NEWS NUGGETS
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WORSHAM GETS SECOND WIN OF THE SEASON; BECKMAN, ANDERSON GRAB FIRST SEASON WINS IN CHARLOTTE: Del Worsham proved once again that he’s a force to be reckoned with in 2011 as he powered his Al-Anabi Racing dragster past teammate and defending world champion Larry Dixon, Spencer Massey and Shawn Langdon in the final round of Top Fuel at the VisitMyrtleBeach.com NHRA Four-Wide Nationals Sunday in Charlotte to pick up his second win of the season. Worsham’s 3.813-second run was just enough to hold off Dixon’s 3.821 run on the final pass of the day at zMAX Dragway; it not only secured the win, but strengthened his points lead over the class.
“I told (team manager) Alan (Johnson) it would be only a matter of inches…and it was,” said Worsham.
Worsham now holds a 77-point lead over second place Dixon in the point standings. In Funny Car, “Fast Jack” Beckman drove his Aaron’s/Valvoline Dodge Charger past the Ford Mustangs of Bob Tasca and Tim Wilkerson, as well as the Toyota driven by Jim Head to collect his first win of the season and second at zMAX Dragway. Beckman’s win also pushed him from sixth to third in the point standings.
“Del (Worsham) talked about peaking too early,” Beckman told the media after the win. “I’m not worried about that…I just want to peak.”
It was Beckman’s first win in more than a year. His last came at Phoenix in February 2010. In Pro Stock, defending world champion Greg Anderson became the first 2010 world champion to grab a win this season, powering his Summit Racing Pontiac GXP past Greg Stanfield, Dave Connolly and Vincent Nobile to secure his second win at his home track, zMAX Dragway.
“I love this racetrack, and the best part of it is it’s home for me,” said Anderson. “Just a great, great day. I’m a very happy person.”
For more results from the VisitMyrtleBeach.com NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, visit NHRA.com.
NHRA CLASSICS LOGO T-SHIRTS AVAILABLE AT SELECT TARGET, WALMART STORES: NHRA fans in select markets can get a sneak peek at the new NHRA Classics logo T-shirts at Target and Walmart stores across the country. If you are a lucky fan who lives near one of these test stores, here is your chance to be the first in your town to show your classic colors. These are the first officially licensed shirts to feature NHRA Classic logos and include the 1962 Nationals, 1967 Nationals, 1970 Supernationals, 1972 Winternationals and 1979 Winternationals. Buy them for yourself or dress your loved ones, but take some home before they sell out completely. To view a list of the select Target’s and Walmart’s carrying these shirts, visit NHRA.com.
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RELIVE NHRA’S GREATEST MOMENTS, SCHUMACHER’S DOMINANCE VIA JUST-RELEASED DVD’S: NHRA has released a pair of new DVD offerings: NHRA’s 60 Greatest Moments, which showcases the greatest moments on and off the track from NHRA’s first 60 years, and A Decade of Dominance: The Making of a Champion, which chronicles Top Fuel champion Tony Schumacher’s incredible accomplishments of the past 10 years. Both DVDs, available for $19.99, include in-depth interviews, historical moments and plenty of racing excitement. Fans can buy these DVDs or shop for additional selections in NHRA’s extensive DVD library at the NHRA Store.
COMING ATTRACTIONS
O’REILLY AUTO PARTS NHRA SPRING NATIONALS, ROYAL PURPLE RACEWAY, April 29–May 1: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series makes its first of two stops in the Lone Star State as it heads to Houston and Royal Purple Raceway. Defending event winners include Larry Dixon (Top Fuel); Matt Hagan (Funny Car); Jeg Coughlin (Pro Stock); and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle). For tickets, call 281/383-RACE (7223) or go online at ExtremeTix.com. For media credentials, please contact Director of Media Relations Anthony Vestal at avestal@nhra.com.
SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT NHRA SOUTHERN NATIONALS, ATLANTA DRAGWAY, May 13–15: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series returns to the South and the Atlanta area for its sixth stop of 2011. Defending event winners include Larry Dixon (Top Fuel); Robert Hight (Funny Car); Jeg Coughlin (Pro Stock); and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle). For tickets, call 800/884-NHRA (6472) or go online at NHRATIX.com. For media credentials, please Media Relations Manager Zak Elcock at zelcock@nhra.com.
NHRA SUMMER NATIONALS, HEARTLAND PARK TOPEKA, May 20–22: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series makes its seventh stop of the season during the start of the summer months. Defending event winners include Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel); Robert Hight (Funny Car); and Mike Edwards (Pro Stock). For tickets, call 800/43-RACES or go online at hpt.com. For media credentials, please Director of Social Media Michael Padian at mpadian@nhra.com.
HE SAID, SHE SAID
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SEEN BETTER DAYS: 2010 Funny Car runner-up driver Matt Hagan after a first-round loss Sunday at the VisitMyrtleBeach.com NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in Charlotte, North Carolina: “Times like this make you really appreciate the good times. You just have to get back out there and move onto the next one.”
60 YEARS IN NHRA HISTORY
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2008, FORCE HOOD FIRST WOMAN TO WIN IN FUNNY CAR: On April 27, 2008, Ashley Force Hood became the first female driver in NHRA history to win in Funny Car, when she drove her Castrol GTX Ford Mustang past father and NHRA legend John Force in the final round of the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals in Atlanta.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
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3: No driver in Top Fuel history has ever won more than three races at Royal Purple Raceway in Baytown, Texas. Defending world champion Larry Dixon is the only active driver to have three wins at the Houston-area track. Dixon will look to become the first driver in the track history to grab four Top Fuel victories as well as his first win of the season at the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Spring Nationals, April 29–May 1.
DID YOU KNOW…
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…that legendary Top Fuel pilot Shirley Muldowney, the first lady of drag racing, will be the NHRA Legend honored at the 24th annual O’Reilly Auto parts NHRA Spring Nationals presented by Pennzoil at Royal Purple Raceway in Houston, Texas. Muldowney, a three-time world champion, will be on hand all weekend for meet-and-greets, autograph sessions and a special Track Walk down Royal Purple Raceway Sunday morning before opening ceremonies. To get your tickets to this event, April 29–May 1, call 281/383-RACE (7223) or go online at ExtremeTix.com.
For more information, contact NHRA Media Relations at 626/914-4761 or visit the NHRA Media Center online.