Featuring the new “Rumble in the Junction” Car Corral and NHRA-exclusive Cacklefest® shows all weekend
POMONA, Calif. (Nov. 1, 2012) – The NHRA’s Hot Rod Junction is back by popular demand, offering nostalgia entertainment for race fans during the 48th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals, Nov. 8-11, at the Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. This year, the Hot Rod Junction will feature the “Rumble in the Junction” Car Corral and the spectacular NHRA-original Cacklefests®, showcasing more than 50 historic front-engine dragsters and hot rods from the NHRA’s glorious past.
“The ‘Rumble in the Junction’ Car Corral is an extra treat for race fans that attend the Auto Club Finals,” said Steve Gibbs, NHRA Museum board member and Hot Rod Junction organizer. “The Hot Rod Junction has had a great turnout in the past and I’m excited that it’s returning during the Auto Club NHRA Finals weekend. We’ll be providing some rumbling fun for the fans.”
The “Rumble in the Junction” attraction will include photo opportunities with past and present NHRA celebrities, a remarkable display of historic race cars and hot rods, and daily Cacklefest shows that’ll rattle your senses. The 2012 NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series champions and their cars including Nostalgia Funny Car champ Jason Rupert’s Mert Littlefield tribute Funny Car will also be on hand for fans. Nostalgia flopper fans will swoon over NHRA Funny Car veteran driver Cruz Pedregon’s new re-creation of the Keeling and Clayton California Charger Pontiac Trans-Am on display in the Hot Rod Junction.
Each day, the “Rumble in the Junction” will take fans back to the early days of drag racing with amazing NHRA-signature Cacklefests. First-time Cacklefest spectators call it a sensory overload when dozens of nitro-burning historic, front-engine dragsters and other classic race cars are fired up simultaneously, creating a roar of engines and flame-throwing headers.
Some of the all-time legendary front-engine dragsters, including “TV Tommy” Ivo’s Barnstormer AA/FD, Chris Karamesines’ Chizler AA/FD, the Yeakel Plymouth dragster that was driven by the legendary Tom “The Mongoose” McEwen, Ed Pink’s “Old Master” dragster owned by Pete Eastwood, the Beebe and Mulligan Top Fuel dragster owned by Dave West, the “Ridge Route Terrors” dragster of the famed Warren, Coburn and Miller team and many more will be on display for fans. “Big Daddy” Don Garlits fans will also have an opportunity to check out the famed “Swamp Rat III,” owned by Sonny Messner.
All spectators attending the Auto Club NHRA Finals will have free access into the “Rumble in the Junction” Car Corral in the Hot Rod Junction, adjacent to the main entry gate.
Along with the “Rumble in the Junction” attraction, fans attending the final race of the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series season will be a part of the huge celebration when world champions are crowned in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle. Some of the NHRA’s biggest stars such as Antron Brown, Ron Capps, Jack Beckman, John and Courtney Force, Tony Schumacher, Spencer Massey, Allen Johnson, Jason Line, Erica Enders, Eddie Krawiec, Andrew Hines and Hector Arana Jr. will be celebrating the end of the grueling Full Throttle Countdown to the Championship playoffs.
As always, fans will have the opportunity to interact with their favorite drivers and teams as they’re granted an exclusive pit pass. So make sure you stop by your favorite team’s pit for plenty of photo opportunities and autographs and visit NHRA's famed Nitro Alley and Manufacturers Midway.
In observance of Veteran’s Day, on Sunday, Nov. 11, active and retired military can save $10 per Sunday ticket by showing military ID. A special Veteran’s Day Track Walk with Tony Schumacher and Antron Brown will be held on Sunday morning. Free for all Sunday ticket holders, the popular Track Walk gives fans the opportunity to walk down the legendary drag strip alongside some of the NHRA’s biggest stars.
As part of the season-long Nitro Generation theme, the NHRA is offering free general admission for kids 12 and under with a paying adult.
All of the action for the Auto Club NHRA Finals officially kicks off this weekend on Saturday, Nov. 3, as the NHRA hosts the community-favorite Fan Fest in Old Town La Verne with car displays, driver autograph sessions, music, food and much more. Funny Car points leader “Fast” Jack Beckman, John and Courtney Force and Jeff Arend will be the featured drivers at the Fan Fest. Bring the entire family to Fan Fest, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., located on D and 3rd Street to get a great preview of the action that will take place Nov. 8-11 at historic Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.
• SCHEDULE: Full Throttle Series qualifying sessions are scheduled for 1 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 8; 1 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 9 and continue at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 10. Final eliminations begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 11.
• TICKETS: Tickets are available online at www.NHRATIX.com or by calling the NHRA Ticket Sales Center at 800-884-NHRA (6472).
• TELEVISION: ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise 75 minutes of coverage at 10:45 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, Nov. 10. On Sunday, Nov. 11, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise three hours of coverage starting at 7 p.m. (ET).
• ON THE WEB: Get instant results, access to photos, video and audio clips, and the latest news updates from every NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event on the Internet at www.nhra.com.
AUTOMOBILE CLUB OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NHRA FINALS FACT SHEET
WHAT: 48th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals, the final of 23 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series and the final of six races in the NHRA Full Throttle Countdown to the Championship. The top 10 drivers in four categories - Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle - earn points leading to 2012 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series world championships.
WHERE: Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, Pomona, Calif. Track is located off I-10 at Fairplex Drive. From I-10, go north on Fairplex drive and follow the signs to Auto Club Raceway at the Fairplex.
