Compiled by SEMA Editors

NHRA News

BROWN RACES IN TOYOTA GRAND PRIX OF LONG BEACH PRO/CELEBRITY RACE: NHRA Top Fuel racer and current points leader Antron Brown took part in the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Pro/Celebrity race on Saturday on the 1.97-mile street course in downtown Long Beach, California. Brown joined such celebrities as Alfonso Ribeiro, Dara Torres, Mark McGrath and Robert Patrick.

PEDREGON AIMS FOR ANOTHER STANDOUT TEXAS PERFORMANCE IN HOUSTON: The O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA SpringNationals presented by Super Start Batteries at Royal Purple Raceway always seems to come at an opportune time for Funny Car standout Cruz Pedregon. With the 28th annual edition of this event taking place April 24–26 just east of Houston, the timing once again seems to be right up for a possible breakout performance from Pedregon and his 10,000hp Snap-on Tools Toyota Camry.

"The Texas tracks have been good to me my entire career," said Pedregon, whose last victory in Houston came in 2013. "I’m not sure exactly where to put my finger on it, but it seems like after a few races, we seem to get it together, and that’s no different this year. We feel like we’re getting right at the right time." Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car) and Erica Enders-Stevens (Pro Stock) were last year’s winners of the event that will be televised live on ESPN2.

TICKETS ON SALE FOR NHRA KANSAS NATIONALS: Tickets are now available for purchase for the 27th annual NHRA Kansas Nationals at Heartland Park Topeka, May 22–24. The race is the eighth of 24 events in the 2015 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, and the race will be televised on ESPN2. To purchase general-admission or reserved seats for the NHRA Kansas Nationals, log on to www.nhra.com/tickets or call the NHRA Ticket Sales Center, 800-884-NHRA (6472). General-admission tickets for children 12 and younger are free with any paid adult ticket. Students with valid ID can purchase tickets for 50% off at the event ticket office.

He Said, She Said

"I’m so excited to be back in Houston. I have always enjoyed racing at the Houston track, and with Gumout based in the Houston area, the entire week is a big one for me. The Gumout folks have been tremendous partners with Dote Racing, and our team wants to have a strong showing for them. Getting to tour the NASA facility on Thursday is going to be a thrill for me. Being into speed as a racing driver, I want to see the behind-the-scenes of the space program. It’s so interesting and compelling."

—Top Fuel racer Leah Pritchett on racing in Houston at the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA SpringNationals presented by Super Start Batteries. Pritchett, who recently signed off on her husband’s Top Fuel license, raced to a quarterfinal finish in Pomona, California, and qualified fifth for the Gainesville, Florida, race.

Inside the Numbers

3: Number of wins three-time Top Fuel world champion Larry Dixon has at Royal Purple Raceway, which ties him with Kenny Bernstein for most career Top Fuel victories at the facility. Dixon won at the track at the discontinued fall race in 1999 and 2000 and scored his last win at the facility in 2010, when he defeated Antron Brown in the final. John Force has the most Funny Car victories (seven) at Royal Purple Raceway, which opened in 1998, and Warren Johnson leads the Pro Stock Category with six wins.

Did You Know

LUPE TORTILLA MEXICAN RESTAURANTS TO SPONSOR ENDERS-STEVENS IN HOUSTON: Lupe Tortilla, routinely voted the top Mexican restaurant in Texas, will assume title sponsorship of the record-setting Pro Stock race car of reigning NHRA Mello Yello world champion Erica Enders-Stevens at the upcoming O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA SpringNationals presented by Super Start Batteries at Royal Purple Raceway in Houston. Enders-Stevens is a Houston native who attended Spring-Cypress High School and Texas A&M University. She has been supported by Lupe Tortilla founder Stan Holt; his wife, Sheila; and their restaurants since she began her driving career at age 8.

"Stan has always been a part of racing and my personal life for as long as I can remember," Enders-Stevens said. "He has always been there for me, and I consider him and Sheila part of my family. Stan even performed the wedding ceremony when Richie and I got married."

