NEWS NUGGETS
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SPEEDFEST IN TOPEKA TO KICK OFF RACE WEEK: Festivities for the Dollar General NHRA Summernationals at Heartland Park Topeka, May 18–20, kick off May 17 with SPEEDFEST—a fan fest in downtown Topeka, Kansas, that will feature NHRA driver appearances, contests, racing simulators, music, food, prizes and race car displays. The free event is scheduled from 11:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. on 8th Street and Kansas Avenue. Get your tickets for the Dollar General NHRA Summernationals at NHRATix.com.
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HIGHT LOOKING FOR TOPEKA THREE-PEAT: After winning four consecutive races in the 2012 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series and maintaining the series lead, Funny Car driver Robert Hight hopes to continue his success at Heartland Park Topeka at the 24th annual Dollar General NHRA Summernationals, May 18–20. Last season, Hight faced teammate Mike Neff in the final round of the event and captured the 200th win for John Force Racing. Not only is Hight the defending event winner, but he also has won the event the past two seasons. Get your tickets for the Dollar General NHRA Summernationals at NHRATix.com.
COMING ATTRACTIONS
DOLLAR GENERAL NHRA SUMMERNATIONALS, HEARTLAND PARK TOPEKA, May 18–20: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series makes its eighth stop of 23 events in the 2012 season, and drivers in Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock will earn points in the battles for the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series world championships. Defending winners are Spencer Massey (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car) and Shane Gray (Pro Stock). For tickets, call 800-884-NHRA (6472) or log on to NHRATix.com. For media credentials, contact Director of Media Relations Anthony Vestal at avestal@nhra.com.
TOYOTA NHRA SUPERNATIONALS, OLD BRIDGE TOWNSHIP RACEWAY PARK, May 31–June 3: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series makes its ninth stop of 23 events in the 2012 season, and drivers in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle will earn points in the battles for the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series world championships. Defending winners are Spencer Massey (Top Fuel), Mike Neff (Funny Car), Allen Johnson (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle). For tickets, call 732-446-7800 or log on to RacewayPark.com. For media credentials, contact Media Relations Manager Alex Baca at abaca@nhra.com.
FORD NHRA THUNDER VALLEY NATIONALS PRESENTED BY TRI-CITIES AREA FORD DEALERS, BRISTOL DRAGWAY, June 15–17: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series makes its 10th stop of 23 events in the 2012 season, and drivers in Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock will earn points in the battles for the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series world championships. The 2011 winners are Larry Dixon (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car) and Mike Edwards (Pro Stock). For tickets, call 423-989-6900 or log on to BristolDragway.com. For media credentials, contact Director of Media Relations Anthony Vestal at avestal@nhra.com.
HE SAID, SHE SAID
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THIRD TIME’S A CHARM: Since Rahn Tobler was added as crew chief to the NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger Funny Car team in Charlotte, Ron Capps has advanced to three straight finals, coming up short until Atlanta. Capps earned his first win of the season at the NHRA’s most recent event and knows that he owes all of the success to his team. “This is such a great team, and right from the get-go in Charlotte, the first run reminded me how fun it can be to race again. I was just starting to get a little frustrated and wondered if maybe I wasn’t as good as I used to be when I was younger. It just got very difficult. When Don [Schumacher, team owner] made the move and put me with Rahn [Tobler] and John Collins, I’m telling you it was just unbelievable. I’m having so much fun right now. I’m the luckiest guy in the world to be driving this car.”
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
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0–11: SCHUMACHER CAN’T WIN THEM ALL: Tony Schumacher has won 67 races and seven Top Fuel world championships, but his last win was in October 2010. The U.S. Army team has since been to 11 final rounds but has come up short each time, including at the most recent event in Atlanta. Despite the losing streak, Schumacher sits atop the Top Fuel points standings, 25 points ahead of Spencer Massey.
DID YOU KNOW…
FIRST OF MANY: Steve Torrence became the 97th Top Fuel winner when he earned his first victory in the class last weekend at Atlanta Dragway. Prior to his Top Fuel career, Torrence has won five NHRA events and the 2005 Lucas Oil championship in Top Alcohol Dragster.