LAS VEGAS – At first glance a lineup of six playing cards from the spades suit painted on the side of a race car would make one think that that car has been specially constructed for racing in Las Vegas, the world center of gambling and entertainment.
However, Johnny Gray will head to the The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with that exact design on his Pitch Energy Dodge Charger for the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals, April 5-7, and the veteran driver doesn't expect to gain any lucky Vegas mojo from the design that is a tribute to his father, the late John R. Gray, who enjoyed playing the card game Pitch.
However, Gray is hoping that the momentum his team produced by winning the last event on the circuit – the tradition-rich Amalie Oil NHRA Gatornationals in Florida – will roll over and push him to a second-straight victory in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Spencer Massey (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car) and Allen Johnson (Pro Stock) are the defending winners of the event that will be televised on ESPN2HD.
"I don't think having any cards on the side of my car is going to help me one bit out in Vegas, this sport is pretty fickle," Gray said. "The team has momentum right now and we just like to go out there and have fun. We have a blast at the track and we have a good running hot rod right now, so I like our chances to go there and double-up."
Gray raced to an emotional victory at the Gatornationals two weeks ago. It was a race that he definitely wanted to check off his NHRA Bucket List before he hangs up the gloves and helmet at the end of this season.
"That was a real special win for me because I have a home in Florida now and have been spending a lot of time down there," said Gray, a New Mexico native. "We had a lot of friends and family at that race and it felt great to win it not only for (team owner) Don (Schumacher), but because that is such a real prestigious race and it was my last time to get it done and I am glad we did."
Gray says he will retire from racing the full NHRA circuit at the end of the year, so he's also anxious to keep checking items off that bucket list. Up next is The Strip at LVMS. He has claimed two runner-up finishes at Bruton Smith's state-of-the-art multi-purpose motorsports complex that sits just north of Las Vegas.
"The team has great chemistry right now and just as important all the parts on the car seem to have great chemistry right now too," Gray said. "If the parts on the car can continue to get along and stay in a good mood we'll be fine because the guys have a great handle on the car right now and we're having some fun."
Gray says the smooth racing surface that The Strip at LVMS provides makes some of the crew chiefs in the nitro pits hungry to throw everything at the track. From a driver's perspective, he says it is literally a blast to race there.
"I had one of my biggest explosions at Vegas, so I always kid (crew chief Rob) Wendland that on every run at that track I like to close one eye at about 800 feet (downtrack) just in case," Gray said with a chuckle about his spectacular explosion that sent his carbon-fiber Charger body high into the air at the Oct. 2011 race at LVMS. "Vegas is a great race track where you can generate a lot of power and our cars like to run there, so we are anticipating having a great time."
If Gray is going to add an LVMS victory to his bucket list and start an early-season winning streak, he'll have to hold off a tough group of challengers including defending event winner Hight, defending world champ Jack Beckman, Winternationals winner Courtney Force, five-time LVMS winner Ron Capps, ultra-quick Cruz Pedregon and 15-time world champ John Force, among others.
"It's crazy how competitive it is right now," Gray said. "It's just really great to be a part of all the excitement and win some races and I am just going to do my best to win a bunch more races for Don this season."
Antron Brown is atop the pack in Top Fuel riding high with momentum after claiming the 200th win for Don Schumacher Racing at Gainesville, Fla. Brown, who won this event in 2011, will try to increase his series lead with a strong performance at the controls of his Matco Tools dragster. A strong contingent of challengers will also be in the hunt for victory, including U.S. Army driver Tony Schumacher, Al-Anabi Racing's Shawn Langdon, Mac Tools dragster driver Doug Kalitta, and defending event winner Massey, among others.
In Pro Stock, Mike Edwards leads the points standings based on his great performances during qualifying, which includes taking the No. 1 spot at the first three races behind the wheel of his I Am Second Chevy Camaro. Edwards has yet to win a race this season, but the two-time winner of this event hopes to change that trend over the weekend. Defending world champ Johnson won the most recent event at Gainesville and comes into this event looking for his second title in a row here. Other winners this season in the 200 mph factory hot rod category are Vincent Nobile and Erica Enders-Stevens.
Fans will have the opportunity to meet many of the sport's superstars at the NHRA Fan Fest Thursday, April 4 at the New York-New York Hotel and Casino. Schumacher, Brown, Capps Beckman, 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 from 6-8 p.m.
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 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 Fankie Valli (now playing at the Paris Las Vegas), will perform the National Anthem.
• SCHEDULE: Mello Yello Series qualifying sessions are scheduled for 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Friday, April 5 and continue on Saturday, April 6 at 12:40 p.m. and 2:20 p.m. K&N Horsepower Challenge rounds are set for Saturday, April 6 at 12:30 p.m., 2:15 p.m. and 3:25 p.m. Final eliminations begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday, April 7.
• TICKETS: Tickets are available for the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals online at www.lvms.com or by calling The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway at (800) 644-4444.
• TELEVISION: ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 8 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, April 6 and three hours of eliminations coverage at 11 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, April 7.
• ON THE WEB: Get instant results, access to photos, video and audio clips, and the latest news updates from every NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event on the Internet at www.NHRA.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 p.m. and 5 p.m.
SATURDAY, April 6- LUCAS OIL SERIES eliminations
MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 12:40 p.m. and 2:20 p.m.
K&N HORSEPOWER CHALLENGE at 12:30 p.m., 2:15 p.m. 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 coverage at 8 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.
