NHRA NEWS: FULL THROTTLE SERIES RESULTS SATURDAY FROM HOUSTON

LUCAS, PEDREGON, JOHNSON AND ARANA EARN NO. 1 QUALIFYING POSITIONS AT HOUSTON'S O'REILLY AUTO PARTS NHRA SPRING NATIONALS

BAYTOWN, Texas – Top Fuel driver Morgan Lucas raced to his fourth No. 1 qualifying position of the season Saturday at the 25th annual O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Spring Nationals presented by Super Start Batteries at Royal Purple Raceway.

Cruz Pedregon (Funny Car), Allen Johnson (Pro Stock) and Hector Arana (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also were No. 1 qualifiers and will lead their categories into Sunday's 11 a.m. elimiantions at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event near Houston.

The GEICO/Lucas Oil Top Fuel team ran low E.T. of the event during Friday evening’s qualifying session and the 3.772 second pass at 327.74 mph held up as the No. 1 qualifying position throughout Saturday’s warm weather conditions.

“We were real fortunate that the Friday night session ran a little late for us, and we got the conditions to run that big number [3.772],” Lucas said. “We also had the opportunity to test a little bit [with the hotter temperatures] today, but for tomorrow we’ll put the car back to where we know it can run well. We obviously have a good handle on the car and can make it run consistent 3.80s.”

Lucas will start from the No. 1 position for the eighth time of his career and will face No. 16 qualifier Troy Buff in the opening round.

No one in Funny Car was able to better Pedregon’s Friday pass of 4.103 at 305.29. The Snap-on Tools Toyota Camry will start from the No. 1 position for the second time this season and 47th time of his career. He will face No. 16 qualifier Gary Densham in round one.

“Thankfully we made two good runs yesterday because we dropped a cylinder on both runs today,” said Pedregon of his eighth career No. 1 qualifying effort at Royal Purple Raceway. “The good news is that we stayed No. 1. I’m already thinking about race day.”

In Pro Stock, Johnson held onto the No. 1 spot through Saturday’s qualifying efforts as no one was able to outrun the Team Mopar Dodge Avenger’s Friday evening pass of 6.545 at 211.73.

“Our motto in the Mopar camp is ‘consistency’ and I think we’ve accomplished that this weekend,” Johnson said. “We weren’t quite as fast as we wanted to be, but we were just a hundredth off. I think tomorrow will be a knock-down drag-out, but the Mopar Avenger team is ready for that. Everybody has their winning hats on and we’re learning how to win.”

This is Johnson's second No. 1 of the season and 20th of his career. Johnson will race Shane Gray and his Tire Kingdom GXP Sunday morning.

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Lucas Oil rider Arana set low E.T. of the weekend during Saturday’s final qualifying session when he posted a performance of 6.850 seconds at 194.86 mph and secured his first No. 1 of the season and 18th of his career. Arana’s Lucas Oil Buell teammate and son Hector Arana Jr. is qualified second in the 16-bike field.

“We just worked hard,” Arana said. “We know the Harleys are fast, but we can’t think about them. We just keep working and the results show. I was happy when I ran but I felt even better when my son [Arana Jr.] was No. 2.  We keep tuning on the bike and little by little it’s getting better. We’re making excellent runs and that’s what’s giving us an edge.”

Arana will race the No. 16 qualifier Mike Berry in the opening round of eliminations Sunday and Arana Jr. will face Steve Johnson the No. 15 qualifier.

BAYTOWN, Texas -- Sunday's first-round pairings for final eliminations for the 25th annual O'Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals presented by Super Start Batteries at Royal Purple Raceway, the sixth of 23 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.  Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Saturday. DNQs listed below pairings.

Top Fuel -- 1. Morgan Lucas, 3.772 seconds, 327.74 mph  vs. 16. Troy Buff, 4.003, 306.60; 2. Steve Torrence, 3.772, 322.88  vs. 15. T.J. Zizzo, 3.990, 319.98; 3. Spencer Massey, 3.778, 326.95  vs. 14. Terry McMillen, 3.901, 290.26; 4. David Grubnic, 3.829, 323.35  vs. 13. Clay Millican, 3.893, 313.44; 5. Khalid alBalooshi, 3.837, 321.12  vs. 12. Bob Vandergriff, 3.884, 317.94; 6. Antron Brown, 3.845, 319.22  vs. 11. J.R. Todd, 3.873, 319.52; 7. Brandon Bernstein, 3.848, 322.27  vs. 10. Shawn Langdon, 3.870, 317.64; 8. Tony Schumacher, 3.850, 319.98  vs. 9. Doug Kalitta, 3.855, 320.81. Did Not Qualify: 17. Bruce Litton, 4.009, 308.00; 18. Keith Murt, 4.073, 311.34; 19. Cory McClenathan, 4.740, 315.86; 20. Rob Passey, 7.894, 79.25.

Funny Car -- 1. Cruz Pedregon, Toyota Solara, 4.103, 306.19  vs. 16. Gary Densham, Dodge Charger, 4.490, 264.18; 2. Ron Capps, Charger, 4.107, 307.02  vs. 15. Bob Bode, Chevy Impala, 4.252, 293.86; 3. Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 4.123, 308.50  vs. 14. John Force, Mustang, 4.212, 296.05; 4. Jeff Arend, Solara, 4.138, 307.37  vs. 13. Matt Hagan, Charger, 4.211, 302.96; 5. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 4.139, 300.00  vs. 12. Johnny Gray, Charger, 4.197, 300.80; 6. Robert Hight, Mustang, 4.140, 309.56  vs. 11. Tony Pedregon, Impala, 4.194, 302.08; 7. Courtney Force, Mustang, 4.150, 306.53  vs. 10. Alexis DeJoria, Toyota Camary, 4.183, 303.91; 8. Jim Head, Solara, 4.165, 297.61  vs. 9. Mike Neff, Mustang, 4.166, 306.53. Did Not Qualify: 17. Jack Beckman, 4.756, 229.63; 18. Todd Simpson, 4.834, 229.66; 19. Terry Haddock, 5.403, 289.88; 20. Todd Lesenko, 6.448, 283.55.

