Reviews of some of the "hottest" vehicles across the world with concentration on Detroit Iron and exciting imports impacting the landscape in the US. Plus a few inserts from NHRA drag racing events across the USA. a plus
Monday, November 3, 2014
BRITTANY FORCE TO RACE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR DRAGSTER STARTING IN VEGAS
LAS VEGAS, NV(October 31, 2014) --- Brittany Force winner of
the 2013 Auto Club Road to the Future Award will race a commemorative Auto Club
Road to the Future Rookie Of The Year Castrol Edge Top Fuel dragster the final
two races of the season. The Top Fuel dragster was designed by Force and the
in-house JFR graphic design team.
Force won the 2013 award on the strength of her season long
improvement capped by a semi-final finish at the Auto Club NHRA World Finals as
well as winning the fan vote earlier in the season for the 2nd annual Traxxas
Shootout.
“This rookie car is as much my crews as it is mine which is
why I decided to dedicate it to the entire team. I wanted something completely
different but something that has meaning to me and relates to my experience as
a rookie driving a Top Fuel dragster. In the beginning of my season JFR put a
canopy on my car and the first time I jumped in it I immediately felt like I
was in a fighter jet. That feeling is exactly where my idea was inspired from.
Working with JFR graphic designer Brandon Baker we created a military jet theme
for my car. The car is silver with a weathered look to it and has the entire
teams names listed on the car. It definitely is bad ass and I can't wait to
race in Las Vegas!” said Force.
The dragster design incorporates the look of a jet fighter
and Force wanted to go with a more vintage, worn looking plane. The
challenge was to tie those concepts together, while making a unique looking
design as this sort of a thing has been done before. The JFR design team
made a template of the entire car and laid out a variety of rivets and
“airbrushed” them in Photoshop. All the logos were “weathered” on the car to
give it that worn and vintage feel. To give it a metal effect the design
team used a brushed metal film and printed directly onto the surface and a
matte over laminate look was used to further enhance the airplane theme.
The entire Top Fuel dragster is three pieces of material,
the hood and two sides. Each side took over nine hours to print.
The entire car, from concept, design, print, and installation, was done
in house at John Force Racing in Brownsburg. All rookie year crew members’
names are on the side of the car and the twelve stars on the hood represent
each crew guy and the driver.
Paul Stoll from PPG was very helpful in critiquing concepts
and adding ideas to the car. He also painted Force a custom helmet that
matches the theme of the car.
“Winning rookie of the year in 2013 is something I am very
proud of. Driving a Top Fuel dragster has definitely been a challenge to adjust
to not only for me but the entire team as well. I feel my rookie team had great
success in our first year, going rounds and making it to a semi round ending
our year strong. Earning Rookie of the Year was a team effort. I don't believe
we would have taken that home without every single one of my crew guys and crew
chiefs,” said Force.
In order to get the special matte vintage look with the
rivets on the die-cast to match Force’s real race car, Lionel has opted to
create the car in a special finish called RAW. These RAW cars
feature a rough, untouched body that makes for a tough-as-nails look with the
barest hint of clear coating to prevent oxidation. These die cast are decaled
with full-color sponsor and team logos that stand out on the cool metal
background. Not for the faint of heart, RAW is a heavy metal finish that we
anticipate will be one of the hottest special finishes of the year.
The die-cast replica of this commemorative Top Fuel
dragster will be available to fans from the John Force RaceStation
(johnforceracestation.com) or Lionel Racing (lionelracing.com) for a suggested
retail price starting at $94.95.
Thursday, October 23, 2014
John Force looking ahead, not back
NHRA Story
Thursday, October 23, 2014
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On Wednesday, Force announced that he had not only accepted the end-of-year resignation of crew chief Jimmy Prock, who guided him to the 2013 Mello Yello title, but also dismissed him immediately to start moving forward with his plans not only to finish 2014 in glory, but also to head into what he hopes will be an equally successful 2015 campaign.
Force took part in a national NHRA teleconference Wednesday to get the news out and to allow him to keep his focus for the final two events of the season, the NHRA Toyota Nationals in Las Vegas and the Auto Club NHRA Finals in Pomona.
