be invited; [teammate] Jason [Line] and I have been very fortunate to get that invite. Once you're in the club, you're in, and it's very special. The dinner is fantastic — they treat you great, it's a great facility, and it's just fun to sit there with the brass from Coca-Cola, including their president, and not worry about a drag race; you just talk like you're the best of buddies. It's a really neat event in an absolutely stunning facility. I feel very proud to be part of that very exclusive club. There aren't a lot of members, and that's what makes it cool."

To win the event, Anderson will have to hold off a stout field of competitors. Mike Edwards leads the points on the strength of his win in Charlotte, where he also set the national record for elapsed time at 6.471 seconds. Defending world champ Allen Johnson, Jeg Coughlin Jr., Vincent Nobile, and Erica Enders-Stevens are also among the pre-race favorites for a victory during the weekend.

In Top Fuel, Tony Schumacher is again a championship contender early in the season after securing two wins, in Phoenix and Las Vegas, at the controls of his U.S. Army dragster. Antron Brown and Spencer Massey have had success this year as well and will be aiming to top their Don Schumacher Racing teammate in the standings. Al-Anabi Racing's Shawn Langdon, Doug Kalitta, Clay Millican, and Morgan Lucas will challenge for the win as well.

The Funny Car category has excited fans with the resurgence of  former world champion Cruz Pedregon, who is leading the points. Courtney Force also will be tough on the strength of two final-round appearances and one win in Pomona. Others to watch in the 8,000-horsepower category are Matt Hagan, 15-time world champ John Force, Capps, and defending world champion Jack Beckman.

The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series also will thrill the crowds during the weekend with intense side-by-side competition.

As always, fans can interact with their favorite drivers because every ticket is an exclusive pit pass, allowing them to see firsthand the highly skilled mechanics service their hot rods between rounds. Spectators also won’t want to miss the popular interactive NHRA Nitro Alley and the NHRA Manufacturers Midway.

Fans also will want to take advantage of the popular Championship Sunday Track Walk, which is free to all Sunday ticket holders. This popular event gives fans the opportunity to walk down the legendary dragstrip alongside some of the NHRA’s biggest stars.

For the second consecutive year, fans can take advantage of an exciting ticket offer: NHRA is offering a special NHRA Fan Pack that includes two Tier 2 reserved adult tickets and a preferred parking pass. This allows the easiest access into Atlanta Dragway via a separate gate entrance and provides parking in the nearest lot next to the main ticket office. Other Fan Pack benefits include two hot dogs and Cokes, one NHRA Fan Guide, and a waived service fee on each transaction. Limited quantities are available for each race day. Friday’s NHRA Fan Pack is only $80, and the Saturday or Sunday Pack is just $112.  

• SCHEDULE: NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying sessions are scheduled for 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 3, and will continue Saturday, May 4, at 1 and 2:30 p.m. Final eliminations will begin at 11 a.m. Sunday, May 5.

• TICKETS: For tickets, log on to NHRATix.com or call the NHRA Ticket Sales Center, 800-884-NHRA (6472). Children 12 and younger will be admitted free to general admission areas with a paid adult.

• TELEVISION: ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 6 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 4, and three hours of eliminations coverage at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 5.