Pro Stock -- 1. Allen Johnson, Dodge Avenger, 6.546, 211.93  vs. 16. Shane Gray, Pontiac GXP, 6.628, 209.36; 2. Jason Line, GXP, 6.550, 211.43  vs. 15. Rickie Jones, GXP, 6.622, 209.92; 3. Vincent Nobile, Avenger, 6.564, 211.36  vs. 14. Greg Stanfield, Chevy Camaro, 6.617, 208.81; 4. Dave Connolly, Chevy Cobalt, 6.568, 211.00  vs. 13. Rodger Brogdon, GXP, 6.616, 209.75; 5. Greg Anderson, GXP, 6.575, 211.49  vs. 12. Kurt Johnson, GXP, 6.616, 209.49; 6. Erica Enders, Cobalt, 6.575, 210.83  vs. 11. Larry Morgan, Ford Mustang, 6.615, 209.72; 7. Mike Edwards, GXP, 6.579, 210.90  vs. 10. Steve Kent, GXP, 6.596, 210.24; 8. Ronnie Humphrey, GXP, 6.582, 210.80  vs. 9. Ron Krisher, GXP, 6.593, 210.67. Did Not Qualify: 17. V. Gaines, 6.643, 210.44; 18. Chris McGaha, 6.647, 209.26; 19. Jeg Coughlin, 6.661, 209.85; 20. Warren Johnson, 6.674, 209.65.

Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 1. Hector Arana, Buell, 6.850, 195.56  vs. 16. Mike Berry, Buell, 7.035, 191.73; 2. Hector Arana Jr, Buell, 6.862, 197.39  vs. 15. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.027, 193.02; 3. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.864, 197.83  vs. 14. Jerry Savoie, Buell, 7.018, 192.52; 4. Scotty Pollacheck, Buell, 6.871, 194.27  vs. 13. John Hall, Buell, 6.990, 193.16; 5. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.877, 196.02  vs. 12. Jim Underdahl, Suzuki, 6.985, 192.41; 6. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 6.908, 194.63  vs. 11. Chip Ellis, Buell, 6.973, 192.93; 7. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.915, 195.39  vs. 10. LE Tonglet, Suzuki, 6.958, 193.07; 8. Michael Ray, Buell, 6.933, 193.57  vs. 9. Shawn Gann, Buell, 6.934, 194.18. Did Not Qualify: 17. Michael Phillips, 7.052, 191.89; 18. Redell Harris, 7.110, 189.66; 19. Katie Sullivan, 7.209, 181.74; 20. James Surber, 7.211, 186.72; 21. Joe DeSantis, 7.331, 186.43.

NHRA NEWS: NHRA PRO MOD SERIES PRESENTED BY PROCARE RX SERIES RESULTS SATURDAY FROM HOUSTON

ROWE, COUGHLIN LEAD FIRST ROUND WINNERS IN NHRA PRO MOD DRAG RACING SERIES PRESENTED BY PROCARE RX AT HOUSTON

BAYTOWN, Texas – No. 3 qualifier Danny Rowe advanced his Sterling Bridge ’68 Chevy Camaro to the second round of eliminations and was among the first-round winners Saturday in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by ProCare Rx portion of the O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Spring Nationals at Royal Purple Raceway. 

Rowe’s 5.951 second pass at 244.92 mph was too much for first-round opponent Mike Knowles, whose '68 Camaro lost traction almost immediately and coasted across the finish line at 11.413 at 78.30. Rowe will face Troy Coughlin in round two Sunday. Coughlin defeated Leah Pruett to advance.

Defending event winner and No. 1 qualifier Mike Castellana was upset in the opening round of eliminations by Steve Matusek. No. 2 qualifier Rickie Smith also lost in round one to Donald Walsh.

Other second-round pairings include Brad Brand v. Kenny Lang, Walsh v. Pete Farber, and Matusek will get a bye run.

Eliminations for the Pro Mod series will continue on Sunday at approximately 2 p.m.

BAYTOWN, Texas -- Saturday's first-round eliminations results for the NHRA Pro Mod Series presented by ProCare Rx at the 25th annual O'Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals presented by Super Start Batteries at Royal Purple Raceway, the third of 10 events in the NHRA Pro Mod Series presented by ProCare Rx. 

PRO MODIFIED:

ROUND ONE -- Pete Farber, Dodge Daytona, 6.052, 244.87 def. Donald Martin, Chevy Camaro, 6.338, 233.24; Troy Coughlin, Camaro, 5.997, 247.70 def. Leah Pruett, Ford Mustang, 5.972, 249.86; Kenny Lang, Camaro, 5.995, 239.95 def. Jay Payne, Camaro, 9.974, 89.93; Brad Brand, Chevy Corvette, 5.977, 245.49 def. Chip King, Daytona, 6.074, 248.25; Danny Rowe, Camaro, 5.951, 244.92 def. Mike Knowles, Camaro, 11.413, 78.30; Donald Walsh, Mustang, 6.098, 247.34 def. Rickie Smith, Camaro, 15.686, 53.51; Steve Matusek, Mustang, 6.267, 226.20 def. Mike Castellana, Camaro, 6.613, 203.46.

Red Greth and Bobby Vodnik on Racin' & Rockin' April 30!

 
Racin' and Rockin': Red Greth and Bobby Vodnik on Racin' & Rockin' April 30! by Bill Pratt. Red Greth of the legendary Speed Sport Roadster team joins us, plus 60s Top Fuel dragster ace Bobby Vodnik! PLUS John Bockelman's take on the music of 1955, followed by three solid hours of great music!

Today's Drag Racing News

News

Mike Brudenell: Livonia's Chelsea Hinton gears up for drag racing Detroit Free Press But like Dad says, driving down the street on your bike is more dangerous than going drag racing. I love the thought of 300 mph more than anything." Chelsey has backing from Liberty's Gears of Taylor in her quest to be the best. See all stories on this topic »

AUTO RACING: NASCAR event headlines BIR's 2012 schedule Brainerd Daily Dispatch All eyes from the drag racing world will be on BIR Aug. 16-19 during the 31st annual Lucas Oils NHRA Nationals. As the largest motorsports race in the Upper Midwest, the NHRA Nationals features the world's best drag racers. See all stories on this topic »

Big-time racing back in Baytown Daily News - Galveston County By Harvey Cappel It's that time again when the big-time drag racing professionals come to Baytown for their annual racing event. If you never have been to a big time drag race, you just might want to add it to your bucket list. I'm not a reporter. See all stories on this topic »

Alan Johnson still winless in '12 ESPN By Terry Blount | ESPN.com BAYTOWN, Texas -- Alan Johnson, the mastermind of the NHRA, the man who knows more secrets about tuning race cars and making them go fast than anyone else in drag racing, is winless with his dragsters in the first five events ... See all stories on this topic » ESPN

ESPN2 will cover record chases in Houston NHRA.com NHRA four-wide racing is done, and now the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series heads back to two-wide racing at Royal Purple Raceway for the O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Spring Nationals presented by Super Start Batteries, April 27-29. See all stories on this topic » NHRA.com