“I don't want to go to Vegas and have to spend my days there explaining to the media what's taking place,” he said. “I don't want to have to do it at the final race at Pomona.
“I got a call early this week from a number of team owners, but one that was being straight up with me: ‘I'm talking to some of your employees, and I'm talking to your crew chiefs.’ I was a little surprised that we're in the middle of the Countdown, but whatever. It's called business. I'm a big boy, and I understand it.
"I approached Jimmy, a great kid, brilliant, that won a championship with Robert Hight and a championship with myself. When I approached him, he couldn't give me an answer. We danced around for a few days. Finally I said, ‘I need to know because I have sponsor contracts that have been signed, contracts that are on the table. I'm selling this powerhouse race team of power teams. Jimmy said, ‘I'm probably going to leave at the end of the year.’ I said, ‘I need to know for sure.’ He said, ‘If I have to tell you, basically I need a change.’ I said, ‘I respect that.’ He turned in a resignation yesterday for the end of the year. I met with my brain trust [and] told Jimmy I would accept his resignation, but I was accepting it now; I'll take it right now. So as of right now, Jimmy Prock is no longer employed by John Force Racing.”
Force is No. 2 in the Mello Yello Funny Car points standings, 36 points behind rival Matt Hagan, with two races left.
“I know it's in the middle of the Countdown, and you think I'm committing suicide, but I'm not,” he explained. “I race from the heart. I'm about principle, I'm about camaraderie, I'm about loyalty. If a man's heart is not here with me, his job is to protect his family, he's got to do what he's got to do, and John Force has got to do what he's got to do.
“I have to make a decision because I'm not racing for this championship. I'm racing for this championship and the next 20 years. Right now, I've got to start building a team. Why wait till Pomona to start building a team next year in '15? I'm going to start tomorrow. The outcome will be what it is. But at least I know where I'm going. I couldn't wait any longer. Jimmy, we shook hands, he walked out and understood; I think he understood what I was doing.”
Force also laid to rest any questions about whether all four of his teams would be competing next season.
“We'll be making announcements at Las Vegas. We'll be making announcements in SEMA and right on through the winter, right up till opening day at Pomona,” he said. “Financially, I even dipped into my savings like I've done before, my wife and I, two and a half million dollars. With that, I have the budget if no more sponsors come onboard, but I've got calls this morning and yesterday. Things are looking good. I hope not to have to invest that money, but I will if I have to. That way, my four teams can race. I have a love and passion for NHRA. I feel I owe NHRA. I owe the sponsors, and I owe the fans to race.”
Monday, October 20, 2014
Six NHRA rookie drivers are eligible candidates for 2014 Auto Club Road to the Future Award Thursday, October 09, 2014
NHRA Article-Thursday, October 09, 2014
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Jimmy Alund
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Richie Crampton
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Jonathan Gray
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Elvira Karlsson
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Chaz Kennedy
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Shane Tucker
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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. 17 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles. More than 150 of 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: Jimmy Alund (Pro Stock); Richie Crampton (Top Fuel); Jonathan Gray (Pro Stock); Elvira Karlsson (Pro Stock Motorcycle); Chaz Kennedy (Pro Stock Motorcycle); and Shane Tucker (Pro Stock).
“For more than 100 years the Automobile Club of Southern California has represented integrity, commitment and professionalism to our millions of members. The Road to the Future Award has come to symbolize these same attributes in the sport of NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing,” said Robert T. Bouttier, president and CEO of the Automobile Club of Southern California. “To be nominated recognizes not only that a rookie driver had a noteworthy first season, but also that they demonstrated exceptional potential for the future. We congratulate all six of the candidates for this year’s award and look forward to enjoying their achievements both on and off the race track for many years to come.”
Alund, 46, of Norrkoping, Sweden, filled in for Greg Anderson at the start of the season and performed admirably for the KB Racing team. He raced to a semifinal finish in Las Vegas and secured his first career victory in his fifth start at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals. He also raced to career-best performances of 6.525 seconds and 212.90 mph at the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals.
