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.

Cruz Pedregon became the first two-time winner in the Funny Car category in 2013 by racing to victory Sunday at the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA SpringNationals presented by Super Start Batteries at Royal Purple Raceway.

Bob Vandergriff Jr. (Top Fuel), Jason Line (Pro Stock), and Hector Arana Jr. (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also were winners at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event near Houston.

Two-time Funny Car world champion Pedregon powered his Snap-on Tools Toyota Camry to the win over Tim Wilkerson to take his 32nd career victory.

Pedregon, who serves as the driver and crew chief for his team, covered the distance in 4.246 seconds at 296.96 mph to defeat Wilkerson’s trailing Levi, Ray & Shoup Ford Mustang, which lost traction in the final and ran a 6.914 at 102.28. With the win, Pedregon moves into the series points lead, 37 in front of Matt Hagan.

Cruz Pedregon

"Today was a challenging day, dealing with the track conditions,” Pedregon said. “We thought we had it pulled back enough for the first round, but we didn't [in his 5.36 to 6.04 pedaling win against Terry Haddcok]. After that, we got the car straightened out, and it ran good [with times of 4.18, 4.24, and 4.24].”

This is Pedregon's second career victory at Royal Purple Raceway (also 1992), and he knows that the success he is having this season wouldn’t be possible without a full team effort.

"I had to whack my crew chief just once because he went over-center a bit on the tune-up for the first round, but after that, everything was good," said a smiling Pedregon, who beat Haddock, Bob Tasca III, and Alexis DeJoria in earlier rounds. "It takes a totally different mind-set to run a 4.18 and a pair of 4.20s like we did today, and we did some things to the car that we've never done before. It was a great weekend all around."

In Top Fuel, Vandergriff earned his third career victory by holding off Shawn Langdon in the final
round. Vandergriff posted a winning run of 3.904 seconds at 316.38 mph in his C&J Energy Services dragster to defeat Langdon, whose Al-Anabi Racing dragster lost traction at the start. After taking the win light in the final round, Vandergriff continued his tradition of jogging from the finish line to join his crew near the starting line.

Bob Vandergriff Jr.

Points leader Tony Schumacher suffered a rare first-round loss but retains the points lead, and Langdon moves to third in points on the strength of his runner-up finish.

In Pro Stock, Line raced his Summit Racing Chevy Camaro to his second win at Royal Purple Raceway and his first of the year with a holeshot victory over Shane Gray. Both drivers covered the distance at 6.589 seconds, but the .007 reaction time of Line gave him an advantage over the .055 reaction time of Gray, who drove his Gray Motorsports Camaro. 

Jason Line

This is his 30th win of his career and was his first win of the season and the first since the second Charlotte race in 2012. He defeated Matt Hartford, local favorite Erica Enders-Stevens, and Jeg Coughlin Jr. in the first three rounds. With the win he moves to fifth in points.   

“The big difference this weekend is that we made six good runs in a row, and the car responded well to the changes in our tune-up,” Line said. “That’s the first time we’ve been able to do that in a while.”

Arana recorded his third straight win of the year in Pro Stock Motorcycle with a final-round performance of 6.912 at 194.74 on his Lucas Oil Buell to defeat Scotty Pollacheck, who was in his first final round and ran a 6.985 at 188.54 on his Sovereign Star Buell. Arana becomes just the third racer in Pro Stock Motorcycle history to win the first three events of the season, joining Matt Hines and Dave Schultz as the only drivers to accomplish the feat.

Hector Arana Jr.

The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series continues with the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals, May 3-5 at Atlanta Dragway.

Clint Satterfield raced to his first career NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series victory Sunday.

Satterfield, in his BAC Enterprises ’68 Camaro, faced Kenny Lang and his Summit Racing ’63 Camaro and marked the first time the two had faced off in eliminations. Lang fouled at the start, giving the win to Satterfield, who posted a 6.015-second pass at 246.75 mph.

In earlier rounds, Satterfield defeated Mike Knowles, Rickie Smith, and Mike Castellana.

Lang moves to the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series points lead from third, and Satterfield catapults from 10th to third on the strength of his win.

The NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series returns to action at the Toyota NHRA Summernationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park,  May 30-June 2.
 

Related stories
Friday: Kalitta, Pedregon, Coughlin, Arana lead in Houston after first day
Saturday: Fields set for Sunday finale after rain washes out final qualifying

 

Persistent rain showers forced NHRA officials to cancel the majority of Saturday’s qualifying for the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA SpringNationals presented by Super Start Batteries at Royal Purple Raceway. The only racing of the day in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series included one round of Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying, and 12 Pro Stock cars made an attempt before the rain became steady in the afternoon.

Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), Cruz Pedregon (Funny Car), Jeg Coughlin Jr. (Pro Stock), and Hector Arana Jr. (Pro Stock Motorcycle) will start Sunday’s 11 a.m. eliminations as the No. 1 qualifiers in their respective categories.

Kalitta claimed his third No. 1 qualifying position of the year in Top Fuel with his Friday run of 3.791 seconds at 321.65 mph in his Mac Tools dragster. This is his third No. 1 qualifying position at Royal Purple Raceway, and he will face Troy Buff in the opening round as he tries to earn his first win since the 2010 season and his second at the facility.

Doug Kalitta

“This is our third low qualifier, and now we can see if we can hopefully get to the final and deliver a win,” Kalitta said. “This rain will clean the track off, and that should change our setup a bit. I’m sure the track will be good, but I can tell you that we probably won’t be the first pair out. We have a good car, and I would have liked to see what we could have done today, but we’re solidly in the field and so are all of our team cars, so we didn’t have to deal with [the possibility of not qualifying]. We’re ready to go.”

Points leader Tony Schumacher qualified 14th and will face Shawn Langdon in the opening round. Antron Brown, currently second in points, will race Bob Vandergriff Jr. in the first round. Rookie Brittany Force failed to qualify for eliminations for the first time.

In Funny Car, Pedregon raced his Snap-on Tools Toyota Camry to his third No. 1 qualifying position on the strength of his 4.086-second pass at 310.41 mph on Friday. Pedregon has two career wins and nine No. 1 qualifying positions at Royal Purple Raceway. He will face Terry Haddock in the first round of eliminations.

Cruz Pedregon

Notable first-round matchups include Don Schumacher Racing teammates Matt Hagan and Ron Capps squaring off in their Dodge Chargers. Hagan currently leads the Funny Car points with Capps lurking in fifth. Courtney Force and Alexis DeJoria will go head to head for the third time in their careers, and No. 2 qualifier Tim Wilkerson will meet versatile Del Worsham in another pivotal opening-round matchup.  

In Pro Stock, Coughlin took his first No. 1 position in two years by powering his JEGS.com/Mopar Dodge Avenger to a performance of 6.569 at 211.20 to claim his 18th No. 1 qualifying position of his career. His first-round opponent will be Steve Kent as Coughlin looks for his fifth career win at the facility.

Jeg Coughlin

Current points leader Mike Edwards, who came into this event riding a five-race No. 1 qualifying streak, qualified third and will face Greg Stanfield in the opening round of eliminations. Houston-area natives Erica Enders-Stevens and Rodger Brogdon both qualified. Enders-Stevens will race Larry Morgan, and Brogdon will take on defending world champ Allen Johnson in the first round.

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Arana secured his second consecutive No. 1 qualifying position of the season and 12th of his career with a 6.876 at 195.39 run on his Lucas Oil Buell. He will face Shawn Gann in the first round of eliminations as he goes for his third straight win of the season.  

Hector Arana Jr.

Scotty Pollacheck qualified second and will race Chip Ellis, and third-place qualifier Andrew Hines will try to win his fourth consecutive title at this event as he takes on teammate and defending world champ Eddie Krawiec in a very rare all-Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson first-round matchup.

The rain also forced NHRA officials to cancel the final round of qualifying for the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.

Mike Castellana will start the third of 10 events in the series as the No. 1 qualifier in his Al-Anabi Racing ’68 Camaro when eliminations begin on Sunday. His 5.880-second pass at 244.56 mph was good enough to claim his second No. 1 qualifying position of the season and the sixth of his career. His first-round opponent will be Jeffrey Cummins Jr.

Points leader Von Smith qualified eighth and will face defending series champion Troy Coughlin in his JEGS.com Corvette. Danny Rowe will drive his Agave Underground Tequila Pro Mod in a first-round meeting with Chip King.

Eliminations for the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series are scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m.


Related story
Friday: Kalitta, Pedregon, Coughlin, Arana lead in Houston after first day

 

Cruz Pedregon continued his strong start to the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season as he powered to the qualifying lead in Funny Car Friday at the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA SpringNationals presented by Super Start Batteries at Royal Purple Raceway.

Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), Jeg Coughlin Jr. (Pro Stock), and Hector Arana Jr. (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also led their respective categories at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event near Houston.

The two-time Funny Car world champion has one win this season along with one No.  1 qualifying position and is second in points. On Friday, he raced to the top of the qualifying order in his Snap-on Tools Toyota Camry Funny Car with a leading performance of 4.086 seconds at 310.41 mph.

Cruz Pedregon

“This run was really good for us because we broke a couple of rods [on a 4.70, 176.76-mph pass] in the first session,” Pedregon said. “It was a flawless pass that really set me back in the seat right at the hit of the throttle. It really pulled hard all the way through, and I knew it was a good pass. But we weren’t trying to knock it out of the park, and our goal was just to keep all eight cylinders lit all the way to the finish line. I honestly would have been happy with a 4.12 or a 4.13. So we were really thrilled with the 4.08.”

Pedregon has eight career No. 1 qualifying positions at the track but knows that keeping it for eliminations on Sunday could be a tall order.

“Houston has always been a fast track, but our cars are making a lot more power than they used to, and we’re also getting used to some new parts and new tune-up ideas that we’re trying,” Pedregon continued. “And as good as the 4.08 run was, I think that if we have a cloud cover tomorrow, some of the other drivers, like Johnny Gray or Courtney [Force], could pop a 4.07. So we have our work cut out for us on Saturday.”

Doug Kalitta

Kalitta raced his Mac Tools dragster to the qualifying lead during a wild second session, which saw the top spot change seven times during the course of qualifying. Kalitta was in the final pair of cars and posted a 3.791 at 321.65 to take the lead into the final day of qualifying on Saturday.

“The conditions were right, and we made a good run and had the quick time of the day,” said Kalitta. “I actually think Jim O [Oberhofer, crew chief] was trying to run a 3.77, but we settled for a 3.79. I’m happy, and I’m really proud of my guys.”

Kalitta has two No. 1 qualifying positions so far this season but has yet to capitalize on them for a win. He has one career win at Royal Purple Raceway and is hoping to add another to his 32 career-wins total.

“I think the chances are good that it will stay,” Kalitta said. “It should warm up tomorrow, and I think mid-3.8s will be good, but you never know with these guys. The competition in this class is so good. We’ve been doing well lately, but we really need to turn that into a win on Sunday.”

Jeg Coughlin

Hector Arana Jr.

Coughlin, a four-time Pro Stock world champion, raced his JEGS.com/Mopar Dodge Avenger to the No. 1 position with a performance of 6.569 at 211.20. Coughlin has 17 career No. 1 qualifying positions but hasn’t posted one since the 2010 season.

“Roy [Johnson, engine builder] was pleased with the performance of the car, and the crew chiefs [Mark Ingersoll and Jim Yates] were very happy,” said Coughlin. “The temperatures might be a little warmer tomorrow, which will be in our favor, but we’ll still have to peck away at it if we want to stay No. 1.”

Arana continued his hot start to the season by racing to the top spot on his Lucas Oil Buell in Pro Stock Motorcycle. He has won the first two events of the season, and if his 6.876 pass at 195.39 stays No. 1, it would be the 12th of his career and his first at Royal Purple Raceway, which already holds special memories for him.

"We’re doing so well so far this season that I just want to keep that momentum going and stay on top as long as I can,” said Arana. “I like this track. This is where I qualified for the first time and got my first round-win against my father. Last year, I also made my first final round, so I like it here.

“The track was not bad at all today,” Arana continued. “It was a little warmer than it has been anywhere else this year, but we still made good runs. Tomorrow, I hope to improve. I’m sure some guys will get close, but if we run in the morning and the weather is cool, I should run quicker.”

Qualifying continues on Saturday at noon and 2:15 p.m. Eliminations are scheduled for Sunday at 11 a.m.

Mike Castellana powered his Al-Anabi Racing ’68 Camaro to the No. 1 qualifying position in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series portion of the event. His pass of 5.880 seconds at 244.56 mph paced the 16-car field in the popular 250-mph doorslammer touring series.

Danny Rowe is currently qualified second with a  5.930 at 246.53 in his Agave Underground Tequila Pro Mod. Mike Janis raced his K100 Fuel Treatment Camaro to the third position with a 5.960, 244.25-mph pass, and points leader Von Smith qualified eighth with a 5.979 at 248.71.

The final qualifying session for the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series is Saturday at 1:45 p.m. First round of eliminations begin at 4 p.m. and will continue on Sunday at  2:30 p.m.

ESPN2’s exclusive weekend coverage from Royal Purple Raceway near Houston will begin with a live show on Saturday, April 27, from 3 to 5 p.m. ET, showcasing the final round of qualifying from the event.  On Sunday, ESPN2’s race-day telecast will begin at 2 p.m. ET. Highlighting the three-hour telecast will be live coverage of both semifinal and final rounds from the event. 

On Sunday, ESPN2 will be closely following the teams from the time they exit the racetrack at the top end to their pit areas. From there, cameras will roll in the pits as the teams service the world’s fastest and most powerful race vehicles in the scheduled 55 minutes, ultimately returning to the starting line for the final round. It will surely represent the most exciting pit stop in all of motorsports. The telecast also will include extended coverage in the four Professional pits between the semifinal and final rounds, interviews with drivers and crew chiefs, and multiple images on the screen following what action is happening where in each of the pits and on the track.