This Is An Insane Drag Racing Bike Jalopnik Meet Angus McPhail's Jade Warrior. You ride it lying flat on your stomach, your face staring past a tire from a scooter as you rocket up to 200 miles per hour. Like you're riding a technicolor bullet. The engine is a four-cylinder of unknown origin, ... See all stories on this topic »

DSR teammates take no prisoners Houston Chronicle Tony Schumacher, Antron Brown and Spencer Massey might lead the charge in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series' Top Fuel class, but they are out to beat one another as much as anybody else on the track. "There is a lot of stiff competition out ... See all stories on this topic »

NHRA: Line Targets The Total Package at Houston Auto Racing Daily The NHRA's Full Throttle Drag Racing Series will visit 20 different tracks throughout the course of the 2012 season at locations spanning the continental United States. Although the race distance for the Pro Stock category remains the same quarter mile ... See all stories on this topic » Auto Racing Daily

Kellogg found his way to racing The Spokesman Review Saturday, 3 pm: Summit Drag Racing Series featuring Super Pro, Pro, Sportsman, Jr. Dragsters and more • Sunday, 10 am: Summit Drag Racing Series featuring Super Pro, Pro, Sportsman, Jr. Dragsters and more Like many youngsters, Harley Kellogg dreamed of ... See all stories on this topic »

Lucas, Pedregon, Johnson, Krawiec lead Friday fields in Houston NHRA.com Morgan Lucas (Top Fuel), Allen Johnson (Pro Stock), and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also were qualifying leaders at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event near Houston. Pedregon powered his Snap-on Tools Toyota Camry to the top of the ... See all stories on this topic » NHRA.com

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American drag racing league accident reloaded 2012 2013 - YouTube camera PROFESSIONAL RACE CAR BEATTING SYSYTEM HERE : http ... www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9FSkTHfdAc

NHRA SUMMIT SERIES Motorcycle Pro Stock Drag racing Barona ... NHRA SUMMIT SERIES TEST and TUNE GAMBLER GRUDGE motorcycle pro stock, superbike ... www.youtube.com/watch?v=IH8GG5oyUa8

NHRA NEWS: NHRA PRO MOD DRAG RACING SERIES RESULTS FRIDAY FROM HOUSTON

CASTELLANA LEADS NHRA PRO MOD DRAG RACING SERIES PRESENTED BY PROCARE RX AFTER FIRST DAY OF QUALIFYING IN HOUSTON

BAYTOWN, Texas - Mike Castellana powered his Al-Anabi Racing Chevy Camaro to the top of the qualifying order Friday in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by ProCare Rx portion of the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Spring Nationals presented by Super Start Batteries at Royal Purple Raceway.

The defending event winner ran low E.T. during the opening round of qualifying and held onto the top spot through the second qualifying session. If he holds onto the No. 1 spot through Saturday, it will be the second of his career.

Veteran driver Rickie Smith trails Castellana with his 5.930 second pass at 242.15 mph, while Danny Rowe sits third with a 5.940 at 245.14. Kenny Lang is fourth with a 5.960 at 242.63 and Pete Farber is fifth with a 5.978 at 245.32.

The final qualifying session for the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by ProCare Rx will take place on Saturday at 1 p.m. with the first round of eliminations scheduled for 4 p.m. Pro Mod eliminations will continue Sunday.

BAYTOWN, Texas -- Friday's results after the first two of three rounds of qualifying for the 25th annual O'Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals presented by Super Start Batteries at Royal Purple Raceway, third of 10 events in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by ProCare Rx. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Saturday's final eliminations.

Pro Modified -- 1. Mike Castellana, Chevy Camaro, 5.899, 243.11; 2. Rickie Smith, Camaro, 5.930, 242.15; 3. Danny Rowe, Camaro, 5.940, 245.14; 4. Kenny Lang, Camaro, 5.960, 242.63; 5. Pete Farber, Dodge Daytona, 5.978, 245.32; 6. Donald Martin, Camaro, 5.979, 244.47; 7. Brad Brand, Chevy Corvette, 6.000, 251.02; 8. Troy Coughlin, Camaro, 6.000, 248.52; 9. Leah Pruett, Ford Mustang, 6.008, 249.86; 10. Jay Payne, Camaro, 6.038, 238.89; 11. Chip King, Daytona, 6.039, 245.36; 12. Mike Knowles, Camaro, 6.064, 240.34; 13. Steve Matusek, Mustang, 6.132, 246.21; 14. Donald Walsh, Mustang, 7.639, 141.94.

NHRA NEWS: FRIDAY QUALIFYING RESULTS FROM ROYAL PURPLE RACEWAY

CRUZ PEDREGON LEADS FUNNY CAR QUALIFYING ACTION AT O'REILLY NHRA SPRING NATIONALS; LUCAS, JOHNSON AND KRAWIEC ALSO QUALIFYING LEADERS

BAYTOWN, Texas -- Two-time NHRA Funny Car world champion Cruz Pedregon raced to the qualifying lead Friday at the O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Spring Nationals presented by Super Start Batteries at Royal Purple Raceway.

Morgan Lucas (Top Fuel), Allen Johnson (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also were qualifying leaders in their categories at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event near Houston.

Pedregon powered his Snap-on Tools Toyota Camry to the top of the Funny Car qualifying field during the evening qualifying session with his pass of 4.103 seconds at 305.29 mph, a run Pedregon almost didn't complete.

"We almost didn't run because the reverser lever fell off in my hand, I threw it out the window," Pedregon said. "Lee Beard (crew chief) didn't know what to do with it. I'm just glad we got it in first gear because we really made a nice run."

Pedregon's Snap-on Tools Toyota Camry team struggled in the beginning of the season, but Pedregon feels like the team is finally coming together. If the team holds onto the No. 1 spot through Saturday's qualifying sessions it will be his second of the season and 32nd of his career.

"Our car is coming around, I feel it in my bones," Pedregon said. "We should have won the last race but the driver let us down. We should have run a 4.07 on that run but it dropped a cylinder. I know the time is coming when we can run with anybody."

In Top Fuel, Lucas posted a 3.772 at 327.74 in his GEICO/Lucas Oil dragster to earn the qualifying lead. If Lucas holds onto the top spot it will be his fourth of the season and seventh of his career. Several dragsters hit the 3.77-second mark during the exciting session, including second place Steve Torrence, Spencer Massey, and Tony Schumacher.

"All I could think of is that when it left the line so aggressively, was ‘God, please let this think stick,'" Lucas said. "We're really fortunate to have the team that we do right now. It's a good way to bounce back from what we did in Charlotte [first-round loss]."