Crampton, 34, a native of Adelaide, South Australia who is now a naturalized U.S. citizen living near Indianapolis, was a crewmember for Morgan Lucas Racing prior to making his transition as a driver. He has two wins to date in his rookie season. He won his first career race in Englishtown in only his ninth Top Fuel start. He also won the world’s most prestigious drag race, the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis over Labor Day weekend. He was the runner-up in the Top Fuel Traxxas Nitro Shootout in Indy. He entered the Countdown playoffs as the eighth seed in Top Fuel.
Gray, 33, of Mooresville, N.C., is following in the footsteps of his racing family during his rookie Pro Stock campaign. He qualified for the NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship playoffs, then raced to a victory at the Pep Boys NHRA Carolina Nationals and earned runner-up finishes in Bristol and Epping. He clocked career-best performances of 6.511 and 214.08 both at Englishtown at the controls of his Gray Motorsports Chevy Camaro.
Pro Stock Motorcycle racer Karlsson, 19, of Uppsala, Sweden, is in her rookie season after racing in the European Pro Stock Motorcycle ranks. She has attended seven events in 2014 and qualified for her first career NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event in Norwalk. She posted career-best performances of 6.947 and 192.08, both coming at Englishtown.
Kennedy, 20, from Ormond Beach, Fla., races for the successful Star Racing team on his Buell motorcycle. He qualified a season-best fourth in Norwalk and has qualified for every Pro Stock Motorcycle event he has entered. He has raced to three quarterfinal appearances and clocked career-best performances of 6.840 and 196.04 at Englishtown.
Tucker, 29, a native of Brisbane, Australia, has raced his Auzmet Architectural Chevy Camaro to a semifinal round appearance in Chicago and qualified a season-best fourth in Epping. He has also advanced to two quarterfinal round appearances and at Epping posted career-best performances of 6.496 and 213.94.
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); and Brittany Force (2013, Top Fuel).
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. 13-16 at historic Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. The company also is a major sponsor for John Force Racing, providing primary sponsorship for the Ford Mustang driven by Hight, as well as associate sponsorship for the cars driven by John, Courtney and Brittany Force. In addition, the company is the presenting sponsor for the NHRA Drags Street Legal Style, the California Hot Rod Reunion, National Hot Rod Reunion and New England Hot Rod Reunion, as well as the presenting sponsor for the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum.
Monday, September 1, 2014
NHRA Story-2014 Chevrolet Performance U.S Nationals Monday photo gallery
Monday, September 01, 2014
 The final day of the 60th annual Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals began with the SealMaster NHRA Track Walk, which was led by grand marshals Don Prudhomme and Tom McEwen and Linda Vaughn, who rode ahead in convertible Camaros. |
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 | The Bob Daniels Awards of Excellence, presented in honor of the late Division 3 director and Indy track manager, was awarded to Dan Duffy for his beautiful ’56 Chevy. Eileen Daniels made the presentation. |
 A large crowd gathered for the pre-race ceremony, where the legendary “Snake” and “Mongoose” were introduced as the grand marshals. |
 Tony Schumacher, who is gunning for what would be an NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series record 10th Indy win in Top Fuel, was introduced as the low qualifier. |
 In a surprise presentation, Courtney Force and her Traxxas crew were presented with special medallions from The Coca-Cola Company and Mello Yello in recognition of their win earlier this year in Topeka, which was the 100th NHRA Mello Yello win by a female racer. |
 The Top Fool Alcohol Crew had their traditional float on display. This year’s presentation saluted the 60th anniversary of the event and, with its oversized barber tools, saluted Don Garlits’ Sunday shave. |
 NHRA Members Bobby and Sharon Curtis and Greg, Marissa, and Morgan Meehan got to interact with their favorite drivers during the pre-race ceremony as winners of the National Dragster Backstage Pass. |
 Courtney and Brittany Force are gunning to become the first sisters to share the Indy winner’s circle, in Funny Car and Top Fuel, respectively. They’re no doubt fighting over who gets the day’s possession of their nephew, Jacob, who has been a good-luck charm for John Force Racing drivers this season. |
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 | The opening round of Top Fuel was marked by a couple of upsets when No. 9 qualifier Dom Lagana (above) drove the Rapisarda Autosport entry past points leader Doug Kalitta, and Larry Dixon (left), the No. 10 qualifier, beat Brittany Force. Second-round pairings (lane choice first): Tony Schumacher vs. Lagana; Richie Crampton vs. Shawn Langdon; Steve Torrence vs. Dixon; Khalid alBalooshi vs. Bob Vandergriff Jr. |