View the complete 2015 Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule.

Compiled by SEMA Editors

NHRA News

BROWN RACES IN TOYOTA GRAND PRIX OF LONG BEACH PRO/CELEBRITY RACE: NHRA Top Fuel racer and current points leader Antron Brown took part in the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Pro/Celebrity race on Saturday on the 1.97-mile street course in downtown Long Beach, California. Brown joined such celebrities as Alfonso Ribeiro, Dara Torres, Mark McGrath and Robert Patrick.

PEDREGON AIMS FOR ANOTHER STANDOUT TEXAS PERFORMANCE IN HOUSTON: The O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA SpringNationals presented by Super Start Batteries at Royal Purple Raceway always seems to come at an opportune time for Funny Car standout Cruz Pedregon. With the 28th annual edition of this event taking place April 24–26 just east of Houston, the timing once again seems to be right up for a possible breakout performance from Pedregon and his 10,000hp Snap-on Tools Toyota Camry.

"The Texas tracks have been good to me my entire career," said Pedregon, whose last victory in Houston came in 2013. "I’m not sure exactly where to put my finger on it, but it seems like after a few races, we seem to get it together, and that’s no different this year. We feel like we’re getting right at the right time." Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car) and Erica Enders-Stevens (Pro Stock) were last year’s winners of the event that will be televised live on ESPN2.

TICKETS ON SALE FOR NHRA KANSAS NATIONALS: Tickets are now available for purchase for the 27th annual NHRA Kansas Nationals at Heartland Park Topeka, May 22–24. The race is the eighth of 24 events in the 2015 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, and the race will be televised on ESPN2. To purchase general-admission or reserved seats for the NHRA Kansas Nationals, log on to www.nhra.com/tickets or call the NHRA Ticket Sales Center, 800-884-NHRA (6472). General-admission tickets for children 12 and younger are free with any paid adult ticket. Students with valid ID can purchase tickets for 50% off at the event ticket office.

He Said, She Said

"I’m so excited to be back in Houston. I have always enjoyed racing at the Houston track, and with Gumout based in the Houston area, the entire week is a big one for me. The Gumout folks have been tremendous partners with Dote Racing, and our team wants to have a strong showing for them. Getting to tour the NASA facility on Thursday is going to be a thrill for me. Being into speed as a racing driver, I want to see the behind-the-scenes of the space program. It’s so interesting and compelling."

—Top Fuel racer Leah Pritchett on racing in Houston at the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA SpringNationals presented by Super Start Batteries. Pritchett, who recently signed off on her husband’s Top Fuel license, raced to a quarterfinal finish in Pomona, California, and qualified fifth for the Gainesville, Florida, race.

Inside the Numbers

3: Number of wins three-time Top Fuel world champion Larry Dixon has at Royal Purple Raceway, which ties him with Kenny Bernstein for most career Top Fuel victories at the facility. Dixon won at the track at the discontinued fall race in 1999 and 2000 and scored his last win at the facility in 2010, when he defeated Antron Brown in the final. John Force has the most Funny Car victories (seven) at Royal Purple Raceway, which opened in 1998, and Warren Johnson leads the Pro Stock Category with six wins.

Did You Know

LUPE TORTILLA MEXICAN RESTAURANTS TO SPONSOR ENDERS-STEVENS IN HOUSTON: Lupe Tortilla, routinely voted the top Mexican restaurant in Texas, will assume title sponsorship of the record-setting Pro Stock race car of reigning NHRA Mello Yello world champion Erica Enders-Stevens at the upcoming O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA SpringNationals presented by Super Start Batteries at Royal Purple Raceway in Houston. Enders-Stevens is a Houston native who attended Spring-Cypress High School and Texas A&M University. She has been supported by Lupe Tortilla founder Stan Holt; his wife, Sheila; and their restaurants since she began her driving career at age 8.

