NHRA News
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K&N CHALLENGE FIELDS SET FOR BONUS CASH AND BRAGGING RIGHTS IN LAS VEGAS: Allen Johnson will lead the K&N Horsepower Challenge field as the No. 1 seed for the second time in his career as the special event takes center stage March 29 during the 15th annual SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. A $50,000 prize is on the table for the winner with a total purse of $76,000 for the eight drivers competing in the K&N Horsepower Challenge. For more on the story, visit www.NHRA.com.
MIRAMONTE RECORDS NAMED TITLE SPONSOR FOR NHRA PRO BIKE BATTLE: MiraMonte Records, the official record label of country music songwriter and entertainer Danny Griego, has signed a multiyear agreement to become the title sponsor for a race-within-a-race bonus program for Pro Stock Motorcycle competitors in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. The MiraMonte Records NHRA Pro Bike Battle will be contested as a special bonus event during the NHRA Sonoma Nationals, July 26, with television coverage provided by ESPN2. For more on the story visit www.NHRA.com.
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KALITTA, HIGHT, A. JOHNSON, S. JOHNSON TAKE HOME WINS AT AMALIE MOTOR OIL NHRA GATORNATIONALS: Top Fuel points leader Doug Kalitta raced to his first victory of the season last Sunday at the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at historic Auto-Plus Raceway at Gainesville. Robert Hight (Funny Car), Allen Johnson (Pro Stock) and Steve Johnson (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also were winners at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event. More on this story can be found on www.NHRA.com.
NHRA ANNOUNCES YOUTH RACING: Pop culture observers who think young people’s interest in cars is somehow waning seem to have difficulty explaining a growing interest in motorsports among America’s youth. In fact, to help meet the demand for teenagers wanting to drive fast, the NHRA has announced a new racing program for 13–16-year-olds that combines racing and car safety. NHRA Youth Racing will give teenage boys and girls the opportunity to race against their peers in full-bodied street vehicles with an adult co-driver as their teammate. For more on the story visit www.NHRA.com.
He Said, She Said
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"The last time I was the points leader, I put a No. 1 on the trailer. Our trailers are 12-ft. high so I put a 12-ft. high No. 1 on the back of my trailer and went to the next race. Just to have fun with it. I actually got to have it on there until I lost the points lead after the third race. I might do that this time."
—Steve Johnson on holding the Pro Stock Motorcycle points lead and breaking an 86-race winless streak with his victory at the Amalie Oil NHRA Gatornationals. Johnson last led the points for the two-wheeled category after his season-opening Gainesville win in 2005.
Inside the Numbers
30: Number of Funny Car wins Robert Hight has in his 10-year Funny Car career. This number ties him for sixth place with legend Kenny Bernstein for all-time wins in the Funny Car class. The 2009 Funny Car world champion trails Cruz Pedregon by four wins to move into a tie for fifth place. The win also gives him at least one win in each of his 10 years in the category. His most wins came in 2011 when he recorded five wins during the 22-race season.
Did You Know
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NHRA ENTERS YEARLONG "FRESH FROM FLORIDA" MARKETING CAMPAIGN: The NHRA announced that it has partnered with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to participate in its “Fresh From Florida” marketing and advertising campaign. The “Fresh From Florida” campaign is focused on building awareness and sales of fresh produce, seafood, and other Florida products. For more on this story visit www.NHRA.com.