This represents one of the first times in the 13-year exclusive relationship between NHRA and ESPN that a commitment has been made to provide live coverage for both Saturday qualifying and Sunday eliminations rounds. It is a step that the world’s largest motorsports sanctioning body hopes will lead to more live telecasts of the fastest, most powerful form of motorsports in the world.

Rapisarda Autosport International has added a Houston-based company as a sponsor for this weekend’s O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA SpringNationals presented by Super Start Batteries at Royal Purple Raceway. Escopeta Oil and Gas Co. is joining the Top Fuel team, which includes driver Larry Dixon.

Dixon, a three-time NHRA Mello Yello Top Fuel world champion, and veteran tuner Lee Beard, the team’s director of operations, have been in the Houston winner’s circle many times, and they look forward to putting Escopeta Oil and Gas Co. there this weekend.

“I am very excited about racing in Houston,” said Beard, a three-time winner at Royal Purple Raceway. “Over the years, I have had success in Houston. Giving a crossover driver from motorcycle racing, rookie then and now world champion Antron Brown, his first win was certainly one of the highlights. This is the first time that the Rapisarda Racing team has had a corporate sponsor on its car since Santo Rapisarda started racing here in the USA. Escopeta Oil and Gas is certainly a great company.”

Escopeta Oil and Gas Co., led by President Danny Davis, is a Houston-based independent oil and gas company that has almost 40 years of experience in all aspects of leasing, drilling, and operating in the energy arena. Escopeta owns a major lease position in the panhandle of Texas.

“We are very pleased to be involved in the Houston event with Lee, Larry, and the Rapisarda team,” said Davis. “What is more American than drag racing? And a lot of the fuel used at the track comes from right here in Texas. There is nothing more exciting than watching two Top Fuel cars run side by side. We look forward to our association with the Rapisarda team this weekend. I really like the team owner, Santo, too. He is such a great guy, and the team should be strong this weekend. We are no different than the Rapisarda team. The common place with Escopeta and the Rapisarda team is that we always are looking for partners to work with.”

In addition to Escopeta Oil, Dupre Energy Services, another Houston-based corporation, will be involved with Rapisarda Autosport International this weekend.

Dixon, a three-time winner and four-time runner-up in Houston, believes the team will be very competitive this weekend after recently securing additional parts. In addition, Dixon recorded the team’s first sub-3.8-second run in Charlotte last Sunday.

“We have been running the older cylinder heads so far this year,” said Dixon. “We just got the new 2013 heads, and I think we can get back to running with the top contenders. We got into the 3.7s with the old equipment, so I think everyone with the Rapisarda squad is excited about the Houston race. Adding the Houston oil companies is big for our team, too.”

Dupre Energy Services, headed by Cornelius Dupre and established in 1975, is a portfolio of oilfield service companies, including business units Catalyst Construction, CSI Inspection, Dolphin Energy, Dolphin Scaffolding, IQAS, KSW Oilfield Rental, and KSW Environmental. Among Dupre’s service and product categories are cargo management, certified inspections, compliance solutions, fluid management equipment, frac sand dust control, nonhazardous waste management, pipeline and construction services, scaffolding and fire watch, and surveillance solutions.

“Dupre Energy is a leader in its category, and we are happy to have the company involved with us this weekend as well,” said Beard. “The Houston race has always been a good one, and we want these companies to see the excitement surrounding the NHRA Mello Yello Series.”
 

One of the biggest requirements for those who compete in the world of NHRA Top Fuel racing is patience. The competition is so close that it can be easy for a team to become frustrated when the results aren’t immediately matching expectations.

For defending O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA SpringNationals presented by Super Start Batteries Top Fuel winner Morgan Lucas, the early part of the 2013 season has been an exercise in patience.

His GEICO/Lucas Oil Top Fuel dragster has shown a ton of promise and has been producing great performances, but he has yet to add to his career win total. In sharp contrast to last season when Lucas opened with a pair of dominating victories, this year, he is still waiting to grab that first Wally of the year.

Lucas hopes all of his team’s hard work will pay off this weekend at Royal Purple Raceway and he can become a back-to-back winner at an NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event for the first time. Mike Neff (Funny Car), Vincent Nobile (Pro Stock), and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle) join Lucas as defending winners of the event that will be televised on ESPN2HD, with live coverage of Saturday qualifying and Sunday’s semifinals and final rounds. 

Lucas enjoys racing at the ultraquick dragstrip that sits only 10 feet above sea level just east of downtown Houston.

“Going to Houston is exciting when you’re the reigning champion there,” Lucas said. “It can be a really fast racetrack. It was surprisingly good there last year when it was hot out, so the track is capable of so much. We want to go down there and make sure we have our game together to be able to try to repeat what we did in the past. We know we have the right parts and pieces and people. It’s pretty much the same group as last year. Right now, our focus needs to turn into being consistent going into this race. It’d be nice to win the same race back to back because we’ve never done that before, and that would be one of those cool things to check off the list.”

This season, Lucas has posted a runner-up finish in Phoenix and a semifinal effort at the recent NHRA Four-Wide event in Charlotte. He is fifth in the points standings. He believes that his team is on the verge of moving up in the series standings.

“We’re learning a lot every time we go to the track,” Lucas said. “Some weekends don’t pan out to be how we like them to be, but the resiliency of the team is getting better and stronger and going the right direction. Sometimes when we have those bad races, we might be able to get up, dust ourselves off, and go to the next one and win. That’s what we’re trying to build here, the thought that we can win any race at any time, so when we go into a long stretch of events, we don’t need to get ourselves into a mental rut and mess ourselves up. Big picture, it’s consistency, working hard, and being able to keep persevering whenever we need to.”

Which goes back to the patience motto. With seven-time world champ Tony Schumacher, defending world champ Antron Brown, recent Four-Wide winner Spencer Massey, Al-Anabi Racing’s Shawn Langdon, veteran Doug Kalitta, and a host of other extremely talented drivers in the category, the competition has never been better, Lucas says.

“Everybody’s driving at the top of their game, and the cars are all running so close together,” Lucas said. “Three years ago, if this many cars were running within a tenth of each other, it would’ve been a shock. And now, everybody’s within five-hundredths of each other. It just goes to show the quality of the class has gotten better. As a whole, everybody has to be on their game, and everybody’s been forced to step up and compete with the demanding changes that are involved.”

In Funny Car, Charlotte winner Matt Hagan leads the points standings over Cruz Pedregon. Courtney Force has been strong in her Traxxas Ford Mustang with two final-round appearances this season and one win in Pomona. Also splitting time atop the points standings have been Ron Capps and Johnny Gray, who will be serious contenders when the series visits the Lone Star State. Others to watch in Funny Car include Las Vegas winner Pedregon, a two-time winner at RPR, seven-time event winner John Force, and Del Worsham, who has earned both Top Fuel and Funny Car wins in Houston.

In Pro Stock, two-time and defending event champion Nobile will be looking for continued success at the facility where he secured his first victory in 2011. Points leader Mike Edwards, defending world champ Allen Johnson, and Jeg Coughlin Jr. will all be vying to end Nobile’s domination of the track and take home a win at the event. Hometown favorite Erica Enders-Stevens would love to get a victory at her home track.

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Hector Arana Jr. rides into the event as the series points leader on the strength of season-opening wins and will be looking for continued success aboard his Lucas Oil Buell at a track where he has fond memories. However, Hines will be going for his fourth consecutive victory at the Texas track on his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson. Other two-wheel racers to watch include three-time and defending world champ Eddie Krawiec, Matt Smith, Scotty Pollacheck, veteran rider Steve Johnson, and Hector Arana Sr.

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

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.

• SCHEDULE: NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying sessions are scheduled for 3:30 and 5:45 p.m. Friday, April 26, and will continue Saturday, April 27, at noon and 2:15 p.m. Final eliminations will begin at 11 a.m. Sunday, April 28.

• TICKETS: For tickets for the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA SpringNationals presented by Super Start Batteries, log on to www.royalpurpleraceway.com or call Royal Purple Raceway, 281-383-RACE (7223). Children 13 and younger will receive free general-admission tickets with a paid adult.

• TELEVISION: ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 3 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 27, and three hours of eliminations coverage at 2 p.m. ET on Sunday, April 28.

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.

Sophomore Funny Car driver Alexis DeJoria is the guest host of this week's episode of NHRA Now, which takes a look at NHRA's big 19-5 win against the NASCAR team in the charity softball game, plus see who won the Pilot Flying J Truck Driver Challenge, learn how you too can own a piece of NHRA history, and more.
 

For Vincent Nobile, entering an event where he is the two-time defending champion and where he recorded his first NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series victory will give him an extra boost of confidence at the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA SpringNationals presented by Super Start Batteries April 26-28.

In 2011, Nobile was in his first full season in the Pro Stock category and had raced to one final-round appearance at the third race of the season in Las Vegas. When the series entered Houston for the fifth race of the season, Nobile and his father, John, who serves as crew chief, again found themselves in the final at the end of the day. Nobile defeated local favorite Rodger Brogdon and hoisted an NHRA Wally for the first time in his career.

“That was a pretty emotional day,” Nobile said. “The best memory of it all was seeing my dad at the top end after we had won. I instantly broke down into tears because it has been a goal of my father’s to win an NHRA race for 20 years, and we finally accomplished it together.”

When the series returned to Royal Purple Raceway in 2012, it was under similar circumstances: He again was the runner-up in Las Vegas earlier in the season. Nobile again powered to the final and defeated Dave Connolly to claim his fourth victory. Though he has had success at the venue, he by no means thinks he has complete mastery of the track.

“It honestly has been just coincidence and a little bit of luck,” he continued. “We never qualified in the top three there, so it’s not as if we have a performance advantage at that track, but for whatever reason, Royal Purple Raceway treats my team well.”

The O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA SpringNationals is the sixth of 24 events in 2013 and has featured record-setting performances at a track that is only 10 feet above sea level. Morgan Lucas (Top Fuel), Mike Neff (Funny Car), and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also were winners at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event last season. The race will be televised on ESPN2HD, which will provide live coverage of Saturday qualifying and Sunday’s semifinals and final rounds.
 
Nobile and his Mountain View Tire Dodge Avenger team have joined forces with J&J Racing with Allen Johnson and Jeg Coughlin Jr. as teammates for the 2013 season and are fifth in points. They won the season-opening event in Pomona, and though they have tasted success, they are confident the best is yet to come.  

“I have a hardworking team who doesn’t give up,” Nobile said. “I definitely think we have a shot at the championship. We are currently not running up to our par, but I know we will get it straightened out by the time it really counts, the Countdown to the Championship.”

In Top Fuel, Tony Schumacher has added two more NHRA Wallys to his collection with wins in Phoenix and Las Vegas, and he has been atop the points standings early in the season. His Don Schumacher Racing teammates Antron Brown and Spencer Massey are both on his heels and will be looking for wins at Royal Purple Raceway along with defending event winner Lucas, Winternationals winner Shawn Langdon, and past Houston winners Brandon Bernstein and Doug Kalitta.

In Funny Car, Charlotte winner Matt Hagan leads the points standings over Cruz Pedregon. Courtney Force has been strong in her Traxxas Ford Mustang with two final-round appearances this season and one win in Pomona. Also splitting time atop the points standings have been Ron Capps and Johnny Gray, who will be serious contenders when the series visits the Lone Star State. Others to watch in Funny Car include Las Vegas winner Pedregon, a two-time winner at RPR, seven-time event winner John Force, and Del Worsham, who has earned both Top Fuel and Funny Car wins in Houston.

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Hector Arana Jr. rides into the event as the series points leader on the strength of two season-opening wins and will be looking for continued success aboard his Lucas Oil Buell at a track where he has fond memories. However, Hines will be going for his fourth consecutive victory at the Texas track on his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson. Other two-wheel racers to watch include three-time and defending world champ Eddie Krawiec, Matt Smith, Scotty Pollacheck, veteran rider Steve Johnson, and Hector Arana Sr.

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

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.

• SCHEDULE: NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying sessions are scheduled for 3:30 and 5:45 p.m. Friday, April 26, and continue on Saturday, April 27, at noon and 2:15 p.m. Final eliminations will begin at 11 a.m. Sunday, April 28.

• TICKETS: For tickets for the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA SpringNationals presented by Super Start Batteries, log on to www.royalpurpleraceway.com or call Royal Purple Raceway, 281-383-RACE (7223). Children 13 and younger will receive free general-admission tickets with a paid adult.

• TELEVISION: ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 3 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 27, and three hours of eliminations coverage at 2 p.m. ET on Sunday, April 28.

The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series returns to Texas for the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA SpringNationals presented by Super Start Batteries at Royal Purple Raceway April 26-28, and Alexis DeJoria is looking to build on the success she has had early in the 2013 season.

DeJoria and her Tequila Patron Toyota Camry team have enjoyed round-wins and solid qualifying efforts thus far in DeJoria's second full-time season in the Funny Car ranks. She has also spent time in the top 10 in the series standings for the first time. She enters her 33rd NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event looking for her first victory.
 
“I’d say our chances are as good as any,” DeJoria said. “We seem to have more consistency now than we’ve had before, and that’s always a confidence booster. You never know what can happen on Sundays, but I feel like our team is headed in the right direction. As long as you qualify, you have as good a shot as any at making it to the winner’s circle.”

Her success to date – including a quarterfinal finish in Gainesville and semifinal effort in Las Vegas – can be traced in large part to the addition of crew chief Tommy DeLago, who joined the team in the off-season. This is the veteran tuner’s second stint with Kalitta Motorsports, and he comes to the team after serving as crew chief for Matt Hagan during his 2011 championship season. DeJoria and DeLago have begun to jell and feel they have hit upon a setup that will provide dividends going into the later portion of the season.