WHEN: Thursday through Sunday, Nov. 8-11.
SCHEDULE:
THURSDAY, Nov. 8 - LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying at 8:15 a.m.
FULL THROTTLE SERIES qualifying at 1 p.m.
FRIDAY, Nov. 9 - LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying and eliminations at 8:15 a.m.
FULL THROTTLE SERIES qualifying at 1 p.m.
SATURDAY, Nov. 10 - LUCAS OIL SERIES eliminations begin at 8:15 a.m.
FULL THROTTLE SERIES qualifying at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
SUNDAY, Nov. 11 - Pre-race ceremonies, 9:45 a.m.
FULL THROTTLE SERIES eliminations begin at 11 a.m.
TELEVISION:
Saturday, Nov. 10, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise 75 minutes of qualifying coverage at 10:45 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, NOv. 11, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will re-air one hour of qualifying coverage at 6 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, Nov. 11, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise three hours of eliminations coverage starting at 7 p.m. (ET).
Wednesday, Nov. 21, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will re-air 90 minutes of eliminations at 3:30 a.m. (ET).
SATELLITE (Digital HD feed):
Friday, Nov. 9, 7:30 - 8 p.m. (ET), AMC 9 / Transponder 20C
Saturday, Nov. 10, 9:30 - 10 p.m. (ET), AMC 9 / Transponder 20C
Sunday, Nov. 11, 10:30 - 11 p.m. (ET), AMC 9 / Transponder 20C
(4100 MHz, vertical; 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.
2011 EVENT WINNERS: Del Worsham, Top Fuel; Matt Hagan, Funny Car; Greg Stanfield, Pro Stock; Andrew Hines, Pro Stock Motorcycle.
MOST VICTORIES: John Force, FC, 8; Kenny Bernstein, TF-FC, 6; Bob Glidden, PS, 5; Greg Anderson, PS, 5; John Myers, PSM, 5; Tony Schumacher, TF, 4; Warren Johnson, PS, 4; Dave Schultz, PSM, 4.
TRACK RECORDS:
Top Fuel - 3.745 seconds by Spencer Massey, Feb. ’12; 328.62 mph by Massey, Feb, ‘12
Funny Car - 4.009 seconds by Matt Hagan, Nov. ’11; 318.92 mph by Robert Hight, Nov. ‘11
Pro Stock - 6.520 seconds by Mike Edwards, Nov. ’11; 212.46 mph by Jason Line, Feb. ’12
PS Motorcycle - 6.811 seconds by Eddie Krawiec, Nov. ’10; 198.12 mph by Krawiec, Nov. ’11
NATIONAL RECORDS:
Top Fuel - 3.701 sec. by Antron Brown, Oct. ’12, Reading, Pa.; 332.18 mph by Spencer Massey, April ’12, Charlotte, N.C.
Funny Car - 3.986 sec. by Jack Beckman, Oct. ’12, Reading, Pa.; 320.58 mph by Beckman, Oct. ‘12, Reading, Pa.
Pro Stock - 6.477 sec. by Jason Line, Oct. ’11, Reading, Pa.; 214.35 mph by Line, Oct. ’12, Reading, Pa.
PS Motorcycle - 6.728 sec. by Andrew Hines, Oct. ’12, Reading, Pa.; 199.26 mph by Eddie Krawiec, March ’11, Gainesville, Fla.
TICKETS: For tickets call (800) 884-NHRA (6472). Tickets also available online at www.NHRATIX.com.
NHRA FULL THROTTLE COUNTDOWN TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS STANDINGS
GLENDORA, Calif. – Point standings (top 10) following the 22nd of 23 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series:
Top Fuel: 1. Antron Brown, 2,522; 2. Tony Schumacher, 2,457; 3. Spencer Massey, 2,452; 4. Shawn Langdon, 2,406; 5. Brandon Bernstein, 2,336; 6. Doug Kalitta, 2,309; 7. Morgan Lucas, 2,299; 8. Steve Torrence, 2,265; 9. Bob Vandergriff, 2,264; 10. David Grubnic, 2,225.
Funny Car: 1. Jack Beckman, 2,531; 2. Ron Capps, 2,527; 3. Mike Neff, 2,443; 4. Johnny Gray, 2,323; 5. Cruz Pedregon, 2,307; 6. Courtney Force, 2,293; 7. (tie) John Force, 2,249; Robert Hight, 2,249; 9. Tim Wilkerson, 2,241; 10. Jeff Arend, 2,211.
Pro Stock: 1. Allen Johnson, 2,630; 2. Jason Line, 2,504; 3. Erica Enders, 2,433; 4. Vincent Nobile, 2,419; 5. Greg Anderson, 2,305; 6. Mike Edwards, 2,274; 7. V. Gaines, 2,268; 8. Jeg Coughlin, 2,239; 9. Ron Krisher, 2,237; 10. Larry Morgan, 2,167.
Pro Stock Motorcycle: 1. Eddie Krawiec, 2,672; 2. Andrew Hines, 2,561; 3. Hector Arana Jr, 2,448; 4. Hector Arana, 2,399; 5. Karen Stoffer, 2,334; 6. Matt Smith, 2,293; 7. Michael Ray, 2,285; 8. Scotty Pollacheck, 2,262; 9. LE Tonglet, 2,217; 10. Shawn Gann, 2,208.
