LAS VEGAS – Defending NHRA Mello Yello Series Pro Stock world champion Allen Johnson is riding high from a recent victory at the NHRA Gatornationals. It was the first time the Tennessee native won the tradition-rich Florida event and he’s hoping that his team’s success there will provide some early-season momentum as he prepares to defend his SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals title in two weeks at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
The heart-pounding action of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series returns to Sin City April 5-7 for the first of two scheduled stops at the famed multi-purpose motorsports facility in 2013.
After getting off to a bit of a sluggish start in the new season’s first two races, Johnson seems to have eased back into the winning groove that saw him dominate the 200-mph factory hot rod category during the second half of last season. After welcoming a new teammate in four-time champ Jeg Coughlin, Johnson seems comfortable in his role as one of the elite drivers in the category.
“Our goal for each race is to qualify No. 1 and win the race,” Johnson said. “I think we’re one of the premier teams in Pro Stock now, and I think anyone would tell you that. We’ve got a crew that makes great decisions based on scientific methods and data, and we keep improving those decision-making tools. We’ll be right there again (for the championship).”
Johnson won the Gainesville race from the second spot behind Mike Edwards, who has qualified No. 1 at all three races this season. Last year at Las Vegas, Johnson won the race from the No. 3 spot. He is confident that no matter where he qualifies, come race day he will be a contender for the victory.
“We don’t have the fastest car right now,” Johnson said. “But we have a very consistent car and you can win a lot of races like that.”
Drivers in Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock will battle it out all weekend in Las Vegas for the most coveted trophy in all of drag racing, the Wally. Along with Johnson (Pro Stock), the other defending race winners are Spencer Massey (Top Fuel) and Robert Hight (Funny Car) at the fan-favorite event that will be televised on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD.
In order to defend his Las Vegas title Johnson will face some tough competitors, which includes ultra-quick Edwards, young gun Vincent Nobile, who won the season-opening Winternationals, and Gatornationals runner-up Jeg Coughlin. Phoenix winner Erica Enders-Stevens, and the Summit Racing tandem of Greg Anderson and Jason Line, who are always tough at their team owner Ken Black's home track, also will be in the hunt for victory.
Two of those drivers – Coughlin and Nobile – are teammates with Johnson, which makes the task of beating them a little more complicated for the driver of the Team Mopar Dodge Avenger.
“Everybody asks me why I hired my two assassins, two of the best drivers in the class,” Johnson said. “I said that they make me better. Last year, at the last six races, I ran Vincent every race, and beat him in all six. I beat him because he challenges me and makes me better. That makes me better as a driver overall. Same thing with Jeggie; I knew that I would have to do my ultimate best to beat him. I hope we can all go head-to-head a bunch.”
In Top Fuel, 2012 world champion Antron Brown leads the series standings after winning at the Gatornationals in his Matco Tools dragster, but fellow teammate and U.S. Army dragster pilot Tony Schumacher, who has six victories at LVMS, is close behind. Defending event winner Massey, Winternationals winner Shawn Langdon, Brandon Bernstein, Doug Kalitta and Auto Club Road to the Future rookie candidate Brittany Force are all among the pre-race favorites in the 8,000-horsepower category.
The competition is just as tough in the Funny Car category. Auto Club Ford Mustang driver Hight hopes to defend his event title, but teammate Courtney Force and her Traxxas Ford Mustang team are on the hunt for win No. 2 in 2013. High-profile drivers Ron Capps, 2012 Funny Car world champion “Fast Jack” Beckman, Gatornationals winner Johnny Gray, Matt Hagan and Alexis DeJoria are also hungry for a win at The Strip.
Fans will have the opportunity to meet many of the sport’s superstars at the NHRA Fan Fest on Thursday, April 4, at the New York-New York Hotel and Casino. Schumacher, Brown, Anderson and Line, along with several other drivers, will be on hand for autographs and a question-and-answer session at the Staten Island Room near the Sporting House Bar & Grill.
As always, fans also will have the opportunity to interact with their favorite drivers as they’re granted an exclusive pit pass, allowing them to see firsthand the highly skilled mechanics service the high-horsepower race cars between rounds. While visiting the pits, interactive NHRA Nitro Alley and the NHRA Manufacturers Midway are two popular areas fans won’t want to miss. Children 12 and younger will receive free general admission tickets with a paid adult.
To kick off Championship Sunday’s pre-race festivities, fans will have the chance to see their favorite drivers during driver introductions. The Jersey Boys cast member Graham Fenton, who plays Fanki Valli (now playing at the Paris Las Vegas), will perform the National Anthem.
SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals qualifying sessions will be held at 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Friday, April 5. The first round of eliminations for the lucrative race-within-a-race K&N Horsepower Challenge for qualified Pro Stock teams will take to the track on Saturday, April 6, at 12:30 p.m., followed by the third and fourth qualifying sessions at 12:40 p.m. and 2:20 p.m. The final round of the K&N Horsepower Challenge, which will pay the winner $50,000, is scheduled for 3:25 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, April 7.
For tickets, call Las Vegas Motor Speedway, (800) 644-4444, or log on to www.LVMS.com.
SUMMITRACING.COM NHRA NATIONALS FACT SHEET
WHAT: 14th annual Summitracing.com NHRA Nationals, the fourth of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Drivers in three categories – Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock – earn points leading to 2013 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world championships.
WHERE: The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas. Track is located approximately 15 miles north of downtown Las Vegas off Interstate 15.
WHEN: Friday through Sunday, April 5-7
SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY, April 5 - LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying
MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 2:30 and 5 p.m.
SATURDAY, April 6- LUCAS OIL SERIES eliminations
MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 12:40 and 2:20 p.m.
K&N HORSEPOWER CHALLENGE at 12:30, 2:15 and 3:25 p.m.
SUNDAY, April 7 - Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m.
MELLO YELLO SERIES eliminations begin at 11 a.m.
TELEVISION:
Saturday, April 6, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise two hours of qualifying highlights at 10 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, April 7, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise three hours of coverage starting at 11 p.m. (ET).
SATELLITE (Digital HD feed):
Friday, April 5, 10:30 - 11 p.m. (ET), SES 2 / Transponder 1C
Saturday, April 6, 8:30 - 9 p.m. (ET), SES 2 / Transponder 1C
Sunday, April 7, 9:30 - 10 p.m. (ET), SES 2 / Transponder 1C
(3720 MHz, horizontal; 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.
2012 EVENT WINNERS: Spencer Massey, Top Fuel; Robert Hight, Funny Car; Allen Johnson, Pro Stock
MOST VICTORIES: Larry Dixon, 4, TF; Greg Anderson, 3, PS; Jeg Coughlin, 3, PS; Robert Hight, 3, FC; Kenny Bernstein, 2, TF; Mike Edwards, 2, PS; Tony Schumacher, 2, TF.
TRACK RECORDS:
Top Fuel - 3.773 seconds by Tony Schumacher, Oct. ’12; 327.11 mph by Doug Kalitta, Oct. ’12
Funny Car - 4.030 seconds by Matt Hagan, Oct. ’09; 317.27 mph by Robert Hight, Oct. ’12.
Pro Stock - 6.590 seconds by Jason Line, Oct. ’12; 209.72 mph by Line, Oct. ’12.
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 - 6.473 sec. by Mike Edwards, March ‘13, Gainesville, Fla.; 214.35 mph by Line, Oct. ’12, Reading, Pa.
TICKETS: For tickets call Las Vegas Motor Speedway at (800) 644-4444, or visit www.LVMS.com.
NHRA MELLO YELLO DRAG RACING SERIES WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS STANDINGS
GLENDORA, Calif. -- Point standings (top 10) following the third of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series:
Top Fuel: 1. Antron Brown, 269; 2. Tony Schumacher, 265; 3. Shawn Langdon, 207; 4. Doug Kalitta, 187; 5. Khalid alBalooshi, 183; 6. Spencer Massey, 177; 7. Clay Millican, 165; 8. Morgan Lucas, 159; 9. Brandon Bernstein, 146; 10. David Grubnic, 144.
Funny Car: 1. (tie) Ron Capps, 244; Johnny Gray, 244; 3. Courtney Force, 216; 4. Matt Hagan, 209; 5. Cruz Pedregon, 181; 6. Del Worsham, 168; 7. Robert Hight, 156; 8. Bob Tasca III, 155; 9. Jack Beckman, 148; 10. John Force, 144.
Pro Stock: 1. Mike Edwards, 263; 2. Jeg Coughlin, 247; 3. Allen Johnson, 231; 4. Vincent Nobile, 224; 5. Erica Enders-Stevens, 208; 6. V. Gaines, 198; 7. Jason Line, 197; 8. Greg Anderson, 163; 9. Greg Stanfield, 135; 10. (tie) Shane Gray, 115. Chris McGaha, 115.
Pro Stock Motorcycle: 1. Hector Arana Jr, 125; 2. Steve Johnson, 96; 3. Hector Arana, 85; 4. Scotty Pollacheck, 73; 5. Andrew Hines, 55; 6. John Hall, 54; 7. Eddie Krawiec, 52; 8. Chip Ellis, 51; 9. Matt Smith, 43; 10. Mike Berry, 33.