“Based on our Vegas performance, it’s clear that we’re a little further ahead with our warmer weather setup than our other tune-ups, which is good for the string of summer races that are right around the corner,” DeLago said. “We’re still figuring out the proper setup to get those crazy-fast e.t.s that are possible in cooler, damper weather, but obviously, the more we get to run the car in those conditions, the more opportunity we’ll have to improve in those types of conditions.”

“I’d say things have been good up to this point this season,” DeJoria said. “We’ve qualified at every race and have gone rounds. We’ve been steadily progressing with every race weekend. We have some good runs under our belt so far this season, and I’m confident that we’ll have more success next weekend.”

Texas holds a special place for DeJoria in her racing career because she made her first start at the 2011 event in Dallas. Now residing in Austin, she looks to go rounds and gain valuable championship points at the ultraquick track in Baytown.

“Royal Purple Raceway is a great facility,” she continued. “Houston is close to home, which is always nice. I hope to do well there.”

The O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA SpringNationals is the sixth of 24 events in 2013 and has featured record-setting performances at a track that is only 10 feet above sea level. Morgan Lucas (Top Fuel), Mike Neff (Funny Car), Vincent Nobile (Pro Stock), and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are the defending winners of the race that will be televised on ESPN2HD, including live coverage of Saturday qualifying and Sunday’s semifinals and final rounds.
 
Hagan is leading the points standings in Funny Car for the first time since the end of the 2011 season on the strength of his recent win at the Dollar General NHRA Four-Wide Nationals fueled by Full Throttle. Courtney Force will be a tough competitor during the event on the strength of two final-round appearances this season and one win in Pomona. Also splitting time atop the points standings have been Ron Capps and Johnny Gray, who will be serious contenders when the series visits the Lone Star State. Others to watch in Funny Car include Las Vegas winner Cruz Pedregon, a two-time winner at RPR, seven-time event winner John Force, and Del Worsham, who has earned both Top Fuel and Funny Car wins in Houston.

In Top Fuel, Tony Schumacher has added two more NHRA Wallys to his collection with wins in Phoenix and Las Vegas, and he has been atop the points standings since early in the season. His Don Schumacher Racing teammates Antron Brown and Spencer Massey, who won the event in Charlotte, are both on his heels and will be looking for wins at Royal Purple Raceway, along with defending event winner Lucas, Winternationals winner Shawn Langdon, and past Houston winners Brandon Bernstein and Doug Kalitta.

In Pro Stock, Nobile, looking for his third consecutive victory at this event, will be challenged by a strong group of drivers also trying to claim the Wally, including points leader and three-time Houston winner Mike Edwards, defending world champ Allen Johnson, four-time RPR winner Jeg Coughlin Jr., and hometown favorite Erica Enders-Stevens.

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Hector Arana Jr. rides into the event as the series points leader after two season-opening wins and will be looking for continued success aboard his Lucas Oil Buell at a track where he has fond memories. However, Hines will be going for his fourth consecutive victory at the Texas track on his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson. Other two-wheel racers to watch include three-time and defending world champ Eddie Krawiec, Matt Smith, Scotty Pollacheck, veteran rider Steve Johnson, and Hector Arana Sr.

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

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 also won’t want to miss the interactive NHRA Nitro Alley and the NHRA Manufacturers Midway.

• SCHEDULE: NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying sessions are scheduled for 3:30 and 5:45 p.m. Friday, April 26, and continue Saturday, April 27, at noon and 2:15 p.m. Final eliminations will begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday, April 28.

• TICKETS: For tickets for the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA SpringNationals presented by Super Start Batteries, log on to www.royalpurpleraceway.com or call Royal Purple Raceway, 281-383-RACE (7223). Children 13 and younger will receive free general-admission tickets with a paid adult.

• TELEVISION: ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 3 p.m. ET Saturday, April 27, and three hours of eliminations coverage at 2 p.m. ET Sunday, April 28.

Hector Arana Jr. has gotten off to a fast start in the 2013 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season and is leading the Pro Stock Motorcycle points following his wins at the season's first events for the category, in Gainesville and Charlotte. Those were his fourth and fifth victories in the category and his first since his rookie season in 2011.
 
"I feel pretty good … and the bikes are running good," Arana said. "We've been doing some tweaking here and there, and hopefully we can find a little more. We'll be ready to come out fighting and go for that victory."

Arana and all of the stars of the category will return to Royal Purple Raceway April 26-28 for the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA SpringNationals presented by Super Start Batteries. For Arana and his Lucas Oil Buell team, the ultraquick drag racing facility that sits just east of Houston holds special memories.
 
The 2013 season marks only his third year in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, and it was here in 2011 where he qualified for his first national event. He also recorded his first round-win, at the expense of his father, 2009 world champ Hector Arana Sr., whom he faced in the first round. He lost in the next round, but the memories of that day will stick with him for his entire career.
 
"It's been a good track to me," Arana said. "That first race was really intimidating because I knew what my dad could run, and I knew the motor in my bike wasn't up to speed yet. It was definitely intimidating. I knew he wasn't going to take it easy on me because he still wanted to show me, 'Look, I'm still top dog, and I'm not going to give this one to you.'”
 
Royal Purple Raceway has long been known as a track that provides excellent conditions for all categories, especially the naturally aspirated Pro Stock Motorcycles. Near Trinity Bay and only 10 feet above sea level, the track location typically offers plenty of cool air that these two-wheel machines crave to boost performance.
 

"I've always liked that track," Arana continued. "It's really fast, it's smooth, has a good shutdown area. It's always a fun track. I enjoy the campground area that is near the track. It's always fun to go there and hang out with the fans. We have some friends who go camping there, and it's nice out there. The weather is usually nice, so I really like racing out there."
 
The Pro Stock Motorcycle category will be featured along with the three other classes in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series: Top Fuel, Funny Car, and Pro Stock.
 
In Pro Stock, two-time and defending event champion Vincent Nobile will be looking for continued success at the facility where he secured his first victory in 2011. Points leader Mike Edwards, defending world champ Allen Johnson, and Jeg Coughlin Jr. will be vying to end Nobile’s domination of the track and take home a win.
 
In Top Fuel, Tony Schumacher has added two more NHRA Wallys to his tally with wins in Phoenix and Las Vegas, and they have placed him atop the points standings early in the season. His Don Schumacher Racing teammates Antron Brown and recent Dollar General NHRA Four-Wide Nationals fueled by Full Throttle winner Spencer Massey are both on his heels and will be looking for wins at Royal Purple Raceway.
 
Charlotte winner Matt Hagan leads the Funny Car points standings over Cruz Pedregon. Courtney Force has been strong in her Traxxas Ford Mustang with two final-round appearances thus far in the season and one win in Pomona. Also splitting time atop the points standings have been Ron Capps and Johnny Gray, who will be serious contenders when the series visits the Lone Star State.
   
The NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series as well as the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series also will thrill the crowds during the weekend with intense side-by-side competition.
 
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 NHRA Manufacturers Midway, two popular areas.
 
NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying will begin on Friday, April 26, with sessions at 3:30 and 5:45 p.m. The final two qualifying sessions will take place Saturday, April 27, at noon and 2:15 p.m. Final eliminations will begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday, April 28.
 
To purchase reserved seats, call Royal Purple Raceway, 281-383-7223, or log on to RoyalPurpleRaceway.com. Children 13 and younger will receive free general-admission tickets with a paid adult.

This weekend, when NHRA fans tune their televisions to ESPN2 for coverage of the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA SpringNationals presented by Super Start Batteries from Royal Purple Raceway near Houston, they will be watching the racing action … live. 
 
Saturday and Sunday race coverage on ESPN2 will showcase live programming of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, a step that the world’s largest motorsports sanctioning body hopes will lead to more live telecasts of the fastest, most powerful form of motorsports in the world.

ESPN2’s exclusive weekend coverage from Royal Purple Raceway will begin with a live show on Saturday, April 27, from 3 to 5 p.m. ET showcasing the final round of qualifying from the event. The final session represents the last chance for competitors to secure their positions in the starting lineups, improve on their qualified times, and grab the No. 1 qualifying positions for Sunday’s race day. Qualifying coverage will begin with Pro Stock Motorcycle, followed by Pro Stock, Top Fuel, and Funny Car.

In a change from the traditional prime-time slot on Sunday night typically reserved for NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing, ESPN2’s telecast will begin at 2 p.m. ET. Highlighting the three-hour telecast will be live coverage of both semifinal and final rounds from the event. The first two sessions will be featured on a very short tape-delayed basis, but ESPN2 intends to catch the race-day action live, beginning with semifinal action in Pro Stock Motorcycle. The bikes will be followed by Pro Stock, Funny Car, and Top Fuel. From there, the ESPN2 cameras will stay with the racing action as teams advancing to the final round will be on a short turnaround time. The time between rounds will make the pit stops between semifinal and final rounds among the most intense and exciting in all of motorsports as teams service their race vehicles and return to the starting line.
 
Sunday race-day coverage will not only be about the racing on the track; it will also be about the race in the pits to see which teams rise to the challenge and get back for the final round to determine who will hoist the coveted Wally and secure a spot in the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA SpringNationals winner’s circle. This represents one of the first times in the 13-year exclusive relationship between NHRA and ESPN that a commitment has been made to live coverage for both Saturday qualifying and Sunday’s eliminations rounds.

NHRA has entered into an agreement with Rocky Brands for promotional rights at select NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series events in 2013. As part of the agreement, Rocky Brands will have display space at select events and the right to conduct a national promotion.

The national promotion will be centered on the final race of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season, the Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, Nov. 7-10. Rocky Brands will utilize advertising, promotions, and point-of-sale materials at approximately 2,500 retail locations to support the national promotion. Details on the promotion, including how fans can sign up and participate, will be announced in the near future.

"Rocky Brands is excited to be involved with the NHRA for the fifth straight year,” said Seann Anderson, sponsor manager, Rocky Brands Inc. “The NHRA fan is a key component to our involvement with the sport. Just like our Rocky Funny Car driver Matt Hagan, the fans are hardworking people that like to play hard. Our products complement that lifestyle."

Rocky Brands has been involved in NHRA since 2009 in a variety of capacities, including on-site displays, national promotional sweepstakes, and as a team sponsor. Earlier this year, Rocky Footwear & Apparel signed a multiyear sponsorship with Don Schumacher Racing that will feature primary sponsorship at select events on 2011 NHRA Mello Yello world champion Hagan’s Funny Car.

Founded in 1932, Rocky manufactures and markets rugged outdoor, duty, work, and Western footwear, apparel, and accessories. The company’s products are available in nearly 3,000 retail and catalog outlets. It is a division of Rocky Brands, a publicly traded company on NASDAQ under the symbol RCKY.  For more information, log on to www.rockyboots.com.

SRCA Dragstrip has a rich and storied history within the hot rodding culture. Following its founding in 1951, NHRA began sanctioning and supervising organized drag races across the nation. After conducting successful regional championship events, NHRA began scouting for a location to hold the first national championship event, to be held in 1955. After considering many sites, an old World War II runway at the Great Bend Municipal Airport was selected.

NHRA ran the event in conjunction with the Sunflower Rod & Custom Association, the local area car club. Racers and spectators from coast to coast made the trek to Great Bend to be part of the four-day event. Though cut short on the fourth day by a rainstorm and concluded in Phoenix, the event was an overwhelming success and would stamp SRCA Dragstrip as the birthplace of the NHRA U.S. Nationals, NHRA’s largest, most prestigious event.

This year, the Sunflower Rod & Custom Association, SRCA Dragstrip, and NHRA are celebrating Great Bend’s hot rodding tradition through Kansas Speedweek. Below is a calendar of events; for a detailed schedule and information for the week’s various events, log on to  www.NHRAdiv5.com or www.srcadragstrip.com.

Matt Hagan ended a 17-month winless drought by racing to the Funny Car victory Sunday at the Dollar General NHRA Four-Wide Nationals fueled by Full Throttle at zMAX Dragway.

Spencer Massey (Top Fuel), Mike Edwards (Pro Stock), and Hector Arana Jr. (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also were winners of the only NHRA Mello Yello Series Drag Racing event that features competition in four lanes simultaneously.

The Southwest Virginia cattle rancher powered his Magneti Marelli/Rocky Boots Dodge Charger to the final-round win over fellow Virginian Blake Alexander, veteran driver Tim Wilkerson, and rookie Chad Head to take his sixth career victory.

Hagan covered the distance in 4.071 seconds at 315.34 mph and finished in front of Alexander’s Auto Service Plus Charger, which ran 4.156 at 294.56 in his first ever runner-up finish. Wilkerson and event top qualifier Head both lost traction in their machines early in the four-wide final.

Matt Hagan

“This was a big win for us,” Hagan said. “It’s been a year since we won, or longer; I don’t know. It’s been too long, and that feeling is just great to have back."

Hagan moved through eliminations as the quickest in each of his first two rounds, and it was a great turnaround at this track for the 2011 world champ who has endured several spectacular explosions here in the past.

“We finally put some gremlins to rest here at the racetrack at zMAX,” Hagan said. “I love this track. It’s home for me, three hours away from home. It’s one of those deals where it’s a great track. Bruton Smith does a great job with it, and it’s a fast facility. Our car just ran phenomenal in lane 2 all day long, and that says a lot for [crew chief] Dickie Venables. He’s kind of been passed over and looked over the past couple of years as a crew chief. It’s one of those deals where he’s got two rings on his fingers, and he just hadn’t found a home yet. Don Schumacher gave him an opportunity to go out here and do his own thing. The guy came in and is doing his own thing, and he’s taking notes home and doing what he’s supposed to be doing, and that drives me to do what I’m supposed to do and step up to the plate.”

With the victory, Hagan moved into the series lead, 50 ahead of second place Cruz Pedregon. It is the first time Hagan has led the points since winning the 2011 world championship title.

“We took over the points lead, but it’s too early to start counting that stuff,” Hagan said. “But anybody who tells you they don’t count it is foolish; everybody’s counting points.”