 The upset theme continued in Funny Car where Blake Alexander (above) ended the Countdown hopes of No. 2 qualifier Jack Beckman by upsetting tire-smoking “Fast Jack” in round one with a 4.13. Points leader John Force (below) ran low e.t. of the round, 4.029, to defeat teammate Robert Hight. Second-round pairings (lane choice first): John Force vs. Matt Hagan; Del Worsham vs. Ron Capps; Alexis DeJoria vs. Alexander; Tommy Johnson Jr. vs. Courtney Force. |
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 And, naturally, the upset trend continued in Pro Stock and was focused around a pair of rookies. Jonathan Gray (above), who needs to reach the semifinals to knock Greg Anderson out of the top-10 Countdown playoff field, defeated Anderson in round one. Aaron Stanfield (below), who is making his national event debut, was the surprise winner over four-time U.S. Nationals champ Jeg Coughlin Jr., who unexpectedly red-lighted. Second-round pairings (lane choice first): Jason Line vs. Stanfield; Dave Connolly vs. Erica Enders-Stevens; Jonathan Gray vs. Vincent Nobile; Allen Johnson vs. Shane Gray. |
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 No. 2 qualifier Jerry Savoie (above), who entered the event 12th in points, kept alive his chances of making the Countdown playoffs in Pro Stock Motorcycle with a first-round victory over Chaz Kennedy combined with a first-round loss by 10th place Steve Johnson. Savoie can bump Johnson from the playoffs if he wins the event. Jim Underdahl (below) supplied the requisite first-round upset in the bike class when the No. 13 qualifier defeated No. 4 rider Michael Ray. Second-round pairings (lane choice first): Eddie Krawiec vs. Andrew Hines; Hector Arana Jr. vs. Underdahl; Savoie vs. John Hall; Matt Smith vs. Angie Smith. |
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 Detailed coverage and features from the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals can be found on NationalDragster.net. The site is open to all users throughout the event. |
 Rookie Richie Crampton (above) ran low e.t. of round two, a 3.769. to defeat defending event champ Shawn Langdon. His next opponent will no easier when he faces nine-time Indy winner Tony Schumacher (below), who was the low qualifier with a 3.748. Crampton has lane choice. The other semifinal will pit last year's runner-up, Steve Torrence, against Khalid alBalooshi; alBalooshi has lane choice. |
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 Ron Capps, who won the rain-delayed final round from the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals on Saturday, kept alive his hopes of a rare double when he has reached the semifinals of Funny Car. His opponent will be Sunday's NHRA Traxxas Nitro Shootout winner John Force, who's shooting for a double of his own. Capps has lane choice. (Below) Alexis DeJoria, right, and Courtney Force will square off in the other semifinal match; DeJoria has lane choice after a strong 4.03 in round two. |
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 Fans have packed Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis to watch champions crowned at the year's biggest race. |
 (Above) Jonathan Gray, left, and Greg Anderson, who were locked in a duel for the 10th and final spot in the Pro Stock playoffs, chatted before round one, where they raced. Eleventh-place Gray beat 10th-place Anderson, then needed to beat Vincent Nobile in round two to bump Anderson from the 10th spot and did so, on a holeshot in a race in which both drivers ran 6.639. Gray now faces his older brother, Shane, who has lane choice, in the semifinals. Dave Connolly (below) will have lane choice in the other semifinal against Jason Line. |
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 Eddie Krawiec (above), who has never won Indy, will have semifinal lane choice over Hector Arana Jr. after a second-round 6.89 blast. Husband and wife Matt and Angie Smith (below) raced in round two, with the win via holeshot going to Matt, in a reversal of their unforgettable final round earlier this year in Epping. Jerry Savoie, who needs to win the event to make the Countdown playoffs, holds semifinal lane choice over Smith. |
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 Steve Torrence (above), who won the U.S. Nationals Top Alcohol Dragster title in 2005 and was runner-up last year in Top Fuel, will get another shot at Top Fuel after beating Khalid alBalooshi in the semifinals. (Below) His opponent will be class rookie Richie Crampton, who ended Tony Schumacher's bid for a record 10th Indy win in the semifinals. Crampton earned lane choice by a hundredth of a second, 3.78 to 3.79. |
