ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. – A fast-talking 19-year-old New Yorker has quickly gained a reputation as a fast leaver in NHRA Pro Stock competition in 2011, and as the regular season hits its midpoint, second generation racer Vincent Nobile has already adjusted his goals for the season in one of motorsports' toughest divisions.
His lighting quick reflexes on the starting line have already pushed him and his Nick Misos-owned Mountain View Tire Dodge Avenger into the winner's circle in Houston and final round appearances at two other races.
As he heads to his home track, historic Old Bridge Township Raceway Park for the NHRA SuperNationals June 2-5, Nobile is excited about the prospect of winning in front of the large group of supporters he will have on hand. Larry Dixon (Top Fuel), Bob Tasca (Funny Car), Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) and Michael Phillips (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are the defending winners of the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event that will be televised on ESPN2 HD.
"I can't wait for that," said Nobile, who grew up in Melville, N.Y. "All of my family will be there and I hope to make them proud. We'll have about 50 extra people there and hopefully we can do well for them. It will be a lot of fun. We would like to qualify in the top half and hopefully go a few rounds. Our goal is to win every race. Winning any race is good, but winning that race (at Englishtown) would be extra special to me just because my whole family will be there to witness it."
Many drivers credit his young age or the fact that he grew up in a video game generation for his starting line advantage, but Nobile says there is really no secret to his consistent quick starts.
"One of the biggest aspects of this deal is cutting a good reaction time," Nobile explained. "If you are late, you are going to lose. For some reason, I just have a quick reaction. I don't do anything any differently than any other driver. I see yellow and let go of the clutch. It's pure concentration. You are not thinking anything else except hitting your shift points on time and doing a perfect burnout. You can't give anything up it is so competitive."
One of several drivers eligible for the prestigious $20,000 Auto Club Road to the Future Award this season which recognizes and rewards NHRA's top performing rookie, Nobile says he has slightly altered his game plan from the beginning of the season given his solid start. With a win in Houston and runner-up finish in Las Vegas and final round appearance in the VisitMyrtleBeach.com NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, Nobile holds down the sixth position in the series point standings at the regular season midpoint.
"My main goal at the beginning of the season was to just qualify and win a race," Nobile said. "I would really like to win rookie of the year. We'll take it one race at a time and see what happens come the Countdown (to the Championship, NHRA playoffs) if we make it in the top 10."
After Nobile's historic victory in Houston where he became the youngest driver to win an NHRA Pro Stock race, his father, John was extremely emotional. John is a veteran Pro Stock racer who competed in NHRA for many seasons without a victory or even a final round appearance. Young Vincent would come to the races with his dad and watch and help out as he grew older. John says Vincent always told him he could be a good driver if given the chance.
"My father is my biggest influence," the younger Nobile said. "If it wasn't for him I wouldn't be where I am at today. I grew up watching him and I owe everything to him. I am not really surprised at how well we are doing because I knew I had such a great team behind me and we have great horsepower from Allen Johnson and his father Roy and a great car. I knew we would do well; I didn't know we'd do this well, but I am just taking it all in. The best part of my Houston win was making my team owner Nick Mitsos happy and seeing my father cry at the top end because he was so proud."
Many veteran drivers have said Vincent is the real deal for the category and have high expectations for him. However, Vincent knows it will take hard work and determination if he is going to join the exclusive club of rookie drivers who also claimed a world championship trophy in their first year. LE Tonglet did it last year to join Gary Scelzi and Frank Hawley as the only drivers in NHRA history to accomplish the feat.
To do it, he will have to outperform a host of past champs and a ton of experienced drivers in his category, including current series leader Jason Line, who has three wins this season, and defending world champion Greg Anderson, along with Edwards, Greg Stanfield, Allen Johnson, Erica Enders, Shane Gray and many more.
"Every driver and every team out here is excellent," Nobile said. "There are no easy rounds. If you are the No. 1 qualifier then the No. 16 car has a chance to beat you, so every time you go to the line on Sunday you need to give it your all."
In Top Fuel, Del Worsham leads the way with three victories behind the wheel of his Al-Anabi Racing dragster. His teammate, defending world champion Dixon, is a six-time winner at Raceway Park. Topeka winner Spencer Massey, New Jersey native Antron Brown and Lucas Oil dragster driver Morgan Lucas have all won races this season in the ultra competitive class. Former Englishtown winners Tony Schumacher and Doug Kalitta also are among the pre-race favorites in the category.