Spencer Massey

In Top Fuel, Massey earned his first victory in nearly a year and won his second consecutive title at this event by holding off Tony Schumacher at the finish line. Top qualifier Shawn Langdon and Brandon Bernstein finished third and fourth. Massey’s Schumacher Electric dragster led all the way with a 3.771 at 325.45 while Schumacher was just behind in his U.S. Army dragster, finishing in 3.778 at 320.81.

“The last two years we’ve taken home the Wally, but if you think about it, [crew chiefs] Todd [Okuhara] and Phil [Shuler] have had an awesome car and an awesome team for a number of years,” said Massey, also the winner of his first two rounds. “Back when Cory McClenathan drove that Fram car, Cory owned this racetrack. The first four wide was won by my crew, so it bleeds over from the old team, which is my team now. Whenever there’s a racetrack that you do well at, you just seem to do well at it. It doesn’t seem to make sense, but you just seem to do well. When you have confidence, it really seems to help, and when I roll up here, I know that we can win. We’ve won here before, so we just get out there and do what we know how to do and have fun.”

With his 11th career victory, Massey moves up to third in the points standings, trailing leader Schumacher and second place Antron Brown.

Mike Edwards

Pro Stock top qualifier Edwards led wire to wire to also put an end to a mini-slump, powering his I Am Second Chevy Camaro to a 6.495 at 213.67. Erica Enders-Stevens finished second in her GK Motorsports Camaro with a 6.521 at 211.76 while Greg Anderson and Shane Gray were third and fourth in their respective Camaros.

It is the 35th career victory for Edwards, who opened up an 84-points lead on defending world champ Allen Johnson in the series standings. The Oklahoma native picked up an additional 20 points during the weekend for setting the national elapsed time record at 6.471 seconds during qualifying.

“It does feel satisfying to close the deal,” said Edwards, who finished first in each of the first two rounds of eliminations. “We’ve had numerous opportunities, and anytime you can run really good and win, it’s a phenomenal day. We ran good, but we were really conservative. I’ve been shooting myself in the foot, but today, I thought if we get beat it’s not going to be because we squared the tires up and not because of the lame-brained driver we have. I’m off to a better start than my championship season. Our team is coming together, and it’s a long season, but another [title] would be great.”

Hector Arana Jr.

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Arana claimed his second straight victory of the season and fifth of his career with a final-round performance of 6.896 at 190.73 to defeat defending world champ Eddie Krawiec, who rode his Harley-Davidson to a 6.924 at 190.65. The semifinalists in the four-wide final were Scotty Pollacheck and Jim Underdahl.

“This feels excellent,” said Arana, who finished second in the opening round and was first in the second round. “This just goes to show that we really wanted to get wins, and after last year, we’re making up for lost time. To win the four wide my first time, I love this race. My bike was fast. Since last year, it has been super-fast and very consistent. We do our routine maintenance, and we stay on top of our parts a little better this year.”

Arana increased his series lead to 93 over second place Scotty Pollacheck in points standings.

Troy Coughlin raced to the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series. The NHRA Pro Mod Series portion of the event was contested in the traditional two-lane configuration.

"Charlotte's such a great place to race," Coughlin said. "The JEGS.com car was rocking and rolling. I've got my family with me, and I couldn't be more excited."

Defending world champion Coughlin powered his JEGS.com Corvette to his third career victory in the popular 250-mph doorslammer touring series with a final-round performance of 5.893 seconds at 242.19 mph. Runner-up Kenny Lang trailed Coughlin with a 5.898 at 246.98 in his Summit Racing ’63 Corvette.

"I'm not sure what the reaction times were there in the final, but it was a tight race," Coughlin said. "I could sense that he was there. I could hear that thing humming. But we got him. Thank God. What a day."

To advance to the final round, Coughlin raced past Chip King, Mike Castellana and Mike Knowles in earlier rounds.

"[Crew chief] Steve [Petty] and all the guys did a fabulous job of putting this car together for race day," Coughlin said. "It's been a dream to drive."

With the win, Coughlin moved into second place in the series standings, 19 points behind leader Von Smith. Smith lost in the second round to eventual runner-up Lang.

The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series and the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series continue at the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA SpringNationals presented by Super Start Batteries, April 26-28, at Royal Purple Raceway near Houston.

Related stories
Friday: Hall, Gray tops on weather-shortened first day in Charlotte
Saturday: Edwards resets national record to highlight Four-Wide qualifying
 

Mike Edwards reset his own national record in Pro Stock with a run of 6.471to lead Pro Stock qualifying at the Dollar General NHRA Four-Wide Nationals fueled by Full Throttle.

Shawn Langdon (Top Fuel), rookie Chad Head (Funny Car), and Hector Arana Jr. (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are the other low qualifiers who will lead their categories into Sunday’s noon eliminations at zMAX Dragway during the only NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event that features racing in a four-wide configuration.

Edwards raced to his fifth consecutive No. 1 position of the season in Pro Stock, powering his I Am Second Chevy Camaro to a national elapsed time record of 6.471 seconds at 213.64 mph. It is Edward’s 46th career No. 1 position, and he will open eliminations against Vincent Nobile, V. Gaines, and Frank Gugliotta.

Mike Edwards

Chad Head

“Today was an awesome day,” Edwards said. “I never would have believed that we could be No. 1 at the first five races. That’s so hard to do. So far, qualifying has been great, but I need to work on race day. Hopefully, we can run good tomorrow.”

Jeg Coughlin Jr. will start second in Pro Stock with a 6.495 at 213.47 in his JEGS.com/Mopar Dodge Avenger, and Shane Gray qualified third in his Gray Motorsports Chevy Camaro with a 6.498 at 213.03.

Second-generation racer Head powered his Head Racing Toyota Camry to a career-best performance of 4.014 seconds at 315.19 mph to top the 16-car field. Head is the son of longtime NHRA nitro racer Jim Head, who has earned multiple wins in both Funny Car and Top Fuel as a driver.

“To go 4.01, it’s unbelievable,” Head said. “It’s just credit to Dad, Johnny Davis, and the whole crew. We did a really good job in testing, then we really struggled hard in Gainesville and Vegas, so to come here, rebound, and do that, that’s pretty awesome. It lifts everybody’s spirits.”

Head, who has long worked behind the scenes in the sport in a variety of management roles with several different race teams, will meet Alexis DeJoria, Jeff Arend, and Robert Hight in the opening round of eliminations as he goes for his first career victory at the controls of an 8,000-horsepower Funny Car.

“I expected success with my father being crew chief,” Head said. “He’s very talented, and he does a great job, and that just shows you how great of a job he’s doing because I’ve got a long way to go. I’m just hanging on. I’m just lucky that the car went straight because it has nothing to do with me. It has nothing to do with my ability. It has to do with how those guys set the car up and how they do the stagger and all of that. It’s 100 percent on those guys because there’s no way in 25 runs that I have the ability to go 4.01. It just shows you how good that team is.”

John Force qualified No. 2 in his Castrol GTX Ford Mustang with a run of 4.039 at 316.08, and defending world champ Jack Beckman took third in his Valvoline/MTS Dodge Charger with a 4.071 at 311.99.

Shawn Langdon

Top Fuel driver Langdon, who won his first career race here last September, claimed his first No. 1 qualifying position of the season and seventh of his career with a performance of 3.751 at 327.90 in his Al-Anabi Racing dragster.
 
“We feel pretty confident at this track,” said Langdon, whose first-round opponents include seven-time world champ Tony Schumacher and rookies Brittany Force and Sideni Frigo. “The Al-Anabi car has run really good here in the past. It’s the site of my first victory, and we definitely came in this weekend with a lot of confidence and high hopes for the weekend.”

Defending event winner Spencer Massey qualified second with a 3.774 at 326.24 in his Schumacher Electric dragster, and Morgan Lucas was third in his GEICO/Lucas Oil dragster with a 3.788 at 324.90.

Top Fuel points leader Schumacher entered the final qualifying session not in the field but was able to cover the distance in 3.823 at 321.19 in his U.S. Army dragster to grab the seventh spot in the order and increase his consecutive race qualifying streak to 228, currently second to Greg Anderson among active drivers.

Hector Arana Jr.

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Arana earned his first No. 1 of the season and 11th of his career with a performance of 6.826 at 195.19 on his Lucas Oil Buell.

Arana, who won the season-opening bike race in Gainesville a few weeks ago, will try to make it two in a row when he meets a tough set of first-round challengers in brother Adam Arana and the Screamin' Eagle Harley-Davidson duo of Andrew Hines and Eddie Krawiec.

“We had all the ingredients today for fast racing,” Hector Arana Jr. said. “Thankfully, I was able to get the No. 1 spot. It’s pretty cool to be able to do this at the four-wides. The [four-wide format] is different, but in reality, it’s the same as two-wide racing. You just have to focus on what you’re doing. It’s not that hard once you get the [staging] lights down pat. I try not to worry about anything else; I just focus on my bike and on my set of lights.”

Scotty Pollacheck was second with a 6.834 at 193.88 on his Sovereign/Star Racing Buell and the 2010 winner of this event, local favorite Matt Smith from nearby King, N.C., was third with a 6.837 at 194.63, on his Viper Motorcycle Company Buell.

NHRA Pro Mod Series No. 1 qualifier Danny Rowe was upset in the first round of eliminations. The popular 250-mph doorslammer touring series is competing in the traditional two-lane configuration.

Rowe qualified on top with a 5.867 at 249.07 in his Agave Underground Tequila ’68 Camaro, but his machine suffered tire shake off the starting line in the first round of eliminations, and Mike Knowles cruised to the victory in his ’68 Camaro.

Other first-round winners in the second of 10 events in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series were defending world champion Troy Coughlin, local favorite Rickie Smith, veteran driver Kenny Lang, 2010 world champ Von Smith, and Mike Castellana.

Sunday’s second-round pairings, which are scheduled to begin at approximately 3:30 p.m., include Coughlin vs. Castellana, R. Smith vs. Steve Matusek, Knowles vs. Clint Satterfield, and V. Smith vs. Lang.


Related story
Friday: Hall, Gray tops on weather-shortened first day in Charlotte

Persistent rain showers forced NHRA officials to postpone qualifying for the 4th annual Dollar General NHRA Four-Wide Nationals Fueled by Full Throttle at zMAX Dragway until Saturday at 12:15 p.m.

One qualifying session of racing was completed in Pro Stock Motorcycle, and 10 cars were able to make runs in Pro Stock before rain showers moved into the area Friday afternoon.

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, featured at this event for the first time since 2010, John Hall took the No. 1 spot with a time of 6.930 seconds on the Matt Smith Racing Buell. In Pro Stock, Shane Gray was quickest of the 10 cars that ran before the rain fell. 

Gates will open at 8 a.m., and Pro qualifying rounds are set for Saturday at 12:15 and 4 p.m. for Sunday's final eliminations.

Defending NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series world champion Troy Coughlin raced to the qualifying lead in a rain-shortened day of action. The race, which is being contested in the traditional two-lane configuration, is the second of 10 races in 2013 for NHRA’s popular 250-mph doorslammer touring series.

Coughlin powered his JEGS.com Corvette to a leading time of 5.963 seconds at 243.72 mph. Pro Mod teams were only able to get in one of their two scheduled qualifying sessions before the action was canceled.

Danny Rowe was second in his ’67 Camaro with a 5.966 at 244.07, and local favorite Rickie Smith, from King, N.C., was fourth in his IDG Camaro with a 5.977 at 242.41. Series points leader and 2010 champ Von Smith was seventh in his vintage Dr. Moon Camaro with a performance of 6.033 at 236.92.

The final qualifying session for the 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.

Be a part of the action all weekend with a 3-Day Pass to the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals starting at $99. Tickets for children 13 and under are free with any paid adult ticket; to purchase general admission or reserved seats please visit www.zMAXDragway.com or call the box office at 800-455-FANS (3267). For more information about NHRA, please visit www.NHRA.com.
 

Only at zMAX Dragway for the 4th annual Dollar General NHRA Four-Wide Nationals fueled by Full Throttle can fans see the fastest-accelerating machines on the planet release a 32,000-horsepower assault at NHRA’s one and only four-lane event.

The event is NHRA’s first of two stops at zMAX Dragway, featuring side-by-side racing in all four NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series categories: Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle, which returns to this event for the first time since 2010.

Qualifying begins Friday, April 19, with sessions at 2:30 and 4:45 p.m. The final two qualifying sessions will take place Saturday, April 20, at 12:15 and 2:30 p.m. Final eliminations begin at noon on Sunday, April 21.

Below is a quick-reference guide that outlines the special rules, race procedures, and configuration for four-wide drag racing, NHRA style.

LANE IDENTIFICATION
Lanes are referred to in numerical order from left facing down track (outermost left lane is No. 1, then No. 2, No. 3, and the outermost right lane is No. 4).

QUALIFYING ORDER
In the first session, drivers with the least number of points will run first, and the points leaders will run last. The top four in the points standings will be the final group (points leader will be in lane 4, second in points in lane 3, third in lane 2, fourth in lane 1). The order for subsequent sessions will be determined per normal qualifying procedures.

QUALIFYING FIELD
Because each team will have only one qualifying run in each lane, the standard qualifying procedure of transferring only the quickest 12 times from Friday to Saturday will not be in effect. All elapsed times from all qualifying sessions from both days will be used to establish the 16-car fields.

ELIMINATIONS BRACKET
The specially modified eliminations ladder structure will feature Race A: qualifiers 1, 8, 9, 16; Race B: qualifiers 4, 5, 12, 13; Race C: qualifiers 2, 7, 10, 15; and Race D: qualifiers 3, 6, 11, 14. Race A and Race B will be on one side of the ladder, and Race C and Race D will be on the other.