"Stan has always been a part of racing and my personal life for as long as I can remember," Enders-Stevens said. "He has always been there for me, and I consider him and Sheila part of my family. Stan even performed the wedding ceremony when Richie and I got married."

View the complete 2015 Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule.

Companies interested in exhibiting at the 2015 SEMA Show should secure their booth space today to benefit from more time to prepare for the Show.

Booth space for the 2015 SEMA Show is still available. Companies interested in exhibiting should secure their booth space today to benefit from more time to prepare for the Show. Once you’ve secured your space, you can begin planning and using the tools and resources available to get the highest possible return on your investment.

Account representatives are available to answer any questions exhibitors might have and assist with general planning. Contact a rep at sales@sema.org or 909-396-0289.

Companies interested in exhibiting at the 2015 SEMA Show should secure their booth space today to benefit from more time to prepare for the Show.

Booth space for the 2015 SEMA Show is still available. Companies interested in exhibiting should secure their booth space today to benefit from more time to prepare for the Show. Once you’ve secured your space, you can begin planning and using the tools and resources available to get the highest possible return on your investment.

Account representatives are available to answer any questions exhibitors might have and assist with general planning. Contact a rep at sales@sema.org or 909-396-0289.

Compiled by SEMA Editors

NHRA News

ENDERS-STEVENS DOUBLES; FORCE, CRAMPTON ALSO GET BIG WINS: John Force, the winningest driver in NHRA history, raced to the Funny Car victory Sunday in his Chevrolet Camaro at the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Richie Crampton (Top Fuel) and Erica Enders-Stevens (Pro Stock) also were winners at the fifth of 24 events of the 2015 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season. Force, a 16-time Funny Car world champ, clocked a 4.148-second pass at 312.35 mph to defeat teammate Robert Hight in the final round. Hight trailed with a 4.154 at 306.05 in his Auto Club Chevy Camaro. This marks Force’s 142nd career win and fifth career win at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

"Robert is my best team," Force said. "He’s hot on that Christmas Tree, so I really got to get after him. The win was good, but all that we’ve been through, with financial change, my sponsors promised to keep me competitive, win championships, and I could build safety. We were lucky today, and I’ll take lucky any day because it buys us some time to learn."

ENDERS-STEVENS WINS K&N HORSEPOWER CHALLENGE; WINS NATIONAL EVENT FOR DOUBLE-UP BONUS: Erica Enders-Stevens hit the jackpot in Las Vegas by winning the K&N Horsepower Challenge event for the second consecutive season on Saturday and then raced to the national event victory on Sunday for her 13th career Pro Stock victory. Enders-Stevens, the defending Pro Stock world champion, defeated Vincent Nobile to win both events and won on Sunday on a holeshot to claim the win. She took home a total of $75,000 for both victories, and became the first driver to sweep both events in consecutive seasons since Bob Glidden accomplished the feat in 1987 and 1988.

"Just very proud for Elite Motorsports and Elite Performance," Enders-Stevens said. "My guys work so hard and continue to give me a consistent race car, which has been a struggle to start this year. I think we got our hot rod back, and I guess we can start saying Vegas is our lucky track. Winning is so dang challenging, and to be able to come here and do what we did yesterday and double up again today is certainly a high-pressure situation, but my guys thrive on it and perform very well under it. I’m so proud of them and proud of our team."

FORCE, CRAMPTON JOIN TRAXXAS NITRO SHOOTOUT COMPETITORS: Spots for the Traxxas Nitro Shootout in both Funny Car and Top Fuel are rapidly filling up as John Force (Funny Car) and Richie Crampton (Top Fuel) took home victories at the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. This will be the second appearance for Crampton in the speciality race and will look to improve on his runner-up finish in 2014. This will mark the fourth time Force has entered into the event and he won the inaugural and is the defending event winner.

He Said, She Said

"I thought that the car we lost in Gainesville was heading in that direction performance-wise. To have it come back in two races was nice and the car ran really good; just came up a bit short in the finals. Really happy for the guys and proud of all the hard work they have put in the past month."