In a class that could see a milestone three-second performance given the right weather conditions during the weekend, Mike Neff holds the series lead in Funny Car. His teammate, Robert Hight, has won three races so far in his Auto Club Ford Mustang while Jack Beckman is a two-time winner in his Aaron's/Valvoline Dodge Charger. Other pre-race favorites in the 7,000 horsepower category include two-time world champ Cruz Pedregon, a two-time winner at Raceway Park, and Virginia cattle rancher Matt Hagan, who holds the national record at 4.011 seconds in his DieHard Dodge Charger.
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Karen Stoffer holds the series lead on her GEICO Powersports Suzuki with two runner-up finishes and one semifinal effort. Andrew Hines and Eddie Krawiec are both at the top of the standings on their Vance & Hines Screamin' Eagle Harley-Davidsons, while defending world champ LE Tonglet has posted one win and two top qualifying efforts on his Nitro Fish Suzuki.
* SCHEDULE: Full Throttle Drag Racing Series qualifying sessions are scheduled for 3:45 and 6:15 p.m. on Friday, June 3 and noon and 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 4. Final eliminations begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday, June 5.
* TICKETS: Tickets are available for the NHRA SuperNationals. Call Old Bridge Township Raceway Park at (732) 446-7800 or visit www.racewaypark.com.
* ON TV: ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise 90 minutes of qualifying highlights at 5:30 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, June 4. ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise two hours and 30 minutes of eliminations coverage beginning at 4:30 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, June 5.
* LUCAS OIL SERIES: The NHRA Summer Nationals also will feature competition in eight categories in the NHRA Lucas Oil Series, where the future stars of the NHRA Full Throttle Series gain experience. Lucas Oil Series qualifying begins at 10:15 a.m. on June 2. Lucas Oil Series eliminations begin at 10:15 a.m. on June 3 and continue through June 5.
* GET SCREENED AMERICA PRO MOD SERIES: NHRA's popular Pro Mod touring series will make its fourth start of the 10-race 2011 season at the NHRA SuperNationals. The series features some of the world's fastest and most unique doorslammer cars, with an eclectic mix of vintage and late-model body styles, in quarter-mile competition. Two of three scheduled rounds of qualifying will be held on Friday, June 3 at 3:15 and 5:30 p.m. The final round of qualifying is set for 1:45 p.m. on Saturday, June 4. The first round of eliminations is scheduled for Saturday, June 4 at 4:15 p.m. Eliminations will continue on Sunday, June 5 at approximately 2:30 p.m.
* ON THE WEB: Get live timing, scoring, multimedia and the latest news updates from every NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event on the Internet at www.nhra.com. Visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.
His lighting quick reflexes on the starting line have already pushed him and his Nick Misos-owned Mountain View Tire Dodge Avenger into the winner's circle in Houston and final round appearances at two other races.
As he heads to his home track, historic Old Bridge Township Raceway Park for the NHRA SuperNationals June 2-5, Nobile is excited about the prospect of winning in front of the large group of supporters he will have on hand. Larry Dixon (Top Fuel), Bob Tasca (Funny Car), Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) and Michael Phillips (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are the defending winners of the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event that will be televised on ESPN2 HD.
"I can't wait for that," said Nobile, who grew up in Melville, N.Y. "All of my family will be there and I hope to make them proud. We'll have about 50 extra people there and hopefully we can do well for them. It will be a lot of fun. We would like to qualify in the top half and hopefully go a few rounds. Our goal is to win every race. Winning any race is good, but winning that race (at Englishtown) would be extra special to me just because my whole family will be there to witness it."
Many drivers credit his young age or the fact that he grew up in a video game generation for his starting line advantage, but Nobile says there is really no secret to his consistent quick starts.
"One of the biggest aspects of this deal is cutting a good reaction time," Nobile explained. "If you are late, you are going to lose. For some reason, I just have a quick reaction. I don't do anything any differently than any other driver. I see yellow and let go of the clutch. It's pure concentration. You are not thinking anything else except hitting your shift points on time and doing a perfect burnout. You can't give anything up it is so competitive."
One of several drivers eligible for the prestigious $20,000 Auto Club Road to the Future Award this season which recognizes and rewards NHRA's top performing rookie, Nobile says he has slightly altered his game plan from the beginning of the season given his solid start. With a win in Houston and runner-up finish in Las Vegas and final round appearance in the VisitMyrtleBeach.com NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, Nobile holds down the sixth position in the series point standings at the regular season midpoint.
"My main goal at the beginning of the season was to just qualify and win a race," Nobile said. "I would really like to win rookie of the year. We'll take it one race at a time and see what happens come the Countdown (to the Championship, NHRA playoffs) if we make it in the top 10."