In Pro Stock, Johnson drove his Team Mopar Dodge Avenger to the provisional No. 1 spot with his pass of 6.545 at 211.73.

"The air got about 300 feet better and the track cooled down about 20 degrees, so that was good for us," Johnson said. "We left a little bit on the table, but we were consistent. The morning qualifying round tomorrow could be as good or better as it was in today's second session."

If Johnson maintains the No. 1 position it will be his second of the season and 18th of his career.

Pro Stock Motorcycle points leader Krawiec rode his Vance & Hines Screamin' Eagle Harley-Davidson to the top of the pack with his performance of 6.872 at 197.83.

"The humidity went down on the second run and we had a pretty stout tailwind," Kraweic said. "If we'd had that tailwind in Gainesville, I would have run 200 mph. That was about a picture perfect run. The bike went straight and I tucked in and motored down the track. I don't think there was much left, maybe a few thousandths, not hundredths."

Qualifying action continues Saturday with sessions scheduled for 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Eliminations get underway Sunday at 11 a.m.

BAYTOWN, Texas -- Friday's results after the first two of four rounds of qualifying for the 25th annual O'Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals presented by Super Start Batteries at Royal Purple Raceway, sixth of 23 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday's final eliminations.

Top Fuel -- 1. Morgan Lucas, 3.772 seconds, 327.74 mph; 2. Steve Torrence, 3.772, 322.88; 3. Spencer Massey, 3.778, 326.95; 4. Tony Schumacher, 3.778, 326.56; 5. David Grubnic, 3.829, 323.35; 6. Khalid alBalooshi, 3.837, 321.12; 7. Brandon Bernstein, 3.848, 322.27; 8. Doug Kalitta, 3.855, 320.81; 9. Shawn Langdon, 3.870, 314.90; 10. J.R. Todd, 3.873, 319.52; 11. Bob Vandergriff, 3.884, 317.94; 12. Terry McMillen, 3.901, 290.26. Not Qualified: 13. Cory McClenathan, 3.921, 315.86; 14. T.J. Zizzo, 3.937, 319.98; 15. Clay Millican, 3.946, 300.06; 16. Keith Murt, 3.962, 311.34; 17. Troy Buff, 3.965, 306.60; 18. Antron Brown, 3.997, 306.67; 19. Bruce Litton, 4.007, 294.31.

Funny Car -- 1. Cruz Pedregon, Toyota Solara, 4.103, 306.19; 2. Ron Capps, Dodge Charger, 4.107, 307.02; 3. Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 4.123, 308.50; 4. Jeff Arend, Solara, 4.138, 307.37; 5. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 4.139, 300.00; 6. Courtney Force, Mustang, 4.150, 306.53; 7. Robert Hight, Mustang, 4.153, 256.65; 8. Jim Head, Solara, 4.165, 297.61; 9. Johnny Gray, Charger, 4.197, 300.80; 10. John Force, Mustang, 4.212, 296.05; 11. Alexis DeJoria, Toyota Camary, 4.230, 302.62; 12. Matt Hagan, Charger, 4.247, 291.45. Not Qualified: 13. Bob Bode, 4.289, 292.39; 14. Terry Haddock, 4.306, 289.88; 15. Mike Neff, 4.318, 228.11; 16. Jack Beckman, 4.332, 227.34; 17. Todd Lesenko, 4.398, 283.55; 18. Gary Densham, 4.492, 263.72; 19. Todd Simpson, 5.066, 171.73; 20. Tony Pedregon, 6.711, 101.16.

Pro Stock -- 1. Allen Johnson, Dodge Avenger, 6.546, 211.93; 2. Jason Line, Pontiac GXP, 6.550, 211.00; 3. Dave Connolly, Chevy Cobalt, 6.577, 210.57; 4. Mike Edwards, GXP, 6.579, 210.37; 5. Ronnie Humphrey, GXP, 6.582, 210.80; 6. Erica Enders, Cobalt, 6.582, 210.47; 7. Vincent Nobile, Avenger, 6.584, 210.93; 8. Greg Anderson, GXP, 6.586, 210.50; 9. Ron Krisher, GXP, 6.602, 210.24; 10. Kurt Johnson, GXP, 6.616, 209.49; 11. Rodger Brogdon, GXP, 6.616, 209.39; 12. Rickie Jones, GXP, 6.622, 209.92. Not Qualified: 13. Larry Morgan, 6.623, 209.33; 14. Greg Stanfield, 6.627, 208.23; 15. Jeg Coughlin, 6.634, 209.85; 16. Shane Gray, 6.655, 208.26; 17. Steve Kent, 6.662, 209.10; 18. Chris McGaha, 6.663, 208.20; 19. Warren Johnson, 6.739, 208.81; 20. V. Gaines, 7.212, 207.75.

Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 1. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.872, 197.83; 2. Hector Arana, Buell, 6.886, 194.77; 3. Hector Arana Jr, Buell, 6.892, 195.56; 4. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 6.908, 194.63; 5. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.911, 195.76; 6. Shawn Gann, Buell, 6.938, 193.71; 7. Scotty Pollacheck, Buell, 6.941, 191.65; 8. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.949, 193.49; 9. Michael Ray, Buell, 6.963, 193.57; 10. Chip Ellis, Buell, 6.973, 192.93; 11. Jim Underdahl, Suzuki, 6.985, 192.41; 12. John Hall, Buell, 6.990, 193.16. Not Qualified: 13. LE Tonglet, 7.004, 192.58; 14. Michael Phillips, 7.011, 191.89; 15. Jerry Savoie, 7.030, 192.52; 16. Steve Johnson, 7.037, 192.93; 17. Mike Berry, 7.054, 191.73; 18. Redell Harris, 7.061, 189.55; 19. Joe DeSantis, 7.128, 186.43; 20. James Surber, 7.156, 186.72; 21. Katie Sullivan, 7.264, 181.69.