—Larry Dixon, who raced to a runner-up finish at the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals just two races after his wreck in Gainesville. It was his first final-round appearance since he won the Phoenix event in 2011 and marked his 47th career runner-up position and moved him into eighth in the points.

Inside the Numbers

3-0: Career final-round record for Lucas Oil Top Fuel racer Richie Crampton, who is in his second season in the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Crampton won the event in Las Vegas when he defeated Larry Dixon in the finals. In 2014 he defeated Doug Kalitta in Englishtown for his first career victory and he won the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals when he bested Steve Torrence for the most prized win in drag racing. Crampton, the 2014 Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future award winner, moved to fifth in Top Fuel points with the victory.

"It's a huge boost for the entire team," Crampton said. "We've got a great hot-track race car, and we all know how well [crew chief] Aaron [Brooks] can run when the weather is cool. He's just phenomenal right now and one of the best around. I'm extremely lucky to get to drive such great equipment. I'm from the other side of the world, so this is like a 6,000-mile hole in one for me. I'm extremely lucky, and it speaks volumes for Forrest and Charlotte Lucas, Morgan and Katie Lucas and the Lucas Oil family. The entire team stood behind Morgan's decision to give me a crack at it. I'm very fortunate, and I've got some big shoes to fill."

Did You Know

HOBBS MOTORSPORTS PARK RETURNS TO NHRA MEMBER TRACK FAMILY: Hobbs Motorsports Park in New Mexico has returned to the NHRA Member Track Network as part of the NHRA’s South Central Division.

“As a longtime NHRA facility, we are excited to have Hobbs Motorsports Park back in the NHRA Member Track Network after only a few years away,” said Trey Capps, director of the NHRA South Central Division.

Hobbs Motorsports Park is a quarter-mile facility located in the Hobbs Industrial Air Park near Hobbs, New Mexico. The facility is operated by Darrell Reid and is a popular track for racers in the West Texas and New Mexico area. As a former B-17 training base in the mid-1940s the facility not only has a great drag-racing heritage but it is a part of American history as well.

View the complete 2015 Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule.

Compiled by SEMA Editors

NHRA News

ENDERS-STEVENS DOUBLES; FORCE, CRAMPTON ALSO GET BIG WINS: John Force, the winningest driver in NHRA history, raced to the Funny Car victory Sunday in his Chevrolet Camaro at the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Richie Crampton (Top Fuel) and Erica Enders-Stevens (Pro Stock) also were winners at the fifth of 24 events of the 2015 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season. Force, a 16-time Funny Car world champ, clocked a 4.148-second pass at 312.35 mph to defeat teammate Robert Hight in the final round. Hight trailed with a 4.154 at 306.05 in his Auto Club Chevy Camaro. This marks Force’s 142nd career win and fifth career win at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

"Robert is my best team," Force said. "He’s hot on that Christmas Tree, so I really got to get after him. The win was good, but all that we’ve been through, with financial change, my sponsors promised to keep me competitive, win championships, and I could build safety. We were lucky today, and I’ll take lucky any day because it buys us some time to learn."

ENDERS-STEVENS WINS K&N HORSEPOWER CHALLENGE; WINS NATIONAL EVENT FOR DOUBLE-UP BONUS: Erica Enders-Stevens hit the jackpot in Las Vegas by winning the K&N Horsepower Challenge event for the second consecutive season on Saturday and then raced to the national event victory on Sunday for her 13th career Pro Stock victory. Enders-Stevens, the defending Pro Stock world champion, defeated Vincent Nobile to win both events and won on Sunday on a holeshot to claim the win. She took home a total of $75,000 for both victories, and became the first driver to sweep both events in consecutive seasons since Bob Glidden accomplished the feat in 1987 and 1988.