STARTING SYSTEM
Each track (left two lanes and right two lanes) will have the standard NHRA Christmas Tree. Each Tree will be fitted with four specially designed LED pre-stage/stage units, which will indicate the pre-stage/stage position of drivers in all four lanes (from left). The Compulink Auto Start system will continue to be utilized; however, unlike in two-lane racing, the Auto Start system will not activate until all four vehicles are pre-staged and one vehicle has staged. Each lane will be monitored by a qualified Starter.

RED-LIGHTS
In eliminations, should three drivers red-light, the two to advance will be the driver who receives the green light and the driver who red-lights by the least amount. For example, if driver A has a -.029 r.t., driver B a -.103, and driver C a -.049, driver A would advance. If three drivers red-light, the win lights will come on immediately for the driver with the green light and the driver who red-lighted by the least. The winner’s light will flash, and the second-place light will be steady.

LANE CHOICE
First-round lane choice will go to the quickest qualifier in the group of four, second choice to the second quickest, and third choice to the third quickest. In subsequent rounds, first choice will go to the driver with the lowest elapsed time from the previous round, second choice to the second lowest, and third choice to the third lowest.

SCOREBOARDS
In qualifying, the lane number with the low elapsed time of each run will light up on the scoreboard. In eliminations, the lane number of the first-place car will flash and the lane number of the second-place car will be lit solid on the scoreboard.

ELIMINATIONS
Two drivers from each group will advance in the first two rounds of competition, the first and second to cross the finish line. In the final round, the drivers will finish first through fourth in the order they cross the finish line, barring any red-light starts.

DISQUALIFICATIONS
The following prioritizes the degree of infraction (No. 1 being the worst):
  1. Driver leaving starting line before starting system is activated
  2. Driver crossing centerline or striking timing fixture(s)
  3. Driver contacting barrier wall
  4. Driver red-lighting

POINTS
Points will be awarded at the same level as at other NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series events. The winner will receive 100 points, the runner-up 80, the third and fourth finishers 60, the four second-round losers 40, and the eight first-round losers 20.

LUCAS OIL SERIES COMPETITION
In an attempt to maintain uniform traction quality in all four lanes, competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series will be conducted in two lanes at a time for the entire event. Certain Sportsman categories will run in lanes 1 and 2 only, and the other Sportsman categories will run in lanes 3 and 4 only.

PRO MOD DRAG RACING SERIES COMPETITION
Like the Lucas Oil Series, competition in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series also will be conducted in two lanes at a time during the entire event.

Tickets are on sale now for the Dollar General NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway, April 19-21. To purchase tickets by phone, call the zMAX Dragway ticket office at 800-455-FANS (3267) or purchase online at www.zmaxdragway.com.

Former NHRA Pro Mod world champion Von Smith has a lot of momentum following his NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series season-opening victory in Gainesville, and he will try to keep the positive mojo as he contends for another victory at the Dollar General NHRA Four-Wide Nationals fueled by Full Throttle, April 19-21 at zMAX Dragway. Drivers in the category will compete in the traditional two-lane format during the event.

“Winning the first race in the season was definitely a pleasant surprise after being off for two years,” Smith said. “We’re off to a great start. Now, we’ve just got to keep the team on the same page and win some more.”

Smith’s hometown of Oak Ridge, Tenn., is not too far from zMAX Dragway, and he anticipates a big turnout of family and friends for the race this weekend. The Dollar General NHRA Four-Wide Nationals is the second stop in the 10-event NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.

“The zMAX Dragway is a fantastic facility,” Smith said. “There is definitely some added pressure to perform well when you have lots of friends and family out there rooting for you.”

Smith is no stranger to the winner’s circle. In 2010, he was crowned the first NHRA Pro Mod world champion after wins in St. Louis, Englishtown, and Bristol. Smith said that the recent Gatornationals win proves that his team still has what it takes to get the job done. 

“Gainesville was a morale booster for me and my guys,” he said. “We’re looking forward to this season, and I thank God because none of this would be possible. We’re ready and excited for the next race in Charlotte.”

Other top competitors at the event will be 2012 world champ Troy Coughlin; Rickie Smith; Mike Castellana, the No. 1 qualifier in Gainesville; Jay Payne; and Danny Rowe.

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 2 and 4:15 p.m. April 19, and final qualifying will be held April 20 at 2 p.m. The first round of Pro Mod eliminations will begin April 20 at 4 p.m. Eliminations will continue Sunday, April 21, at approximately 3:30 p.m.

• TICKETS: For tickets for the Dollar General NHRA Four-Wide Nationals fueled by Full Throttle, log on to www.zmaxdragway.com or call 800-455-FANS (3267).

A squad of highly competitive and terrifically talented NHRA drivers trounced a team of NASCAR stars 19-5 at Wednesday night's softball game in Kannapolis, N.C., in front of a boisterous crowd at CMC-NorthEast Stadium,  home of the Kannapolis Intimidators of the South Atlantic League.

Morgan Lucas went the distance on the mound for NHRA, scattering eight hits in seven complete innings while only giving up one earned run. NHRA pounded out 27 hits in the game, with every batter in the lineup collecting at least one hit.

Defensively, Antron Brown stole the show in center field, making two spectacular catches. His first, early in the game, was a leaping grab going back to the wall, and he followed that up, late in the game, by coming in fast on a sinking line drive, catching it at his shoe tops as he tumbled. Overall, the NHRA defense was nearly impervious, with a stout infield of Tony Schumacher at third, Bob Vandergriff Jr. at short, Ron Capps at second, and Matt Hagan at first. Del Worsham, Brandon Bernstein, J.R. Todd, Shawn Langdon, Clay Millican, Chad Head, and Courtney Force rounded out the victorious lineup.

Force's entry into the game as a pinch hitter in the top of the seventh was one of the night's more memorable moments. Planning only to attend to sign autographs and offer moral support, her NHRA brethren used copious amounts of peer pressure to get her to the plate, and the crowd roared its approval. After a swing and a miss, Force grounded a single to the left side of the infield, and the hilarity ensued. Already down by two touchdowns, the NASCAR team took advantage of her spot on the field as they stopped the Funny Car driver at each base to have their photo taken with her. When she reached third base after a couple of hits, nearly the entire NASCAR squad gathered around for a group shot.  Considering the NASCAR team had, at that point, instituted a rule-bending "prevent defense" that featured 14 players on the field, it was quite a group shot.

Elliot Sadler was the top player on the NASCAR side, flashing big-time leather in the field and ripping a number of line drives. The NASCAR team also included Kurt Busch, Matt Kenseth, Kasey Kahne, Kerry Earnhardt, Johanna Long, Hermie Sadler, Michael Waltrip, and Darrell Waltrip.

The lone earned run scored by the stock-car contingent was actually hit by a Wounded Warrior veteran, Mattias Ferreira, a double amputee playing on prosthetic legs. His blast drew one of the biggest ovations of the night, from fans and players alike.

In a mid-game Home Run Derby exhibition, Vandergriff and Elliott Sadler tied, with three long balls apiece.

"What a great night, and the best part is we raised some money for a couple of great charities," Vandergriff said. "Our guys were really motivated, coming in here to the heart of NASCAR country, and we had quite a bit of excitement and chatter in the dugout. It was fun, and the goal now is to make this an annual thing with the NASCAR guys and keep it growing. We had a great crowd for this inaugural game, and once the word spreads after this first one, I think we'll begin to pack this place.

"It was great to get out there and play, and we all had a blast. I thought everyone on our team played great, and the competitive juices were flowing. We had guys sliding into home to score runs, diving for balls all over the field, and smacking the heck out of it at the plate. I'm already looking forward to the next time we can do this, and I bet the NASCAR guys will have revenge on their minds."

The NHRA team was assisted on the field by base coaches Alan Johnson and Bryn Smith, a former big-league star pitcher for the Expos, Cardinals, and Rockies.

The game benefited Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and The Armed Forces Foundation.

The adrenaline rush of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series returns to the "Bellagio of dragstrips," zMAX Dragway, for the 4th annual Dollar General NHRA Four-Wide Nationals fueled by Full Throttle, April 19-21. The event is the fifth stop on the 2013 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series circuit. One driver who is eager to get back to zMAX Dragway — the site of his first Top Fuel victory — is Al-Anabi Racing’s Shawn Langdon.

Langdon claimed his first Top Fuel win at the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoff opener in 2012 and has continued to run well ever since. They say it’s hard to win that first race, but in NHRA competition, the ones that follow often prove to be just as tough. However, going back to familiar territory may be the inspiration Langdon needs in order to get back to winner’s circle.

“I think it’s going to be great to go back to Charlotte for the first time since I got my first win there last fall,” Langdon said. “Going back to a place where you recently won is always good. It’s a confidence builder because you’re going back to a track where you know you can make good, strong runs. The Al-Anabi team had good success at zMAX [Dragway] before I was driving for the team, so I think we go back to Charlotte this weekend with great expectations. It will be a little bit different racing four wide this weekend, but basically, we know the same rules apply. We just need to make good, strong, consistent runs just like we did last fall; if we take care of our business, the rest will take care of itself.” 

The Dollar General NHRA Four-Wide Nationals is the only event on the 24-race schedule featuring side-by-side racing in a four-lane configuration, a break from the traditional two-lane competition and a must-see experience for fans. All four lanes will be used at the same time for racing in all four Mello Yello Series categories — Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle — during qualifying sessions Friday and Saturday and final eliminations on Sunday. The race will be televised on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD. The defending winners of the event are Spencer Massey (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car), and Greg Anderson (Pro Stock).

The 30-year-old Top Fuel pilot started off 2013 on a high note when he brought home the Wally at the season-opening O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals presented by Super Start Batteries in Pomona. Since then, Langdon has posted two uncharacteristic first-round losses and one quarterfinal exit. He hopes to get back on the winning track in Charlotte.

“Right now, our Al-Anabi car is as good as it has been since I started with the team last year,” Langdon said. “We’ve made some really, really strong runs in it, but we still need to get the car a little more consistent. When we won the races in Pomona this year and Charlotte last year, the silver Al-Anabi car was consistent, and that’s what you need to win races. It’s just going to take a little more time because we are still fine-tuning a couple of things. So we still have some homework to do, but we are definitely in a better position than we were this time last year.”

This trip to North Carolina won’t be all about racing for many of the drivers in the Mello Yello Series. Leading up to race weekend, Langdon and several of his fellow Pros will take on the boys of NASCAR in a charity softball game at CMC-NorthEast Stadium, home of the Kannapolis Intimidators (Wednesday, April 17, at 7 p.m.). Langdon hopes his previous baseball experience will help lead the team to victory.

“I played baseball all the way through high school,” Langdon said. “After that, when I was still living in California, I played softball two nights a week, and I love it. I’m really excited about this game; I can’t wait.  We actually got our team together in Las Vegas and had a practice a couple of weeks ago, and it was nice to get together, play, and throw the ball around a little bit.”

The drivers of NHRA will be playing for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta while the NASCAR drivers will be playing for The Armed Forces Foundation.

“A lot of the drivers were really excited when [NHRA hosted] a softball game a few years ago, and I’m really glad it’s back,” Langdon said. “We are all very competitive, and we like to be able to get out and play sports for a good cause. It’s a great opportunity for all of us to get away from the track and have a little fun. I think it’ll be a fun little game, and I hope we can make this an annual event because it’s fun for everyone.”

Langdon and his Al-Anabi team will face tough competitors in the Top Fuel class as he goes for his second consecutive victory at the "Bellagio of dragstrips," which includes defending event winner Massey, points leader Tony Schumacher, defending world champion Antron Brown, Morgan Lucas, Brandon Bernstein, Doug Kalitta, and many more.

In Funny Car, sophomore sensation Courtney Force continues to wow race fans with one win under her belt in two final-round appearances thus far in 2013. She enters the event as the series points leader and her very tough competition at zMAX Dragway includes her father, 15-time world champ John Force, NAPA Auto Parts Dodge driver Ron Capps, defending world champion “Fast Jack” Beckman, Las Vegas winner Cruz Pedregon, veteran driver Del Worsham, and strong running independent racer Tim Wilkerson, among others.

Pro Stock is full of talented drivers looking to score big at the Four-Wide Nationals, which includes defending event winner Anderson, last year’s world champion Allen Johnson, Pro Stock’s most successful female driver Erica Enders-Stevens, outstanding top qualifier Mike Edwards in his I Am Second Chevy Camaro, Jason Line, Vincent Nobile, V. Gaines, and Shane Gray.

Pro Stock Motorcycle returns to the Dollar General NHRA Four-Wide Nationals after a two-year hiatus. Lucas Oil Racing Buell rider Hector Arana Jr. started off the Mello Yello Series season with a win at the Gatornationals in Gainesville. He will square off with some tough riders if he hopes to get win No. 2, which includes father, Hector Sr., Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future Award candidate Adam Arana, three-time champs Andrew Hines and Eddie Krawiec on their Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidsons, Michael Ray, Shawn Gann, husband-and-wife duo Matt and Angie Smith, Scotty Pollacheck, and past zMAX winner Steve Johnson.

Children 13 and younger will receive free general admission tickets with a paid adult. 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 race machines 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.

• SCHEDULE: Mello Yello Series qualifying sessions are scheduled for 2 and 4:15 p.m. on Friday, April 19, and continue on Saturday, April 20, at 12:15 and 2:30 p.m. Final eliminations begin at noon on Sunday, April 21.

• TICKETS: Tickets are available for the Dollar General NHRA Four-Wide Nationals Fueled by Full Throttle online at www.zmaxdragway.com or by calling zMAX Dragway at 800-455-FANS (3267).

• TELEVISION: ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 5 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, April 20, and three hours of eliminations coverage at 7 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, April 21.

Athletes often talk about being in the zone: that special feeling where every shot goes in the basket, every putt drops in the cup, every at-bat is a home run, and, for drag racers, every pass in their machines turns on the win light. The 2009 NHRA Mello Yello Funny Car world champion, Robert Hight, was in the zone in the spring of 2012 when the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series visited zMAX Dragway near Charlotte.