Today's Drag Racing News

News

Milan High graduate Jason Wagenknecht ready to represent WCC in drag racing ... Heritage Newspapers "My dad was into drag racing. I used to go up [to the Milan Dragway] when I was little. My dad had a car that he built, and I went there with that." As for the race itself, Wagenknecht – who is a student at Washtenaw Community College – will be ... See all stories on this topic »

ADRL Teams up with NAPA Auto Parts for Return to Maple Grove Raceway WhoWon.com The American Drag Racing League's (ADRL) second trip to Maple Grove Raceway will include a special first-time partner. The world's premier eighth-mile drag racing league announced on Wednesday that NAPA Auto Parts will be a marketing sponsor for the ... See all stories on this topic »

Defending Pro Mod event champ Castellana enters Houston on hot streak NHRA.com When the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by ProCare Rx returns to action during the O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Spring Nationals presented by Super Start Batteries, Mike Castellana will be returning to the site of his first professional Pro Mod ... See all stories on this topic » NHRA.com

PSCA Offering 2-For-1 Tickets for MagnaFuel Las Vegas Nationals this Weekend ... WhoWon.com As if PSCA fans needed more incentive than the hot doorslammer action in the desert to attend, the premiere Western drag racing series is offering 2-for-1 tickets. "We not only want to reward our fans for coming out to see some of the best drag racing ... See all stories on this topic »

Erica Enders Back Home in Houston: Is it Finally Her Time? Fan's Perspective Yahoo! Sports Contributor Network – 12 hours ago Sooner or later, Pro Stock drag racing driver Erica Enders will win a meet and make history. It's going to happen. But as everyone associated with the sport keeps wondering: When? Enders drives for Victor Cagnazzi and ... See all stories on this topic »

Irwindale Dragstrip to Re-Open this Week WhoWon.com NuWay Industries and Race Training, USA Inc. have announced the re-opening of the eighth-mile NHRA-sanctioned, street legal drag racing facility at Irwindale. The first Thursday night event is set for this Thursday, April 26. See all stories on this topic »

Web

LiveLeak.com - Insane Drag Racing Crashes and Wheel Standing 12 full minutes of pure unadulterated vehicle carnage with all the sights and sounds of the drag ... www.liveleak.com/view?i=380_1335420687

Heavenly Shots of Drag Racing - My Modern Metropolis Since the film franchise The Fast and the Furious came out in 2001, drag racing has been recognized and improved upon by motor enthusiasts in global street ... www.mymodernmet.com/.../2100445%3ABlogPost%3A9100...

CrossFit One World: CROSSFIT DRAG RACING I love NHRA drag racing. I haven't attended a race in years, but I'm still a big fan of cars that go over 300 MPH in a quarter mile. That's a quarter mile completed ... crossfitoneworld.typepad.com/.../crossfit-drag-racing.html

Time to celebrate 427-day!

Well it's that time of the year again! Time to celebrate 427-day. There is something magical about that combination of numbers as it congers up thoughts of a high performance automobile engine and the special cars that provided it with a home. Close your eyes and image a 63 ½ Lightweight Galaxie with that unmistakable growl of the big 427 FE bullet. Or how about an A/FX Comet with twin hood scoops feeding the 427 monster within. Perhaps you can recall 427 S/S Thunderbolts with the big bubble hood and air inlets in the headlight assembly. Holman and Moody even gave the 427 a home inside a special group of Ford A/FX Mustangs. Bill Stroppe did the same to a group of 427 '65 Mercury Comets. And don't forget the Logge Brothers who bent some steel tubing around a 427 and then wrapped it in fiberglass. Carroll Shelby also put a 427 in an AC Bristol body and named it the AC Cobra. Most recently Jack Roush designated one of his Special Mustangs the 427R. It really doesn't matter if it is a low, medium, high riser, tunnel port or cammer as long as it is a 427 it is worthy of reverence. Chevrolet even produced that magical number combination in its product lineup of GM Muscle. Pass the word about 427 day and remember to celebrate it on an annual basis.

March, April and May are special month's for Muscle Car enthusiasts to celebrate Cubic Inch numbers that define the High Performance heritage of their preferred brand. Dates like 301 (Chevy), 327 (Chevy), 312 (Ford), 326 (Pontiac), 409 (Chevy), 413 (MoPar), 426 (Chrys), 502 (GM) among others should be recognized. No matter what your allegiance join in and pay tribute to your favorite CI-date.

Jim Amos
Bee On Video

PRO FUEL STAR DENNIS OFF TO INCREDIBLE START

Kristen Dennis thriving off detractors en route to fast start

Multiple wins in few starts has 'Ladies First' team flying high

MAGNOLIA, Texas (April 26, 2012) – Just three years ago Kristen Dennis had only dreamed of one day becoming a professional racer.

After all, what would a mother of two from Magnolia, Texas – population 1,100 – do with a fast car and a big dream?

As it turns out, win. And win a lot.

Dennis has already won with both the NHRA and IHRA to start her young career

Dennis finally decided to go racing three years ago when she started her own team and so far that decision has turned into one of the most unlikely success stories around. In just two seasons Dennis has compiled one NHRA victory and two IHRA Nitro Jam wins all in less than 50 passes behind the wheel. Certainly not a bad start for someone who has used the motivation of being told she can't to go out and prove that she can.

"I knew I could do this no matter what anyone said. I have used the few people telling me that I couldn't do this to motivate me more. They are the ones I am proving to that I can do it with my success as a driver and team owner," Dennis said. "I certainly don't take any of this for granted. I just have to push myself that much harder to prove that I can keep winning and not to let my team or the fans down."

And Dennis didn't just go for any ordinary old car for this journey. No, she decided to go a different route by diving straight into the power, speed and thrill of nitromethane. Dennis decided for her first ride she would get behind the wheel of a 4,000 horsepower nitro-powered dragster to guide her down the quarter-mile.

Dennis has two Pro Fuel wins in four Nitro Jam races as he goes for the title in 2012

And so far, she has loved every minute of it.

"When I first made the decision to start driving and I got my license I was determined to do well," Dennis said. "But as history will show there are plenty of people that have been doing this for 20 or 30 years that don't have a win. To already have a few wins in so few starts is a blessing. It is certainly not something I am going to take for granted."

Dennis got her first taste of drag racing success at an NHRA divisional event in 2010 in only her second career start, driving to a huge win in Dallas. One year later she followed that win with another trophy – her first as a pro – in her first career Nitro Jam start, defeating fellow-Texas native and eventual series champion Mike Manners to claim her first IHRA Ironman.

Now, with two years experience under her belt, Dennis is throwing her hat in the ring fulltime in Nitro Jam's Pro Fuel Dragster category behind the wheel of her now-famous "Ladies First" dragster. And so far that campaign is off to a rousing start with yet another win earlier this year at the sold out San Antonio Nitro Jam, a win that has cemented Dennis as a certified "rock star" in her home state.

"Getting a hometown win was amazing and getting a win with my mom, both my kids and two of my oldest childhood friends put it over the top," Dennis said. "I love being from Texas and I was able to bring that spirit to the race with me."

