Compiled by SEMA Editors

	Walt Arfons in 1965. Photo credit: Akron Beacon Journal

Walt Arfons Passes Away
Walt Arfons, a mechanical engineer and champion drag racer credited for building the first jet-engine dragster, died of pneumonia, June 4, at a hospital in Akron, Ohio. He was 96.

Arfons was born Walter Charles Stroud, December 10, 1916, in Muncie, Indiana. He grew up in Akron and took his stepfather’s surname, Arfons. He and his younger brother Art were among the best-known drivers during drag racing’s early years in the ’50s and ’60s. They were pioneers in achieving land-speed records at the Bonneville Salt Flats in western Utah.

The brothers learned how to use and assemble machinery at their father’s feed and hardware store in Akron during the Great Depression. They built cars from spare parts and, after World War II, they bought planes to work on. They participated in their first drag race in 1952; however, a reckless rivalry on the track later created turmoil between the brothers. They didn’t talk for years and became professional foes.

Art, who died in 2007, held three land-speed records; however, Walt was credited with introducing jet propulsion systems into motorsports and finding ways to make motorsports safer.

Walt bought a surplus military jet at auction, but the engine’s manual was classified. So in his shop, he assembled a new car around the plane’s turbo-jet engine by trial and error. He used parachutes to stop the car.

A later configuration of the jet-powered car—named the Wingfoot Express after the Goodyear logo—broke a land-speed record by reaching 413 mph over one mile, October 2, 1964, at Bonneville. Three days later, Art broke the record by going 434 mph in another jet-powered car.

In the late ’60s, Chrysler wanted Walt to install jet engines on some of their cars, and he hired several drivers to race them on the Funny Car circuit. He retired from motorsports by the early ’70s.

Walt is survived by his wife Gertrude, son Terry, daughter Patricia Stiff, sister Lou Wolfe, eight grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren. Another son Craig attempted to break a speed record on water in 1989 when his jet-powered hydroplane crashed on Lake Jackson in Sebring, Florida, killing him.

Leffler Program Established by USAC Benevolent Foundation
The USAC Benevolent Foundation has announced a $10,000 grant in the memory of the late USAC racing champion Jason Leffler, who lost his life last Wednesday night in a racing accident in New Jersey.
 
The 501-3C-designated Foundation will also accept additional donations earmarked for usage by Leffler's son Charlie Dean and his mother Allison. A designated cap amount to be announced by the Board of Directors of the Foundation will also result in additional dollar-for-dollar matching funds for this purpose.
 
All contributions earmarked for the Leffler program, which may include the Charlie Dean Leffler Education Fund, may be directed to the USAC Benevolent Foundation, c/o Executive Director Bill Marvel, 4910 W. 16th Street Speedway, Speedway, IN 46224. Marvel may be reached at 859-749-0646 or billmarvel@gmail.com. Donations should be earmarked for this program.

	Mazda's Sylvain Tremblay and Tom Long took the win last weekend at Mid-Ohio.

Mazda Wins at Mid-Ohio
Mazda's Sylvain Tremblay and Tom Long took the win last weekend at Mid-Ohio. Long had won the pole position and the team led the bulk of the race. Similar to the races in Georgia and Michigan, it was a three-way battle for most of the race with a Porsche Cayman splitting the two Mazdas. Joel Miller and Tristan Nunez in the #00 VISITFLORIDA RACING Mazda6 scored third-place points after an oil leak took them off-track late in the race. After six races, Mazda is now four points behind Porsche for the Grand-Am GX Manufacturers Championship. The two SpeedSource cars are second and third in team points, while Miller is second among drivers—14 points behind Jim Norman. There are six races remaining to determine the champions, including September 7–8, at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. The next race is the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen, June 30, at Watkins Glen.

Jimmie Johnson took the win at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Party in the Poconos 400.

Castroneves Earns First IndyCar Win of 2013, Jimmie Johnson Takes Third Pocono Win
Team Penske’s No. 3 car, driven by Helio Castroneves, captured the team’s first IZOD IndyCar Series victory of the season at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, June 8. The win gave Castroneves a 22-point lead in the series championship standings. Castroneves led the final 132 laps to earn his fourth career victory on the track. In a separate venue, at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Party in the Poconos 400, Jimmie Johnson continued his 2013 season with another win. Leading for 128 out of the 160 laps, Johnson won from the pole, taking his third win for this track as well as for the season.

Compiled by SEMA Editors

	Walt Arfons in 1965. Photo credit: Akron Beacon Journal

Walt Arfons Passes Away
Walt Arfons, a mechanical engineer and champion drag racer credited for building the first jet-engine dragster, died of pneumonia, June 4, at a hospital in Akron, Ohio. He was 96.

Arfons was born Walter Charles Stroud, December 10, 1916, in Muncie, Indiana. He grew up in Akron and took his stepfather’s surname, Arfons. He and his younger brother Art were among the best-known drivers during drag racing’s early years in the ’50s and ’60s. They were pioneers in achieving land-speed records at the Bonneville Salt Flats in western Utah.

The brothers learned how to use and assemble machinery at their father’s feed and hardware store in Akron during the Great Depression. They built cars from spare parts and, after World War II, they bought planes to work on. They participated in their first drag race in 1952; however, a reckless rivalry on the track later created turmoil between the brothers. They didn’t talk for years and became professional foes.

Art, who died in 2007, held three land-speed records; however, Walt was credited with introducing jet propulsion systems into motorsports and finding ways to make motorsports safer.

Walt bought a surplus military jet at auction, but the engine’s manual was classified. So in his shop, he assembled a new car around the plane’s turbo-jet engine by trial and error. He used parachutes to stop the car.

A later configuration of the jet-powered car—named the Wingfoot Express after the Goodyear logo—broke a land-speed record by reaching 413 mph over one mile, October 2, 1964, at Bonneville. Three days later, Art broke the record by going 434 mph in another jet-powered car.

In the late ’60s, Chrysler wanted Walt to install jet engines on some of their cars, and he hired several drivers to race them on the Funny Car circuit. He retired from motorsports by the early ’70s.

Walt is survived by his wife Gertrude, son Terry, daughter Patricia Stiff, sister Lou Wolfe, eight grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren. Another son Craig attempted to break a speed record on water in 1989 when his jet-powered hydroplane crashed on Lake Jackson in Sebring, Florida, killing him.

Leffler Program Established by USAC Benevolent Foundation
The USAC Benevolent Foundation has announced a $10,000 grant in the memory of the late USAC racing champion Jason Leffler, who lost his life last Wednesday night in a racing accident in New Jersey.
 
The 501-3C-designated Foundation will also accept additional donations earmarked for usage by Leffler's son Charlie Dean and his mother Allison. A designated cap amount to be announced by the Board of Directors of the Foundation will also result in additional dollar-for-dollar matching funds for this purpose.
 
All contributions earmarked for the Leffler program, which may include the Charlie Dean Leffler Education Fund, may be directed to the USAC Benevolent Foundation, c/o Executive Director Bill Marvel, 4910 W. 16th Street Speedway, Speedway, IN 46224. Marvel may be reached at 859-749-0646 or billmarvel@gmail.com. Donations should be earmarked for this program.

	Mazda's Sylvain Tremblay and Tom Long took the win last weekend at Mid-Ohio.

Mazda Wins at Mid-Ohio
Mazda's Sylvain Tremblay and Tom Long took the win last weekend at Mid-Ohio. Long had won the pole position and the team led the bulk of the race. Similar to the races in Georgia and Michigan, it was a three-way battle for most of the race with a Porsche Cayman splitting the two Mazdas. Joel Miller and Tristan Nunez in the #00 VISITFLORIDA RACING Mazda6 scored third-place points after an oil leak took them off-track late in the race. After six races, Mazda is now four points behind Porsche for the Grand-Am GX Manufacturers Championship. The two SpeedSource cars are second and third in team points, while Miller is second among drivers—14 points behind Jim Norman. There are six races remaining to determine the champions, including September 7–8, at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. The next race is the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen, June 30, at Watkins Glen.

Jimmie Johnson took the win at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Party in the Poconos 400.