Hight, in his Auto Club Ford Mustang, defeated Cruz Pedregon in the final at the first of two NHRA races held annually at the multipurpose motorsports facility to record his fourth consecutive win of the early season.

With that victory, he became the fifth Funny Car racer to win four consecutive events in NHRA history, joining Don Prudhomme, Kenny Bernstein, Pedregon, and John Force. Hight relished the streak and the confidence it brought him and the team. 
 
“You never wanted to leave the track when we were in the middle of winning four in a row,” Hight said. “It was cool because we never really felt any pressure even when we were trying to win the fourth in a row going into Charlotte. We had a lot of confidence, but we weren’t overconfident.”

The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series returns to zMAX Dragway April 19-21 for the Dollar General NHRA Four-Wide Nationals fueled by Full Throttle, one of the most intense NHRA events on the 24-race schedule. Spencer Massey (Top Fuel) and Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) join Hight as the defending winners of the event that will be televised on ESPN2HD. Also competing at the Dollar General NHRA Four-Wide Nationals for the second time will be the Pro Stock Motorcycle category, which was last featured at this event in 2010, when Tar Heel State native Matt Smith scored the win.

At the most recent event on the tour, in Las Vegas, Hight recorded his 44th No. 1 qualifying position and first of the season. The effort also broke a 19-race stretch without a No. 1 qualifying position. He and his Auto Club Ford Mustang team are seeing steady improvements, and they will be looking to break into the win column for the first time in 2013 and the first time in 22 events.

“What is cool to me is seeing what an e.t. slip will do for your team,” Hight said. “It helps the morale of the team so much. My team has been pretty beat up, and they have been working really hard testing. They have been putting in a lot of hours. You start getting a couple positive e.t. slips, and everything gets better. It is magic.”

For Hight to again enjoy success at the state-of-the-art track, he will have to outlast a field of Funny Cars that features some of the toughest competitors in recent history. His John Force Racing teammate Courtney Force leads the points and has one win and one runner-up finish this season. Don Schumacher Racing teammates Johnny Gray and Ron Capps also have wins this year, and Capps won the fall event at zMAX Dragway. 2011 Funny Car world champion and fellow DSR racer Matt Hagan has one win at the track and in 2011 became the first Funny Car racer to break the four-second barrier (3.995 seconds). Snap-on Tools Toyota driver Pedregon, fresh off his win in Las Vegas, Del Worsham, Alexis DeJoria, and Jack Beckman also will be looking to take home the NHRA Wally on Sunday.

zMAX Dragway is one of the most modern and fan-friendly tracks on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series circuit and is in the heart of stock-car-racing country. The fan base in the area has extensive knowledge of motorsports and is one of the most passionate in the nation.

“We love going into NASCAR country,” Hight said. “John Force calls NASCAR our big brother. I think every year, we turn more fans into NHRA fans. We aren’t asking them to choose one sport or the other. NASCAR fans can be fans of both, and I think a lot of them like what we do and follow us on ESPN2 and online. Every year, we have more and more people coming up to our ropes talking about other races they watched or attended since the last time we were in Charlotte. That is what you want, year-round fans.”

The Dollar General NHRA Four-Wide Nationals is the one event during the season where NHRA races in a four-lane configuration. When the pair of Christmas Trees goes green, four high-horsepower machines launch off the starting line with thousands of horsepower thundering down the track in a simultaneous burst of sheer power. For fans, it has quickly become a bucket-list event. But for the racers, the points awarded are the same, and the weekend can go a long way to securing a world championship title.

“You try and make it like a regular event, but there is a lot going on with the staging,” Hight said. “I just try and do my routine and be smooth. You do have to be patient, but really having done it a couple of times, I feel pretty good. When you are in the middle lanes, you can feel Funny Cars on both sides of you. It is awesome, and I know the fans get a thrill out of feeling 40,000 horsepower launch at zMAX Dragway. When we take off under the lights, all those header flames also put on an awesome show.”

In Top Fuel competition, Tony Schumacher is leading the way in his U.S. Army dragster. The seven-time world champ has won two races this season and has been to six consecutive final rounds dating back to the final two events of 2012. Defending world champ Antron Brown is right behind in his Matco Tools dragster; he won the Gatornationals in Florida in March. Others to watch in Top Fuel include defending event winner Massey, past zMAX winner Shawn Langdon, Doug Kalitta, Morgan Lucas, and Clay Millican, who posted a runner-up finish at the Gatornationals and is hungry for his first victory.

Pro Stock is full of talented drivers looking to score big at the Four-Wide Nationals, including defending event winner Anderson, last year’s world champion Allen Johnson, Pro Stock’s most successful female driver Erica Enders-Stevens, outstanding top qualifier Mike Edwards in his I Am Second Chevy Camaro, Jason Line, Vincent Nobile, V. Gaines, and Shane Gray.

Pro Stock Motorcycle returns to the Dollar General NHRA Four-Wide Nationals after a two-year hiatus. Lucas Oil Racing Buell rider Hector Arana Jr. started the Mello Yello Series season with a win at the Gatornationals. He will square off with some tough riders in his quest for win No. 2, including his father, Hector Sr., rookie of the year candidate Adam Arana, three-time champs Andrew Hines and Eddie Krawiec on their Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidsons, Michael Ray, Shawn Gann, husband-and-wife duo Matt and Angie Smith, Scotty Pollacheck, and past zMAX winner Steve Johnson.

Children 13 and younger will receive free general-admission tickets with a paid adult. As always, fans will have the opportunity to interact with their favorite drivers because every ticket is an exclusive pit pass, allowing them firsthand to see the highly skilled mechanics service their race machines between rounds. While visiting the pits, fans 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 4:15 p.m. on Friday, April 19, and continue on Saturday, April 20, at 12:15 and 2:30 p.m. Final eliminations will begin at noon on Sunday, April 21.

• TICKETS: For tickets for the Dollar General NHRA Four-Wide Nationals fueled by Full Throttle, log on to www.zmaxdragway.com or call zMAX Dragway, 800-455-FANS (3267).

• TELEVISION: ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 5 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 20, and three hours of eliminations coverage at 7 p.m. ET on Sunday, April 21.
 

As fans get ready to experience the sensory overload of the 4th annual Dollar General NHRA Four-Wide Nationals fueled by Full Throttle at zMAX Dragway, April 19-21, several drivers are thrilled to race on four lanes and give fans what some have called the greatest spectacle in drag racing.
 
Even for the most experienced driver in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, racing in a four-lane configuration is a challenge. Seven-time U.S. Army Top Fuel world champion Tony Schumacher says that the unique format brings out the best in each driver.
 
“Well, if you don’t leave first, they’re really loud,” he said. “When you have a car on each side, you feel like the sky’s falling on you. It’s intense. It’s an incredible amount of pressure.”
 
Schumacher has raced to two victories this season, and he is currently in the series lead once again following his win in Las Vegas. With all of his accomplishments in the sport, the seven-time world champ would like to add a win at the Dollar General NHRA Four-Wide Nationals to his résumé.
 
“We won Charlotte, at the first race, but not the Four-Wide,” Schumacher said. “I want to put that on the list.”

Spencer Massey (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car), and Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) are the defending winners of the event that will be televised on ESPN2HD.

Traxxas Ford Mustang Funny Car points leader Courtney Force is ready to take on the Four-Wide challenge and can’t wait to perform for the fans.
 
“I’m excited going into it,” said Force, who moved back into the series points lead after her runner-up finish in Las Vegas. “I love that it’s unique. I love that it’s different. It definitely makes it cool for the fans, and it definitely is fun to put on a great show for them. Although it’s going to be nerve-wracking because there’s so much going on, so many other cars, lanes to focus on, the Christmas Tree to really kind of relearn at this track; I’m looking forward to it. It’s going to be a challenge, but that’s what I like about it.”
 
Force says she’s been coaching and giving pointers to her Top Fuel rookie sister Brittany, who will be experiencing her first-ever Four-Wide Nationals.
 
“I keep talking to Brittany about it going in,” Courtney said. “It’s a little bit overwhelming for a driver. So I’m a little nervous for her. There’s so much excitement. There’s so much horsepower. It’s so much louder at this racetrack with four lanes. It’s kind of cool to have my sister out here, although she’s in a different category, she’s in a Top Fuel dragster, and I’m in the Funny Car. It’s still kind of cool she’s been able to come to me for advice, and I’ve been able to talk to her. I try not to shove it down her throat and throw a bunch of advice at her because I know how overwhelming it can be the first year out.”

Another Funny Car contender eager to cruise into the winner’s circle at zMAX Dragway is two-time Funny Car world champ Cruz Pedregon. Serving as both crew chief and driver of his Snap-on Tools Toyota Camry, Pedregon recently claimed his first season victory in Las Vegas and is currently third in the points. The two-time world champ posted a runner-up finish at last season’s NHRA Four-Wide Nationals.
 
“I loved it last year because we went to the final,” Pedregon said. “We lost to Robert Hight by not even half a car length. I noticed the enthusiasm was back. I would say this is the peak of excitement going there [Charlotte] for the fourth time. It’s exciting because you can't focus on one opponent. You’re going, ‘Wait a minute, there’s this guy. Hold on a second, I got to race that guy, too?’ You start thinking a little bit. When you get up there, there’s just another Tree to look at, just making sure everybody is staged. After that, it’s a regular race again. So it’s exciting. If I wasn’t racing in it, I’d love to get up there in the top part of the grandstand about half-track and watch it because I think it would be pretty cool.”
   
Pedregon and his "No Name" crew will face some tough competitors in the Funny Car class at "the Bellagio of dragstrips," which includes defending event winner Hight, NAPA Auto Parts driver Ron Capps, defending world champ “Fast Jack” Beckman, and veteran driver Del Worsham, among others. 
 
In Top Fuel, Schumacher will have to outrun teammate and defending world champion Antron Brown, Morgan Lucas, Brandon Bernstein, Doug Kalitta, and many more to claim his first Four-Wide Nationals Wally trophy.
    
Pro Stock is full of tough drivers looking to score big at the Dollar General NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, including defending event winner Vincent Nobile, last year’s world champion Allen Johnson, Pro Stock’s most successful female driver Erica Enders-Stevens, outstanding qualifier Mike Edwards in his I Am Second Chevy Camaro, and local favorites, Jason Line and Anderson, the defending event winner.
    
Pro Stock Motorcycle returns to the Dollar General NHRA Four-Wide Nationals after a two-year hiatus. Lucas Oil Racing Buell rider Hector Arana Jr. started off the Mello Yello Series season with a win at the NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville. He will square off with some tough riders if he hopes to get win No. 2, which includes father Hector Sr., Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future Award candidate Adam Arana, three-time champs Andrew Hines and Eddie Krawiec on their Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidsons, Michael Ray, Shawn Gann, husband-and-wife duo Matt and Angie Smith, Scotty Pollacheck, and past zMAX winner Steve Johnson.
    
Children 13 and younger will receive free general-admission tickets with a paid adult. As always, fans will have the opportunity to interact with their favorite drivers because every ticket is an exclusive pit pass, allowing them firsthand to see the highly skilled mechanics service their race machines 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.
    
To purchase general-admission or reserved seats, please visit www.zMAXDragway.com or call the box office at 800-455-FANS (3267). For more information about NHRA, please visit www.NHRA.com.

When the NHRA returns to zMAX Dragway for the Dollar General NHRA Four-Wide Nationals fueled by Full Throttle, April 19-21, fans will be treated to a four-wide assault from all four of the sport’s top categories, including Pro Stock Motorcycles, which haven’t raced four-wide since 2010.

Pro Stock Motorcycles, which in recent years have only raced at "the Bellagio of dragstrips’ " traditional two-wide fall event, will take to the track with Pro Stock, Funny Car, and Top Fuel dragsters for the greatest spectacle in drag racing.

Matt Smith, who won the Four-Wide event in 2010, called it a great accomplishment for his team, which is based in nearby Winston-Salem, N.C.

“To be able to be the only one that’s won that race to date is a great accomplish for me and my team,” said Smith. “I really adapted to the four-wide thing right away. A lot of people struggled with, but I adapted to it right away.”

What does Smith think of his chances to repeat as champion?

“I think we have as good a shot as anybody to win that event again,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s one person you’re running against or if it’s 30 people. You have to focus on your own deal. If you have all the right stuff and you do all the right things, then you should turn that last win light on.”

In order to repeat, Smith will have to beat a loaded field of Pro Stock Motorcycle talent, including Hector Arana Jr., who won the season-opening NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville. The win, Arana said, gives him a lot of confidence heading into the Dollar General NHRA Four-Wide Nationals.

“Any time you get a win, it brings confidence. It's a big motivator. It's going to really help morale inside our team and in the shop,” said Arana. “Drag racing is all mental, and when you get a win, it helps mentally. I'm going to try to use that to my advantage and hopefully keep doing well and keep that No. 1 spot all year.”

Smith, near lane, defeated a trio of other bikes to win the 2010 event.

Arana said he knows keeping the No. 1 position will be a big challenge when the Pro Stock Motorcycles line up four-wide, but he doesn’t expect the format change to alter his approach to racing.

“I don't think I'm going to approach it any differently,” he said. “I'm going to go up there and do my thing and do like I always do before I even pre-stage. I'll pay attention to the lights and make sure everybody pre-stages and stages. I'll be staying focused on the yellow bulb, and as soon as it drops, I'm ready to go.”

Andrew Hines is the defending champion at zMAX Dragway, having won the NHRA Nationals there last September. Hines said he hopes to build on his recent success at zMAX, a track where he has struggled in the past.

“My confidence is definitely higher having won the race last fall there,” Hines said. “The racetrack was kind of a nemesis for me when we first started going there. I had a lot of red-lights; I couldn’t get my bike to leave the starting line well. Going to the final a couple of years ago and ultimately winning last year have done a lot of good for my feelings going into that racetrack, whether it’s the beginning of the year or the end of the year.”