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 John Force (above) has reached his sixth straight final round this season and remained in the hunt to double up his Sunday Traxxas Nitro Shootout victory after beating Ron Capps in the semifinals. John Force Racing drivers have won the last six Indy Funny Car titles, even though Force himself was not among them; he hasn't won the Big Go since 2002. Force will have final-round lane choice over Alexis DeJoria (below), who's trying to win her third race of the season. |
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 Dave Connolly (above), a three-time U.S. Nationals Pro Stock champ (2007, 2008, and 2012) will have final-round lane choice when he takes on Shane Gray (below) for the Indy crown. Connolly beat points leader and low qualifier Jason Line while Gray beat his younger brother, Jonathan, to advance. |
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 Three-time world champ Eddie Krawiec (above) has reached the first Indy final of his career and holds lane choice over Jerry Savoie in what is a very important race for Savoie. If Savoie can beat the Harley rider in the final round, he will bump his way into the Countdown to the Championship playoffs, displacing Steve Johnson. |
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Friday, August 22, 2014
Top Fuel star ready to make history at Indy, Again!
NHRA Story-Wednesday, August 20, 2014
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But that doesn’t mean there is anything easy about succeeding at an event that has featured some of the most memorable moments in NHRA history.
“It’s survival of the fittest,” said Brown, driver of the 10,000-horsepower Matco Tools dragster. “You know you can’t make a mistake because everyone is bringing their best. Everything is so crucial and nobody is guaranteed a spot at Indy. There’s a lot of strategy involved and you just have to make a lot of good runs. You have to be like a surgeon and it definitely takes a lot of precision over the entire weekend. At Indy, everybody brings their ‘A’ game and brings all their best parts. That’s what Indy brings out and that’s what makes it special.”
Brown and the rest of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series stars return to historic Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis for the 60th anniversary Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals, Aug. 27-Sept. 1. Shawn Langdon (Top Fuel). Robert Hight (Funny Car), Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) and John Hall (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were last year’s winners of an event that will once again be showcased on ESPN2 in more than 10 hours of coverage.
As many as 1,000 competitors in 12 different categories will attempt to put their names in the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals rich history book over Labor Day weekend. It also marks the 18th of 24 events during the 2014 season and is the final race of the regular season. The Traxxas Shootout will also take place in Funny Car and Top Fuel at the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals, giving drivers, including Brown, a chance to race for $100,000 bonuses.
“What gets you excited is just the prestige,” Brown said. “It’s how deep of a field it always is, the history behind it and just the excitement surrounding the event. With the Traxxas Shootout and then the race, it’s just a big, historical weekend. You know whoever wins is ‘the’ team.”
Brown has solidified his spot as a part of the rich tradition of the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals, winning the race and the Pro Stock Motorcycle bonus event in 2000, winning in PSM again in 2004 and in Top Fuel in 2011. After watching Langdon, the 2013 world champion, double-up with Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals and Traxxas Shootout victories last season, Brown is after that goal in 2014.
Currently second in Mello Yello Series points behind Doug Kalitta, Brown has been strong all season, winning five races and advancing to seven final rounds. But there is certainly something extra about winning the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals.
“It’s one of those deals where winning at Indy always sticks out,” Brown said. “You know when it happened, how it happened, who you beat and what it took to get there. Looking at things this year, we know what we have to do to succeed and we will have a good game plan heading into it. We’re Countdown-minded right now and we want to run the best we can every time.”
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The pressure that comes with the biggest racing weekend of the year is the perfect primer for the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship playoffs, and it’s an atmosphere that has brought out the best in Brown in 2014.
“We’re all geared up, hyped up and feeling good about what is going on,” Brown said. “The class is at an all-time high and a lot of people are on point. It’s ridiculous how strong everyone is. If you win you know it’s something special and if it’s Indy, it’s even bigger.”
