WHAT: 11th annual Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals presented by Tri-Cities Area Ford Dealers, the ninth of 22 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. Drivers in three categories - Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock - earn points leading to 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series world championships. NHRA is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2011 and will pay tribute to the evolution of the hot rod and honor its legendary racers as well as the sport’s current stars.
WHERE: Bristol Dragway, Bristol, Tenn. From Interstate 81 North, take Hwy. 11E. Take the Virginia Exit 3 and Hwy. 11E will take you directly to the Dragway. From the I-81 South, take Tennessee exit 69 and go south on Hwy 394 directly to the Dragway.
WHEN: Friday through Sunday, June 17-19
SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY, June 17 – LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying at 10 a.m.
GET SCREENED AMERICA PRO MOD SERIES qualifying at 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
FULL THROTTLE SERIES qualifying at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
SATURDAY, June 18 – LUCAS OIL SERIES eliminations begin at 8 a.m.
GET SCREENED AMERICA PRO MOD SERIES qualifying at 1 p.m.; first round of eliminations begins at 3:30 p.m.
FULL THROTTLE SERIES qualifying at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.
SUNDAY, June 19 - Pre-race ceremonies, 11 a.m.
FULL THROTTLE SERIES eliminations begin at Noon.
TELEVISION:
Saturday, June 18, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 7 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, June 19, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise two and a half hours of eliminations coverage starting at 4:30 p.m. (ET).
SATELLITE (Digital HD Feed):
Friday, June 17, 10 - 10:30 p.m. (ET), AMC 3 / Transponder 08C (3860 MHz, vertical)
Saturday, June 18, 6:30 - 7 p.m. (ET), AMC 3 / Transponder 08C (3860 MHz, vertical)
Sunday, June 19, 7:30 - 8 p.m. (ET), AMC 3 / Transponder 08C (3860 MHz, vertical)
(Downlink: 3860 MHz, vertical; Transmission: MPEG-2; HD: 720p; Data Rate: 40.461470554 Mbp; Symbol Rate: 29.27 Ms; FEC: ¾; Bandwidth: 36 Mhz); Video news release contains race action highlights each day and winners’ interviews on Sunday.
2010 EVENT WINNERS: Tony Schumacher, Top Fuel; John Force, Funny Car; Mike Edwards, Pro Stock.
MOST VICTORIES: Tony Schumacher, 4, TF; John Force, 3, FC; Doug Kalitta, 3, TF.
TRACK RECORDS:
Top Fuel – 3.835 seconds by Larry Dixon, May ’09; 319.75 mph by Antron Brown, May ’09.
Funny Car – 4.075 seconds by Del Worsham, May ’09; 304.94 mph by Ashley Force Hood, May ’09.
Pro Stock – 6.633 seconds by Mike Edwards, May ’09; 207.94 mph by Greg Anderson, May ’09.
NATIONAL RECORDS:
Top Fuel - 3.770 sec. by Larry Dixon, Feb. ’11, Pomona, Calif.; 327.03 mph by Tony Schumacher, Feb. ’11, Pomona, Calif.
Funny Car - 4.011 sec. by Matt Hagan, Oct. ’10, Reading, Pa.; 316.38 mph by Ashley Force Hood, March ’10, Charlotte, N.C.
Pro Stock - 6.495 sec. by Rodger Brogdon, March ’11, Gainesville, Fla.; 213.57 mph by Erica Enders, March ’11, Gainesville, Fla.
TICKETS: For tickets call Bristol Dragway at (423) 989-6900. Tickets also available at bristoldragway.com
RESERVED SEATS (includes pit pass) – Friday: Adult, $30-35; Junior (12 years & under), $10; Saturday: Adult, $45-55; Junior (12 years & under), $15-25. Sunday: Adult, $20-55; Junior (12 years & under), $10-25.
NHRA FULL THROTTLE DRAG RACING SERIES POINT STANDINGS
GLENDORA, Calif. -- Point standings (top 10) for NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series classes following the eighth of 22 events-
Top Fuel: 1. Del Worsham, 714; 2. Spencer Massey, 650; 3. Larry Dixon, 609; 4. Tony Schumacher, 597; 5. Antron Brown, 580; 6. Doug Kalitta, 468; 7. Brandon Bernstein, 391; 8. Morgan Lucas, 379; 9. Shawn Langdon, 369; 10. Terry McMillen, 330.
Funny Car: 1. Mike Neff, 707; 2. Jack Beckman, 609; 3. Robert Hight, 570; 4. Cruz Pedregon, 563; 5. Matt Hagan, 481; 6. John Force, 418; 7. Jeff Arend, 416; 8. Ron Capps, 406; 9. (tie) Johnny Gray, 398; Bob Tasca III, 398.
Pro Stock: 1. Jason Line, 642; 2. Greg Stanfield, 585; 3. Greg Anderson, 571; 4. (tie) Mike Edwards, 545; Vincent Nobile, 545; 6. Rodger Brogdon, 512; 7. Allen Johnson, 471; 8. Erica Enders, 421; 9. Shane Gray, 404; 10. Ron Krisher, 360.
Pro Stock Motorcycle: 1. Karen Stoffer, 380; 2. Andrew Hines, 337; 3. Eddie Krawiec, 311; 4. LE Tonglet, 273; 5. Matt Smith, 252; 6. Hector Arana, 239; 7. Jerry Savoie, 238; 8. Michael Phillips, 193; 9. Jim Underdahl, 186; 10. Hector Arana Jr, 148.