Eddie Krawiec said the return to four-wide racing is sure to ramp up the drama for competitors who are used to the traditional two-wide format.

“As a driver, the one thing you need to take into consideration for Charlotte is you're now out of your element,” said Krawiec, who won the fall event at zMAX in 2011. “You’re not going to have just two lanes. Now you’ve got to worry about four lanes. You’ve got to worry about three other people staging, pre-staging, going through your whole starting-line routine. You can be caught off guard very easy. You have to really be on your game at all times.”

To purchase tickets to the 4th annual Dollar General NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway, April 19-21, visit www.4widedrags.com or call 800-455-FANS (3267). Fans who buy three East Grandstand tickets to any day will receive a fourth ticket free. Every ticket is a pit pass, so fans can walk through the pits and see their favorite drivers and teams as they prepare to take to the track.

When Thomas Wolfe wrote the novel You Can't Go Home Again more than 70 years ago, he couldn’t have known the impact the late John R. Gray and Johnny Gray would have on the people in their hometown of Artesia, N.M.

Gray, wife Terry, and sister Terry Chandler led Don Schumacher Racing’s Pitch Energy Funny Car team to a layover in the southern New Mexico hamlet on Wednesday during the team’s return to DSR headquarters near Indianapolis after last weekend’s NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event in Las Vegas. Gray and the nine-member Pitch Energy crew, both 18-wheel transporters, and tow vehicle turned south in Albuquerque, N.M., and headed for Artesia instead of continuing east.

The stop was designated John R. Gray Day as part of the family’s season-long salute to the late patriarch, a legendary oilman who changed the lives of countless families in a tradition carried on by his son, who took over Marbob Corp. and his dad’s Pitch Energy business interests.

“People say they had the best dad, but they’re all wrong ’cause I had the best dad,” Gray has often said.

Gray decided to bid his farewell to competing full time on the NHRA Drag Racing circuit with the name Pitch Energy — a family business the late Gray named after his favorite card game, Pitch — on the Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car bodies and with likenesses of John R. on the rear quarterpanels.

It was a very special day for the Gray family and Artesia residents, who turned out in force to visit with the Grays and see the team's 320-mph Dodge, which rested in the shadow of a massive statue of John R. and his original partner, Mack Chase. The statue is part of Artesia’s Monument Park, which honors local heroes of the oil-drilling industry.

John R. was 71 when he died Oct. 28, 2001.

Countless friends who attended John R. Gray Day shared personal contributions made by the Grays to the local oil industry, their generosity, and a continued commitment to the Artesia and nearby Carlsbad communities.

Case in point: DSR and Gray’s former sponsor, Service Central, donated enough souvenir shirts and diecasts to raise more than $2,000 for the Grammy’s House family shelter.

A steady crowd of more than 500 kept Gray busy signing shirts, diecasts, and autograph cards for nearly the full three hours of the display. When it ended at 6 p.m., the Pitch Energy group headed for Hotel Artesia for a reception attended mostly by former Marbob employees.

“Heck, all these folks just showed up because they heard I’d give ’em two free drink coupons,” Gray joked of his nearly 100 reception guests. “Nah, they’re all good people. I love all of ’em. About two-thirds worked for us at some time. They were always extremely loyal to me and my dad, and I’ll always be loyal to them.”

Gray and the Pitch Energy team had hoped to ride into Artesia on a two-event winning streak after scoring four weeks ago in Gainesville, but after recovering from a body-destroying explosion on Friday in Las Vegas, they rallied to qualify No. 4 and advanced to the second round before the Dodge lost traction against Cruz Pedregon, who won their race and eventually the event title.

The team will head to Charlotte to compete at the Dollar General NHRA Four-Wide Nationals April 19-21. Gray is ranked second in the standings behind Courtney Force.

Here’s a look at his standings after four events for Top Fuel, Funny Car, and Pro Stock and the season opener for Pro Stock Motorcycle, listing position and improvement or decline from the previous ranking (NR = not previously ranked).
 

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.

NHRA Top Fuel driver Steve Torrence hosts this week's episode of NHRA Now and previews the Dollar General NHRA Four-Wide Nationals fueled by Full Throttle at Charlotte's zMAX Dragway.

Greg Anderson feels right at home at zMAX Dragway, where he will look to build on his already-impressive résumé and race for a third consecutive victory at the Dollar General NHRA Four-Wide Nationals fueled by Full Throttle, April 19-21.

“I wish I could explain the success we’ve had there. It’s so much of a challenge for a driver,” said Anderson, who holds the distinction of being the winningest driver at the “Bellagio of dragstrips.” “It offers like 15 new ways for a driver to look like an idiot out there – for a driver to fail.”

But since notching his first victory at zMAX Dragway in the fall of 2010, Anderson hasn’t failed often, winning three of the last five events, including the last two four-wide contests. That makes him the winningest driver in the track’s history, an accomplishment he’ll look to improve upon when the greatest spectacle in drag racing returns.

“We’re going to have to have our cars at top song. You’ve got to have a fast race car, otherwise you can’t win these days,” said Anderson. “The competition in this class is, right now, tougher than it’s ever been. There’s not a standout favorite anymore.”

The challenge of winning is even greater at the Dollar General NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, Anderson added, because the unique format requires drivers to break from the routine and face an entirely different set of challenges, from staging next to three competitors to a unique four-bulb Christmas Tree.

“There’s so much more going through your head,” he said, of sitting on the start line with three other competitors staging next to you. “Everything’s foreign to you. Everything’s new. You race two lanes your entire career. It is a huge challenge for a driver. You have to try so hard to concentrate and be on your game so you don’t make a mistake.”

Anderson, who drives for Mooresville, N.C.-based KB Racing, said he has the added pressure of racing at his home track. While he has the added advantage of regular testing at zMAX Dragway, racing at home ramps up the pressure in front of his family and friends.

“It seems like the races where there is more pressure are hugely important to us, and it seems to be those are the ones that we are able to capitalize on,” said Anderson. “I don’t have the answer to why, but apparently, there’s always something left in our minds that we can find to add a little more focus.”

To purchase tickets to the 4th annual Dollar General NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway, April 19-21, visit www.4widedrags.com or call 800-455-FANS (3267). Fans who buy three East Grandstand tickets to any day will receive a fourth ticket free.

For the second consecutive year, NHRA is offering a special NHRA Fan Pack for those who are planning to attend the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals, May 3-5 at Atlanta Dragway.

The NHRA Fan Pack includes two Tier 2 reserved adult tickets along with a preferred parking pass, which offers the easiest access into Atlanta Dragway via a separate gate entrance and allows fans to park 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 with Friday’s NHRA Fan Pack priced at only $80; the Saturday or Sunday Pack is priced at $112.

The Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals is the seventh of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series for 2013. All of the stars of NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing will be competing at speeds of more than 300 mph during the event, including John Force, Tony Schumacher, Antron Brown, Cruz Pedregon, Courtney Force, Ron Capps, Alexis DeJoria, Brandon Bernstein, and many more. The race will be televised on ESPN2HD.

To purchase your NHRA Fan Pack, please visit www.NHRATIX.com or contact the NHRA Ticket Sales Center at 800-884-NHRA (6472).

In the world of motorsports, 2013 has been the year of the ladies, some of whom will look to make even more history at the upcoming Dollar General NHRA Four-Wide Nationals fueled by Full Throttle at zMAX Dragway, April 19-21.

In the same month that NASCAR’s Danica Patrick was making headlines for winning the pole at the Daytona 500, NHRA Funny Car driver Courtney Force took home a Funny Car Wally at the NHRA season opener in Pomona. Erica Enders-Stevens followed Force’s win with a trip to the winner's circle in Pro Stock the following week in Phoenix, marking the first time in NHRA history that two women have opened the season with back-to-back victories.

Women finding success in the NHRA isn’t new. Shirley Shahan was the first woman to win an NHRA national event in 1966. Shirley Muldowney enjoyed success throughout the 1970s and 1980s, and some of today’s biggest rising stars are women, including Force and Enders-Stevens, as well as Force’s sister Brittany and Leah Pruett, both of whom are making their debuts in Top Fuel this season. Courtney races Funny Cars in a class that includes fellow female racer Alexis DeJoria as well as Courtney and Brittany’s dad, 15-time NHRA Mello Yello Funny Car world champion John Force.

Perhaps the biggest obstacle that the women will tackle this year is the Dollar General NHRA Four-Wide Nationals. No woman has won at zMAX Dragway in the top four NHRA categories, but Courtney and Brittany are hungry to pick up that victory.

“[zMAX Dragway] was probably the most nerve-racking track I’ve ever competed at,” said Courtney, who was runner-up last weekend in Las Vegas. “This obviously is 'the Bellagio of dragstrips.' There’s no other racetrack on the planet that’s four-wide.

“That’s the great thing about this track. It’s rare, and it’s not like you can go practice it at all the other racetracks. This is the only track that is this way, and it definitely makes it exciting for the fans and for the drivers.” 

Erica Enders-Stevens, the first woman to win an NHRA Pro Stock title, already has another win this season.

Enders-Stevens is also hoping to add a Four-Wide Wally to her collection in the Pro Stock category.

"Winning at Charlotte – and any Bruton Smith track – is a big deal," Enders-Stevens said. "Bruton Smith has done a lot for our sport, and his tracks are the nicest facilities on the circuit. It would definitely be neat to get it done there. It's our backyard, and Charlotte is the only racetrack that Cagnazzi Racing has not conquered. It's definitely on our to-do list."

For the first time since 2010, the Pro Stock Motorcycles will compete at the event. King, N.C.’s Angie Smith, who competes against husband Matt Smith in the category, feels that the women of the NHRA are not at any disadvantage.

“We are on a level playing field,” said Smith. “We’re out here to race to win. We don’t want to be treated any differently. We stepped into a male-dominated sport because we love it, and that’s what we do. At the end of the day, we don’t want to be portrayed any different. We just want to go out there and race and turn on the win light.”

Fans who want to see the Forces, Enders-Stevens, Pruett, Smith, and all of the other stars of the NHRA going for the Wally at the Dollar General NHRA Four-Wide Nationals can purchase three tickets and get one free in select sections. Children 13 and younger will be admitted free every day of the event, and every ticket is a pit pass.

For tickets and camping information, call the Charlotte Motor Speedway ticket office, 800-455-FANS (3267), or log on to  www.4widedrags.com.

The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series returns to one of the premier dragstrips in the country, zMAX Dragway, which will host the Dollar General NHRA Four-Wide Nationals fueled by Full Throttle, April 19-21. This is the only event during the season where fans have the opportunity to see the fastest- accelerating machines in the world race side by side in an electrifying four-wide configuration. Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle competitors will thrill fans, who can witness the exciting racing and take advantage of a special ticket offer that admits children 13 and younger free into general-admission areas with a paid adult.

When the bulbs on the Christmas Trees flash green, four powerful vehicles will blast down the track to provide a sensory experience second to none. In 2012, Funny Car driver Robert Hight recorded his fourth consecutive national event win of the season when he crossed the finish line first in his Auto Club Ford Mustang. In Top Fuel, Spencer Massey rocketed to his third victory in the early portion of the season, and his 332.18-mph pass set the national speed record. Greg Anderson, who calls the Charlotte area home, raced to the popular Pro Stock win when he narrowly defeated Erica Enders-Stevens, Jason Line, and Vincent Nobile in the four-wide affair.

All the four-wide racing action will be featured on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD with hours of coverage that gives fans an up-close and behind-the-scenes look into the sport of NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing.

Tony Schumacher

The 2013 season already has been filled with incredible racing and spectacular finishes in all categories. In Top Fuel, seven-time Mello Yello world champion Tony Schumacher is showing the success that has made him a multitime champion. Dating back to the last two races of 2012, he has powered to two wins in five final-round appearances to put his U.S. Army dragster team atop the standings. Reigning Mello Yello world champ Antron Brown, runner-up to Schumacher in Las Vegas and winner of the tradition-rich Gatornationals in Florida, is second. Season-opening Winternationals winner Shawn Langdon, Massey, and Morgan Lucas will be among those battling at zMAX Dragway to hoist the famed NHRA Wally at the end of the event.

In Funny Car, 2012 top rookie Courtney Force is showing that she has one of the most consistent cars in the category with her season-opening victory in Pomona at the controls of her Traxxas Ford Mustang and a runner-up in Las Vegas to hold the points lead. A host of hungry competitors also will try to earn the Wally at the Dollar General NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, including NHRA Arizona Nationals winner Ron Capps; reigning season champ Jack Beckman, who won this event in 2011;15-time world champ John Force; Hight; Cruz Pedregon; and Del Worsham, who has returned to the Funny Car driver’s seat this season.

Allen Johnson

New for 2013 is a return of the Pro Stock Motorcycle category at the Dollar General NHRA Four-Wide Nationals. Defending Mello Yello world champion Eddie Krawiec and his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson team will be battling for their fourth world championship title, and success at the event will be paramount to winning the crown. Among those who will be riding to thwart Krawiec’s attempt are teammate Andrew Hines, Hector Arana Sr., Gatornationals winner Hector Arana Jr., and Matt Smith, a resident of nearby King, N.C., who won the only four-wide race in PSM history.

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

The fan-favorite Track Walk will return four-wide style at zMAX Dragway Sunday at 10:30 a.m. to kick off the pre-race ceremony. All Sunday ticket holders are welcome to walk alongside their favorite drivers during the Track Walk. During the pre-race ceremony, fans are invited to join the fun and cheer all of the qualified drivers in front of the main stage as they are introduced.

Pro qualifying begins on Friday, April 19, with sessions at 2:30 and 4:45 p.m. The final two qualifying sessions will take place Saturday, April 20, at 12:15 and 2:30 p.m. Final eliminations will begin at noon on Sunday, April 21.

