Scooter Brothers (right) and Kevin Floody (pictured below, far left) will provide tips on how to take advantage of the dropping value of the dollar against most major currencies during the SEMA Show seminar, "Global Growth: Successful Aftermarket Companies Show the Way to International Success."

SEMA Chairman–Elect Scooter Brothers, who serves as the COO of Competition Performance Group, and K&N Peformance/AEM Air Intake Systems’ International Business Manager Kevin Floody will provide tips to SEMA Showgoers on how to take advantage of the dropping value of the dollar against most major currencies, including the Japanese yen (15-year low) and the euro, the Australian and Canadian dollars and the Brazilian real at the second-annual "Global Growth: Successful Aftermarket Companies Show the Way to International Success" seminar.

Moderator Wade Kawasaki, CEO of Exports International, will lead an interactive Q&A session based on questions received both beforehand and at the session.

Among the topics expected to be discussed include: How to vet a potential international customer? How do I identify the markets with the best potential for my products? What do you think about exclusive arrangements?

Have a question to add to the agenda? E-mail your questions for the session to Linda Spencer lindas@sema.org.

No reservations are required.

	Scooter Brothers (right) and Kevin Floody (pictured below, far left) will provide tips on how to take advantage of the dropping value of the dollar against most major currencies during the SEMA Show seminar, "Global Growth: Successful Aftermarket Companies Show the Way to International Success."

SEMA Chairman–Elect Scooter Brothers, who serves as the COO of Competition Performance Group, and K&N Peformance/AEM Air Intake Systems’ International Business Manager Kevin Floody will provide tips to SEMA Showgoers on how to take advantage of the dropping value of the dollar against most major currencies, including the Japanese yen (15-year low) and the euro, the Australian and Canadian dollars and the Brazilian real at the second-annual "Global Growth: Successful Aftermarket Companies Show the Way to International Success" seminar.

Moderator Wade Kawasaki, CEO of Exports International, will lead an interactive Q&A session based on questions received both beforehand and at the session.

Among the topics expected to be discussed include: How to vet a potential international customer? How do I identify the markets with the best potential for my products? What do you think about exclusive arrangements?

Have a question to add to the agenda? E-mail your questions for the session to Linda Spencer lindas@sema.org.

No reservations are required.

	Scooter Brothers (right) and Kevin Floody (pictured below, far left) will provide tips on how to take advantage of the dropping value of the dollar against most major currencies during the SEMA Show seminar, "Global Growth: Successful Aftermarket Companies Show the Way to International Success."

SEMA Chairman–Elect Scooter Brothers, who serves as the COO of Competition Performance Group, and K&N Peformance/AEM Air Intake Systems’ International Business Manager Kevin Floody will provide tips to SEMA Showgoers on how to take advantage of the dropping value of the dollar against most major currencies, including the Japanese yen (15-year low) and the euro, the Australian and Canadian dollars and the Brazilian real at the second-annual "Global Growth: Successful Aftermarket Companies Show the Way to International Success" seminar.

Moderator Wade Kawasaki, CEO of Exports International, will lead an interactive Q&A session based on questions received both beforehand and at the session.

Among the topics expected to be discussed include: How to vet a potential international customer? How do I identify the markets with the best potential for my products? What do you think about exclusive arrangements?

Have a question to add to the agenda? E-mail your questions for the session to Linda Spencer lindas@sema.org.

No reservations are required.

Interested in expanding your exports? The U.S. Commercial Service invites you to meet one-on-one with U.S. Embassy automotive specialists from approximately 20 countries at the 2010 SEMA Show.

In this free-of-charge service, participants schedule appointments with automotive specialists who can provide market intelligence, regulatory guidance and current business opportunities for their markets. This is an excellent way to identify and evaluate key markets for your international business development.

The Department of Commerce promises that this is not a sales call, but rather an opportunity to learn about the potential for your product in a number of overseas markets.

Register online here.

The meetings will take place November 3–4, from 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. For your convenience, the commercial specialists will come to your booth for this 20-minute meeting.

Questions? Contact Shannon Christenbury at Shannon.Christenbury@trade.gov or call 704/333-4886, ext. 225

Interested in expanding your exports? The U.S. Commercial Service invites you to meet one-on-one with U.S. Embassy automotive specialists from approximately 20 countries at the 2010 SEMA Show.

In this free-of-charge service, participants schedule appointments with automotive specialists who can provide market intelligence, regulatory guidance and current business opportunities for their markets. This is an excellent way to identify and evaluate key markets for your international business development.

The Department of Commerce promises that this is not a sales call, but rather an opportunity to learn about the potential for your product in a number of overseas markets.

Register online here.

The meetings will take place November 3–4, from 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. For your convenience, the commercial specialists will come to your booth for this 20-minute meeting.

Questions? Contact Shannon Christenbury at Shannon.Christenbury@trade.gov or call 704/333-4886, ext. 225

UPS can manage all aspects of a SEMA member’s global supply chain—from transportation to tracking to returns.

Logistics is about more than the movement of goods from one place to another; it can provide a competitive advantage in a world of change. In today’s interconnected world, logistics is a creative force; it allows you to serve customers not only better, but in new ways; reach markets faster and export to new ones; streamline existing operations and create entirely new capabilities.

“Logistics is the new competitive frontier for business, and this message is especially relevant for SEMA members,” noted Kristin DeBates, UPS marketing manager serving customers in the automotive industry. “These companies often have complex logistics networks that span the nation or even the globe. There’s a real advantage in working with one logistics partner who can ensure that your supply chain is smart, efficient and serves your customers in a powerful way.”

UPS can manage all aspects of a SEMA member’s global supply chain—from transportation to tracking to returns. This holistic view of the entire logistics model enables UPS to help SEMA members make their supply chains more efficient and implement technology that advances their business, ultimately resulting in time and cost savings. Consider the following:

• One Transportation Partner; Many Shipping Options. UPS can help companies streamline their shipping options to ensure the most effective and efficient transportation decisions. For instance, because UPS operates significant air and ocean freight services, it can create a customized hybrid shipping option for a single movement. This model involves using an ocean freight vessel to transport goods to a city that has a sophisticated port authority and an airport. There, products are transferred from vessel to aircraft to reach their final destinations. The combination of services provides faster transit times than an ocean service, but it also consumes substantially less fuel and costs less than a pure air service.

• Use Technology as an Advantage. SEMA members often ship high-value automotive parts and components, or even finished vehicles, across the globe. Powerful, free software, such as UPS WorldShip and QuantumView, enables SEMA members to prepare and track shipments with ease and keep customers informed with shipment status alerts. What’s more, solutions that simplify and accelerate customs clearance make it easier to do business around the globe.

• Refine the Returns Process. SEMA members know that the supply chain doesn’t end when a product reaches their customers. UPS can help businesses ensure their supply chains are efficient in both forward and reverse. For instance, companies can reduce touch points on returns by automatically routing products in need of repair to a service center and undamaged items directly back into inventory. Fewer touch points means faster transit times, fewer chances for errors and more rapid turnaround and credit processing.

“In addition to ensuring that transportation, tracking and returns synergize, there are so many other efficiencies that can make SEMA members more competitive in today’s global business environment,” DeBates added. “For instance, many people don’t know that UPS has more than 800 customs brokers who know how to move goods across borders quickly. And, we offer a paperless international shipping option that transforms lengthy customs documents into simple electronic data, eliminating the No. 1 reason why shipments are delayed at customs: incomplete forms.”

To learn more about the benefits of taking a holistic view of your logistics model and working with one, global partner, visit the UPS booth (#11937) at the 2010 SEMA Show in the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. You can also join one of the UPS-sponsored seminars at the SEMA Show on Monday, November 1: "Growth Through Global Trade" (1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.) or "UPS Technology as a Competitive Advantage" (3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.).

Contact Kristin DeBates for more information about how UPS can put logistics to work for your business.

UPS can manage all aspects of a SEMA member’s global supply chain—from transportation to tracking to returns.

Logistics is about more than the movement of goods from one place to another; it can provide a competitive advantage in a world of change. In today’s interconnected world, logistics is a creative force; it allows you to serve customers not only better, but in new ways; reach markets faster and export to new ones; streamline existing operations and create entirely new capabilities.

“Logistics is the new competitive frontier for business, and this message is especially relevant for SEMA members,” noted Kristin DeBates, UPS marketing manager serving customers in the automotive industry. “These companies often have complex logistics networks that span the nation or even the globe. There’s a real advantage in working with one logistics partner who can ensure that your supply chain is smart, efficient and serves your customers in a powerful way.”

UPS can manage all aspects of a SEMA member’s global supply chain—from transportation to tracking to returns. This holistic view of the entire logistics model enables UPS to help SEMA members make their supply chains more efficient and implement technology that advances their business, ultimately resulting in time and cost savings. Consider the following:

• One Transportation Partner; Many Shipping Options. UPS can help companies streamline their shipping options to ensure the most effective and efficient transportation decisions. For instance, because UPS operates significant air and ocean freight services, it can create a customized hybrid shipping option for a single movement. This model involves using an ocean freight vessel to transport goods to a city that has a sophisticated port authority and an airport. There, products are transferred from vessel to aircraft to reach their final destinations. The combination of services provides faster transit times than an ocean service, but it also consumes substantially less fuel and costs less than a pure air service.

• Use Technology as an Advantage. SEMA members often ship high-value automotive parts and components, or even finished vehicles, across the globe. Powerful, free software, such as UPS WorldShip and QuantumView, enables SEMA members to prepare and track shipments with ease and keep customers informed with shipment status alerts. What’s more, solutions that simplify and accelerate customs clearance make it easier to do business around the globe.

• Refine the Returns Process. SEMA members know that the supply chain doesn’t end when a product reaches their customers. UPS can help businesses ensure their supply chains are efficient in both forward and reverse. For instance, companies can reduce touch points on returns by automatically routing products in need of repair to a service center and undamaged items directly back into inventory. Fewer touch points means faster transit times, fewer chances for errors and more rapid turnaround and credit processing.

“In addition to ensuring that transportation, tracking and returns synergize, there are so many other efficiencies that can make SEMA members more competitive in today’s global business environment,” DeBates added. “For instance, many people don’t know that UPS has more than 800 customs brokers who know how to move goods across borders quickly. And, we offer a paperless international shipping option that transforms lengthy customs documents into simple electronic data, eliminating the No. 1 reason why shipments are delayed at customs: incomplete forms.”

To learn more about the benefits of taking a holistic view of your logistics model and working with one, global partner, visit the UPS booth (#11937) at the 2010 SEMA Show in the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. You can also join one of the UPS-sponsored seminars at the SEMA Show on Monday, November 1: "Growth Through Global Trade" (1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.) or "UPS Technology as a Competitive Advantage" (3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.).

Contact Kristin DeBates for more information about how UPS can put logistics to work for your business.

NEWS NUGGETS

DIXON STRENGTHENS POINTS LEAD WITH 12TH WIN OF SEASON; PEDREGON NABS SECOND WIN OF SEASON IN READING: Top Fuel points leader Larry Dixon picked up his 12th win in 12 final-round appearances Sunday in high fashion, winning a pedal-fest final round against second-place in the point standings Cory McClenathan at the Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pennsylvania. After smoking the tires early in the run, Dixon was able to get back on the throttle of his Al-Anabi Racing dragster and drive past McClenathan to secure only his second win at Maple Grove and strengthen his points lead to 89 over the field.

“It was a huge [day in the points],” said Dixon. “I mean, you’re racing the No. 2 guy, and you could tighten it right up or spread it out. With two [races in the season] to go and more than a four-round lead with eight rounds left, I’d rather be 90 up than 90 down.”

McClenathan’s final-round appearance helped to strengthen his second-place lead over third-place and defending world champion Tony Schumacher by 65 points, but the loss to Dixon pushed him even further away from the points lead with only two races left in the 2010 season.

In Funny Car, two-time world champion Cruz Pedregon once again had the car to beat on

eliminations day, as he was able to power his Snap-on Tools Toyota Camry past runner-up Matt Hagan to earn his second win of the 2010 season and second at Maple Grove (his last coming in 1992). The win came as a surprise to the seasoned driver, who struggled during qualifying.

“Friday, if you had told me we would be here, I wouldn’t have believed it because we just didn’t have it together,” said Pedregon. “We were doing things we were doing earlier in the year, and I thought, ‘Man, we’re really going to look like slouches,’ but we got it together Saturday. The car made two great runs Saturday, and we were just picking them off one at a time today.”

Though Hagan was unable to collect his fourth win of the season, he did take the points lead away from 14-time world champion John Force after setting a national record for time at 4.011-seconds. Hagan now leads the Funny Car point standings by 64 points over the field with just two races left in the schedule. For more results from the recently completed Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals, visit NHRA.com.

 

CONNOLLY GRABS WIN IN JUST SECOND RACE BACK; HINES HOLDS OFF TONGLET FOR WIN

IN READING: In just his second race back after sitting out the better part of the past two seasons, Pro Stock driver Dave Connolly was able to drive his IDG Makita Power Tools Racing Chevy Cobalt past three-time world champion Greg Anderson in the final round Sunday at the Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway. It was Connolly’s first win and first final round since 2008, and he did it on a holeshot win over the favored Anderson.

“It was just an incredible weekend all together,” said Connolly. “Just to be out here is a lot of fun. I’ve definitely learned over the last couple of years that you don’t take anything for granted and just enjoy the weekends you do have out here because there’s a lot who are less fortunate than what I have.”

Though Anderson was unable to grab his fifth win of the season, he did surpass defending world champion Mike Edwards to take the points lead in the category. With only two races remaining in the 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Season, it’s the first time anyone other than Edwards has led the point standings in Pro Stock. In Pro Stock Motorcycle, a repeat final round of the past three races occurred, with both first- and second-place points riders, Andrew Hines and LE Tonglet, meeting in the final round. But for the first time in the four consecutive meetings, Hines was finally able to drive his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson past Tonglet to secure his fifth win of the season and strengthen his points lead.

“When I saw that win light, that was one of the prettiest win lights I’ve seen in a long time,” said Hines. “I’m trying to rely on some of the other competitors out there to take LE out early, but we keep matching up in the final round. It’s been tough with that little blue bike beating us the last few races. We were wondering what it was going to take to get it done.” With the win, Hines strengthened his points lead over Tonglet by 72 points. For more results from the recently completed Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals, visit NHRA.com.

ESPN HD TO AIR ELIMINATIONS COVERAGE OF FINAL TWO COUNTDOWN EVENTS: Beginning at last weekend’s Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals and continuing at the NHRA Las Vegas Nationals and the Auto Club NHRA Finals, high-definition television coverage of final eliminations for the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship will move from ESPN2HD to ESPNHD. Eliminations for the NHRA Las Vegas Nationals will air from 9:00 p.m.–11:30 p.m. (EDT) Sunday, October 31 and the Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals will air from 9:00 p.m.–11:30 p.m. (EST) Sunday, November 14, both on ESPNHD. Qualifying for both events, as well as NHRA Race Day presented by Lucas Oil, will air on ESPN2HD. For more information, visit NHRA.com.

COMING ATTRACTIONS

NHRA LAS VEGAS NATIONALS, THE STRIP AT LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY, October 28–31: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series heads back to Sin City for its fifth stop in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs. Defending event winners include Spencer Massey (Top Fuel); Robert Hight (Funny Car); Larry Morgan (Pro Stock); and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle). For tickets, call 800/644-4444 or online at lvms.com. For media credentials, please contact Director of Media Relations Anthony Vestal at avestal@nhra.com.

AUTOMOBILE CLUB OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NHRA FINALS, AUTO CLUB RACEWAY AT POMONA, November 11–14: The 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series comes to an end where it all began: in sunny Southern California for the final event of the season and the crowning of the NHRA Full Throttle world champions. Defending event winners include Antron Brown (Top Fuel); Mike Neff (Funny Car); Greg Anderson (Pro Stock); and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle). For tickets, call 800/844-NHRA or online at NHRATIX.com. For media credentials, please contact Director of Public Relations Michael Padian at mpadian@nhra.com.

 

KRAGEN O’REILLY AUTO PARTS NHRA WINTERNATIONALS, AUTO CLUB RACEWAY AT POMONA, February 24–27, 2011: The 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series kicks off at historical Auto Club Raceway at Pomona at the 51st running of this event. Defending event winners include Larry Dixon (Top Fuel); John Force (Funny Car); and Mike Edwards (Pro Stock). For tickets, call 800/844-NHRA or online at NHRATIX.com. For media credentials, please contact Director of Public Relations Michael Padian at mpadian@nhra.com.

HE SAID, SHE SAID

SO CLOSE, YET SO FAR AWAY: Top Fuel second-place driver Cory McClenathan on losing a pedal-match final round to points leader Larry Dixon at the recently completed Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway: “It just makes it tough when you get down this close [in the points standings] and he’s beatable. He was very beatable there, but he just feathered back into it and just motored on down through there. As I had the gas all the way down, he just blew by me. We

had nothing.”

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

In 2008, Cruz Pedregon won the NHRA Las Vegas Nationals en route to his second world championship. While Tim Wilkerson entered the event with the points lead, a first-round loss to Mike Neff all but ended his bid for his first world championship.

7: Since the inaugural year of the Countdown to the Championship (2007), only five drivers have entered the NHRA Las Vegas Nationals, the penultimate race of the Full Throttle Drag Racing season, with the points lead and went on to win the world championship. That means five drivers in the past three seasons have lost the points lead with only two races remaining in the season.

DID YOU KNOW…

…that Funny Car driver Matt Hagan set the national record for time at the recently completed Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway? With the national record (20 bonus points) and his runner-up finish, Hagan was able to move around John Force to secure the top spot in the Funny Car point standings with only two races remaining in the 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing season. For more information, contact NHRA Media Relations at 626/914-4761 or visit the NHRA Media Center online.

NEWS NUGGETS

DIXON STRENGTHENS POINTS LEAD WITH 12TH WIN OF SEASON; PEDREGON NABS SECOND WIN OF SEASON IN READING: Top Fuel points leader Larry Dixon picked up his 12th win in 12 final-round appearances Sunday in high fashion, winning a pedal-fest final round against second-place in the point standings Cory McClenathan at the Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pennsylvania. After smoking the tires early in the run, Dixon was able to get back on the throttle of his Al-Anabi Racing dragster and drive past McClenathan to secure only his second win at Maple Grove and strengthen his points lead to 89 over the field.

“It was a huge [day in the points],” said Dixon. “I mean, you’re racing the No. 2 guy, and you could tighten it right up or spread it out. With two [races in the season] to go and more than a four-round lead with eight rounds left, I’d rather be 90 up than 90 down.”

McClenathan’s final-round appearance helped to strengthen his second-place lead over third-place and defending world champion Tony Schumacher by 65 points, but the loss to Dixon pushed him even further away from the points lead with only two races left in the 2010 season.

In Funny Car, two-time world champion Cruz Pedregon once again had the car to beat on

eliminations day, as he was able to power his Snap-on Tools Toyota Camry past runner-up Matt Hagan to earn his second win of the 2010 season and second at Maple Grove (his last coming in 1992). The win came as a surprise to the seasoned driver, who struggled during qualifying.

“Friday, if you had told me we would be here, I wouldn’t have believed it because we just didn’t have it together,” said Pedregon. “We were doing things we were doing earlier in the year, and I thought, ‘Man, we’re really going to look like slouches,’ but we got it together Saturday. The car made two great runs Saturday, and we were just picking them off one at a time today.”

Though Hagan was unable to collect his fourth win of the season, he did take the points lead away from 14-time world champion John Force after setting a national record for time at 4.011-seconds. Hagan now leads the Funny Car point standings by 64 points over the field with just two races left in the schedule. For more results from the recently completed Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals, visit NHRA.com.

 

CONNOLLY GRABS WIN IN JUST SECOND RACE BACK; HINES HOLDS OFF TONGLET FOR WIN

IN READING: In just his second race back after sitting out the better part of the past two seasons, Pro Stock driver Dave Connolly was able to drive his IDG Makita Power Tools Racing Chevy Cobalt past three-time world champion Greg Anderson in the final round Sunday at the Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway. It was Connolly’s first win and first final round since 2008, and he did it on a holeshot win over the favored Anderson.

“It was just an incredible weekend all together,” said Connolly. “Just to be out here is a lot of fun. I’ve definitely learned over the last couple of years that you don’t take anything for granted and just enjoy the weekends you do have out here because there’s a lot who are less fortunate than what I have.”

Though Anderson was unable to grab his fifth win of the season, he did surpass defending world champion Mike Edwards to take the points lead in the category. With only two races remaining in the 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Season, it’s the first time anyone other than Edwards has led the point standings in Pro Stock. In Pro Stock Motorcycle, a repeat final round of the past three races occurred, with both first- and second-place points riders, Andrew Hines and LE Tonglet, meeting in the final round. But for the first time in the four consecutive meetings, Hines was finally able to drive his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson past Tonglet to secure his fifth win of the season and strengthen his points lead.

“When I saw that win light, that was one of the prettiest win lights I’ve seen in a long time,” said Hines. “I’m trying to rely on some of the other competitors out there to take LE out early, but we keep matching up in the final round. It’s been tough with that little blue bike beating us the last few races. We were wondering what it was going to take to get it done.” With the win, Hines strengthened his points lead over Tonglet by 72 points. For more results from the recently completed Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals, visit NHRA.com.

ESPN HD TO AIR ELIMINATIONS COVERAGE OF FINAL TWO COUNTDOWN EVENTS: Beginning at last weekend’s Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals and continuing at the NHRA Las Vegas Nationals and the Auto Club NHRA Finals, high-definition television coverage of final eliminations for the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship will move from ESPN2HD to ESPNHD. Eliminations for the NHRA Las Vegas Nationals will air from 9:00 p.m.–11:30 p.m. (EDT) Sunday, October 31 and the Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals will air from 9:00 p.m.–11:30 p.m. (EST) Sunday, November 14, both on ESPNHD. Qualifying for both events, as well as NHRA Race Day presented by Lucas Oil, will air on ESPN2HD. For more information, visit NHRA.com.

COMING ATTRACTIONS

NHRA LAS VEGAS NATIONALS, THE STRIP AT LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY, October 28–31: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series heads back to Sin City for its fifth stop in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs. Defending event winners include Spencer Massey (Top Fuel); Robert Hight (Funny Car); Larry Morgan (Pro Stock); and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle). For tickets, call 800/644-4444 or online at lvms.com. For media credentials, please contact Director of Media Relations Anthony Vestal at avestal@nhra.com.

AUTOMOBILE CLUB OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NHRA FINALS, AUTO CLUB RACEWAY AT POMONA, November 11–14: The 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series comes to an end where it all began: in sunny Southern California for the final event of the season and the crowning of the NHRA Full Throttle world champions. Defending event winners include Antron Brown (Top Fuel); Mike Neff (Funny Car); Greg Anderson (Pro Stock); and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle). For tickets, call 800/844-NHRA or online at NHRATIX.com. For media credentials, please contact Director of Public Relations Michael Padian at mpadian@nhra.com.

 

KRAGEN O’REILLY AUTO PARTS NHRA WINTERNATIONALS, AUTO CLUB RACEWAY AT POMONA, February 24–27, 2011: The 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series kicks off at historical Auto Club Raceway at Pomona at the 51st running of this event. Defending event winners include Larry Dixon (Top Fuel); John Force (Funny Car); and Mike Edwards (Pro Stock). For tickets, call 800/844-NHRA or online at NHRATIX.com. For media credentials, please contact Director of Public Relations Michael Padian at mpadian@nhra.com.

HE SAID, SHE SAID

SO CLOSE, YET SO FAR AWAY: Top Fuel second-place driver Cory McClenathan on losing a pedal-match final round to points leader Larry Dixon at the recently completed Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway: “It just makes it tough when you get down this close [in the points standings] and he’s beatable. He was very beatable there, but he just feathered back into it and just motored on down through there. As I had the gas all the way down, he just blew by me. We

had nothing.”

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

In 2008, Cruz Pedregon won the NHRA Las Vegas Nationals en route to his second world championship. While Tim Wilkerson entered the event with the points lead, a first-round loss to Mike Neff all but ended his bid for his first world championship.

7: Since the inaugural year of the Countdown to the Championship (2007), only five drivers have entered the NHRA Las Vegas Nationals, the penultimate race of the Full Throttle Drag Racing season, with the points lead and went on to win the world championship. That means five drivers in the past three seasons have lost the points lead with only two races remaining in the season.

DID YOU KNOW…

…that Funny Car driver Matt Hagan set the national record for time at the recently completed Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway? With the national record (20 bonus points) and his runner-up finish, Hagan was able to move around John Force to secure the top spot in the Funny Car point standings with only two races remaining in the 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing season. For more information, contact NHRA Media Relations at 626/914-4761 or visit the NHRA Media Center online.

NEWS NUGGETS

DIXON STRENGTHENS POINTS LEAD WITH 12TH WIN OF SEASON; PEDREGON NABS SECOND WIN OF SEASON IN READING: Top Fuel points leader Larry Dixon picked up his 12th win in 12 final-round appearances Sunday in high fashion, winning a pedal-fest final round against second-place in the point standings Cory McClenathan at the Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pennsylvania. After smoking the tires early in the run, Dixon was able to get back on the throttle of his Al-Anabi Racing dragster and drive past McClenathan to secure only his second win at Maple Grove and strengthen his points lead to 89 over the field.

“It was a huge [day in the points],” said Dixon. “I mean, you’re racing the No. 2 guy, and you could tighten it right up or spread it out. With two [races in the season] to go and more than a four-round lead with eight rounds left, I’d rather be 90 up than 90 down.”

McClenathan’s final-round appearance helped to strengthen his second-place lead over third-place and defending world champion Tony Schumacher by 65 points, but the loss to Dixon pushed him even further away from the points lead with only two races left in the 2010 season.

In Funny Car, two-time world champion Cruz Pedregon once again had the car to beat on

eliminations day, as he was able to power his Snap-on Tools Toyota Camry past runner-up Matt Hagan to earn his second win of the 2010 season and second at Maple Grove (his last coming in 1992). The win came as a surprise to the seasoned driver, who struggled during qualifying.

“Friday, if you had told me we would be here, I wouldn’t have believed it because we just didn’t have it together,” said Pedregon. “We were doing things we were doing earlier in the year, and I thought, ‘Man, we’re really going to look like slouches,’ but we got it together Saturday. The car made two great runs Saturday, and we were just picking them off one at a time today.”

Though Hagan was unable to collect his fourth win of the season, he did take the points lead away from 14-time world champion John Force after setting a national record for time at 4.011-seconds. Hagan now leads the Funny Car point standings by 64 points over the field with just two races left in the schedule. For more results from the recently completed Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals, visit NHRA.com.

 

CONNOLLY GRABS WIN IN JUST SECOND RACE BACK; HINES HOLDS OFF TONGLET FOR WIN

IN READING: In just his second race back after sitting out the better part of the past two seasons, Pro Stock driver Dave Connolly was able to drive his IDG Makita Power Tools Racing Chevy Cobalt past three-time world champion Greg Anderson in the final round Sunday at the Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway. It was Connolly’s first win and first final round since 2008, and he did it on a holeshot win over the favored Anderson.

“It was just an incredible weekend all together,” said Connolly. “Just to be out here is a lot of fun. I’ve definitely learned over the last couple of years that you don’t take anything for granted and just enjoy the weekends you do have out here because there’s a lot who are less fortunate than what I have.”

Though Anderson was unable to grab his fifth win of the season, he did surpass defending world champion Mike Edwards to take the points lead in the category. With only two races remaining in the 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Season, it’s the first time anyone other than Edwards has led the point standings in Pro Stock. In Pro Stock Motorcycle, a repeat final round of the past three races occurred, with both first- and second-place points riders, Andrew Hines and LE Tonglet, meeting in the final round. But for the first time in the four consecutive meetings, Hines was finally able to drive his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson past Tonglet to secure his fifth win of the season and strengthen his points lead.

“When I saw that win light, that was one of the prettiest win lights I’ve seen in a long time,” said Hines. “I’m trying to rely on some of the other competitors out there to take LE out early, but we keep matching up in the final round. It’s been tough with that little blue bike beating us the last few races. We were wondering what it was going to take to get it done.” With the win, Hines strengthened his points lead over Tonglet by 72 points. For more results from the recently completed Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals, visit NHRA.com.

ESPN HD TO AIR ELIMINATIONS COVERAGE OF FINAL TWO COUNTDOWN EVENTS: Beginning at last weekend’s Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals and continuing at the NHRA Las Vegas Nationals and the Auto Club NHRA Finals, high-definition television coverage of final eliminations for the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship will move from ESPN2HD to ESPNHD. Eliminations for the NHRA Las Vegas Nationals will air from 9:00 p.m.–11:30 p.m. (EDT) Sunday, October 31 and the Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals will air from 9:00 p.m.–11:30 p.m. (EST) Sunday, November 14, both on ESPNHD. Qualifying for both events, as well as NHRA Race Day presented by Lucas Oil, will air on ESPN2HD. For more information, visit NHRA.com.

COMING ATTRACTIONS

NHRA LAS VEGAS NATIONALS, THE STRIP AT LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY, October 28–31: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series heads back to Sin City for its fifth stop in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs. Defending event winners include Spencer Massey (Top Fuel); Robert Hight (Funny Car); Larry Morgan (Pro Stock); and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle). For tickets, call 800/644-4444 or online at lvms.com. For media credentials, please contact Director of Media Relations Anthony Vestal at avestal@nhra.com.

AUTOMOBILE CLUB OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NHRA FINALS, AUTO CLUB RACEWAY AT POMONA, November 11–14: The 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series comes to an end where it all began: in sunny Southern California for the final event of the season and the crowning of the NHRA Full Throttle world champions. Defending event winners include Antron Brown (Top Fuel); Mike Neff (Funny Car); Greg Anderson (Pro Stock); and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle). For tickets, call 800/844-NHRA or online at NHRATIX.com. For media credentials, please contact Director of Public Relations Michael Padian at mpadian@nhra.com.

 

KRAGEN O’REILLY AUTO PARTS NHRA WINTERNATIONALS, AUTO CLUB RACEWAY AT POMONA, February 24–27, 2011: The 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series kicks off at historical Auto Club Raceway at Pomona at the 51st running of this event. Defending event winners include Larry Dixon (Top Fuel); John Force (Funny Car); and Mike Edwards (Pro Stock). For tickets, call 800/844-NHRA or online at NHRATIX.com. For media credentials, please contact Director of Public Relations Michael Padian at mpadian@nhra.com.

HE SAID, SHE SAID

SO CLOSE, YET SO FAR AWAY: Top Fuel second-place driver Cory McClenathan on losing a pedal-match final round to points leader Larry Dixon at the recently completed Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway: “It just makes it tough when you get down this close [in the points standings] and he’s beatable. He was very beatable there, but he just feathered back into it and just motored on down through there. As I had the gas all the way down, he just blew by me. We

had nothing.”

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

In 2008, Cruz Pedregon won the NHRA Las Vegas Nationals en route to his second world championship. While Tim Wilkerson entered the event with the points lead, a first-round loss to Mike Neff all but ended his bid for his first world championship.

7: Since the inaugural year of the Countdown to the Championship (2007), only five drivers have entered the NHRA Las Vegas Nationals, the penultimate race of the Full Throttle Drag Racing season, with the points lead and went on to win the world championship. That means five drivers in the past three seasons have lost the points lead with only two races remaining in the season.

DID YOU KNOW…

…that Funny Car driver Matt Hagan set the national record for time at the recently completed Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway? With the national record (20 bonus points) and his runner-up finish, Hagan was able to move around John Force to secure the top spot in the Funny Car point standings with only two races remaining in the 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing season. For more information, contact NHRA Media Relations at 626/914-4761 or visit the NHRA Media Center online.