Dennis' biggest victory to date came at the San Antonio Nitro Jam in March

Dennis visited the finals both nights at the San Antonio Nitro Jam, falling to former champion Bill Evans and the "Black Pearl" team on day one before sweeping day two and defeating Evans, using her career best elapsed time to pick up the win, a lighting quick 5.385, 276.92.

Not only was the victory bittersweet for the Texan, but the response afterward left her speechless as fans lined up for hours to meet her after the race.

"After the run we made our victory pass in front of the stands and there wasn't a person sitting down anywhere. You just don't get a response like that unless your last name is Force," Dennis said with a laugh. "The fans followed us to the pits and the celebration began. I lost track of time and almost missed winners circle because there were just so many people waiting in line. It was surreal."

Now Dennis and the "Ladies First" team will try to keep that momentum going at the Mardi Gras Nitro Jam presented by Domino's Pizza May 4-5 at State Capitol Raceway. Dennis will battle Evans, Cherissa Smallwood in the "Nitro and Lace" dragster and Robin Samsel in the" Predator" in front of a rambunctious Louisiana crowd, an event she is very much looking forward to.

"I am definitely excited to see what the remainder of the season brings starting in Baton Rouge where they have some incredible fans," Dennis said. "We couldn't have done this without our current and past sponsors that have made it possible. Thanks to CleanBoost Oil, 801 Racing, Space City Hotshots, Glass Depot and Global Promotional Advertising.

"Hopefully with this win it will help bring on some additional sponsorship and support for our team. We have shown that we are competitive and of course we are having a lot of fun racing with the IHRA. Who knows where this thing will take us."

The West Coast Outlaw Pro Mod Association makes some changes for upcoming 2012 season

Anderson, CA – The 2012 season is underway for many associations but for the WCOPMA the first event isn't until the last weekend in May, and it couldn't come any sooner. Many racers are anticipating the upcoming season, and rightfully so, as new racers and sponsors are showing interest as well as a new set points/payout structure which also includes a championship payout bonus for the top three in the final points standings at the end of the year.

As always, the WCOPMA pays down to the first round loser but it varied at each event during the past three seasons. For 2012 and beyond there will be set payouts so the racers know what they'll be getting before they hit the track. Also the top three drivers in the final point's battle at the end of the year will receive an additional bonus for their accomplishment.

The bonus point program for attending a certain number of events is now gone as it was never a major factor in final points standings over the past three seasons. Record runs (ET and MPH) will now require a one percent backup during the same event (qualifying or eliminations) to be accepted as an official new association record and 20 points will now be awarded for new records set by Supercharged, Nitrous and Turbo entry's individually for both ET and MPH.

For more information about the new points and payout structure visit www.westcoastoutlawpromods.com/POINTS.html.

The 2012 WCOPMA season opening event is coming up soon on Memorial Day weekend May 25-26 at Rocky Mountain Raceway's in Salt Lake City, Utah. It will mark the outlaw's first stop at RMR and we are anticipating an excellent show to get the season started. For more information about the WCOPMA please email us at wcopma@aol.com or visit www.WestCoastOutlawProMods.com.

Thank you to all of our 2012 season sponsors:

Red Line Oil – www.RedLineOil.com

RBS Superchargers – www.RBSSuperchargers.com

Hoosier Tire West – www.HoosierTireWest.com

Spec Rite Converters – www.SpecRiteConverters.com

Goodguys Rod & Custom Association – www.Good-Guys.com

Brandt Racing Enterprises – www.BrandtRacing.com

R.E. Borrmann's Steel – www.BorrmannSteel.com

Pacific Repair Services – www.PacificRepairServices.com

Ramona Martial Arts – www.RamonaTangSooDo.com

Law-Ru Motorsports

John Force Racing photos for Houston

1.      Courtney Force signing autographs at the Traxxas display among the new Traxxas RC Mustang Funny Car replicas.
2.      Funny Car final shot at four-wide. Photo credit: Gary Nastase
3.      John Force Racing drivers during a tour of Freightliner Thursday before four-wide. This was also the event where John Force Racing unveiled their new trucks.
4.      Robert Hight after his fourth straight win at four-wide. Photo credit: Gary Nastase
5.      John Force taking some time out of a busy race-weekend schedule to sign autographs for fans.
6.      Robert Hight's crew chief, Jimmy Prock, working on the Auto Club Ford Mustang before the finals at four-wide.
7.      Robert Hight, accompanied by Mike Neff, Courtney Force and John Force, signs many NHRA die casts at Lionel Thursday before four-wide.

For photo and video updates, follow John Force Racing:

Facebook: facebook.com/TeamJFR

Twitter:  twitter.com/JFR_Racing

Tout: tout.com/jfr_racing

Website: johnforceracing.com

YouTube: youtube.com/jfrracing

MARDI GRAS NITRO JAM RETURNS TO BATON ROUGE MAY 4-5

World's largest nitro party returns to Baton Rouge May 4-5

2012 Mardi Gras Nitro Jam promises to be biggest yet

BATON ROUGE, La. (April 26, 2012) – For three years State Capitol Raceway has proven to be the Mecca of nitro entertainment.

With an atmosphere that would rival even the best Mardi Gras soiree and a show that has proven the best in the state, State Capitol Raceway is once again gearing up for the world's largest nitro party when the stars of Nitro Jam return to Baton Rouge for the fourth annual Mardi Gras Nitro Jam May 4-5 at SCR.

And this year that party will be taken to another level.

The Mardi Gras Nitro Jam returns to Baton Rouge May 4-5 at State Capitol Raceway

The 2012 Mardi Gras Nitro Jam will feature the biggest motorsports spectacle in the state when four nitro classes, jets, wheelstanders and the world's only monster truck drag race hit the lanes at State Capitol Raceway all over two thrilling days in May. The event is all set to a Mardi Gras atmosphere with beads, a parade and enough spicy gumbo and other Louisiana specialties to last a lifetime. 

Nitro Jam show time is set for 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday with a double Summit Racing Equipment Pro-Am presented by AMSOIL taking place Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are only $20 if purchased in advance by logging on to www.nitrojam.com.   

"We go to a lot of great venues and great cities, but perhaps none is as unique as the race in Baton Rouge," said Nitro Jam President Aaron Polburn. "With the atmosphere, the food and the fun all combined with an exciting race, it makes for an event unlike any other. People show up at State Capitol Raceway early in the morning and stay late into the night. It isn't as much a race as it is an experience and it is an experience that people tend to never forget."

Four nitro classes and a number of exhibitions will wow Louisiana race fans

The 2012 Mardi Gras Nitro Jam will be run over two days in May with a full nitro show accompanying a huge sportsman race culminating with seven more drivers earning their way into the Summit Racing Equipment Tournament of Champions presented by AMSOIL.