Bonus bucks and bragging rights will be on the line for qualified drivers in Top Fuel and Funny Car as they battle in the lucrative Traxxas Nitro Shootout. The Traxxas Nitro Shootout for Top Fuel will be held on Saturday evening, while the Traxxas Nitro Shootout for Funny Car is contested Sunday afternoon. The winners in each Traxxas Nitro Shootout will earn $100,000.
Drivers in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and the NHRA Pro Mod Series will look to become winners of the prestigious event during the weekend. The fastest Super Stock cars will challenge for the ultimate bragging rights and a bonus purse during the popular Mopar HEMI Challenge as well.
NHRA will also conduct official presentations to honor six of the most iconic moments in the history of the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals in the Hot Rod Junction Friday-Sunday of the weekend. On Sunday of race weekend “Big Daddy” Don Garlits will reenact his famous beard shaving scene that followed his triumphant 1967 victory and the “Indy’s Winningest Drivers” presentation, a ceremony honoring Schumacher, Bob Glidden and Garlits, will take place; on Saturday Kenny Bernstein will be honored for becoming the first double-up winner at Indy, Shirley Muldowney will look back at her Indy memories including her 1982 victory, one she called the greatest victory of her outstanding Top Fuel career, and the 1978 Funny Car final where Tom “The Mongoose” McEwen defeated Don “The Snake” Prudhomme will be remembered; on Friday the harrowing 1970 Top Fuel final between Jim Nicoll and Prudhomme will be revisited.
A special Monday edition of the SealMaster NHRA Track Walk will take place prior to final eliminations, where legends Prudhomme, McEwen and Linda Vaughn will walk alongside fans down the historic dragstrip. Fan-favorite Cacklefests and vintage racecars on display in the Hot Rod Junction, along with several autograph sessions featuring the legends of the sport as well as today’s biggest stars will be featured throughout each day of the event. On Friday, a special fireworks show will close out the day’s racing.
The first of five Mello Yello Series qualifying sessions is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 29. Two more sessions will take to the track on Saturday, Aug. 30 at 2:30 p.m. and 6 p.m., and the final two qualifying sessions will take place on Sunday, Aug. 31 at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Final eliminations begin at 11 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 1.
The Traxxas Nitro Shootout for Top Fuel will be contested Saturday, Aug. 30 with rounds at 4 p.m., 5:25 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. The Traxxas Nitro Shootout for Funny Car takes place on Sunday, Aug. 31 for the eight qualified drivers, with rounds at 12:30 p.m., 1:55 p.m. and 4:15 p.m.
ESPN2 will televise more than 10 hours of coverage of the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals. Five hours of qualifying coverage and coverage of the Traxxas Nitro Shootout will air on ESPN2 at 11 a.m.-2 p.m. (ET) and 5-7 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 31. Monday’s (Sept. 1) eliminations for the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals will be featured in six hours of coverage starting at noon (ET).
To purchase tickets for the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals, fans can contact NHRA’s Ticket Sales Center at 800-884-NHRA (6472), or get their tickets online at www.NHRATIX.com.
Sunday, August 3, 2014
Antron Brown has 30 BIG reasons to win in this segment of events.
SEATTLE (July 29, 2014) -
Antron Brown and the Matco Tools have three NHRA Mello Yello Drag
Racing Series events left to claim the No. 1 spot in the standings, and
he can think of 30 good reasons to reach that goal.
When the top-10 in points are finalized upon conclusion of the Mello Yello regular season, which includes this weekend's race near Seattle and events at Brainerd, Minn., and near Indianapolis, the points totals will be reset for those 10 Top Fuel drivers eligible to win the season title in the Countdown to the Championship.
Whoever leaves Indy with the points lead will start the Countdown with a 30-point lead over the driver ranked second in regular season standings.
Antron, who has won a category-best five events titles in 15 races this year, will arrive Friday at the Northwest NHRA Nationals at Pacific Raceways in Kent, Wash., ranked second and 46 points behind Doug Kalitta but has missed opportunities at the past two events to overtake the leader.
On Sunday at Sonoma, Calif., Antron's team led by crew chiefs Brian Corradi and Mark Oswald, qualified third but were upset by Don Schumacher Racing teammate Spencer Massey in the first round. Fortunately for the Matco Tools team, Kalitta lost in the second round or the deficit Antron faces would be an even bigger challenge.
(Each round win on Sunday is worth 20 points.)
"Yeah, we had an opportunity there but the competition is so tough out here that those days will happen," Antron said. "I'm just glad Doug only lasted one round more than we did.
"Brian and Mark and our Matco boys are running every race to win because if you try to play it safe it will bite you. We're in great shape right now. Our Matco dragster is really good but we hit some real tricky conditions like everyone else these last two weekends.
"If it's not too hot at Seattle like it's supposed to be we'll be ready to fly.
"We want to be No. 1 when the Countdown starts and that 30-point lead would sure be nice."
RUNNING FOR SANDVIK COROMANT
Antron will run a special yellow Sandvik/Matco Tools dragster at Seattle to honor one of DSR' major sponsors, Sandvik Coromant, a global leading supplier of cutting tools, tooling solutions and know-how to the metalworking industry.
He and the Sandvik/Matco rail will be at the LeMay America's Car Museum in Tacoma from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday (July 30). He will tour the 2-year-old museum, which spotlights America's love affair with the automobile, before signing autographs Noon-1 p.m. The Sandvik dragster will be on display 10 a.m.-2 p.m.at the museum's main entrance (2702 East D Street, Tacoma; LeMayMuseum.org.com).
"I'm a car lover; I was raised around cars," he said. "I'm fired up to check out the LeMay Museum and see some of the 300 cars on display. Also, we'll get to showcase our sport of Mello Yello NHRA Drag Racing to a new audience."
Antron Brown, Sandvik Coromant/Matco Tools Top Fuel Dragster
Last event Sonoma (July 27): Qualified No. 4; lost in first round to Spencer Massey
A year ago at Seattle: Qualified No. 6; lost in quarterfinals to T.J. Zizzo
Career at Seattle: Wins 1 (2009); Runner-ups 1 (2010); Poles 1 (2011)
Pts Events Titles Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ Win/Loss
2014 2nd 15 5 1 3 2 4 0 0 30-10
CAREER 301 46 39 61 84 68 36 3 506-252
Best Time, Speed: 3.701*/** sec. (10- 8-12, Reading, Pa.); 328.78 mph (10-8-12, Reading)
* Quickest ever/** NHRA record
NHRA MELLO YELLO STANDINGS
(Official after 15 of 24 events; DSR drivers in CAPS)
TOP FUEL
driver (wins) pts behind
1. Doug Kalitta (1) 1,223 ----
2. ANTRON BROWN (5) 1,177 -46
3. Shawn Langdon (1) 1,065 -158
4. TONY SCHUMACHER (2) 911 -312
5. Steve Torrence 867 -356
6. SPENCER MASSEY (2) 862 -361
7. Brittany Force 824 -409
8. Khalid alBalooshi (2) 801 -422
9. Richie Crampton (1) 752 -471
10. J.R. Todd (1) 741 -482
When the top-10 in points are finalized upon conclusion of the Mello Yello regular season, which includes this weekend's race near Seattle and events at Brainerd, Minn., and near Indianapolis, the points totals will be reset for those 10 Top Fuel drivers eligible to win the season title in the Countdown to the Championship.
Whoever leaves Indy with the points lead will start the Countdown with a 30-point lead over the driver ranked second in regular season standings.
Antron, who has won a category-best five events titles in 15 races this year, will arrive Friday at the Northwest NHRA Nationals at Pacific Raceways in Kent, Wash., ranked second and 46 points behind Doug Kalitta but has missed opportunities at the past two events to overtake the leader.
On Sunday at Sonoma, Calif., Antron's team led by crew chiefs Brian Corradi and Mark Oswald, qualified third but were upset by Don Schumacher Racing teammate Spencer Massey in the first round. Fortunately for the Matco Tools team, Kalitta lost in the second round or the deficit Antron faces would be an even bigger challenge.
(Each round win on Sunday is worth 20 points.)
"Yeah, we had an opportunity there but the competition is so tough out here that those days will happen," Antron said. "I'm just glad Doug only lasted one round more than we did.
"Brian and Mark and our Matco boys are running every race to win because if you try to play it safe it will bite you. We're in great shape right now. Our Matco dragster is really good but we hit some real tricky conditions like everyone else these last two weekends.
"If it's not too hot at Seattle like it's supposed to be we'll be ready to fly.
"We want to be No. 1 when the Countdown starts and that 30-point lead would sure be nice."
RUNNING FOR SANDVIK COROMANT
Antron will run a special yellow Sandvik/Matco Tools dragster at Seattle to honor one of DSR' major sponsors, Sandvik Coromant, a global leading supplier of cutting tools, tooling solutions and know-how to the metalworking industry.
He and the Sandvik/Matco rail will be at the LeMay America's Car Museum in Tacoma from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday (July 30). He will tour the 2-year-old museum, which spotlights America's love affair with the automobile, before signing autographs Noon-1 p.m. The Sandvik dragster will be on display 10 a.m.-2 p.m.at the museum's main entrance (2702 East D Street, Tacoma; LeMayMuseum.org.com).
"I'm a car lover; I was raised around cars," he said. "I'm fired up to check out the LeMay Museum and see some of the 300 cars on display. Also, we'll get to showcase our sport of Mello Yello NHRA Drag Racing to a new audience."
Antron Brown, Sandvik Coromant/Matco Tools Top Fuel Dragster
Last event Sonoma (July 27): Qualified No. 4; lost in first round to Spencer Massey
A year ago at Seattle: Qualified No. 6; lost in quarterfinals to T.J. Zizzo
Career at Seattle: Wins 1 (2009); Runner-ups 1 (2010); Poles 1 (2011)
Pts Events Titles Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ Win/Loss
2014 2nd 15 5 1 3 2 4 0 0 30-10
CAREER 301 46 39 61 84 68 36 3 506-252
Best Time, Speed: 3.701*/** sec. (10- 8-12, Reading, Pa.); 328.78 mph (10-8-12, Reading)
* Quickest ever/** NHRA record
NHRA MELLO YELLO STANDINGS
(Official after 15 of 24 events; DSR drivers in CAPS)
TOP FUEL
driver (wins) pts behind
1. Doug Kalitta (1) 1,223 ----
2. ANTRON BROWN (5) 1,177 -46
3. Shawn Langdon (1) 1,065 -158
4. TONY SCHUMACHER (2) 911 -312
5. Steve Torrence 867 -356
6. SPENCER MASSEY (2) 862 -361
7. Brittany Force 824 -409
8. Khalid alBalooshi (2) 801 -422
9. Richie Crampton (1) 752 -471
10. J.R. Todd (1) 741 -482
About Sandvik Coromant
Sandvik
Coromant is the world's leading supplier of tools, tooling solutions,
and know-how to the metalworking industry. With extensive investments in
research and development, we create unique innovations and set new
productivity standards together with our customers. These include the
world's major automotive, aerospace, and energy industries.
Sandvik Coromant has 8,000 employees and is represented in 130 countries.
About Matco Tools
Since
1979, the mission of Matco Tools has been to provide professional
mechanics and auto enthusiasts with all of the premium tools, storage
and equipment they need to get the job done, while also offering
best-in-class service and customer support. The company's network of
1,500 premier independent mobile distributors is focused on developing
and maintaining trust-based relationships with its customers and has
increased its revenues by an average of 8% in each of the last three
years. Ranked among the top 30 in Entrepreneur Magazine's 2014 Franchise
500®, the company continues to expand throughout the United States and
Canada, adding several hundred mobile stores each year. For more
information, please visit www.MatcoTools.com.
About Don Schumacher Racing
Don
Schumacher Racing, headquartered in Brownsburg, Ind., fields seven
professional NHRA teams. In Top Fuel, the U.S. Army dragster driven by
seven-time world champion Tony Schumacher, the 2012 NHRA Top Fuel world
champion Matco Tools dragster driven by Antron Brown and the Battery
Extender Powered by Schumacher dragster driven by Spencer Massey; and in
Funny Car, 2012 NHRA world champion Jack Beckman in the Valvoline
MaxLife Dodge Charger R/T, 2011 world champion Matt Hagan in the Mopar
Express Lane/Rocky Boots Dodge, the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge of Ron Capps
and the Make-A-Wish Dodge driven by Tommy Johnson Jr.
DSR has won 231 NHRA national event titles and 11 world championships.
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