Compiled by SEMA Editors
NEWS NUGGETS
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NHRA TEAMS RETURN TO ATLANTA DRAGWAY THIS WEEKEND FOR RAIN-DELAYED SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT NHRA SOUTHERN NATIONALS: NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series teams will return to Atlanta Dragway this weekend for the completion of the rain-delayed Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals. The seventh round of the 2013 season was put on hold one week ago after heavy rains forced NHRA officials to postpone the race until this weekend, May 10–11. The two-day race weekend will resume with two qualifying sessions, Friday, May 10, at 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Eliminations will begin at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, May 11. Steve Torrence (Top Fuel), Ron Capps (Funny Car) and Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) are the defending winners of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event that will be televised on ESPN2HD. More information can be found on NHRA.com. To purchase tickets, call 800-884-6472 or go to NHRATix.com.
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ALLEN JOHNSON RACING RECOGNIZED BY TENNESSEE SPORTS HALL OF FAME AS SPORTS TEAM OF THE YEAR: Allen Johnson’s Greeneville, Tennessee-based Pro Stock team was presented Team of the Year honors by the Tennessee Hall of Fame for representing their state with excellence and a distinct Tennessee flavor in winning a career-best seven national titles and the NHRA World Championship title. Johnson’s team was recognized as honorees during the Hall of Fame’s annual banquet, May 4, at the Renaissance Hotel Nashville. Included in the evening was basketball coach Rick Byrd, Penny Hardaway and country music’s Vince Gill.
“I’m so honored to accept this award from the Tennessee Hall of Fame on behalf of my team because this is a true team award,” said Johnson. “What can I say about the accomplishments of the Johnson & Johnson racing team in 2012 except that they were certainly perfect or as close to perfect as you could get, especially in the Countdown to the Championship. We worked as a team and built a great game plan during the year to achieve a lofty goal. I am proud to be part of the team as they get this very well deserved recognition from our home state.”
UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE SIGNS AS A NATIONAL PARTNER OF NHRA Y.E.S. PROGRAM PRESENTED BY THE U.S. ARMY: The NHRA has announced that Universal Technical Institute (UTI) has signed on again as a national partner of the NHRA Youth and Education Services (YES) program presented by U.S. Army. UTI has been involved in this youth education program since 2006. As a national partner of the NHRA YES program, UTI will participate at seven events in 2013 and have the opportunity to invite schools and youth groups to participate. More information can be found on NHRA.com.
COMING ATTRACTIONS
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NHRA KANSAS NATIONALS, Heartland Park Topeka, May 17–19: The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series comes to Heartland Park Topeka for the 25th annual NHRA Kansas Nationals, May 17–19. The eighth event of the 24-race season will feature competition in three professional drag-racing categories—Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock. All of the biggest stars in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series will be revved up to compete at the site of record-breaking performances. The 2012 winners of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event were David Grubnic (Top Fuel), Jack Beckman (Funny Car) and Allen Johnson (Pro Stock). The race action will be televised on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD. To purchase tickets, call 800-884-NHRA (6472). Tickets are also available online at NHRATix.com. Also visit www.HPT.com for more information.
TOYOTA NHRA SUMMERNATIONALS, Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, May 30–June 2: The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series returns to Old Bridge Township Raceway Park for the 44th annual Toyota NHRA Summernationals, May 30–June 2. The race, which will be televised on ESPN2HD, is the ninth of 24 events in the 2013 season. The 2012 Toyota NHRA Summernationals winners were Steve Torrence (Top Fuel), Johnny Gray (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Englishtown native Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle). To purchase tickets for the Toyota NHRA Summernationals, call Old Bridge Township Raceway Park at 732-446-7800 or visit www.racewaypark.com.
HE SAID, SHE SAID
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DON SCHUMACHER INTERNATIONAL MOTORSPORTS HALL OF FAME INDUCTION: "This is such a great honor. I was overwhelmed just to be nominated. This is really overwhelming," Don Schumacher said following his induction into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame, May 2, at the Talladega Motor Speedway.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
5: A total of 10 racers—five in Funny Car and five in Top Fuel—have earned automatic berths into the NHRA Traxxas NITRO SHOOUTOUT, which will be held at the NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway over Labor Day weekend. Shawn Langdon, Tony Schumacher, Antron Brown, Spencer Massey and Bob Vandergriff have secured positions for the Top Fuel showcase held August 31. Courtney Force, Ron Capps. Johnny Gray, Cruz Pedregon and Matt Hagan are locked into the Funny Car category.
DID YOU KNOW…
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NHRA fans near Maple Grove Raceway will have the opportunity to race Antron Brown and Ron Capps, May 29, during the Slick Willy’s Fastest Driver competition, with proceeds to benefit Olivet Boys & Girls Club. For $75, which includes a Sunday ticket to the Auto-Plus NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway, fans will have the opportunity to qualify for 60 positions open for the race. They will then compete in one of eight 14-lap heat races to try and post the quickest lap time. Drivers will get the chance to race against Ron Capps, Antron Brown and Reading Eagle Company’s Kiss A Pig Candidate Peter Barbey during the heats. The quickest driver in each heat race advances to the NAPA Auto Parts Kiss A Pig Championship. The 14-lap championship race will include Brown, Capps and Barbey, as well as the 10 finalists. The driver who posts the quickest lap during the final will be the champion and earn the title of Slick Willy’s Fastest Driver and a custom racing helmet, trophy and two suite tickets for the Auto-Plus NHRA Nationals. For more information go to www.MapleGroveRaceway.