In the professional ranks four nitro classes will fill the lanes at State Capitol Raceway highlighted by another great race in the hit AMSOIL Prostalgia™ Nitro Funny Car class. After last year's race brought the sellout crowd to its feet, the stars return to Baton Rouge to battle for bragging rights and a huge win as defending series champion and State Capitol winner Peter Gallen in his brand new "Poverty Stricken" machine battles Mike Savage in the Louisiana legend "Candies & Hughes" Barracuda, Greg Jacobsmeyer in the "Allstar" Dodge and many more.

The Mardi Gras Nitro Jam will also feature the return of the 100-percent nitro-powered Pro Fuel Dragster class as 2010 Nitro Jam champion Bill Evans in "Black Pearl" battles Robin Samsel in "Predator" and Nitro Jam's only female stars Cherissa Smallwood in the "Nitro and Lace" dragster and Texas native Kristen Dennis in "Ladies First." Both Smallwood and Dennis have visited victory lane in 2012 making for one of the most competitive starts to the class ever.

Tickets for the Mardi Gras Nitro Jam are only $20 if purchased in advance

Rounding out the nitro classes at the San Antonio Nitro Jam are the stars of the out-of-control Fuel Altered class and the stars of Nitro Harley as two of the most extreme classes in drag racing return for four exciting rounds of racing. In the Fuel Altered class defending class champion Ron Maroney in the "Blind Faith" entry will battle rookie sensation Kyle Hough in "Nanook", Tom Padilla in "Nasty Benjamin" and more. In Nitro Harley four of the fastest racers on two wheels will do battle at over 220 miles per hour from the back of a motorcycle.

The exhibition portion of the event will feature the return of the Shockwave jet semi and battle of the monster trucks in addition to the side-by-side 300 mph battle of Jet Dragsters and the Chevy Rebellion wheelstander.

The first-ever monster truck drag race will be sure to keep fans on the edge of their seat as Grave Digger driven by former Monster Jam World Champion Randy Brown battles Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle driven by Joey Parnell in a showdown featuring halftrack burnouts on towering, mammoth tires and wheel-to-wheel racing like fans have never seen before.

Wrapping up the evening will be the incredible show put on by the 30,000 horsepower Shockwave jet semi. With nearly 30-foot flames and enough power to topple a building, the Shockwave jet semi will bring the event to a close with a finale you have to see to believe.

Grave Digger will make its Mardi Gras Nitro Jam drag racing debut racing against TMNT

In sportsman competition all seven IHRA classes will be featured as the stars of Top Sportsman, Top Dragster, Super Stock, Stock, Quick Rod, Super Rod and Hot Rod battle for a spot in the year-end Tournament of Champions. Last year's winners included Les Herod (TS), Clayton Nance (TD, QR), Gilbert Johnson (SS), Myron Piatek (STK), Jeff Southerland (SR) and Ray Todd (HR).

In addition to all the on-track action, new in 2012 will be the revamped FanFest Pit Party beginning at 6:30 p.m. both days. The FanFest Pit Party will feature driver autographs and various activities for fans of all ages prior to the start of the Nitro Jam professional rounds. Racing will get underway both days at 8 p.m.

Don't miss Louisiana's legendary nitro extravaganza May 4-5 at State Capitol Raceway! For more information on the event, visit www.nitrojam.com for complete details.

NHRA NEWS: MASSEY HAPPY TO BE RIDING MOMENTUM AS NHRA FULL THROTTLE DRAG RACING SERIES HEADS TO HOUSTON

BAYTOWN, Texas – Top Fuel dragster pilot Spencer Massey is riding a two-race winning streak heading to his home state of Texas for the 25th annual O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Nationals presented by Super Start Batteries at Royal Purple Raceway, the first of two stops in the Lone Star state during the 2012 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.

“It’s awesome to come off any race as the winner much less two in a row,” Massey said. “Winning four-wide was great and winning Vegas was fun so obviously we have lots of momentum heading into a track that is kind of close to home. We’ll have lots of friends and family out so it’s going to be a great weekend.”

Not only has the Texas native won two events in a row, he’s won three out of the first five races this season and is the national speed record holder thanks to his 332.18 mph performance during the final round at the circuit’s most recent event in Charlotte, N.C., that held off his hard-charging teammates, Antron Brown and Tony Schumacher.

“We’re not trying to set the world on fire, but somehow we managed to just set the national record and win the race,” Massey said. “It’s awesome to set the speed record. We’re the fastest team out there in NHRA Drag Racing thanks to (crew chiefs) Todd (Okuhara), Phil (Shuler) and my guys and it should stick for quite a while. The number one goal for us is to keep going rounds and winning races. We came so close last year and we want to make sure we get it done this year.”

Massey and his Prestone/FRAM team came close to winning the Top Fuel world championship in 2011, taking their fight all the way to the final race of the season. The team lost the championship on the last day of the season and Massey doesn’t want that same fate for his team this year. He has all the faith in his team to earn their first NHRA Full Throttle Top Fuel world championship.

“Its’ still early in the year and we still have the Countdown to the Championship, so I don’t want to use up all of my luck in the beginning of the season but, there are ups and downs throughout the year and right now we’re on the upside,” Massey said. “We’re not going to win every race, even though we’d love to, it’s just not going to happen. I’m hoping we ride this for a while and then hit another stride toward the end of the season during the Countdown.  I know we have everything we need to go one more step this season and win the championship.”

Massey isn’t the only Texas native in Top Fuel ready to race for the Wally trophy at Royal Purple Raceway.  Steve Torrence, who earned his first career No. 1 qualifying position two weeks ago in Charlotte, is looking to ride his own wave of momentum into Houston. Torrence is working to earn his first career NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event win, while seven-time world champ Schumacher is hoping to end his 28-race winless drought and Brown is looking to close the gap on point leader Massey.

Four-time world champ Greg Anderson leads the championship point standings in Pro Stock and is followed closely by his Summit Racing teammate Jason Line. Mike Edwards sits third, Allen Johnson is currently in fourth, Vincent Nobile is fifth and Houston native Erica Enders is sixth; Greg Stanfield, Roger Brogdon, Ronnie Humphrey and Jeg Coughlin round out the top 10.

John Force Racing driver Robert Hight, who is riding a four-race win streak heading into Houston, has dominated Funny Car competition all season long and leads the championship point standings in the 7,000-horsepower class. His JFR teammate Mike Neff trails in second place while Jack Beckman, Johnny Gray and John Force round out the top five. Rookie Courtney Force is in ninth and defending world champion Matt Hagan is currently outside of the top 10 after a DNQ in Charlotte.