"Just very proud for Elite Motorsports and Elite Performance," Enders-Stevens said. "My guys work so hard and continue to give me a consistent race car, which has been a struggle to start this year. I think we got our hot rod back, and I guess we can start saying Vegas is our lucky track. Winning is so dang challenging, and to be able to come here and do what we did yesterday and double up again today is certainly a high-pressure situation, but my guys thrive on it and perform very well under it. I’m so proud of them and proud of our team."

FORCE, CRAMPTON JOIN TRAXXAS NITRO SHOOTOUT COMPETITORS: Spots for the Traxxas Nitro Shootout in both Funny Car and Top Fuel are rapidly filling up as John Force (Funny Car) and Richie Crampton (Top Fuel) took home victories at the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. This will be the second appearance for Crampton in the speciality race and will look to improve on his runner-up finish in 2014. This will mark the fourth time Force has entered into the event and he won the inaugural and is the defending event winner.

He Said, She Said

"I thought that the car we lost in Gainesville was heading in that direction performance-wise. To have it come back in two races was nice and the car ran really good; just came up a bit short in the finals. Really happy for the guys and proud of all the hard work they have put in the past month."

—Larry Dixon, who raced to a runner-up finish at the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals just two races after his wreck in Gainesville. It was his first final-round appearance since he won the Phoenix event in 2011 and marked his 47th career runner-up position and moved him into eighth in the points.

Inside the Numbers

3-0: Career final-round record for Lucas Oil Top Fuel racer Richie Crampton, who is in his second season in the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Crampton won the event in Las Vegas when he defeated Larry Dixon in the finals. In 2014 he defeated Doug Kalitta in Englishtown for his first career victory and he won the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals when he bested Steve Torrence for the most prized win in drag racing. Crampton, the 2014 Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future award winner, moved to fifth in Top Fuel points with the victory.

"It's a huge boost for the entire team," Crampton said. "We've got a great hot-track race car, and we all know how well [crew chief] Aaron [Brooks] can run when the weather is cool. He's just phenomenal right now and one of the best around. I'm extremely lucky to get to drive such great equipment. I'm from the other side of the world, so this is like a 6,000-mile hole in one for me. I'm extremely lucky, and it speaks volumes for Forrest and Charlotte Lucas, Morgan and Katie Lucas and the Lucas Oil family. The entire team stood behind Morgan's decision to give me a crack at it. I'm very fortunate, and I've got some big shoes to fill."

Did You Know

HOBBS MOTORSPORTS PARK RETURNS TO NHRA MEMBER TRACK FAMILY: Hobbs Motorsports Park in New Mexico has returned to the NHRA Member Track Network as part of the NHRA’s South Central Division.

“As a longtime NHRA facility, we are excited to have Hobbs Motorsports Park back in the NHRA Member Track Network after only a few years away,” said Trey Capps, director of the NHRA South Central Division.

Hobbs Motorsports Park is a quarter-mile facility located in the Hobbs Industrial Air Park near Hobbs, New Mexico. The facility is operated by Darrell Reid and is a popular track for racers in the West Texas and New Mexico area. As a former B-17 training base in the mid-1940s the facility not only has a great drag-racing heritage but it is a part of American history as well.

View the complete 2015 Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule.

Compiled by SEMA Editors

NHRA News

ENDERS-STEVENS DOUBLES; FORCE, CRAMPTON ALSO GET BIG WINS: John Force, the winningest driver in NHRA history, raced to the Funny Car victory Sunday in his Chevrolet Camaro at the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Richie Crampton (Top Fuel) and Erica Enders-Stevens (Pro Stock) also were winners at the fifth of 24 events of the 2015 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season. Force, a 16-time Funny Car world champ, clocked a 4.148-second pass at 312.35 mph to defeat teammate Robert Hight in the final round. Hight trailed with a 4.154 at 306.05 in his Auto Club Chevy Camaro. This marks Force’s 142nd career win and fifth career win at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

"Robert is my best team," Force said. "He’s hot on that Christmas Tree, so I really got to get after him. The win was good, but all that we’ve been through, with financial change, my sponsors promised to keep me competitive, win championships, and I could build safety. We were lucky today, and I’ll take lucky any day because it buys us some time to learn."