Castroneves Earns First IndyCar Win of 2013, Jimmie Johnson Takes Third Pocono Win
Team Penske’s No. 3 car, driven by Helio Castroneves, captured the team’s first IZOD IndyCar Series victory of the season at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, June 8. The win gave Castroneves a 22-point lead in the series championship standings. Castroneves led the final 132 laps to earn his fourth career victory on the track. In a separate venue, at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Party in the Poconos 400, Jimmie Johnson continued his 2013 season with another win. Leading for 128 out of the 160 laps, Johnson won from the pole, taking his third win for this track as well as for the season.

By SEMA Editors

	SEMA manufacturer members can measure the ’14 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab at the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California, Thursday and Friday, June 27–28.

The ’14 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab is now available for measuring and product fit-up at the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California, Thursday and Friday, June 27–28, from 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m., for SEMA manufacturer members only. The truck will also be available from July 8–24.

For information and reservations, contact Bill Wolf at billw@sema.org or 909-978-6739.

By SEMA Editors

	SEMA manufacturer members can measure the ’14 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab at the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California, Thursday and Friday, June 27–28.

The ’14 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab is now available for measuring and product fit-up at the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California, Thursday and Friday, June 27–28, from 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m., for SEMA manufacturer members only. The truck will also be available from July 8–24.

For information and reservations, contact Bill Wolf at billw@sema.org or 909-978-6739.

By SEMA Editors

	SEMA manufacturer members can measure the ’14 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab at the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California, Thursday and Friday, June 27–28.

The ’14 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab is now available for measuring and product fit-up at the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California, Thursday and Friday, June 27–28, from 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m., for SEMA manufacturer members only. The truck will also be available from July 8–24.

For information and reservations, contact Bill Wolf at billw@sema.org or 909-978-6739.

Compiled by SEMA Editors

NEWS NUGGETS

TASCA TO MAKE FIRST FUNNY CAR RUNS AT NEW ENGLAND DRAGWAY: Bob Tasca III has raced every car he has owned down the track at New England Dragway except for one—his 8,000-hp Funny Car. That will change Friday when the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series takes to the Northeast track for the first time for the Auto-Plus NHRA New England Nationals, June 20–23. The inaugural event will feature competition in all four professional categories: Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle.

"I'm excited," Tasca said. "I think that is the first word that comes to mind—excited. I'm excited to be so close to my hometown with so many friends and family, and I'm excited to see New England bring in a sport I love as much as I do."

Antron Brown looks to add a win to his resume in Top Fuel, Allen Johnson enters as the defending Pro Stock world champion and East Coast native John Hall will lead the Pro Stock Motorcycle category in their return to action. To purchase tickets for the Auto-Plus NHRA New England Nationals, call 800-884-6472 or log on to NHRATix.com.

NHRA FANFEST TAKES TO DOWNTOWN BOSTON: NHRA fans in Boston streamed to Faneuil Hall Marketplace Wednesday to get their first glimpse of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series during a Fanfest. A press conference also took place, and members of the media met with Brittany Force, John Force, Bob Tasca III, Blake Alexander, Shawn Langdon and Robert Hight. The drivers signed thousands of autographs and posed for pictures during the meet and greet for NHRA fans in the Northeast.

ALEX'S LEMONADE STAND, DARRELL GWYNN FOUNDATION JOIN GRAY'S FUNNY CAR TEAM FOR FOUR RACES: At four events during the remainder of the 2013 season, Alex's Lemonade Stand and the Darrell Gwynn Foundation will be featured on the side of the Pitch Energy Funny Car driven by Johnny Gray. Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation raises awareness for curing children's cancer, and the Darrell Gwynn Foundation offers support for people with paralysis.

"It's been a real honor to be associated with these folks," Gray said. "This year, to be able to bring together Alex's Lemonade Stand with another group of people who are near to my heart—the Darrell Gwynn Foundation—it just makes me realize that I am extremely blessed."

The paint scheme will be featured in Denver, Indianapolis, Dallas and Reading.

COMING ATTRACTIONS

O'REILLY AUTO PARTS ROUTE 66 NHRA NATIONALS, Route 66 Raceway, June 27–30: The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series returns to Route 66 Raceway for the O'Reilly Auto Parts Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by Super Start Batteries June 27–30. Long one of the most competitive tracks on the circuit, this gem in the Midwest will again be pivotal in the championship hunt. The event also will mark the midpoint of the season and is the third stop in a four-race stretch. Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Jeff Arend (Funny Car, pictured), Erica Enders-Stevens (Pro Stock) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are defending winners of the event. To purchase tickets, log on to www.route66raceway.com or call 888-629-7223.

SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT NHRA NATIONALS, Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park, July 4–7: The fireworks display Friday after qualifying at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals has quickly become one of the can't-miss traditions in motorsports, and Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park is one of the most fan-friendly venues in all of entertainment as well as a tremendous surface for all four categories of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Spencer Massey (Top Fuel), Mike Neff (Funny Car), Vincent Nobile (Pro Stock) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were the 2012 winners. To purchase tickets, call 419-663-0502 or visit www.SummitMotorSportsPark.com.

HE SAID, SHE SAID

“Everything is coming together. You can see what (crew chief) Mike Neff and the other crew chiefs are doing. This is the car he almost won the championship in. A good race car gives you confidence. You get that, and you get natural on the tree. I am going after (Richard) Petty's 200th if I don't fall over before then. It is all the race car they give you. I really thought Courtney was going to take me out in the first round. Her Traxxas car has been flying."

– John Force on capturing his 135th NHRA Funny Car victory and facing daughter Courtney in the first round in Bristol, Tennessee.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

50: No. 1 qualifying positions in Pro Stock that Mike Edwards has after recording his ninth of the 2013 season. "That's a goal that I have been trying to reach for a long time," Edwards said. "One of my goals starting out the year was to reach 50 No. 1s. It's truly a blessing that we have been able to do that and an awesome feat for me."

He moved to 10th in career No. 1 qualifying positions; John Force leads the category with 141. The most No. 1 positions Edwards has in a single season is 16, in his 2009 championship season.

DID YOU KNOW…

Stars of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series visited the ESPN campus Wednesday in advance of the Auto-Plus NHRA New England Nationals: Antron Brown and his Matco Tools Top Fuel dragster, Courtney Force and her Traxxas Ford Mustang Funny Car, Allen Johnson and his Mopar/J&J Racing Dodge Avenger Pro Stocker and the Underdahl Racing's Bad Boy Buggies Suzuki Pro Stock Motorcycle. The vehicles were on display in the heart of the campus, and employees were able to meet the drivers, get autographs and pose with the vehicles.

Compiled by SEMA Editors

NEWS NUGGETS

TASCA TO MAKE FIRST FUNNY CAR RUNS AT NEW ENGLAND DRAGWAY: Bob Tasca III has raced every car he has owned down the track at New England Dragway except for one—his 8,000-hp Funny Car. That will change Friday when the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series takes to the Northeast track for the first time for the Auto-Plus NHRA New England Nationals, June 20–23. The inaugural event will feature competition in all four professional categories: Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle.

"I'm excited," Tasca said. "I think that is the first word that comes to mind—excited. I'm excited to be so close to my hometown with so many friends and family, and I'm excited to see New England bring in a sport I love as much as I do."

Antron Brown looks to add a win to his resume in Top Fuel, Allen Johnson enters as the defending Pro Stock world champion and East Coast native John Hall will lead the Pro Stock Motorcycle category in their return to action. To purchase tickets for the Auto-Plus NHRA New England Nationals, call 800-884-6472 or log on to NHRATix.com.

NHRA FANFEST TAKES TO DOWNTOWN BOSTON: NHRA fans in Boston streamed to Faneuil Hall Marketplace Wednesday to get their first glimpse of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series during a Fanfest. A press conference also took place, and members of the media met with Brittany Force, John Force, Bob Tasca III, Blake Alexander, Shawn Langdon and Robert Hight. The drivers signed thousands of autographs and posed for pictures during the meet and greet for NHRA fans in the Northeast.

ALEX'S LEMONADE STAND, DARRELL GWYNN FOUNDATION JOIN GRAY'S FUNNY CAR TEAM FOR FOUR RACES: At four events during the remainder of the 2013 season, Alex's Lemonade Stand and the Darrell Gwynn Foundation will be featured on the side of the Pitch Energy Funny Car driven by Johnny Gray. Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation raises awareness for curing children's cancer, and the Darrell Gwynn Foundation offers support for people with paralysis.

"It's been a real honor to be associated with these folks," Gray said. "This year, to be able to bring together Alex's Lemonade Stand with another group of people who are near to my heart—the Darrell Gwynn Foundation—it just makes me realize that I am extremely blessed."

The paint scheme will be featured in Denver, Indianapolis, Dallas and Reading.

COMING ATTRACTIONS

O'REILLY AUTO PARTS ROUTE 66 NHRA NATIONALS, Route 66 Raceway, June 27–30: The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series returns to Route 66 Raceway for the O'Reilly Auto Parts Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by Super Start Batteries June 27–30. Long one of the most competitive tracks on the circuit, this gem in the Midwest will again be pivotal in the championship hunt. The event also will mark the midpoint of the season and is the third stop in a four-race stretch. Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Jeff Arend (Funny Car, pictured), Erica Enders-Stevens (Pro Stock) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are defending winners of the event. To purchase tickets, log on to www.route66raceway.com or call 888-629-7223.

SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT NHRA NATIONALS, Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park, July 4–7: The fireworks display Friday after qualifying at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals has quickly become one of the can't-miss traditions in motorsports, and Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park is one of the most fan-friendly venues in all of entertainment as well as a tremendous surface for all four categories of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Spencer Massey (Top Fuel), Mike Neff (Funny Car), Vincent Nobile (Pro Stock) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were the 2012 winners. To purchase tickets, call 419-663-0502 or visit www.SummitMotorSportsPark.com.

HE SAID, SHE SAID

“Everything is coming together. You can see what (crew chief) Mike Neff and the other crew chiefs are doing. This is the car he almost won the championship in. A good race car gives you confidence. You get that, and you get natural on the tree. I am going after (Richard) Petty's 200th if I don't fall over before then. It is all the race car they give you. I really thought Courtney was going to take me out in the first round. Her Traxxas car has been flying."

– John Force on capturing his 135th NHRA Funny Car victory and facing daughter Courtney in the first round in Bristol, Tennessee.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

50: No. 1 qualifying positions in Pro Stock that Mike Edwards has after recording his ninth of the 2013 season. "That's a goal that I have been trying to reach for a long time," Edwards said. "One of my goals starting out the year was to reach 50 No. 1s. It's truly a blessing that we have been able to do that and an awesome feat for me."

He moved to 10th in career No. 1 qualifying positions; John Force leads the category with 141. The most No. 1 positions Edwards has in a single season is 16, in his 2009 championship season.

DID YOU KNOW…

Stars of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series visited the ESPN campus Wednesday in advance of the Auto-Plus NHRA New England Nationals: Antron Brown and his Matco Tools Top Fuel dragster, Courtney Force and her Traxxas Ford Mustang Funny Car, Allen Johnson and his Mopar/J&J Racing Dodge Avenger Pro Stocker and the Underdahl Racing's Bad Boy Buggies Suzuki Pro Stock Motorcycle. The vehicles were on display in the heart of the campus, and employees were able to meet the drivers, get autographs and pose with the vehicles.

Compiled by SEMA Editors

NEWS NUGGETS

TASCA TO MAKE FIRST FUNNY CAR RUNS AT NEW ENGLAND DRAGWAY: Bob Tasca III has raced every car he has owned down the track at New England Dragway except for one—his 8,000-hp Funny Car. That will change Friday when the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series takes to the Northeast track for the first time for the Auto-Plus NHRA New England Nationals, June 20–23. The inaugural event will feature competition in all four professional categories: Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle.

"I'm excited," Tasca said. "I think that is the first word that comes to mind—excited. I'm excited to be so close to my hometown with so many friends and family, and I'm excited to see New England bring in a sport I love as much as I do."

Antron Brown looks to add a win to his resume in Top Fuel, Allen Johnson enters as the defending Pro Stock world champion and East Coast native John Hall will lead the Pro Stock Motorcycle category in their return to action. To purchase tickets for the Auto-Plus NHRA New England Nationals, call 800-884-6472 or log on to NHRATix.com.

NHRA FANFEST TAKES TO DOWNTOWN BOSTON: NHRA fans in Boston streamed to Faneuil Hall Marketplace Wednesday to get their first glimpse of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series during a Fanfest. A press conference also took place, and members of the media met with Brittany Force, John Force, Bob Tasca III, Blake Alexander, Shawn Langdon and Robert Hight. The drivers signed thousands of autographs and posed for pictures during the meet and greet for NHRA fans in the Northeast.

ALEX'S LEMONADE STAND, DARRELL GWYNN FOUNDATION JOIN GRAY'S FUNNY CAR TEAM FOR FOUR RACES: At four events during the remainder of the 2013 season, Alex's Lemonade Stand and the Darrell Gwynn Foundation will be featured on the side of the Pitch Energy Funny Car driven by Johnny Gray. Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation raises awareness for curing children's cancer, and the Darrell Gwynn Foundation offers support for people with paralysis.

"It's been a real honor to be associated with these folks," Gray said. "This year, to be able to bring together Alex's Lemonade Stand with another group of people who are near to my heart—the Darrell Gwynn Foundation—it just makes me realize that I am extremely blessed."

The paint scheme will be featured in Denver, Indianapolis, Dallas and Reading.

COMING ATTRACTIONS

O'REILLY AUTO PARTS ROUTE 66 NHRA NATIONALS, Route 66 Raceway, June 27–30: The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series returns to Route 66 Raceway for the O'Reilly Auto Parts Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by Super Start Batteries June 27–30. Long one of the most competitive tracks on the circuit, this gem in the Midwest will again be pivotal in the championship hunt. The event also will mark the midpoint of the season and is the third stop in a four-race stretch. Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Jeff Arend (Funny Car, pictured), Erica Enders-Stevens (Pro Stock) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are defending winners of the event. To purchase tickets, log on to www.route66raceway.com or call 888-629-7223.

SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT NHRA NATIONALS, Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park, July 4–7: The fireworks display Friday after qualifying at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals has quickly become one of the can't-miss traditions in motorsports, and Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park is one of the most fan-friendly venues in all of entertainment as well as a tremendous surface for all four categories of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Spencer Massey (Top Fuel), Mike Neff (Funny Car), Vincent Nobile (Pro Stock) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were the 2012 winners. To purchase tickets, call 419-663-0502 or visit www.SummitMotorSportsPark.com.

HE SAID, SHE SAID

“Everything is coming together. You can see what (crew chief) Mike Neff and the other crew chiefs are doing. This is the car he almost won the championship in. A good race car gives you confidence. You get that, and you get natural on the tree. I am going after (Richard) Petty's 200th if I don't fall over before then. It is all the race car they give you. I really thought Courtney was going to take me out in the first round. Her Traxxas car has been flying."

– John Force on capturing his 135th NHRA Funny Car victory and facing daughter Courtney in the first round in Bristol, Tennessee.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

50: No. 1 qualifying positions in Pro Stock that Mike Edwards has after recording his ninth of the 2013 season. "That's a goal that I have been trying to reach for a long time," Edwards said. "One of my goals starting out the year was to reach 50 No. 1s. It's truly a blessing that we have been able to do that and an awesome feat for me."

He moved to 10th in career No. 1 qualifying positions; John Force leads the category with 141. The most No. 1 positions Edwards has in a single season is 16, in his 2009 championship season.

DID YOU KNOW…

Stars of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series visited the ESPN campus Wednesday in advance of the Auto-Plus NHRA New England Nationals: Antron Brown and his Matco Tools Top Fuel dragster, Courtney Force and her Traxxas Ford Mustang Funny Car, Allen Johnson and his Mopar/J&J Racing Dodge Avenger Pro Stocker and the Underdahl Racing's Bad Boy Buggies Suzuki Pro Stock Motorcycle. The vehicles were on display in the heart of the campus, and employees were able to meet the drivers, get autographs and pose with the vehicles.

KGP Photography has some new shots of the ’15 Ford Mustang, revealing some previously unseen details. Due to the shooting angle and the light passing through the prototype's heavy camouflage, the shooters were able to get a better look at what's going on with the front-end. There is some hint of the headlights, and some flavor of the grille that resides behind the heavy, squared-off disguising.

Photo credit: KGP Photography

KGP Photography has some new shots of the ’15 Ford Mustang, revealing some previously unseen details. Due to the shooting angle and the light passing through the prototype's heavy camouflage, the shooters were able to get a better look at what's going on with the front-end. There is some hint of the headlights, and some flavor of the grille that resides behind the heavy, squared-off disguising.

Photo credit: KGP Photography