Compiled by SEMA Editors
NHRA News
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NHRA FOUR-WIDE NATIONALS, A SPECTACLE LIKE NO OTHER: Without question, the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, now in its fifth year, presents one of the most powerful sights and sounds on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series circuit. It marks the fifth of 24 events during the 2014 season and takes place April 11–13 at zMAX Dragway, Bruton Smith’s “Bellagio of Drag Strips.” The world’s top racers will once again try to stay out in front, where cars race four-wide at the world’s only four-lane, all-concrete drag strip. Spencer Massey (Top Fuel), Matt Hagan (Funny Car), Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) and Hector Arana Jr. (PSM) were last year’s winners of the event that will once again be televised on ESPN2. For more on this story visit www.NHRA.com.
ASHLEY FORCE HOOD RENEWS FUNNY CAR LICENSE: Showing absolutely no signs of rust after more than three years out of the cockpit, Ashley Force Hood made runs of 4.11, 4.04 and 4.01 at a top speed on the final run of 322 mph in sister Courtney’s Traxxas Mustang during Monday testing at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Force Hood, who had not wheeled a Funny Car since the 2010 Auto Club NHRA Finals, was renewing her license. She rattled off a trouble-free first pass of 4.11, shutting off a bit early to a 292-mph speed.
“The run was really smooth,” she said. “Everything went better than I was expecting actually. It was nice, but it was nerve-racking. I feel like I have added five years to my life."
For more on this story visit www.NHRA.com.
WOMEN RACE TO VICTORIES AT LAS VEGAS: Girl power reigned supreme when Alexis DeJoria (Funny Car) and Erica Enders-Stevens (Pro Stock) raced to victories March 28 at the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel) also was a winner at the fourth event on the 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule. It was the second time that two female drivers have earned victories at the same NHRA event. In 2012, Courtney Force and Enders-Stevens made history as the first pair of females to win the same race at Pacific Raceways in Seattle. Meanwhile, Schumacher ended a 15-race winless drought by claiming his 73rd career victory. For more on this story visit www.NHRA.com.
He Said, She Said
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ENDERS-STEVENS BREAKS OUT THE BROOM IN LAS VEGAS: Erica Enders-Stevens cleaned house in Las Vegas. Not only did she win $100,000 in prize money for winning Saturday's K&N Horsepower Challenge and the race on Sunday, she also moved into the Pro Stock points lead after using a 6.61 elapsed time to beat Jason Line in the final. As part of her prize, Enders-Stevens received a $25,000 NHRA Sweep Bonus from NHRA for winning both Pro Stock events held at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway over the weekend. She beat Dave Connolly in the K&N Horsepower Challenge on Saturday before outrunning Line to capture the Wally on Sunday.
“This is storybook," Enders-Stevens said. "We’ve gone a few years without sponsorship; there were definitely more lows than highs. It would have been easy to quit. This is definitely a highlight. Next to winning a championship, this is probably the coolest thing in the world.”
For more on this story visit www.NHRA.com.
Inside the Numbers
98: Victories at Las Vegas by Alexis DeJoria and Erica Enders-Stevens pushed the total number of wins in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series by females to a total of 98. Those two drivers are part of the 14 females who have contributed to that pro category total of 98 wins in NHRA history. Angelle Sampey has won 41 races, while Top Fuel legend Shirley Muldowney has claimed 18 event wins. With her win Sunday in Las Vegas, Enders-Stevens moves to third on the all-time NHRA female wins list, with seven career victories. DeJoria now has two career victories.