* SCHEDULE: Full Throttle Drag Racing Series qualifying sessions are scheduled for 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Friday, April 27, and 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 28. Final eliminations will begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday, April 29.

* TICKETS: Tickets are available for the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Spring Nationals presented by Super Start Batteries. For tickets, please call Royal Purple Raceway at (281) 383-7223 or visit www.RoyalPurpleRaceway.com.

* ON TV: ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 6 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, April 28. ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise three hours of eliminations coverage at 7 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, April 29.

* LUCAS OIL SERIES: The O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Spring Nationals presented by Super Start Batteries also will feature competition in seven categories in the NHRA Lucas Oil Series, where the future stars of the NHRA Full Throttle Series are born. Lucas Oil Series qualifying begins at 8 a.m. on April 27. Lucas Oil Series eliminations begin at 8 a.m. on April 28 and continue through April 29.

* PRO MOD SERIES presented by ProCare Rx: NHRA’s popular Pro Mod touring series will be featured at the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Spring Nationals presented by Super Start Batteries. 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 rounds of qualifying will be held on April 27, with one additional round of qualifying on April 28 followed by the first round of eliminations. Eliminations continue on Sunday, April 29.

* 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.

O’REILLY AUTO PARTS NHRA SPRING NATIONALS FACT SHEET

WHAT: 25th annual O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Spring Nationals presented by Super Start Batteries, the sixth of 23 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. 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: Royal Purple Raceway, Baytown, Texas. From Interstate 10 take the State Hwy. 99 (Grand Parkway) exit, which is exit 799. Take a right on State Hwy. 99 and go to the first exit (2 miles) which is FM 565. Take a right on FM 565 and Royal Purple Raceway will be on your right. For additional information about directions please visit royalpurpleraceway.com. 

WHEN: Friday through Sunday, April 27-29

SCHEDULE:        

FRIDAY, April 27 - LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying at 8 a.m.

NHRA PRO MOD SERIES presented by ProCare Rx qualifying at 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.

FULL THROTTLE SERIES qualifying at 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m.

SATURDAY, April 28 – LUCAS OIL SERIES eliminations begin at 8 a.m.

NHRA PRO MOD SERIES presented by ProCare Rx qualifying at 1:30p.m.; and first round of eliminations at 4 p.m.

FULL THROTTLE SERIES qualifying at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.

SUNDAY, April 29 - Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m.

FULL THROTTLE SERIES eliminations begin at 11 a.m.

TELEVISION:      

Saturday, April 28, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 6 p.m. (ET).

Sunday, April 29, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise three hours of coverage starting at 7 p.m. (ET).

               

SATELLITE (Digital HD feed):      

Friday, April 27, 10-10:30 p.m. (ET), SES 2 / Transponder 22C

Saturday, April 28, 8:30 -9 p.m. (ET), SES 2 / Transponder 22C

Sunday, April 29, 7:30-8 p.m. (ET), SES 2 / Transponder 22C

(4140 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; Jeff Arend, Funny Car; Vincent Nobile, Pro Stock; Andrew Hines, Pro Stock Motorcycle.

MOST VICTORIES:  John Force, 6, FC; Warren Johnson, 5, PS; John Myers, 4, PSM; Angelle Sampey, 4, PSM. 

TRACK RECORDS:

Top Fuel – 3.772 seconds by Larry Dixon, April ’10; 323.81 mph by Tony Schumacher, April ’11.

Funny Car – 4.021 seconds by John Force, April ’10; 316.08 mph by Force, April ’10.

Pro Stock – 6.539 seconds by Mike Edwards, April ’10; 212.43 mph by Edwards, April ’10.

PS Motorcycle – 6.849 seconds by LE Tonglet, April ’11; 197.39 mph by Michael Phillips, April ’11.

NATIONAL RECORDS:

Top Fuel - 3.735 sec. by Del Worsham, Oct. ’11, Reading, Pa.; 332.18 mph by Spencer Massey, April ’12, Charlotte, N.C.  

Funny Car - 3.995 sec. by Matt Hagan, Sept. ’11, Charlotte, N.C.; 318.99 mph by Jack Beckman, Sept. ’11, Charlotte, N.C.

Pro Stock - 6.477 sec. by Jason Line, Oct. ’11, Reading, Pa.; 213.91 mph by Jason Line, April  ’12, Charlotte, N.C.

PS Motorcycle - 6.750 sec. by Eddie Krawiec, March ’12, Gainesville, Fla.; 199.26 mph by Eddie Krawiec, March ’11, Gainesville, Fla.

TICKETS:  For tickets call Royal Purple Raceway at (281) 383-RACE (7223) or visit www.royalpurpleraceway.com.

NHRA FULL THROTTLE DRAG RACING SERIES POINTS STANDINGS

GLENDORA, Calif. -- Point standings (top 10) for NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series categories following the fifth of 23 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series -

Top Fuel:  1.  Spencer Massey, 465; 2.  Tony Schumacher, 443; 3.  Antron Brown, 438; 4.  Morgan Lucas, 384; 5. Shawn Langdon, 294; 6.  Doug Kalitta, 281; 7.  Steve Torrence, 262; 8.  Bob Vandergriff, 228; 9. Clay Millican, 227; 10.  Brandon Bernstein, 207.

Funny Car:  1.  Robert Hight, 520; 2.  Mike Neff, 375; 3.  Jack Beckman, 333; 4.  Johnny Gray, 301; 5.  John Force, 292; 6.  Cruz Pedregon, 278; 7.  Ron Capps, 274; 8.  Bob Tasca III, 262; 9.  Courtney Force, 213; 10.  Bob Bode, 198.

Pro Stock:  1.  Greg Anderson, 475; 2.  Jason Line, 407; 3.  Mike Edwards, 362; 4.  Allen Johnson, 324; 5. Vincent Nobile, 318; 6.  Erica Enders, 289; 7.  Greg Stanfield, 237; 8.  Rodger Brogdon, 223; 9. Ronnie Humphrey, 222; 10.  Jeg Coughlin, 215.

Pro Stock Motorcycle:  1.  Eddie Krawiec, 150; 2.  Andrew Hines, 101; 3.  Hector Arana Jr, 80; 4.  Matt Smith, 74; 5. (tie) Hector Arana, 56; LE Tonglet, 56; 7.  Karen Stoffer, 53; 8.  Scotty Pollacheck, 52; 9.  Steve Johnson, 34; 10.  (tie) Shawn Gann, 32; Joey Gladstone, 32: Jerry Savoie, 32; John Hall, 32.