Be a part of the action all weekend with a 3-Day Pass starting at $99. Tickets for children 13 and younger are free with any paid adult ticket; to purchase general-admission or reserved seats, log on to www.zmaxdragway.com or call the box office, 800-455-FANS (3267).

Allen Johnson raced to the Pro Stock victory Sunday at the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals and claimed more than $100,000 during the weekend at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel) and Cruz Pedregon (Funny Car) also were winners at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event.

Johnson, who won the $50,000 K&N Horsepower Challenge all-star event on Saturday, pocketed $25,000 for winning today’s race and the $25,000 NHRA Sweep Bonus for winning both events. Johnson is the seventh Pro Stock driver to sweep both events in the 29-year history of the K&N Horsepower Challenge.

Allen Johnson

Johnson cruised to his second consecutive win of the season and second straight at this event with a final-round performance of 6.713 seconds at 206.76 mph in his Mopar’s Express Lane Fast Oil Changes Dodge Avenger. His final-round opponent Erica Enders-Stevens shut her GK Motorsports Chevy Camaro off at mid-track.

In earlier rounds, Johnson defeated JR Carr, Vincent Nobile, and Jeg Coughlin Jr. The Tennessee driver moved into the points lead for the first time this season, jumping ahead of the event’s No. 1 qualifier, Mike Edwards, by four points.

“It seems like our car really likes altitude tracks, and hats off to my guys for pulling off the sweep today,” said defending world champion Johnson of his 18th career victory. “Erica is a great driver and has come into her own, and she makes me rise to the occasion. We’re good friends, but the friendship kind of goes on hold when the helmet goes on. It’s awesome to win both races. It takes a lot of money to run these cars, so anytime you can infuse a little extra money into the budget, it is a good thing.”

Tony Schumacher

“I don’t know that we had the best car this weekend,” Schumacher said. “We were good, but there were faster cars than us. Sometimes you have to go consistent, and sometimes you have to get down the racetrack. That’s what we did this weekend.”

Schumacher, who moved into the series points lead with the victory, says he was thrilled to get a win on his crew chief Mike Green’s birthday so he could put the spotlight on his crew for their great efforts during the weekend.

“I didn’t drive amazing today,” Schumacher said. “I didn’t have stellar lights like Antron and Spencer, but you try so hard to not be the weak link. It wasn’t like I did anything supernatural or different to win this race. Every now and then the driver does something great to win the race, but the majority of the time it is the hard work and dedication of the crew. Those guys work so hard, and I don’t think most fans understand just how hard they do work. I am happy for all my guys.”

Cruz Pedregon

There was a tense moment in the final round just after Pedregon’s burnout when his car wouldn’t go into reverse. His crewmembers pushed the car back to the starting line for the run.

“I’ve won a lot of races a lot of different ways, but today, the consistency of this car impressed me, and the quick turnaround time by my team made a big difference,” Pedregon said. “It was pretty challenging for me. Great credit goes to my team for pushing my car back and getting me into position for the run. I wouldn’t have wanted to hold Courtney up. She was a great opponent, and she had me nervous. She kept us honest. We were pressing and trying to run a 4.10 or 4.12 in that round.”

Pedregon said he wasn’t sure what the problem was with the car after the final-round burnout.

“I would expect the clutch clearances were a little too tight,” Pedregon said. “We have to work on those things as a team because of the quick turnaround time there are little things we need to clean up in our pit area, and we will, but I don’t want to take anything away from the team. I am proud of what we did. This is an impressive win for us. It means a lot.”

Pedregon outran Gary Densham, Johnny Gray, and Alexis DeJoria to advance to the final round. Like Schumacher, Pedregon says his team went to a conservative tune-up in the warm desert southwest weather conditions.

“We had to pull back a little bit,” Pedregon said. “We just raced the track, and we were smart. You live and learn. Even though I am in love with the big numbers and setting records and low e.t., sometimes you have to take what you can get and race within yourself, and that’s what we did today.”

With the runner-up finish, Force moved back into the points lead, and she is 14 ahead of Gray. Pedregon moves to third overall, 17 back of the leader.

The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series continues with the Dollar General NHRA Four-Wide Nationals fueled by Full Throttle, April 19-21 at zMAX Dragway near Charlotte.

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Saturday: Friday leaders Brown, Hight, Edwards remain on top in Vegas

Friday qualifying leader Antron Brown held onto the top spot in Top Fuel at the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway as did Robert Hight in Funny Car and Mike Edwards in Pro Stock.

In Top Fuel, Brown remained on top of the field in his Matco Tools dragster. Brown's Friday performance of 3.780 at 320.43 gave him his first No. 1 qualifying position of the season and 33rd of his career. He will face fellow competitor Brandon Bernstein in Sunday’s first round of eliminations, which are scheduled for 11 a.m. (PT).

“We’re going to put our hats down and hit it hard tomorrow,” Brown said. “We got one win here in 2011, but we’ve been to the final round so many times that it feels like we’re due.”

Antron Brown

Robert Hight

Mike Edwards

U.S. Army dragster pilot Tony Schumacher was third at the end of qualifying, and Al-Anabi Racing drivers Shawn Langdon and Khalid alBalooshi qualified fourth and fifth, respectively. Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future Award candidate Brittany Force qualified 11th and will face Mac Tools dragster driver Doug Kalitta in round one.

Hight scored his first No. 1 position in the Funny Car class in 19 races with his Friday run of 4.053 at 315.19 in his Auto Club Ford Mustang. It was the 44th career No. 1 for Hight and his fourth at this event. He will open eliminations against Jeff Arend.

“It’s been a long 19 races,” Hight said. “It’s been longer than that since we won a race. I’m proud of our car and the way our team worked to get back here. Seeing the elapsed time slips this weekend has been good for the morale of the team.”

Sophomore sensation Courtney Force drove her Traxxas Ford Mustang to the No. 2 qualifying position with a 4.068 at 315.86 run, and 2012 world champion Jack Beckman was third with a 4.095 at 306.05 in his Valvoline/MTS Dodge Charger. 

Edwards powered his I Am Second Chevy Camaro down the track with a performance of 6.642 at 208.26 to claim his fourth consecutive No. 1 qualifying position of the season in Pro Stock. It was the 45th top qualifying effort for Edwards, who will face Larry Morgan in the opening round of eliminations.

“I’m glad we ran really good, but we lost the [K&N Horsepower Challenge], and I’ve been trying to win that thing for like 12 years now. I don’t know, I can’t do it,” Edwards said. “I have a fast car. I just had some parts failure there that first round, and it’s just one of those things. We came back and adjusted it and went out there, and we ran our fastest run of the weekend in the worst conditions. Hat’s off to my guys. They’re doing a phenomenal job. I’m just real proud of everyone. It’s great to come out and run good and be No. 1 qualifier. We can’t win the Horsepower Challenge now, but hopefully, tomorrow we can set our sights on a Wally.”

Allen Johnson raced to victory in the K&N Horsepower Challenge, a special Pro Stock bonus event, Saturday at the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals.

In other racing action at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway,  Brown (Top Fuel), Hight (Funny Car), and Edwards (Pro Stock) earned No. 1 qualifying positions in their respective categories at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event.

Veteran Pro Stock driver Johnson claimed his second victory in the K&N Horsepower Challenge in his Mopar’s Express Lane Fast Oil Changes Dodge Avenger by holding off Erica Enders-Stevens’ GK Motorsports Chevy Camaro in the final round.  Johnson, who earned $50,000 for the victory, also defeated Greg Anderson and teammate Jeg Coughlin Jr. in earlier rounds.

“Any time you can stack up against the eight drivers that were in that thing, just to be there is an honor, and to beat them is an even bigger honor,” Johnson said. “We got it done today. It was a lot of fun. I appreciate K&N. Man, what an awesome company to sponsor this thing. We’ve been out here with them for many years now, and they’re quality people and a quality company.”

K&N Horsepower Challenge winner Johnson will start second with a performance of 6.652 at 207.53, and Challenge runner-up Enders-Stevens qualified fifth with a 6.675 at 207.05.

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Allen Johnson picked up a second K&N Horsepower Challenge trophy when he defeated Erica Enders-Stevens in the final of the Pro Stock bonus event, held in conjunction with the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Johnson, who won the 2008 Horsepower Challenge, pocketed $50,000 for the win.

“Any time you can stack up against the eight drivers that were in that thing, just to be there is an honor, and to beat them is an even bigger honor,” said Johnson. “The new Dodge Express Lane Dodge Avenger is awesome. The new gig is that we do everything at the track fast, just like the guys at Chrysler do to change your oil in the Mopar Express Lane. We got it done today. It was a lot of fun. I appreciate K&N. Man, what an awesome company to sponsor this thing. We’ve been out here with them for many years now, and they’re quality people and a quality company.”

Johnson became the early favorite to win the event when he powered to a 6.65 in the opening round against Jeg Coughlin Jr. that ended up being low e.t. of Horsepower Challenge eliminations. Johnson also had the best run of the semi’s, posting a 6.68 against Greg Anderson, the driver who Johnson defeated in the 2008 Horsepower Challenge final.

On the other side of the ladder, Enders-Stevens began with a 6.68 to 6.70 victory over last year’s Horsepower Challenge winner, Vincent Nobile, then advanced to her first final when she stopped Jason Line, 6.71 to 6.76.

The final did not go as expected when both Johnson and Enders-Stevens encountered tire shake at the hit. Both cars got squirrely, and Enders-Stevens was forced off the throttle because of it. Johnson was able to settle his car and drive it to the finish line in 7.18 seconds to turn on the win light.

Johnson’s victory was also a triumph for Vincent Jardine, of Rockland, Ill., the fan who was paired with the reigning NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series champion. Jardine won a ’13 Toyota Tundra pickup.

“Vincent won him a new Toyota Tundra truck. It’s a nice truck, like a Baja edition or something,” said Johnson. “He’s from near Joliet [Ill.], and he’s already wanting tickets to bring the family out, so I’ve already told him he’s my good-luck charm, so I’ll set him up.”

If Johnson can win Sunday’s SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals, he will earn a $25,000 double-up bonus.

“We’ve got a strong car,” said Johnson. “We qualified No. 2, so we’ll go out there and try to make the right decision and keep lane choice. Lane choice is pretty big for us. We’ll go out there and give it our best, and I think we’ve got a good shot at it.”

Summary of eliminations in the K&N Horsepower Challenge:

Round 1:
Greg Anderson, Mooresville, N.C., ’13 Camaro, (0.067) 6.697 207.53 def.
Mike Edwards, Coweta, Okla., ’13 Camaro, (0.083) 6.694 207.72

Erica Enders-Stevens, New Orleans, La., ’13 Camaro, (0.010) 6.688 207.05 def.
Vincent Nobile, Dix Hills, N.Y., ’13 Avenger, (0.026) 6.701 206.99

Jason Line, Mooresville, N.C., ’13 Camaro, (0.034) 6.698 207.75 def.
V. Gaines, Lakewood, Colo., ’13 Avenger, (0.058) 6.684 207.50

Allen Johnson, Greeneville, Tenn., ’13 Avenger, (0.039) 6.652 207.53 def.
Jeg Coughlin Jr., Delaware, Ohio, ’13 Avenger, (0.019) 6.675 207.56

Round 2:
Enders-Stevens, (0.046) 6.711 206.54 def.
Line, (0.028) 6.769 207.02

Johnson, (0.062) 6.687 207.08 def.
Anderson, (0.044) 6.773 206.64

Final:
Johnson, (0.010) 7.188 200.62 def.
Enders-Stevens, (0.041) 9.602 110.96

Antron Brown raced to the qualifying lead in Top Fuel Friday at the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Robert Hight (Funny Car) and Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) also were qualifying leaders at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event.

Brown powered his Matco Tools dragster to a leading performance of 3.780 seconds at 320.43 mph as he continues his successful comeback following a harrowing season-opening crash in February at the NHRA Winternationals in Pomona. Brown, the defending Top Fuel world champion, won the most recent NHRA event in Gainesville in mid-March to move into the series points lead.

Antron Brown

Robert Hight

Mike Edwards

“We’ve ran well here in the past, so we just wanted to go for it,” Brown said. “These Matco Tools guys in the pits really stuck it to the coals. At the last couple of races when you keep on getting picked by Doug Kalitta and then we had Tony [Schumacher] and [Shawn] Langdon right behind us, so you just have to step it up. So we picked up three [points] tonight. We love this place so much, and we just want to win here again.”

If Brown’s performance holds through Saturday’s two qualifying sessions (12:30 and 2:30 p.m.), it will be his first No. 1 of the season and 33rd of his career. Sunday’s eliminations start at 11 a.m.

Hight paced the Funny Car category with a 4.053 at 315.19 in his Auto Club Ford Mustang. If the time holds, it will be his fourth No. 1 at this event and the 44th top qualifying effort of his career.

In Pro Stock, Edwards moved into position to claim his fourth consecutive No. 1 qualifying position of the season; he posted a leading performance of 6.651 seconds at 207.98 mph in his I Am Second Chevy Camaro.

“The first run was way better than the second one,” Edwards said. “Hopefully, we can take what we learned today and put it toward the K&N Horsepower Challenge tomorrow.”

Edwards will face Greg Anderson in the opening round of the bonus race for qualified Pro Stock teams that will pay the winner $50,000. Edwards has posted four runner-up finishes in the Challenge in nine career starts.

“I’ve been close,” Edwards said. “I sure would like to win that race. It’s so special, and to be involved with K&N and all the support they give us with Steve Williams and the whole group over there is just phenomenal. It is one of my goals every year to win that race, and I just haven’t done it yet. Maybe this will be my weekend.”

The K&N Horsepower Challenge starts at 12:30 p.m., with rounds to follow at 2:15 and 3:25 p.m. Defending Pro Stock world champion Allen Johnson is the top seed of the event, and he will race Jeg Coughlin Jr. in the opening round. The other two first-round pairings are Jason Line vs. V. Gaines, and Erica Enders-Stevens will take on defending winner Vincent Nobile.