ENDERS-STEVENS WINS K&N HORSEPOWER CHALLENGE; WINS NATIONAL EVENT FOR DOUBLE-UP BONUS: Erica Enders-Stevens hit the jackpot in Las Vegas by winning the K&N Horsepower Challenge event for the second consecutive season on Saturday and then raced to the national event victory on Sunday for her 13th career Pro Stock victory. Enders-Stevens, the defending Pro Stock world champion, defeated Vincent Nobile to win both events and won on Sunday on a holeshot to claim the win. She took home a total of $75,000 for both victories, and became the first driver to sweep both events in consecutive seasons since Bob Glidden accomplished the feat in 1987 and 1988.

"Just very proud for Elite Motorsports and Elite Performance," Enders-Stevens said. "My guys work so hard and continue to give me a consistent race car, which has been a struggle to start this year. I think we got our hot rod back, and I guess we can start saying Vegas is our lucky track. Winning is so dang challenging, and to be able to come here and do what we did yesterday and double up again today is certainly a high-pressure situation, but my guys thrive on it and perform very well under it. I’m so proud of them and proud of our team."

FORCE, CRAMPTON JOIN TRAXXAS NITRO SHOOTOUT COMPETITORS: Spots for the Traxxas Nitro Shootout in both Funny Car and Top Fuel are rapidly filling up as John Force (Funny Car) and Richie Crampton (Top Fuel) took home victories at the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. This will be the second appearance for Crampton in the speciality race and will look to improve on his runner-up finish in 2014. This will mark the fourth time Force has entered into the event and he won the inaugural and is the defending event winner.

He Said, She Said

"I thought that the car we lost in Gainesville was heading in that direction performance-wise. To have it come back in two races was nice and the car ran really good; just came up a bit short in the finals. Really happy for the guys and proud of all the hard work they have put in the past month."

—Larry Dixon, who raced to a runner-up finish at the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals just two races after his wreck in Gainesville. It was his first final-round appearance since he won the Phoenix event in 2011 and marked his 47th career runner-up position and moved him into eighth in the points.

Inside the Numbers

3-0: Career final-round record for Lucas Oil Top Fuel racer Richie Crampton, who is in his second season in the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Crampton won the event in Las Vegas when he defeated Larry Dixon in the finals. In 2014 he defeated Doug Kalitta in Englishtown for his first career victory and he won the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals when he bested Steve Torrence for the most prized win in drag racing. Crampton, the 2014 Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future award winner, moved to fifth in Top Fuel points with the victory.

"It's a huge boost for the entire team," Crampton said. "We've got a great hot-track race car, and we all know how well [crew chief] Aaron [Brooks] can run when the weather is cool. He's just phenomenal right now and one of the best around. I'm extremely lucky to get to drive such great equipment. I'm from the other side of the world, so this is like a 6,000-mile hole in one for me. I'm extremely lucky, and it speaks volumes for Forrest and Charlotte Lucas, Morgan and Katie Lucas and the Lucas Oil family. The entire team stood behind Morgan's decision to give me a crack at it. I'm very fortunate, and I've got some big shoes to fill."

Did You Know

HOBBS MOTORSPORTS PARK RETURNS TO NHRA MEMBER TRACK FAMILY: Hobbs Motorsports Park in New Mexico has returned to the NHRA Member Track Network as part of the NHRA’s South Central Division.

“As a longtime NHRA facility, we are excited to have Hobbs Motorsports Park back in the NHRA Member Track Network after only a few years away,” said Trey Capps, director of the NHRA South Central Division.

Hobbs Motorsports Park is a quarter-mile facility located in the Hobbs Industrial Air Park near Hobbs, New Mexico. The facility is operated by Darrell Reid and is a popular track for racers in the West Texas and New Mexico area. As a former B-17 training base in the mid-1940s the facility not only has a great drag-racing heritage but it is a part of American history as well.

View the complete 2015 Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule.