People Places & Racing News

NHRA: Women Make History in Seattle

NEWS NUGGETS

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WOMEN MAKE HISTORY IN SEATTLE: For the first time in NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series history, two female drivers claimed Wally trophies at the same event. Courtney Force powered her Traxxas Ford Mustang Funny Car to the winner's circle for the first time, and Erica Enders earned her second Pro Stock victory in her GK Racing Chevy Cobalt at the O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Northwest Nationals, presented by Super Start Batteries at Pacific Raceways. Force, the youngest daughter of 15-time Funny Car world champion John Force, and sister of the first woman to win in Funny Car, Ashley Force Hood, earned her first Funny Car victory at the same track where she earned her first victory in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series in 2009. Enders drove straight to the Pro Stock winner’s circle for the second time in the tough conditions at Pacific Raceways. She took out three of the heavy hitters en route to the win: four-time world champ Greg Anderson in the quarterfinals, points leader and winner of the past two events Allen Johnson in the semifinals, and reigning world champ Jason Line in the final round. Seattle native Megan Ellingson won Super Street in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series—the NHRA's Sportsman series—making this the first NHRA event where three women have claimed victories across all categories of NHRA competition.

jesel

POPULAR MOPAR CHALLENGE TO BE STAGED IN INDY: A total purse of $18,000 will be on the line, with $15,000 for the winner, when the 12th annual Mopar Hemi Challenge—a popular one-race shootout—is held during the 58th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, presented by Auto-Plus, August 29–September 3, at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis. Mopar, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary, has renewed its agreement with the NHRA to sponsor the event, which features NHRA’s Super Stock A/Hemi (SS/AH) class. Dodge Darts and Plymouth Barracudas, classic musclecars of the ’60s and ’70s, are most associated with the class. The Mopar Hemi Challenge will be held August 31. For tickets to the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, presented by Auto-Plus, call the NHRA at 800-884-NHRA (6472), or log on to NHRA.com.

COMING ATTRACTIONS

LUCAS OIL NHRA NATIONALS, BRAINERD INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY, August 16–19: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series makes its 16th stop of 23 events in the 2012 season, and drivers in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle will earn points at the penultimate race in the regular season for the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series world championships. The 2011 winners were Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Johnny Gray (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and LE Tonglet (Pro Stock Motorcycle). For tickets, call 866-444-4455 or log on to BrainerdRaceway.com.

MAC TOOLS U.S. NATIONALS, LUCAS OIL RACEWAY AT INDIANAPOLIS, August 29–September 3:
The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series makes its 17th stop of 23 events in the 2012 season, and drivers in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle will earn points at the last race in the regular season for the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series world championships. The 2011 winners were Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Mike Neff (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Hector Arana Jr. (Pro Stock Motorcycle). For tickets, call 800-884-NHRA (6472) or log on to NHRATix.com.

O’RIELLY AUTO PARTS NHRA NATIONALS PRESENTED BY SUPER START BATTERIES, zMAX DRAGWAY, September 14–16:
The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series makes its 18th stop of 23 events in the 2012 season for the first event of the Countdown to the Championship. The top 10 drivers in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle will earn points in the Countdown—the NHRA’s playoffs. The 2011 winners were Del Worsham (Top Fuel), Matt Hagan (Funny Car), Jason Line (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle). For tickets, call 800-455-FANS (3267) or log on to zMAXDragway.com.

HE SAID, SHE SAID

torrence

TORRENCE, LONE MAN IN THE WINNER’S CIRCLE, HAPPY TO BE IN THE MIDDLE OF TWO WINNING LADIES: Seattle Top Fuel winner Steve Torrence was happy to be the lone professional male driver in the winner’s circle when both young women drivers Erica Enders and Courtney Force claimed victories in front of him.

"I saw Erica and Courtney win in front of me and definitely wanted to be standing between them in the winner's circle. I realized I was the oldest person standing in the winner's circle and thought, 'I'm still only 29!'"

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

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17: NUMBER OF DRIVERS WHO HAVE CLINCHED SPOTS IN THE COUNTDOWN TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP:

COUNTDOWN FIELDS TO DATE


Top Fuel


1. Spencer Massey
2. Antron Brown
3. Tony Schumacher
4. Steve Torrence

Funny Car


1. Robert Hight
2. Ron Capps
3. Jack Beckman

Pro Stock


1. Greg Anderson

2. Jason Line

3. Allen Johnson
4. Mike Edwards
5. Vincent Nobile
6. Erica Enders

Pro Stock Motorcycle


1. Eddie Krawiec

2. Andrew Hines
3. Hector Arana Jr.
4. Hector Arana Sr.

DID YOU KNOW…

harley

HARLEY JOINS FORCES WITH NHRA FOR 2013 IN LUCAS OIL SERIES: The NHRA has announced the formation of the NHRA Screamin’ Eagle Championship Motorcycle Series—a 10-race series at NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series divisional events beginning in 2013. The NHRA Screamin’ Eagle Championship Motorcycle Series will offer a total purse of $152,800 and will feature five classes: Top Fuel, Pro Gas, Draggin’ Bagger, Street Pro and Hot Street. The classes will run in addition to the Sportsman E.T. Motorcycle class that competes at various NHRA divisional events. The 10 events scheduled for the inaugural NHRA Screamin’ Eagle Championship Motorcycle Series will be announced later this year when the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series divisional schedule is released. One NHRA Lucas Oil divisional event in each of the seven NHRA divisions will host a series race, and three additional divisional sites will be determined. Details on the program, venues and rules will be announced in the coming months on NHRA.com. For more information, log on to Harley-Davidson.com.