After Nobile's historic victory in Houston where he became the youngest driver to win an NHRA Pro Stock race, his father, John was extremely emotional. John is a veteran Pro Stock racer who competed in NHRA for many seasons without a victory or even a final round appearance. Young Vincent would come to the races with his dad and watch and help out as he grew older. John says Vincent always told him he could be a good driver if given the chance.
"My father is my biggest influence," the younger Nobile said. "If it wasn't for him I wouldn't be where I am at today. I grew up watching him and I owe everything to him. I am not really surprised at how well we are doing because I knew I had such a great team behind me and we have great horsepower from Allen Johnson and his father Roy and a great car. I knew we would do well; I didn't know we'd do this well, but I am just taking it all in. The best part of my Houston win was making my team owner Nick Mitsos happy and seeing my father cry at the top end because he was so proud."
Many veteran drivers have said Vincent is the real deal for the category and have high expectations for him. However, Vincent knows it will take hard work and determination if he is going to join the exclusive club of rookie drivers who also claimed a world championship trophy in their first year. LE Tonglet did it last year to join Gary Scelzi and Frank Hawley as the only drivers in NHRA history to accomplish the feat.
To do it, he will have to outperform a host of past champs and a ton of experienced drivers in his category, including current series leader Jason Line, who has three wins this season, and defending world champion Greg Anderson, along with Edwards, Greg Stanfield, Allen Johnson, Erica Enders, Shane Gray and many more.
"Every driver and every team out here is excellent," Nobile said. "There are no easy rounds. If you are the No. 1 qualifier then the No. 16 car has a chance to beat you, so every time you go to the line on Sunday you need to give it your all."
In Top Fuel, Del Worsham leads the way with three victories behind the wheel of his Al-Anabi Racing dragster. His teammate, defending world champion Dixon, is a six-time winner at Raceway Park. Topeka winner Spencer Massey, New Jersey native Antron Brown and Lucas Oil dragster driver Morgan Lucas have all won races this season in the ultra competitive class. Former Englishtown winners Tony Schumacher and Doug Kalitta also are among the pre-race favorites in the category.
In a class that could see a milestone three-second performance given the right weather conditions during the weekend, Mike Neff holds the series lead in Funny Car. His teammate, Robert Hight, has won three races so far in his Auto Club Ford Mustang while Jack Beckman is a two-time winner in his Aaron's/Valvoline Dodge Charger. Other pre-race favorites in the 7,000 horsepower category include two-time world champ Cruz Pedregon, a two-time winner at Raceway Park, and Virginia cattle rancher Matt Hagan, who holds the national record at 4.011 seconds in his DieHard Dodge Charger.
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Karen Stoffer holds the series lead on her GEICO Powersports Suzuki with two runner-up finishes and one semifinal effort. Andrew Hines and Eddie Krawiec are both at the top of the standings on their Vance & Hines Screamin' Eagle Harley-Davidsons, while defending world champ LE Tonglet has posted one win and two top qualifying efforts on his Nitro Fish Suzuki.
* SCHEDULE: Full Throttle Drag Racing Series qualifying sessions are scheduled for 3:45 and 6:15 p.m. on Friday, June 3 and noon and 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 4. Final eliminations begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday, June 5.
* TICKETS: Tickets are available for the NHRA SuperNationals. Call Old Bridge Township Raceway Park at (732) 446-7800 or visit www.racewaypark.com.
* ON TV: ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise 90 minutes of qualifying highlights at 5:30 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, June 4. ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise two hours and 30 minutes of eliminations coverage beginning at 4:30 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, June 5.
* LUCAS OIL SERIES: The NHRA Summer Nationals also will feature competition in eight categories in the NHRA Lucas Oil Series, where the future stars of the NHRA Full Throttle Series gain experience. Lucas Oil Series qualifying begins at 10:15 a.m. on June 2. Lucas Oil Series eliminations begin at 10:15 a.m. on June 3 and continue through June 5.
* GET SCREENED AMERICA PRO MOD SERIES: NHRA's popular Pro Mod touring series will make its fourth start of the 10-race 2011 season at the NHRA SuperNationals. The series features some of the world's fastest and most unique doorslammer cars, with an eclectic mix of vintage and late-model body styles, in quarter-mile competition. Two of three scheduled rounds of qualifying will be held on Friday, June 3 at 3:15 and 5:30 p.m. The final round of qualifying is set for 1:45 p.m. on Saturday, June 4. The first round of eliminations is scheduled for Saturday, June 4 at 4:15 p.m. Eliminations will continue on Sunday, June 5 at approximately 2:30 p.m.
* ON THE WEB: Get live timing, scoring, multimedia and the latest news updates from every NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event on the Internet at www.nhra.com. Visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.
