NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Six rookie drivers representing the four NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series categories, Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle, were announced by officials from NHRA and Automobile Club of Southern California as the eligible candidates for the 2016 Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future Award.

The award, which recognizes the top rookie competitor in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series and offers a $20,000 prize and traditional trophy to the winner, will be presented during NHRA’s annual championship awards ceremony on Monday, Nov. 14 at the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland in Hollywood, Calif. The nation’s leading auto racing journalists will select the winner through a voting system based on the following criteria: number of events participated, performance on and off the racetrack, participation in NHRA promotions and relationships with fans, sponsors and media.

The candidates for the prestigious award are, in alphabetical order: Jim Campbell (Funny Car), Cory Reed (Pro Stock Motorcycle), Aaron Strong (Pro Stock), Melissa Surber (Pro Stock Motorcycle), Tripp Tatum (Top Fuel) and Brandon Welch (Funny Car)
 
“For over a century, the Automobile Club of Southern California has been a symbol of integrity, commitment and professionalism to our millions of members in the community. The Road to the Future Award, honoring up-and-coming racers in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, has come to represent these same attributes in motorsports,” said Robert T. Bouttier, CEO of the Automobile Club of Southern California. “This year’s nominees have not only demonstrated competitiveness, but exceptional potential for the future. We congratulate all of the candidates for this year’s award and look forward to watching them continue to achieve great things, on and off the track.” 

Jim Campbell

Melissa Surber

Campbell has qualified for nine races and had a quarterfinal finish at the spring race in Las Vegas, where he upset Funny Car veteran racer Tim Wilkerson in the first round. He raced to career-best performances of 3.977 seconds and 315.93 mph at the U.S. Nationals.

Reed competed in a full Pro Stock Motorcycle schedule highlighted by a runner-up finish in Reading, Pa. where he defeated Hector Arana Sr. and defending world champion Andrew Hines before losing to Eddie Krawiec in the finals. Reed qualified for the NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship and rode to career-best performances of 6.835 seconds in Brainerd Minn. and 196.07 mph in Indianapolis.

Strong raced in and qualified for nine races including his first Pro Stock win at the Seattle event. He upset former world champion Greg Anderson, two-time and defending world champion Erica Enders, Bo Butner and Vincent Nobile for the victory.

Surber raced a full schedule and reached the quarterfinals at the Atlanta event defeating LE Tonglet in the first round. She rode to career best performances of 6.853 seconds and 194.86 mph at the Pro Stock Motorcycle season opener in Gainesville, Fla.

Tatum’s rookie season is highlighted by his first start at the Gainesville event where he defeated Leah Pritchett in the first round. He went on to lose to Brittany Force in the quarterfinals. Tatum piloted his dragster to career best performances of 3.785 seconds and 326.00 mph both in Indianapolis.

Brandon Welch has raced at six events and qualified for three where he lost in the first rounds to 2009 Funny Car world champion Robert Hight in Norwalk, Ohio and Dallas, and points leader Ron Capps in Seattle.

In 2002 the Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future Award and the NHRA Rookie of the Year Award were combined to create one award recognizing the future stars of the sport. Past winners of the Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future Award have developed into some of NHRA’s biggest stars, including Tony Pedregon (1996, Funny Car), Ron Capps (1997, Funny Car), Doug Kalitta (1998, Top Fuel), Antron Brown (1999, Pro Stock Motorcycle), Melanie Troxel (2000, Top Fuel), GT Tonglet (2001, Pro Stock Motorcycle), Gene Wilson (2002, Pro Stock); Brandon Bernstein (2003, Top Fuel); Jason Line (2004, Pro Stock); Robert Hight (2005, Funny Car); J.R. Todd (2006, Top Fuel); Ashley Force Hood (2007, Funny Car); Mike Neff (2008, Funny Car); Spencer Massey (2009, Top Fuel); L.E. Tonglet (2010, Pro Stock Motorcycle); Hector Arana Jr. (2011, Pro Stock Motorcycle); Courtney Force (2012, Funny Car); Brittany Force (2013, Top Fuel); Richie Crampton (2014, Top Fuel) and Drew Skillman (2015, Pro Stock).

NHRA Rookie of the Year winners prior to the merger of the two awards included the late Darrell Russell (2001, Top Fuel), Don Lampus (2000, Top Fuel), Scotty Cannon (1999, Funny Car), Jeg Coughlin (1998, Pro Stock), Gary Scelzi (1997, Top Fuel) and co-winners in 1996, Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) and Matt Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle).

In addition to the Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future Award, the company is the title sponsor for the Auto Club NHRA Finals, Nov. 10-13, at the historic Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. The company also is a major sponsor for John Force Racing, providing primary sponsorship for the Chevy Camaro SS driven by Hight, as well as associate sponsorship for the Funny Cars driven by John and Courtney Force, and the Top Fuel dragster driven by Brittany Force. In addition, the Auto Club is the presenting sponsor for the California Hot Rod Reunion and the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum.